Live Review: Appomattox at Red and Black Bar, Washington DC – 16 September 2009
Just like you can’t keep a good man down, you can’t keep a good band down either. Brooklyn-based Appomattox, fine purveyors of what I would call exciting indie rock, made a fine showing in a short 40-minute set played at the Red and Black Bar in Washington last night.
This is one animated band. Singer/guitarist Nick Gaynier shreds like a man possessed and somehow (I really don’t know how he does it) delivers the lyrics to the band’s songs with similar gusto. The songs are largely upbeat in rhythm, and it’s James Mello‘s expert drumming and Dave Nurmi‘s sultry bass lines that provides the bedrock for the strength of Appomattox’s songs. Frenetic, fast-paced, and in your face – this is what I love most about this band. You can’t sit still watching them and you shouldn’t, because the songs are fun and memorable.
Gaynier told me before their set, “we write songs about chicks“. But you know what? I’m fine with that premise if they can keep churning out engaging rock songs like these. ‘Too Slow’ and ‘Either Way’, two of my many favourites from their album ‘A O’, were pure bliss live, the latter sporting a wicked, wicked instrumental bridge that showed off Gaynier’s and Nurmi’s talents on the guitar. These and many other great songs can be found on ‘A O’ so I urge you to visit their MySpace page and check out their sound. You won’t be disappointed.
Stay tuned for my interview with the band coming soon!
After the jump: photos. Note: Appomattox is currently touring with San Francisco band Low Red Land; journalistically, I didn’t feel it right to write a review about their set considering I know little about their music. But I did photograph them, so photos of their set are included as well.
Appomattox photos:
Low Red Land photos:
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