On principle it would be mighty easy to hate The Drums. The New York youngsters are very much the hot young band of the moment, donning magazine covers and hyped from all quarters. When four well groomed chaps shuffle on stage first impressions suggest that this will be nothing more than poses and hair styles, an hour of style over substance. Opener ‘It Will All End In Tears’ is solid if unspectacular and begins to justify the worries, but this is not to be the story of the evening.
As the mic stand is discarded and space is found for some tambourine action ‘Best Friend’ kicks off and The Drums come to life. Gone are the nonchalant expressions, gone the hipster image, and an engaging live proposition emerges. Front man Jonathon Pierce is all theatrical movements and fey posturing whilst the band and audience are united in leaping around joyously. This is exciting music, songs that demand movement and pop in the best sense of the word.
There is little chatter between songs and the set is short. ‘I Felt Stupid’ swings between sultry bass lines and a chorus you can shout at whilst ‘Forever And Ever, Amen’ dares you not to dance. Pierce flits around stage with the angular dancing of a young Ian Curtis and looks to an adoring audience through deep-set, penetrating eyes. There’s atmosphere enough to forget that there isn’t even an album yet.
It’s notable that the act is well constructed. Rambunctious behaviour appears to come at designated cues whilst Pierce’s actions appear well-rehearsed, yet it matters little. The compulsion to entertain live mirrors the ethos of the songs and ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ is utterly simplistic and immensely satisfying. The laid-back surf sound to the record has a harder edge live and the venue erupts. After scratching the hyped surface of The Drums it’s wonderful to find that there’s substance below the style and a band to get excited about.
Full Setlist:
It Will All End In Tears
Best Friend
Submarine
Me and The Moon
I Felt Stupid
Make You Mine
Book Of Stories
Jerk
Skipping Town
Lets Go Surfing
Down By The River
Forever and Ever
Pics: Bart Photography
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