The Like are three young, and terribly photogenic, you ladies from sunny California. Signed to Geffen, they seem to be getting punted left right and centre. As well as all the festivals, they have major stadium supports lined up with everyone from Muse through to Razorlight. Someone seems to be plowing lots of monies into making this lot big. So, perhaps, this could be our last chance to catch them in such a small venue.
Debut album Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? does have it’s moments, but is very much a first release. Not 100%, but with enough genuine inspiration to catch your interest. Whereas they should be coming across as a majestic hybrid of The Pixies (officially the most influential band of the last 20 years?) and Blondie, on record it seems more Throwing Muses meets The Strokes (admittedly, in itself, not such a bad thing). And, despite a, strangely (for Tut’s), muddy sound they do manage to bring more life to their material in the live forum than on record. At worst they do the quiet/loud thing very well. At best they are breath-taking.
On top of that, in Tennessee Thomas (please let that be her real name) they have one of he most unique drummers I’ve had the pleasure to witness in quite some time. Part Mo Tucker, part Ragdolly Anna she batters her small (as in the number of pieces) kit like a maniac, hair flailing everywhere. Aside from being mesmerising to watch, she also provides the central focus to what could be described as The Like sound. She could give many a great big hulking brute lessons in how less can be more. Very powerful when required. Worth the price of entry alone.
Phoenix are currently being feted in strange quarters. Or, more specifically, Sophia Ford Coppolla likes them and has used them on her movie soundtracks. And, she gets far more cool kudos for getting Kevin Shields to write some new stuff for her last movie than for any critical value to her stuff, so she must know what she’s on about. (Two words: Urge Overkill.) of course, she doesn’t. Does the world really need a gallic Crowded House, but with less tunes? Apparently the newest album by this lost is the usual “much harder sound” than their debut. Which must explain the various points through tonight where the name Zerra 1 flits across my mind. If we just ignore them, they might go away. Certainly, we shouldn’t be encouraging this kind of thing.
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