Pop Press International talked about this show quite a bit leading up to it, and have been proclaiming the greatness of both Cloud Nothings and The Men for a good while. The Men’s recent effort Tomrrow’s Hits as well as their last album New Moon are among our favorites, so I’ve been actively anticipating this show for months. I could’t believe it wasn’t sold out when the date rolled around, but I suppose this fact could be attributed the overabundance of quality shows last week, including a three night residency by The National, Phantogram, Future Islands, two nights of Vampire Weekend, as well as a slew of local and small touring shows like Damien Jurado and Thee Silver Mt. Zion Orchestra. Did we cover them all? Yep. Every single one.
By the time Cloud Nothings began their set, the venue was at or very near capacity. Frontman Dylan Baldi always seems so demure and reserved, completely unassuming as he takes the stage and begins to tune and line check his guitar. Like a poison dark frog, Baldi seems cute, just before launching into a sonic onslaught that disintegrates your eardrums. Although the band’s newest effort Here and Nowhere Else, released via Carpark at this month’s onset, contains more accessible and hook-driven riffs, the live show still ranks among the most brazen in indie rock.
As soon as the band began playing, a mosh pit instantly formed and lasted the duration of the set. As mosh pits go, this one seemed particularly good-natured, with fans smiling and protecting bystanders on the outside of the circle as they jostled each other amiably. Part of what makes Cloud Nothings so propulsive live are the beats generated by drummer Jayson Gerycz. He’s one of the most talented drummers I’ve ever seen perform. A whirlwind of arms and drumsticks, his motions defy time and space as the plows through fills and rhythms with impeccable timing at breakneck beats per minute. I’ve never seen so many snare counts in such a short time. Gerycz alone is a reason to see Cloud Nothings.
Prior to Cloud Nothings, The Men played a set of their own aggressive punk-leaning indie rock. Although the band has increasingly incorporated country elements into their sound to great effect, their live set showcased less of that than I’ve seen in the past few years. Absent was the pedal steel usually utilized in their live sets, although organ and keys did provide some of the subtleties that make their songs great. The band played a section of their songs mostly from newer albums such as “Different Days” from Tomorrow’s Hits and epic folk-tinged rocker “I Saw Her Face” from New Moon.
Onstage, the band banters little and spends most of their time pummeling the crowd with sound. Their songs also favor extended jams and sprawling sections of improvised grooves. The quintet will build tremendous energy over time, and after a few minutes of intense, distorted rock, still manage to kick it up a notch. Props to the guy down front who bought a shirt before the set ever started and sang along to every song. More people should love The Men this much.
Nude Beach opened the night with a set of like-minded distorted rock. Check out photos from the night below. All images © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International; all rights reserved. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
