Opening the show was Dumb Talk [12], who played to a sedated crowd, but by the last three songs everyone had shaken off their catatonic states to enjoy the valiant efforts of the band. Dumb Talk recently signed to Miscreant Records, a label formed by Syracuse University student, Jeanette Wall. With a new record pressed, and many upcoming one-off shows, Dumb Talk is giving it the best they can, especially since all of the members are still in college.
Next up was Providence, Rhode Island based, Math The Band [13]. I got a chance to catch up with the power couple before their set to fetch some Red Bull. “We never play sets over 20 minutes, so we are going to need these!” explained songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Kevin Steinhauser.
He met Justine Mainville when both of their bands played the same venue at Mainville’s college in Providence. Since then, the duo has gone on to record three albums together. The latest album, Get Real, will be released Nov. 20.
In promotion for the new record, the band filmed a music video for every song on the album, including “Four to Six” which is already on the Internet. Come spring they will be heading to Germany to tour their record in the fatherland. Winning first place for energy and performance, MTB really delivered and got the entire front row into a dance-crazed frenzy.
After 45 minutes of meticulous (and possibly pointless) sound checking by headliners Dum Dum Girls’ engineer/road manager, the all-girl four piece took the stage. Starting things off at a more relaxed pace, the audience got a chance to rest their eardrums for a few minutes and also got to take in the visual experience.
Dressed somewhere between Victorian and 60’s mod, their presence was as if you had stepped into one of Austin Power’s psychedelic parties. At this party, however, the drug of choice must have been downers, as the Dum Dum Girls [14] never broke a smile and hardly said a peep. Even Debbie Harry is more compassionate on stage than lead singer Jules, and that’s not saying very much…
Regardless of their demeanor, the songs were catchy, the harmonies were full, and the vintage electric guitars were gorgeous in the spot light. If you like revenge pop, girl bands, you just got dumped, you like mascara, or all of the above, Dum Dum Girls are a good scratch for your itch.
