The Dears Headline Rough Trade NYC

When I sat down to write this article I couldn’t think of one main point, or thesis, or argument to share.  There was no one overarching theme.

But then again, that’s how The Dears are.

With a constantly evolving sound, The Dears make you remember them because there’s not one single thing to take away.  This continuous motion and change was on full display when The Dears took on Rough Trade NYC on Wednesday October 28.

A concert with The Dears is kind of like a game of musical math.   The game is simple, During each song, ask yourself “Which combination of artists and songs create this song?”  It could be Kings of Leon + a band from the 80s, or Johnny Cash + Modest Mouse, or 60’s surf rock  + modern rock.  This can definitely be done at a Dears show; the influences on each track were clear.  The variation kept the show fresh; the energy always changing.  With each new song came a new identity, and the audience thrived off of the change and deciphering where the songs came from.  

It was the little things that spiced up the evening: a few surprise vibratos in between songs; some fancy footwork and movement thrown in to keep the crowd and the bandmates moving; the multiple sexy guitars that littered the stage.  Each song was centered around a complex guitar solo and moved outward from there, often creating lush electric guitar layers.

Three elements were the most consistent over the night:  1) the guitarist slayed his parts 2) the vocals were comfortably monotone and 3) were all delighted by the charismatic frontman, Murray Lightburn.  He’s the kind of dude that plays a tambourine on his chest instead of his hands.  He is front and center, repeating jokes and mottos no matter how corny over the evening (tonight, it was a sporadic version of “Autumn in New York.”).  He can do incredible impersonations of bong sounds into his microphone.  He’s the kind of guy that shakes his hands like he’s doling holy water, does the sign of the cross, and implements pretend Gospel during his set.  And he always seems to be asking “what’s next?”

And with the constantly changing sound, so were we.

Check out The Dears New album:  Time Infinity Volume One.  Stand out tracks include the hard hitting “I Used To Pray for the Heavens to Fall,” the timely Halloween themed and organ guided “Face of Horrors,” and the driving “Here’s to the Death of all the Romance.”  Also check out the animated music video for “Here’s the Death.”  Volume 2 of the Time Infinity recording endeavor will be out in 2016.