Show Review

After barely missing Kevin Devine due to a 20 minute parking spot hunt, The New Frontiers were just working their way into the second of five songs. The New Frontiers is The Militia Group’s newest signing. After hearing the band’s recent affiliation with TMG, I made it a priority to hear what they were about. Despite not being well known, the band did a good job of keeping the crowd’s attention with their brand of folk pop. Although the band does not have a sound that is wildly original, they had a presence which kept your mind focused on them. Along with lead singer Nathan Pettijohn’s captivating voice, the band had an additional drum set which helped amplify their soothing sound. The band closed out their set with “Mirrors.” It was a slow song that built into a grandiose chant at the end. I can see how this band could gain some recognition with the right production behind them on wax.

Next up was my personal highlight of the night: Manchester Orchestra. 2007 has been a big year for the band. After being brought on tour by Brand New in April, these nobody’s became somebody’s very quickly and haven’t looked back since. Along with friends in big places, the band has been getting attention in countless magazines and topping plenty of “next big thing” lists. After seeing the band live for the third time, there is no doubt in my mind the credit is well founded. Lead singer Andy Hull’s vocals are charged with such emotion it seems as if he was singing them for the first time. Keyboard player Chris Freeman also brings such a vibrant energy to the stage. It is hard to take your eyes off him as he jumps around screaming out his backing vocals. The only low point I can pick out of their entire set was the lumbering interludes. They were not all out boring but they could have been replaced by actual songs to have made the set flow a little better. The band did end on a huge high note though with “Where Have You Been.” The song showcased five people playing various percussion instruments, which were scattered throughout the set as well, and made it feel as if the roof was about to blow off of the venue. Overall, the band put on another stellar performance and I’m sure 2008 will only bring them more fame.

Lastly, Annuals hit the stage as a good amount of people shuffled out the door. It was unfortunate most of the crowd seemed to have been there solely for Manchester Orchestra as these Raleigh, North Carolina up-and-comers put on a very energetic show. They have also been getting their fair share of media attention lately and their catchy brand of indie rock explains why. The band showed off their talent by trading off instruments in between and during songs. The bevy of instruments, including keyboards, drums and guitar, was balanced well by lead singer/keyboard player Adam Baker’s calm yet punchy vocals. Following in the previous band’s footsteps, the band used multiple drum kits which again added a bigger element to the songs previously found on their debut album “Be He Me” and their newest EP “Frelen Mas.” My personal highlight of the set was their rendition of “Brother.” I would highly suggest Anuuals for fans of Eisley, Sufjan Stevens, or just about any of the bands that fit under the indie umbrella.

Overall I think two themes stood out to me during the show. The first was that each band used a multitude of drum sets which played well into each band’s unique sound. I have noticed this trend becoming more and more popular from recent shows I’ve attended including Brand New and Facing New York. The second and most prominent theme was how well the bands seem to get along. Every band’s set was accompanied by members of other bands on the tour. It seemed like a family of bands on tour more than just a couple groups thrown together because of their “buzz” status.

review by Matt Zimmerman