...or trying not to, rather.
OK guys, couldn't we have spread this out a little bit? Why do so many of my favorite bands feel the need to release an epic new album all within two weeks of each other? Between The National, Woods, The New Pornographers, Broken Social Scene, and The Hold Steady, I feel overwhelmed. I want to give each album the attention it deserves, but this is difficult to do when the next album (that you haven't listened to yet) could potentially be the perfect soundtrack to the perfect spring day. And you can't really afford to miss that, can you?
None of this crossed my mind this morning, however, when I automatically reached for Harlem's Hippies to accompany me on my drive to work. Ever since I saw them play at Mad Planet on Monday night, I have been obsessed. They absolutely blew me away. I felt bad for the opening act, Jaill, who are very good with the potential of becoming great. But they just don't have the songs yet. And Harlem does. In spades. They opened with Friendly Ghost (such a great song) and tore through about 6 more songs at a frenzied pace. At one point, during Faces, my friend Erik audibly gasped when they launched back into the song after we both thought it had finished.
About midway through the set, the drummer and guitarist/singer switched instruments, which usually spells certain doom, but to our delight the songs got even better. These three kids have all kinds of talent - especially when it comes to writing melodies and hooks. After explaining how they hate encores, they came back out and played four more songs, including South of France (one of my favs from last year) and Gay Human Bones, which is on my shortlist for track of the year. The crowd (if you can call 20-25 people a crowd) totally lost their shit during Gay Human Bones, which was so fun to be a part of. I don't even know the words to the chorus (something about a basketball team and gang signs, I think), but I couldn't resist screaming along.
While the recorded version sounds great, the song is exponentially better live. If you get the chance to see Harlem play, don't pass it up.
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