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09:26 AM - Who By Fire | Not going to Austin (PART 4)
From what I've seen of their short history as a band, Brooklyn-based Who By Fire haven't played that many shows, in fact they don't even have a website aside from their Myspace page (where you can find two tracks - all the recorded material the band has to show for itself). Typically this sort of behavior will keep me far away from a band, as if they don't seem "serious" enough, but here I make an exception. Recently the band was featured on The Deli Magazine's blog, where Paolo (the Deli's editor) fixated on the band's similarities to groups like Interpol. They do tend to douse their beat-heavy rock songs in reverb and delay and sing dramatically, but what wasn't mentioned there (likely their only press thus far) was that there's an apparent grunge influence when things get a little heavier, in the same way that other locals like Goes Cube and Morning Theft (who are by far the most akin to Who By Fire at least in terms of aesthetics - maybe the two should think about playing together...) have been showing that not everybody making music in NYC these days is fixated on the music of the 70's and early 80's. It wasn't looking promising a few years ago when a new breed of "grunge" bands came along, detuning guitars and growling through their Kurt-ish locks and 5 O'clock shadows that did little more than mimic their influences. What the bands I've just mentioned have done is taken that influence (which if you think about, was probably popular right when they were becoming interested in music, the formative years I suppose) so there's been a good amount of time to absorb it and even move on, such that the influence remained and informed what they're doing now, even if it's not intentional, and that's a good thing. Who By Fire play with Object at Lit tonight. Risk breaking your neck on the ice and go see them (show starts at 8:30, $6 cover). SATURDAY, MARCH 17th 8PM @ the Delancey ($10, 21+) 8:30PM @ Maxwell's ($15, 18+) 7PM @ Pianos ($10, 21+) 8PM @ Sin-e ($10, 21+) 8PM @ Union Hall ($7)
And now, the St. Patrick's Day installment of NOT GOING TO AUSTIN.
8PM @ Cake Shop ($8, 21+)
The Double, Crystal Stilts, Japanese Beetles
Junket, The Orphans, Future in Plastics, Tree of Mind, The Falsies, Savilian 
9PM @ Freddy's Backroom
EZ-Machine!
7PM @ Knitting Factory ($12, all)
The Appleseed Cast, The Life and Times, Le Rug
Blackfield feat. Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree
Lizzyhead, Howling Hex, Mighty Flashlight, Mike Deej, Carlin, Hello Eden
6:45PM @ Roseland ($54, all)
The Pogues, The Tossers
Chris Glover, The Brother Kite, Holler Wild Rose, Ben and Vesper, Clear Tigers
7PM @ Southpaw ($10, 18+)
Maria Taylor, Jennifer O'Connor, A.A. Bondy
8PM @ Tonic ($10)
Nymph, Alex Delivery, Viz (ex-Excepter)
vial, Knife Fight
Comments
You ought not to judge a band by the fact that they don't do a lot of shows or have a lot of tracks. In fact, bands like that you ought to give some respect to. A lot of bands that I know who don't do a lot of shows or done recording (or haven't, yet, at least) are still refining their songs and getting the songs exactly right. I know the guys from a band called Civil Twilight � you should check them out, they are AWESOME. They didn't do a lot of shows for a year (if any) to get their songs and tightness just right. They are not the tightest and best band I've ever seen � they truly rock. Seriously, if you have an opportunity to go see them � go see them. You will appreciate the fact that they took some necessary time off to form themselves into a real band. I've seen too many bands play a show after like 4 weeks, and their music truly does suck. They weren't ready for it. And it does no good to their reputation either. It's good when a band only plays live when the band is truly ready.
posted by: Rug at July 11, 2007 04:50 PM
I have to agree with the guy who stole my name right here, Rug :p. Well very nearly stole it anyway. A band can't be judged by how many songs they have written or how many concerts they have played. There are plenty of famous bands that should never have become famous at all. And it just takes some people a little longer to make it, that's all. Also, MySpace was specifically designed in the beginning for artists and musicians, in case you didn't know. And pretty much every band out there has a MySpace page and relies pretty heavily on the traffic and the friending to get the word out about them. Even Hilary Duff and Beyonce do that. Do give them a little credit and maybe a shout out on MySpace so they have a reason to play more concerts. Oh and don't forget to dread up and be a part of the group.
posted by: Rugs at July 13, 2007 01:36 PM
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