Last Night: War Tapes Get Deft 'n Dramatic at Club Moscow, September 24
Posted: September 25, 2008 11:22 AM
It's a joy to watch War Tapes' self-esteem and song craft increasingly outshine their CD collections. While the local quartet’s early efforts (like "Supposed Human," aired tonight) might have had Interpol's attorneys reaching for the phones, lately their hefty hooks, deft ‘n dramatic dynamics and road-honed connection (they've toured with The Bravery and Tiger Army and opened for Smashing Pumpkins) are smearing stylistic lines. Last night's show, like the debut EP it celebrated, found War Tapes spreading their emotional spectrum, from Cure-ish cascades of glacial guitars and hands-wringing angst to almost pseudo-show tune sensibilities and dashboard-lit, late night laments.
Youthful front-man Neil Popkin is the best and worst thing about War Tapes: his gentlemanly Sisters Of Mercy baritone and icon antics -- while both in the love-'em-or-hate-'em category -- are the crucial centerpieces of his band's sound and vision, yet his Morrissey-meets-Mussolini gesticulating seems mo re learned than felt and it's that voice, though ever-developing, that keeps the Joy Division/Bravery comparisons coming. His charmingly tireless will to win over – and that of the similarly kinetic, coming-way-out-of-his-shell guitarist Matt Bennett (the only War Tape unrelated to the others) – nonetheless made admirable inroads into a Club Moscow crowd that, though shoulder-to-shoulder, seemed more keen to be seen than to see.
At the end of the night, despite a mix that squashed Popkin's voice like a police scanner and reduced his stylish sister Becca's angelic backing vocals to almost subliminal messages, great pop songs like "Always Falling" and "She Lied" imply that War Tapes are cooking-up a world-class first album. When Popkin enjoyed moments of teen-rock fantasy -- cute gals gyrating around him on stage; brief singing-while-crowd-surfing -- you couldn't begrudge him a bit of it.
By Paul Rogers
Link: http://blogs.laweekly.com/play/last-night-war-tapes-get-deft/
Showing posts with label War Tapes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War Tapes. Show all posts
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
War Tapes LUV!
To: wartapes@hotmail.com
Sent: Sep 23, 2008 7:17 PM
Subject: Awesome
Hay I saw u guys with tiger army at the fillmore I was right in the front middle, anyhow, I was sooo feeling you guys. I was waitng to hate u because most opening bands are dreadful, yet u guys kicked ass! The melodies, lyrics, the beat was really good, I went out and bought the e.p the very next morning! Theres only 7 songs on the cd, and i think u guys did more then that at the show, so when can I hear the rest. Thanks for a great show, I haven't stopped listening to the cd, and my fave tracks are 1 thru5 and 6 is cool.. Thanks for touching my hand lead singer!!! Much success and I will definately see u again. Please don't break up.
Your New Fan,
D.A.
(THANK YOU D.A.!!!!)
Sent: Sep 23, 2008 7:17 PM
Subject: Awesome
Hay I saw u guys with tiger army at the fillmore I was right in the front middle, anyhow, I was sooo feeling you guys. I was waitng to hate u because most opening bands are dreadful, yet u guys kicked ass! The melodies, lyrics, the beat was really good, I went out and bought the e.p the very next morning! Theres only 7 songs on the cd, and i think u guys did more then that at the show, so when can I hear the rest. Thanks for a great show, I haven't stopped listening to the cd, and my fave tracks are 1 thru5 and 6 is cool.. Thanks for touching my hand lead singer!!! Much success and I will definately see u again. Please don't break up.
Your New Fan,
D.A.
(THANK YOU D.A.!!!!)
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
War Tapes: OFFICIAL EP RELEASE PARTY! 09.24.08
War Tapes' EP was released last week!!!
OFFICIAL EP RELEASE PARTY! -- They will be playing this Wednesday September 24, 2008 @ 10:45 PM
Club Moscow @ Boardner's
1652 North Cherokee Ave.
Hollywood, CA
18+
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