Ever since hearing last year's Why There Are Mountains, the debut album from New York’s Cymbals Eat Guitars, I’ve been chomping at the bit to catch the band live. As I walked into the Paradise Sunday night, I found the room packed at near capacity, a testament to the band’s attractive double bill with Los Campesinos!
Just as I found a good line of sight, Joseph D’Agostino strapped on his Fender Jazzmaster and led the band into "And The Hazy Sea." From there, Cymbals Eat Guitars never stopped delivering a powerful, bombastic set that featured several tracks off their debut as well as a killer new song that in D’Agostino's words “should be on their next album.” Let’s hope we won’t have to wait too long to hear what’s next from this refreshingly fun live act. This is melophobe's third time seeing Cymbals Eat Guitars in the past couple of months, so yeah, we kind of have a little band crush.
After being held captive by the volcanic smoke clouds over the U.K., Los Campensinos! finally made it over the Pond for their delayed and restructured U.S. tour, kicking it off in Hoboken, NJ on Saturday before hitting Boston. When the Welsh septet took to the Paradise stage amid bright lights and armed with a set list to satisfy any ardent LC! fan, all in attendance greeted the band with a feverish welcome - after all, just a few days ago, it looked as if this show might not happen.
The band's raucous and inspired set drew largely from their latest release Romance Is Boring; the album's frenetic pop anthems were cranked up for a stunning live performance.
Anchored by their magnetic front man Gareth Campensinos, with his contorting dance moves and shout/sung vocal delivery, the band deftly ran through a list of should be hits, highlighted by a show stopping version of "There Are Listed Buildings." The band's presence on stage was something to see, with the core seven members, along with additional touring musicians, crowding the small Paradise stage.
During "Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks," from the band's debut, the entire room was pogo-ing and singing along with every word, while Gareth belted out lyrics and surrounded himself with throngs of sweaty fans. A couple of broken mics later, Los Campensinos! had turned in a performance to rival the finest in this storied Comm Ave. venue's history.
Set List:
01. Heart Swells/100-1
02. I Just Sighed, I just Sighed, So You Know
03. Death To Los Campensinos!
04. Miserabilia
05. A Heat Rash In The Shape of The Show me State, or, Letters From Me To Charlotte
06. There Are Listed Buildings
07. Romance Is Boring
08. Documented Emotional Breakdown #1
09. My Year End Lists
10. Straight In At 101
11.This Is A Flag, There Is No Wind
12. You! Me! Dancing!
13. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
14. The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future
15. Sweet Dreams, Sweat Cheeks
