Midlake | Cold War Kids | Sound Team @ Southpaw

The three next “it” bands play together in one powerful night of music and for only 10 bux! This was a very anticipated summer show for me considering Midlake impressed the hell out of me the last time they played New York. They come back after a few months of touring with a new album just released. Critics say they sound like their hometown sound of Denton, Texas but I feel they are much more, fusing many complex layers of sound into a surreal composition. The more I listen to them the richer the songs become and I feel they have become a progression of Neutral Milk Hotel. This time around, they played an entirely different set composed mainly of new songs and revisiting “Balloon Maker” for a fan the night before. They ended their short set with “Head Home” which was much more dynamic live and made me revisit it over and over again on their new album. Which by the way is my pick for the best album of the year thusfar. Go buy it.

Very excited to see Cold War Kids again and this time at a much smaller venue. They left me in awe last time and tonight was no different. The band seems so chaotic onstage and they release so much tension and energy to the crowd. They play this soulful rock that is extremely powerful and at the same time lyrically intimate. It’s as if Bob Dylan was playing in the Velvet Underground. A great set. Rest assured that their full length will be released on a big label.

The buzz wasn’t over yet as Sound Team came next. They started with a wall of sound that took shape as the night went on. After a few songs I was hooked into their feedbacky melodies with interesting sounds popping in and out. Although nothing that special from this band, they nevertheless played a number of tight songs that as a whole formulate the vision of the band. What that is, I think the they are still trying to figure out. And fuck Pitchfork for giving their new album a very low rating as its not that bad and their live performance makes up for a lackluster studio album.

Pictures from the show.

Links:

Midlake – “Head Home” mp3
http://midlake.net/
http://www.coldwarkids.com/
http://www.soundteam.net/