Straight off the bat I’ll come clean... I decided last minute to go check out this show, and as a result arrived pretty late. While there were a number of support bands on this particular bill, (Paris Riots, The Red Tongues, A Richochet) I unfortunately missed them all.

I arrived just as the 5 members of headliners In Tongues were making their way to the stage, and I admit I had no idea what to expect, such is my skills of preparation. A cursory glance at the bands MySpace page had revealed some tight sounding indie type songs, however with no vocals. At this show however, lo and behold…a vocalist! Live, the band played a blend of what I would probably define as post hardcore/noise in the mould of My Disco with a bit more of a new wave dancy edge about it, in the vein of Les Savy Fav or the Rapture (both excellent bands if you’re that way inclined). The tracks were all quite elaborate and layered, the 2 guitars meshing together alongside a tight rhythm section, with changes to time signatures and switches from soft to heavy happening seamlessly within songs, and right from the get go I realised that this band comprised 5 particularly talented musicians. While the band held down the melodies, the lead singer flailed around on stage like a madman, mixing his wailing and screaming with some more melodic singing, occasionally venturing forth from the stage into the enthralled crowd.

Post-Punk, Noise Rock, whatever you choose to call it is a tough genre. Unless you are a die-hard fan of the genre itself the music can be very difficult to swallow. In Tongues however, seem to have enough of a footing in the indie and new wave camps that it allows them to write music that is not only more accessible, but actually pretty damn good. Not to mention they did put on a bitchin' live show.

...next show i'll try to arrive on time, it's hard to pan out a review to an acceptable length when you only saw one band.

Photo from the band's [Myspace Page]