The Velvet Teen, Desert City Soundtrack, End Transmission & The Autumn Era

Though threatening to cave-in under the immense weight of its own hipster-cred, Tuesday's Velvet Teen show somehow managed to pull through thanks to a surprisingly inspired pair of headlining acts. Opening up the show in front of a predictably apathetic audience, The Autumn Era proved themselves to be a rather inspired bunch as well. In their year of existence, The Autumn Era's music has shifted considerably from a more straightforward sound towards a complex and dark post-emo squall. Moments of tranquility belied an ever-forthcoming distorted frenzy. The band as a whole seemed to genuinely enjoy themselves on stage, writhing about in a not entirely displeasing manner.
End Transmission, who took the stage subsequent to The Autumn Era's departure, were a band that failed to display any real significance or unique aspects. Not that their music was unenjoyable, or their demeanor offensive; their stark and un-muddled style was fairly tolerable. But when End Transmission quit the stage, one was left with little except a vague recollection of a band. Especially in comparison to their successors, Desert City Soundtrack, End Transmission's set seemed little more than an interlude.
In regards to the aforementioned, the scattered descriptions and overheard commentary previously available to me left me all together unprepared for the aural onslaught Desert City Soundtrack would inflict upon me. A prototypical indie rock trio augmented by an amazing keyboardist, Desert City Soundtrack layered dense piano chords over a squawking Fender Mustang, paced by outstanding slowcore drumming, creating a hauntingly creepy and heretofore unexplored style of music. This sentiment was seemingly shared by the majority of those in attendance who finally took to their feet and began crowding the front, spurring Desert City Soundtrack onward with sincere appreciation.
Livened considerably by Desert City Soundtrack's austere anthems, the crowd anxiously awaited the night's headliners, The Velvet Teen. The much-lauded Bay Area trio, heralded by indie journalists and fans alike, had quite a reputation to live up to. Surprisingly, they would not fail in this pursuit. Though initially sounding somewhat disoriented, The Velvet Teen quickly exhibited the superior art-pop sound that has garnered them such renown. Three-part vocal harmonies laid atop a Spartan brit-pop framework immediately set The Velvet Teen apart from many bands of a similar ilk. Frontman Judah Nagler's silky falsetto was almost lewdly exhilarating when matched with his adolescent boyishness. The band functioned as a solid unit, exhibiting a laid-back swagger that added to their previously discussed growing fame. Few and far between are bands that can live up to such heavy hype, especially within the incestuous confines of the indie rock world. The Velvet Teen proved to be such a rarity, rendering many in the crowd, one cynical reviewer included, paralyzed with surprise.
- Daniel Taylor
- Photos by Jeff Shaner

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