Brightest Young Things

words by: Thomas Redmond
photos by: Jane Briggs

Washington DC's very own Tennis System began the show with what I'm told was loud, post-shoegaze, reverby, pop in the vein of Low.  Unfortunately, I, being chronically tardy in every aspect of my life, missed Tennis System but given the descriptions I got from many friends, I will be sure to check them out in the future and you would be wise to do the same.

Boasting impeccable style, a courageous haircut and a beautiful 1970's Farfisa organ, Toronto's Slim Twig play the sort of music that would make most people want to commit Suicide... references.  This one man show relied heavily on pre-programmed samples and loops allowing him to spastically pace around the stage, spitting crazed and often incoherent lyrics while gesticulating wildly.  It must be said that Slim Twig was easily one of the flyest dudes you're likely to ever see gracing the stage of DC9.

If Slim Twig had cool, Japandroids had heart. With their huge sound and self-conciously cute and endearing stage banter, Japandroids had the nearly capacity audience behind them from the beginning.  While their earnest delivery of tight, catchy songs was refreshingly direct, I couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed in their straightforward, no frills pop rock sound.  Fortunately, judging by the ecstatic reactions of the fans around me, I may have been the only non-believer in attendence.  For me, Japandroids' long and entertaining sound check was definitely the highlight of the show.  Numerous false starts and teases had the audience in a state of giddy enthusiasm by the time they finally tore into the first song.

Even though they had vastly different approaches to making and performing music, both Japandroids and Slim Twig displayed impressive showmanship and attention to craft that most indie bands would do well to emulate.

Previously in Live DC:

• 2/13: LiveDC: George Clinton & The Parliament-Funkadelic @ 930 Club
• 2/13: LiveDC: Veronica Falls/ Brilliant Colors @ Black Cat
• 2/13: LIVE DC: Steve Aoki/ Datsik/ Alvin Risk @ Fillmore
• 2/13: LiveDC: The Darkness @ 930 Club
• 2/9: LiveDC: Theophilus London @ 930 Club
• 2/9: Best Weekend Bets
• 2/8: LiveDC: Kathleen Edwards @ 930 Club
• 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
• 2/8: LiveDC: Thurston Moore/ Kurt Vile @ Black Cat
• 2/7: LiveDC: Demetri Martin @ Warner Theatre