Tomorrow Never Knows - Gemini Club, Maps and Atlases, Solid Gold and Voxtrot Lincoln Hall Chicago, IL January 14, 2009

The night featured Chicago’s own Maps and Atlases, the group already has released a few well received EP’s and is currently at work on their first full length album. The brigade of indie pop musicians quickly took command of the stage with an overwhelming presence of plaid and guitar strings. Lead singer Dave Davidson had strong soulful vocals and often times the group was impressively and simultaneously finger-tapping on the frets of their guitars. Maps and Atlases left the stage having energized the crowd for more music.

Minneapolis natives, Solid Gold brought their electronic sound from their strong recent EP Synchronize and their 2008 album Bodies of Water. The lead singer’s clear, emphasized vocals were strong enough to not be overwhelmed by the electronic, guitar heavy songs. Although the singer excitedly moved on stage, the band eased into the smooth, beat driven song Bible Thumper that made the young crowd pulsate right along. Today’s indie music scene is saturated with the 80’s electro-synth sound, and Solid Gold’s brand of electronic is refreshing. Overall the group has a fresh sound that seems to be a cut over the rest but with touches of high vocals like many electro-pop groups such as Passion Pit but with much more guitar heavy parts. Strong points in the show were Calm Down, a slow but strong crowd pleaser and the steady drive of Get Over It, that made the little too hip crowd bob to the beat. Synchronize, off their new EP, was a little more hypnotic and downbeat but their new EP is definitely a worthy listen.

Voxtrot, the melodic Austin, Texas based band, has been fairly quiet since 2007 but didn’t seem to miss a beat Thursday evening. The button down clad group’s sound alternated between a 60’s Beatles influence, to the shoegazing sound of the UK indie pop scene and the Cure. There were also moments of the current synth sound that seems to be permeating the indie music scene. The group opened with the catchy Raised by Wolves and then got the crowd going with Mothers, Sisters, Daughters + Wives. But the strongest moment of the show was probably during the melancholy song Berlin, Without Return where the lead singer seems to be lamenting the current state of life. Both vocals and instrumentation were tight, and with the band’s reemergence let us hope great new material will follow.

Write Comment
Name:	Guest
Title:
Comment:
Code:*

Powered by AkoComment 2.0!