But, this isn't just any sad, whiny love song. First, you need to forget everything you know about "hardcore" music.The lyrics are quite beautiful. La Dispute is graced by the songwriting talents of lead singer Jordan Dreyer.
Take a look at the lyrics:
I breathed your name into the air; I etched your name into me. I felt my anger swelling; I swam into it's sea. I held your name inside my heart, but it got buried in my fear. It tore the wiring of my brain; I did my best to keep it clear. So, dear, no matter how we part, I hold you sweetly in my head. And if I do not miss a part of you, a part of me is dead. If I can't love you as a lover, I will love you as a friend. And I will lay a bed before you; keep you safe until the end
The spoken word element of the song is very unique to the screamo world.Their sound even resonates distinctly with elements of bluegrass, also setting them apart from most metalcore bands. It does the lyrics justice, even though there is no strong backing melody. And I am a sucker for pretty words. On October 4, 2011, La Dispute released their second full-length album titled "Wildlife" on No Sleep Records. Also, check out the songs "Such Small Hands" and "Nobody, Not Even the Rain".
is a very small venue in Albuquerque located downtown, across from a quirky little hat shop and a couple bars. Upon arrival, I took my place in the very front and center of the stage. There were no barricades up tonight and about 15 or so people were lounging around the back while the opening band played. It was the usual group of hipster college kids with their floral print button-ups, scraggly facial hair and boat shoes.
And look, I respect anyone that is at a concert who is there to listen to music or have a fun time with friends or support the band or whatever. But, these kids just stand in the back, smoke and make out with their pixie-cut girlfriends.
Whatever. If it meant that I got a better spot; then by all means, smoke away.
The first opening act, Whispertown2000, reminded me of Ume (Cursive's opening act last month). It was couple of guys who played rhythm guitar, while a cute girl in an over sized sweater sang and danced around with her tambourine. The vocalist of this band, kid actress and Oregon native Morgan Nagler has toured with many prominent indie artists in the past. Whispertown2000 has a cute, indie pop feel and they played a pretty tight set that night. I only wish that they didn't fall into this aforementioned "cute" genre and that they weren't such a magnet for the pretentious boat shoe crowd. Whispertown2000 does have a lot of potential though; touring and performing with the likes of Jenny Lewis, Jonathan Rice and Blake Sennett (whom Nagler befriended in the 90's) Their most current album, Swim was released in 2008 on Acony Records.
Check out the songs: Old Times and Done With Love.
The second opener only built upon the same semi-cliche indie pop atmosphere. Dinosaur Feathers is a quartet from Brooklyn whose sound can be described as “‘50s/early-‘60s-inspired pop music.” The flexibility of the drum machine beat is paired nicely with the Beatles-era vocal harmonies. However, the band sounds keenly similar to many of the current indie male-falsetto pop groups on the radio nowadays. (e.g. Foster the People, Fun., Two Door Cinema Club) Their garageband pop melodies were solid; backed by the clean cut bass lines of a a very talented bass player, Ryan Michael Kileyoften By the end of their set, he had captured the attention of everyone in the audience. I talked with Michael after the show and he was beaming with confidence in regards to Dinousaur Feathers' future.Their most recent album, Whistle Tips came out in April 2012 on Ernest Jenning records.
Check out the songs: Fantasy Memorial and Teenage Whore.
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's is one of my favorite bands, hands down. Richard Edwards' vocals are so very pure and genuine in conjunction with being the perfect combination of melancholy, sad and happy. The whole band is writhing in talent and almost all of the members are multi-instrumentalists. Their melodies are smooth, cinematic and just damn beautiful. Their set list consisted of mostly stuff from their new album, Rot Gut, Domestic. But they also pleased fans of their older stuff with songs like Skeleton Key, Broadripple is Burning and A Children's Crusade on Acid. Even though they were missing some key brass elements from the studio recordings, the sound blended beautifully together. Even an encore proceeded after ravenous applause from the audience of 30 (at most). They played Talking in Code before they said their goodbyes. It was one of the best performances I have ever seen. My opinion may be biased, as the song is one of my all-time favorites; but I was in tears. The sweetly broken guitar melody combined with the haunting simplicity of Edwards' voice gave me the shivers. I met Richard at the bar after the show and awkwardly thanked him for all the incredible work he does. I'm excited to give his solo stuff (Archer Avenue) a listen. Margot & the Nuclear So and So's new album, Rot Gut, Domestic is their fourth full-length and was released in March by Mariel recordings.
Check out the songs:Prozac Rock, Talking in Code and Broadripple is Burning.
