Sound Team, Cold War Kids & The Preakness @ The EARL | Recap
Posted by Paul in The Yellow StereoIt’s extremely nice to get out and see a good live show again. I haven’t been in months since the Jenny Lewis show, and i was just happy to be there regardless if last night’s show was good or bad. Thankfully enough the show as a whole was really great. I’ll be honest though as i think this was the first show i’d been to where the supporting act completely upstaged the headlining band. I felt kinda bad for Sound Team because as soon as Cold War Kids finished their set, it felt like everyone in the entire venue left and not many people stayed around for Sound Team to finish their set. Not to mention they were extremely loud, and my ears were left ringing the rest of the night. That’s not something i consider a positive experience.
I didn’t know too much about The Preakness coming into the show, but i was pleasantly surprised with their set. They played some nice, straight to the point indie-pop and which is good enough for me. In that picture you’ll notice bassist Tracy Clark playing a melodica which i’d never seen anyone play before in person. Kinda looks like a cross between a keyboard and a feeding tube. I’m trying to look for more info, but i don’t think they have a website and their myspace page is lacking in any kind of info besides that this trio (vocalist/guitarist Brandon Arnold, bassist Tracy Clark, and drummer Tim Genius) are from Decatur, GA.
The Preakness | “What They’re Saying” [from Cable & Tweed]
If the sheer amount of people that were there to see Cold War Kids was any kind of an example that they should be headlining their own shows, then look at those same amount of people who then left as soon as the set was over mind you. They played an awesome set, to quote a friend of mine who witnessed the show as well, “i like cold war kids way more than those other losers though.” Even with instrument malfunctions, the band kept on rolling and never missed a beat really. There were some really creative moments from the guitarist (who’s name escapes me at the moment) that ranged from banging a maraca on cymbals, to hitting a cymbal on a wooden stool along with a wine bottle with a drumstick when the aforementioned malfunctions started to happen.
I was bummed that i didn’t get to see them previously but this definitely makes up for it. The band definitely stole the entire night. They played with a confidence and with an aggressiveness that just completely gets you caught up in it. I think standing in front helped a lot as well for me. They played mostly songs off their recent EP Up In rags, and just played an all-around great set. Definitely check them out when they roll into your neighborhood.
Cold War Kids | “We Used To Vacation”
Cold War Kids | “Hang Me Up To Dry”
I kinda have a hard time writing about Sound Team’s set as i was kinda disappointed with it. I mentioned in the beginning how my ears were ringing when i left and this continued througout the night till i went to sleep. This was the result of how extremely loud the band was. This was not a good thing as it completely drowned out Matt Oliver’s voice which resulted in him having to yell a lot. I really like Movie Monster as i consider it a great debut album, but the songs didn’t translate that well live and that’s what i consider the most important aspect with a band. I think it didnt help much that the wind probably got taken out of their sails with not everyone staying around to listen to their set.
They played almost everything from Movie Monster except the one song i wanted to hear the most “Born To Please”, even someone behind me yelled out for them to play it with no result. They also played a new track too though, i don’t remember the name. I wish i had more to say about the set, but i really don’t and it would be more negative then positive sadly.
Sound Team | “Born To Please”
Sound Team | “Shattered Glass”
I still thought the show as a whole was great, and everyone should check Sound Team/Cold War Kids on the rest of their tour as on a few select dates they’ll be joined by blog faves Midlake.
7/21 nashville, tn exit/in
7/22 cincinnati, oh alchemize
7/24 washington, dc black cat, with midlake
7/25 philadelphia, pa northstar bar, with midlake
7/26 cambridge, ma t.t. the bear’s, with midlake
7/28 new york, ny mercury lounge, with midlake
7/29 new york, ny mercury lounge, with midlake
7/30 montreal, pq the green room
7/31 toronto, ont horseshoe tavern
8/1 detroit, mi magic stick
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i really enjoyed the show too, and it was super cool to meet you! Hope my freakishness didn’t scare you too bad (or my drunkenness for that matter, haha). Thanks for the heads up on the show. Hopefully i’ll be able to go see sufjan too!!
oh, and i’ve seen that instrument played at only one other show…Okkervil River the time i saw them in Athens…damn that was a killer show. Though not quite as killer as the time i saw them in Tucson…but that’s a whole other story
Amy! It was so great to finally meet you! I’m sorry about being so shy, but that’s how i am around people at first. No, you didn’t scare me haha you’re awesome and easy to get along with. You and Ryan were cracking me up the entire night. Hopefully we can all go to another show again soon. Email me and i’ll send you the rest of these pics if you want them.
Oh and if you would like to post your thoughts on the show too then email me it or something and i’ll put it in along with mine haha. or you could do your own, whichever
Ah! I think we almost met. I was the guy who took a pic of the setlist after CWK. Ring a bell? Were you wearing a red shirt?
Oh, and what do you wanna know about The Preakness? I can prob help. They don’t have any releases, but they’ve been talking to Eskimo Kiss Records about doing a 7″ soon. We dig ‘em in ATL. Brandon, the primary vocalist, is also in Licentious 5. Tracy, the bassist, is also in Silent Kids and The Blue Hour. Tim, the drummer, is in some other stuff too but I don’t know much about those. Off my radar, I guess.
haha Hey Rich, i had a green shirt with a panda bear on it. I was the only asian guy there i’m pretty sure as well. I think i tried to get a pic of the setlist right after you then, cos the guy was taking it away as i was about to take the picture….i got it anyway tho obviously.
I had no idea what you liked but i was still looking anyways as i wanted to say how much i enjoy your blog….it’s actually one of the reasons i started my own haha.
About The Preakness, i was just wondering if they had anymore material out is all, besides what they had on their myspace page.
Ah! I def saw you. A lot. I had a blue and grey striped polo shirt on. Glasses, beard. Took some pics. Ya, those guys up front were Steve and Kenny. They both go dead-front-center at everything and usually grab the setlists. I like to have a snap of them for my tapes, but don’t really need the actual thing… so a pic works great.
Nope, no other Preakness material has been released. And I think some of what has been released is actually just Brandon rather than the whole current band. They’ve only been playing out for a few months. I actually ran into Brandon from The Preakness at the Selmanaires show tonight at Lenny’s.
Ok, i definitely saw you then
I’ll have to say hello the next time we’re at the same show again.
That’s awesome that you saw him there, i wish i could make it to more shows in the area and actually get familiar with the local scene (as there is absolutely ZERO music scene here in Auburn) but alas the drive is a bit too much for me unfortunately so i’m only able to make it to maybe one show a month or every other month. Ok, i’m typing way too much.
If you wanna see a whole bunch of great local bands play, come on August 26 for the Grant Park Festival. Lineup is still developing, but I know it already has about a half-dozen of our best indie pop types on board. There’s also an event in early Sept. sometime called the Other Sound Fest that will have a similar thing going on. Keep an eye out. I’m sure I’ll be covering both on my crappy blog.
Oh, and I have mp3’s of the CWK set up now.
Ah that’s awesome, i’ll definitely be keeping my eye on these. Thanks for the heads up
hey! thanks for coming out to the show!!! hopefully we’ll be releasing something soon…
b preakness