Signing a record deal with TVT probably didn't help either

^^
True that. No label destroys bands quite like TVT.

I saw them years ago at Northsix and several members seemed too high to play their instruments. That doesn't help.

I was one of the worst performances of music I actually like that I have ever seen.

saw these guys with autolux a few years back and they were ok.

i think that they weren't nearly stylish enough (ie. ironic and/or fashionable) to make it in new york.

if you're gonna make it big in this city, you've gotta look good. doesn't matter how good the music is.

bearface - i thought these guys would qualify as "pretty?"

i saw them open for GBV a few years back, at GBV's show out on the pier - one of their last, i think. ambulance were pleasant enough.

i liked their album, too, but eventually the "pleasant enough" angle wears thin, and you move on to something else equally pleasant. their sound also smacks of the nice britpop that no longer moves units stateside. they should have hit in the late 90s, when travis were huge and people still remembered the verve.

Never heard of these guys. Any song recommendations to get the idea?

Selling 500 tickets (two shows at Mercury Lounge) with no advertizing and the last release was an ep over two years ago is pretty good going... I reckon they are probably doing better than whoever their comtemporaries were of a few years ago.

Yeah, TVT suck.

Drugs Delaney - try "anecdote" and "heavy lifting" off of LP.

TVT is a shitty label. Don't know how they are still around.

I went to Hoboken to see them at Maxwell's and I was highly disappointed. The new lineup is not as exciting as the old one. I was so disenchanted from the Maxwell show that I gave my tickets away for the Mercury Lounge show (I wanted to watch the hockey game more).

I love their 1st album, and I've seen them a few times. When Eric Ronick of Black Gold was touring with them they sounded AMAZING!!! Eric banging away on the keyboards was amazing. When they started doing shows without him they sounded OK. Good, but not mind blowing. My favorite Ambulance shows have to be the Irving Plaza gig when they opened for Phantom Planet and the North Six show when Clap Your Hands opened for them.

The band isn't the same without Benji, Matt, and Darren. The Red Romance are actually good live and I think Matt is a good frontman. Does anyone know what happened to Benji? I know he played with Black Gold, but I believe he left.

Could the guys just get along and come back together. The new keyboardist seems like he was a member of Wang Chung or some other 80's band.

The old version had style and looked like a real deal band..the new version looks like Marcus put up an ad on Craigslist..

Yo, 4:11...

They recently filed for Bankruptcy.

loved the old band the new one does notthing for me.

Saw them with Suede years ago.. Blew me away..

yeah their show at union hall earlier this year was also very disapointing. Maybe they'll get better, but right now the quality is down compared to the old line-up. Agreed on the new keyboard guy, sounds like old timey piano tunes or something.

Went to two ambulance ltd shows this last tour and was totally impressed with the new stuff. A test of a good band is one that doesn't only rely on their old stuff but moves on. Love the new songs, great lineup that has lots of energy and i'm looking forward to another cd. Who cares how a band looks its the music that matters. If you want fashion go to a fashion show. I thought Ambulance looked great on stage.

marcus is a nice enough guy, except for the few months he thought his band was going to be big, then he got a bit of an ego, now he's pretty chill ...

new ambulance rocks! !

these guys are arrogant glamour boys.. they're really not that good, which answers your question as to why they have not taken off

You're a moron if you think these guys are arrogant glamor boys. If you had been to any of their shows you would notice that Marcus has actually been smiling and having a good time on stage, which wasn't really there with the previous line-up. And when does being arrogant prevent you from taking off?? Most of the rock gods and goddesses are the most arrogant SOB's you could ever imagine! Go back in your hole.

Spending time analyzing their music is like staring at corn in your poop.

The mercury show was great. Saw the later one. I like the new band better actually. They appear less affected and less stereotypical looking then the last line up. Tight set.

failure to launch? what happened?

come on, bao.

google TVT, cuz. lend some business "savvy" to all that "passion" for music swirling around inside.

Hint: TVT is bankrupt.

the Maxwells show was decent...plus Bear Hands ripped it as the openers & Wild Light weren't half bad........it's Maxwells, you didn't pay alot to get in...how can you go wrong...decent music, good beer! keep chasing the cool...

bear hands were ace at merc lounge

They sounded amazing! Thier new material is awesome! It seems there is better chemistry between the guys. Marcus and Xander sound AMAZING together. Can't wait for the new album!

I really dug the new tunes a lot...I wish they would record a new album soon. I'm glad they decided to move forward instead of just rehashing old stuff. And the new bands sounds great!

What a show last Friday night (4/4/08). Visually, Ambulance LTD. doesn't have too much to offer, they're of the UK "shoe-gaze" line of stage craft, but that's OK because the playing would make them wearing tutu's OK. I have never heard a band tighter than these guys, never. But the tightness seemed to come from an innate skill at performing as opposed to a band mimicking the LP's sounds. They just pulled everything off with ease, keeping it simple and rock-steady. The vocals were unreal, I have never heard a singer sing that well live, never! This guy not only never hit a wrong note, but made each song/lyric sound like you were hearing him in a studio setting as opposed to live. And there were no vocal effects, spare a little reverb. His delievery was flawless, something I have never heard in a rock show before. And the important part was, he kept it a rock n roll show. No pretenciousness and his heart was with his words. Everyone in the band just served the song. That is a piece of the puzzle that so many bands and muscians seem to forget.

They did a set of 50% stuff from the first LP & second EP and the rest was all new. These new songs they're working up are excellent: very catchy, great music and melodies. All of them were good, and a few stood up with the best from their first LP. It was a total no bullshit show: 3 minute tunes, no jamming and minimum chat. Also, seeing them at Maxwell's was great- the sound was perfect, their sound guy knew his stuff and had done an excellent job at soundcheck for there were no noticable jumps in any levels. That's a pretty big feat to pull off with 2 singers, 2 guitars, bass, drums and keys in such a small space.

If you guys get the chance, see these guys I have not oversold one aspect of them. They are that good! I plan on seeing them again as soon as I can, as did the folks who came along with me.

Ditto to the above. The new Ambulance is great for all the reasons mentioned. You hit the nail on the head with your comments. I was at Maxwell's and the Merc and Marcus was on key for every note and the band sounded GREAT. Obviously the new line-up has the chemistry that the old Ambulance lacked. I can't wait for Ambulance's new CD.