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Just say no to zombie bands
By nick g | December 13, 2008
Longwave should move on and accept defeat
You’d think the Phoenix Theater is a good place to revive a career, but when bands come back from the dead it isn’t always a good idea.
Honestly, I didn’t go to see Longwave last night at the Phoenix Theater in Petaluma. The headliners were no match for the draw of three amazing local bands, in my opinion. But many came to see the band they liked 8 years ago and forgot about, so I stuck around to give them a shot. It was… loud.
This group came out of New York in 1999 with indie powerhouse The Strokes to land a record deal with RCA and tours with large, influential bands. But then, according to their Web site bio, “a series of unfortunate events,” mostly related to music industry douchebaggery, stopped their ascent to the top of the Billboard charts. Maybe it was the record industry saying, “Hey, it’s been a nice ride, but really, you’ve run your course. Now find something new and exciting to do.”
The new record, Secrets are Sinister is much catchier and poppier than their previous work, much to the dismay of fans who enjoyed their Joy Division sound. This is more like Interpol with falsetto lyrics. I know, kinda weird to imagine, right?
Either way, their set wasn’t bad, just incredibly loud. I had a tough time listening because the guitar riffs became like a drone in the echobox of the Phoenix, and the drums were standard pop-rock drums - not much to listen to. And just like the Number 12 show earlier this week, the headliners were outdone by the opening acts, which in this case were Polar Bears, Not To Reason Why and The New Trust.
** photo by Mayumi Nashida
Topics: Music News |
December 13th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
I love their song “wake me when it’s over”. Longwave will be playing tonight at Dante’s in Portland, OR too!