The Drums - Dingwalls, London 27/1/10
4/5
By: Alex Lee Thomson
It’s nice to still be surprised by new music. But as a new decade begins, we’re back almost to the start of the noughties as New York City is once again delivering an act who could be one of the most significant guitar bands since, well, you know who.
You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s a lot of Britain in the band, but really this is an all America affair, with a Buddy Holly playing to the hip dollies in the dancehall delirium. Their records, a mix of Vampire Weekend surf and dawdling Cure riffs, sound in places a tad too nice though. Now these are nice boys, all clean-cut American lads with a butter-wouldn’t-melt look about them… but stick them on a stage and they go bang. Forget the butter melting, they become a suggestive mess of bopping blonde hair and Alan Donohoe dance moves, the sickly vocal sound of their records being replaced by an almost David Byrne-like, choppy, curious whimper and just enough of the Bowie theatrics to hint at intersexuality. Big names to be using when discussing a band who have only just dipped their toe into releasing music, but with each well-crafted pop turn they keep on impressing.
‘I Felt Stupid’ was one of the best debut single releases of 2009 and when they’re not hammering the kitsch, it has a real chance to shine and get the crowd moving. You could far too easily pull a panicked indie-boy stance, leaning back on your heels to agreeably nod along with the track, but it’s overwhelmingly more enjoyable to let yourself be carried away by it, be indulged by it. On the surface you could argue their songs are throwaway summer pop tunes, but with such genuine delivery you kind of think, or at least hope, this band is more than that.
’Let’s Go Surfing’ winds the set down. Also an abiding slice of flamboyant pop complete with bespoke dance moves, it has a charm that outweighs its camp, sounding far more vibrant in person than it gets across on vinyl. It’s striking how different they are, most notably in the vocals department, live. They’ve such character and showmanship, at times breaching the absurd, not least during a chaotic and rather “special” looking tambourine onslaught, and it’s this character which sells the songs. That and some dandy haircuts anyway.
Artists in this article: The Drums
Your Feedback
Login to post your comment