Back in January I caught Passion Pit at Terminal 5 after grabbing some tickets before the show. I had no idea about either opening bands, Brahms and Tragedy. They both turned out to be just as interesting as the main act. Tragedy were a heavy metal cover band of The Beegees. Enough said. Brahms were an exciting dance rock band that left me impressed. I was excited to see Passion Pit, but I was also very excited to learn more about Brahms when I got home. I did some research and learned that it was the new band of Cale Parks (who is the drummer for Aloha & has his own solo work).
They are a brand new NYC based band that has created some decent buzz due to their great live shows. They have mostly stayed loyal to the NYC circuit playing a ton of shows here. With that said, you can see the band at numerous SXSW Showcase Shows during the festival.
An easy comparison would be a dance rock act like Cut Copy or the legendary New Order. They have only released 4 songs, all of which were given away for free as a trade off for signing up on their mailing list. The 4 songs should be put together as an EP because it would make for one hell of an EP. “Brought It Out” and “Subtext Is Deadly” bring out the feelings of a successful night out on the town, cherishing the parts that you can still remember. “Another Time” is smooth and cool, re-creating the atmosphere of that damp club where most of the night was left on the dance floor. The songs have enormous hooks and strong melodies that have the power to make even the most uptight listener dance. The standout track in my opinion is the infectious “Toward The Ghost”. It has a colorful chorus that is filled with feelings of ecstasy and passion.
Brahms are an act that you shouldn’t sleep on. I feel privileged to be alive during a time where we are graced with great young act such as Brahms.
[mp3] : Brahms – Toward The Ghost
[mp3] : Brahms – Another Time
You can grab two more songs from the band by signing up to their mailing list at their website. Visit them on myspace/facebook, follow them on twitter, or visit their blog. Keep an eye out for my interview with the band later today/tomorrow!
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