Five Bands to Watch in [the rest of] 2009 + Overrated Bands of 2009!

Six months ago, I posted my list of bands to watch in 2009. A few have proven me right, a few have been disappointing and the rest, well, we'll see. But over the last six months, I've come across or become more familiar with some other bands that merit your attention, and just because I found them in February instead of November doesn't mean they shouldn't make the '09 list.

Coin Under Tongue - For some reason, when I first learned of this band, I got the impression they were some sort of chilled out Americana thing - in fact, I distinctly remember listening to such music, but apparently, I was listening to a different band entirely (no idea what). Coin Under Tongue are LOUD and HEAVY, with the most massive distortion since A Place To Bury Strangers emerged a few years ago. You shouldn't be surprised to learn that I am NOT a metalhead at all, but with their relentlessly screaming vocals, this lumbering post-hardcore is well worth checking out.

Coyote Eyes - I've been increasingly smitten with this band since I first saw them in January. Their post-punk betrays a strong Sonic Youth influence, but they don't sound like Sonic Youth at all. Their perfectly-balanced rhythms, enticing melodies and enthusiastic live shows show they have what it takes to be a big name in the Brooklyn scene. [MySpace]

Pterodactyl - If you read this blog regularly, you'll have noticed that it's pretty much all about Pterodactyl these days. My mother thinks the high-speed arpeggiated guitars sound like French ambulances, but in combination with the jolting rhythms, jackhammer drumming and wild multipart vocals, Pterodactyl are more like riding strapped to the front of a French ambulance than just hearing one go past. Off the top of my head, I can't think of a single band that has balanced mature musicianship and manic, youthful energy more effectively. Their music may not have much mainstream appeal, but among true lovers of edgy music, they deserve to be considered one of the most exciting emerging bands of the last few years. [MySpace]

Sisters - I know, Death By Audio Records (also home to Coin Under Tongue) is cleaning up here! After being moderately impressed by Sisters at Dead Herring House this spring, I got my hands on some of their tunes, and I got a whole lot more excited. The pair garners a lot of not-undue comparisons to No Age, last year's noise pop/noise punk duo. But Sisters are a little more down to earth - their songs are shorter and more straight-forward. On the one hand, this means they are rather less sophisticated than No Age, but on the other hand, they sure pack a punch. They sound a heck of a lot like Sonic Youth's punkiest side and that's a very good thing to sound a heck of lot like. The guitar's heavy distortion and the drums' primal minimalism compensate for the decent-but-unexceptional melodies. Plus, how can you go wrong with songs like "Lust Is Just" and "Everybody's So Fucked Up"? This band is just plain cool. [MySpace]

**GUEST ADDITION**
Jasper recommends (and so far, I agree):
Little Girls - Little Girls sound like Blank Dogs if they came off their high horse of rock star snottiness. (Also, they are a rock band in the purer sense of the word without the synthesizers or electronica influences.) All of the noise, all of the melody, none of the pretension. - "Jasper" || Little Girls play lo-fi noise pop, but with a darker, gloomier undercurrent than their punky peers (No Age, Wavves, Times New Viking, etc.). - RFR || [MySpace]

An update on my early 2009 lists: A Sunny Day in Glasgow's album is rumored to be all I hoped it would be. I don't have my copy yet, but rumors are encouraging.


And as a supplemental list...

The Most Overrated Bands of 2009 (so far):

7. Magik Markers - They aren't terrible, but really, Thurston Moore? You couldn't have found someone better to dote on? I have some suggestions (see above).

6. Home Video - So much buzz, and all this is is generic new wave? I think they're the new Violens (and that's not a compliment).

5. Real Estate - All the hype around this band got me pretty excited. They were playing shows with Woods and Wavves and all of those bands I love so much. I downloaded some of the songs and promptly fell asleep. These guys might have even fewer melodies than the Vivian Girls.

4. An Horse - This is one of the worst bands I have ever had to sit through a set by. Perhaps more tolerable than Naked on the Vague (their fellow Australians) but still nothing short of painful. The melodies seldom contain more than three different notes and the words could be taken directly from the diary of a particularly lame twelve-year-old. I couldn't leave the show (no re-entry) and I think I pulled a muscle cringing.

3. St. Vincent - She makes me want to get my head run over by a semi-truck.

2. Suckers - This band is appropriately named. They suck. All show, no substance.

1. Dirty Projectors - I disliked this band in principle for a long time before realizing I should actually give them a fair chance. So I did. My mind was wide open, at least for a few minutes. They strike a balance between boring and annoying few have achieved so well.

Live: Harlem Shakes + Suckers

When: 3/26
Where: Music Hall of Williamsburg

I've been waiting a long time for the return of the Harlem Shakes, and apparently, I wasn't the only one - the band played their album release party last night to a sold-out house at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Though the band has played a couple of shows in town this year, this one felt like the true kick-off for the band's return.

The first opening act was Air Waves, but I missed almost all of the set. Next up was Suckers. Honestly, I couldn't quite figure out what this band was trying to accomplish. If they were aiming for dancability, they certainly didn't do too well - only three people in the audience were moving. If they were aiming for pop, they also fell short of the mark - I couldn't remember a single melody after the set ended. And while the grooves were occasionally good, they weren't good enough to carry the music by themselves (even when they didn't feature lame George of the Jungle-style synthesized timpani). I just don't get it. The band was good on stage, but musically, I think they might be a little too true to their name.

Then, after a frustratingly long DJ set, the much-anticipated Harlem Shakes finally took the stage. To be honest, the set started out a little shaky. In the mix, the guitar sounded weak, and the band seemed to stumble a few times during the first few songs. But thanks to their strong musical chemistry, they were able to plow right through without most people even noticing.

The Shakes are better live than recorded. There were a few songs on the album I just didn't care for, but when they played them live, I suddenly found myself loving them (with the exception of "Unhurried Hearts" - I just don't like it). The band was at its best when they adapted their music instead of copying the record note for note. For instance, "Radio Orlando," a relatively mellow track on the album, somehow became a near-wildfire last night.

And the Shakes are remarkable to watch. Drummer Brent Katz plays not only a regular drumset, but also a myriad of additional instruments including djembe, agogo bells, woodblock and an electronic drumpad, all at the same time. Keyboardist Kendrick Strauch is in a similar position, rarely playing fewer than two instruments at once. Meanwhile, guitarist Todd Goldstein and bassist Jose Soegaard often look like they are mid-seizure, knotting themselves over their guitars and shaking compulsively. When they aren't doing that, they are wielding their instruments like weapons in a duel, swinging them at invisible enemies all over the stage. And did I mention all four also sing?

By the time the Shakes got to their poppiest song ever, "Sunlight," they had the audience wrapped around their little finger - you could actually feel the massive anticipation in the air as the band played through the bridge before the song's final chorus. After that, the band wisely did not let their momentum slip for even a minute. When they couldn't jump immediately into the next song, they just jammed until everyone was ready, never letting the sound stop.

The band brought at least a half-dozen guests on stage, including three saxophonists. Surprisingly, there were few moments when the saxophone, my arch-nemesis in the world of musical instruments, really bugged me. The sound was rich and full and rocked harder than the album - especially through some shredding guitar solos that you'll find nowhere on the record. The band also treated the crowd to three favorites from their Burning Birthdays EP, a 2007 release that is less polished but just as good as Technicolor Health.

I was glad to see one of my favorite local bands so warmly welcomed back after a year's hiatus. And I was glad to see the band live up to and surpass the expectations of the hundreds of people who braved the rain to check them out. It was a surprisingly powerful night. Harlem Shakes, welcome home!

MySpace