It seems as though it's that time of year, when there is a turn of the calendar, the weather (typically) becomes increasingly bearable, and the quality of shows become more plentiful. So far this is ringing true in 2010, because March is overflowing with great bands coming to town.
We Were Promised Jetpacks are just one of the many awesome Scottish indie rock bands stopping through Cleveland throughout the next few months. They are currently jaunting about the country before they touchdown at this year's SXSW. This quartet creates music that is – dare I say – me. Yes, I realize (and sympathize that) to some Emo is best described with profane if descriptive adjectives. However, for many, there is a beauty in a melody that is dotted with angst, drenched in guitars and covered in explosions of pop, much like the sugar on a beignet. Even better when the chocolate on this dessert is complemented by an Edinburgh-born brogue. These guys bring the intensity of Alkaline Trio, the danceable jangle of Franz Ferdinand along with the anthemic urgency of early U2. We Were Promised Jetpacks will be joined by Bear Hands, who will be bring their post punk, Modest Mouse-esque tribal stomp, tambourine-filled soulful indie rock to the Grog Shop on March 12.
On the evening of Tuesday, March 23, there is a don't-miss triple header taking place at the Grog Shop. The headlining band is one that you must pay attention to: the British indie electro fuzz duo known as The Big Pink. Their sound is big enough for an arena, and will be a real treat to hear their shoegaze-y, 80's inspired pop hooks in an intimate venue where the onlookers will truly feel the reverb of the bass thumping against their chests. Taking the stage with them that night are fellow shoegazers, A Place To Bury Strangers, who bring enough sonic firepower to lay The Grog into nothing but rubble. Skillfully managing a beautiful mess that is equal parts ear splitting noise, space rock and psychedelics. To round out this triple header are the lovely local ladies of Hot Cha Cha, who will start the evening off right, and light the stage afire with their bigger-than-they-look post punk meets new wave hook-filled melodies.
Passion Pit is a band that loves synth-pop, as you may recognize their happy go lucky tunes from the Palm Pixi ad, or Gossip Girl and Big Love episodes. They've got a sound that makes no bones about their purely pop exuberance, which is a good quality these days when we crave true pop that is made using auto tune. It is an intriguing rarity to encounter a song that you cannot help but listen on repeat because it makes you happy - and, this is exactly what nearly all of Passion Pit's tracks will do. Originally a solo project, started by lead singer Michael Angelakos as a gift to his girlfriend on Valentine's day a few years ago, the act has quickly transformed into a vibrant, live band. Angelakos' vocal delivery is difficult to quantify, yet one of the most distinct high-pitched falsettos and the perfect accompaniment to match the bright grooves his bandmates supply with colorful keyboards, synths and glistening dance beats. To make this show even more alluring, Mayer Hawthorne, the current reigning king of retro white boy soul, is the opening act within band The County. Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and now based out of LA, Hawthorne's incantation will cause you to recall one of the smoothest voices of the Motown era: none other than Mr. Smokey Robinson. The show comes to House of Blues on Tuesday, March 30.
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