Arrived at the Music Hall of Williamsburg a few songs into Headlights‘ set. Last year’s Some Racing, Some Stopping ended up earning an unexpected amount of listening time — it’s a solid, enjoyable pop record, at times reminiscent of Saturday Looks Good To Me, but with less of SLGTM’s overt nostalgia and evocations of fading memory. I haven’t spent as much time with their new album Wildlife yet, from which the bulk of the songs I heard were taken. A wave of organ-emulating keyboard rose over everything, and the evolution of their sound appears to be heading in a denser direction, though still clearly, you know, indie-pop.
This was my first time seeing The Dutchess & The Duke since last year’s CMJ, and it again found them in trio mode. The set was solid — though something about the tone of Jesse Lortz’s guitar seemed a little off — and they did a fine job of evoking the scope of their new Sunset/Sunrise even in a more minimal configuration. (And here’s where I shamelessly link to an interview I conducted with Lortz earlier in the month.)
My first impression of the very buzzed-about Dum Dum Girls hearked back to my impression of Girls At Dawn two nights earlier: that the world of indie-rock seems suddenly abounding with “Girl” bands owing a sonic debt to assorted bands featuring Amy Linton (i.e. Henry’s Dress, The Aislers Set). Abundant reverb, unabashedly retro melodies, and a punk-rooted energy. Admittedly, this is a style I like, so I’m not really complaining. There’s also the matter of their onstage look, which is either the apex of a particular style or a critique of it. It would take until my second time seeing the band for my take on their music to shift — and while I’m tempted to say something like “tune in tomorrow for the senses-shattering conclusion.” Except: no.
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