ENS would like to welcome a new live reviewer to the team. Dave gets to alot more shows than yours truly, so look for some added insight in our live reviews section.

In a group of concert goers, the unavoidable conversation about what you’re going to hear often arises on the way to the show. “I hope I hear…” or “If I could write the setlist…” are two phrases to which I frequently give voice. And, inevitably I always come out either elated that my predictions came true, or slightly disappointed that the band didn’t play the main song(s) I wanted to hear. With a fun and enticing show drawing mostly from new material, Robbers on High Street proved me wrong on a chilly Sunday night at Alchemize.

First let me say, that if the new material was any indication, ROHS upcoming sophomore album, Grand Animals, will most definitely NOT be a slump. The songs sounded rich and light, similar to songs on their underrated debut album Tree City, but had a more confident ring to them, with the band not afraid to project their vitality and flavor.

They have often drawn comparisons to Spoon, but where the bands differ is in ROHS playful and exuberant attitude, the sign of a band simply having a whole lot of fun making music. They were able to inject this animation into everything from the haunting harmony vocals on “Married Young” to the downright funky bass line on “The Fatalist” (both of which are on their stellar new EP, The Fatalist and Friends).

Of course, the men didn’t forget about crowd pleasers like “Spanish Teeth” and “Japanese Girls”, which had everyone tapping their toes. But it was the new material that found a way to please, even without having ever heard it.

Robbers were also in the WOXY Lounge this week. Check it out at the site or down the MP3 below.
Robbers on High Street – Live in the WOXY Lounge

Technorati Tags: Grand Animals, Spoon, ROHS