Indie Invasion From Miami
Published on March 10, 2009 at 12:43pm
With the exception of the always-awesome power
poppers the Pretty Faces from Boca, Saturday's show at Respectable
Street is billed as an "indie invasion from Miami." Among the
highlights is Astari Nite, helmed by the enigmatic Michael Ghost. The
group has crafted a cohesive, melancholic sound, dark without sliding
into goth pigeonholing, cold and post-punky without aping Joy Division.
Ghost seems more than a little visually and sonically inspired by Brian
Molko of the equally anomalous U.K. act Placebo, with his eyelinered
paleness and literate, introspective lyrics.
Meanwhile, Rimsky is the side solo project, of, um, Rimsky, usually
spotted playing with the endearing stoners of Humbert. By himself, he
crafts charming, lo-fi, twangy tunes about love and stuff that should
have Jeff Tweedy fans' hearts aflutter. Live, he's backed by a varying
constellation of local rock scenesters who play under the moniker the
Rockford Beats.
Finally, Life of Seals needs to lose its stupid stage gimmick — some
kind of centurion-style masks at past shows. Because under the silly
hats is a serious, spaced-out joyride into the more electronic reaches
of shoegaze that, live, packs a far more serious wallop than the tracks
on the band's MySpace page. Dull your senses a little first and enjoy.