Posted in music | tour dates on January 21, 2009
"Too Fake" might sum it up
There's no doubt that the Capitol/Virgin-signed Portland, Oregon band Hockey have some catchy songs, but my current take on the self-described "New Wave / Soul" group is undecided, but leaning towards..."too fake"?.
"Too Fake" is actually the name of the first, LCD Soundsystem-biting, track streaming on their MySpace. It's also the name their 7-inch single being released on March 2nd. In September, they received the honor of the Guardian's Band of the Day...
Too Fake presents Hockey's funky verbosity in all its glory, all hi-hat and harangues, forming an arresting statement of intent that sees the frontman declare in no uncertain terms, "I've got too much soul for you and it's breaking my heart in two!", 3am Spanish is a tumble of narcotic imagery and nagging hooks, like Mink De Ville had they spent longer at Studio 54 than CBGBs. Curse This City isn't miles removed from Primal Scream when they do funky while Work, possibly the best track, recalls the Stones when they went disco circa Miss You, and Preacher, like much of Mind Chaos, is maddeningly infectious. Song Away, one of many potential singles on the album, is almost too memorable - you can imagine radio going mad for this song about songs, with its references to "Roxy Music" and "80s grooves", and driving you mad next summer.What are they like live? I know they were here for CMJ. Did you catch them? Regardless, they are back to play, not one or two, but FOUR NYC shows in the next four days.
The first is tonight, Wednesay January 21st, at Union Hall in Brooklyn. They play on what is actually an interesting three-band bill that's rounded out by Oklahoma's Colourmusic and Oregon's David Karsten Daniels who just finished some dates with Frightened Rabbit.
NYC show #2 is Thursday at Santos Party House. They share that bill with Cale Parks of Aloha and now-solo-on-Polyvinly Records fame.
The third one is Friday at Mercury Lounge. Futurecop!, Hey Willpower, and Theophilus London are also on that bill.
Last but not least, number four is at Pianos on Saturday. At that one they go on right before (Olga) BELL
All dates below...
Hockey - 2009 Tour Dates
Jan 21 - Union Hall Brooklyn, New York
Jan 22 - Santos Party House NY, New York
Jan 23 - Mercury Lounge NY, New York
Jan 24 - Pianos NY, New York
Feb 17 - Audio Brighton
Feb 19 - Bullingdon Arms Oxford
Feb 20 - Cooler Bristol
Feb 23 - Cargo London
Feb 24 - 02 Academy 3 Birmingham
Feb 25 - Ruby Lounge Machester
Feb 26 - Captains Rest Glasgow
Feb 27 - The Brudanell Social Club Leeds
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Those guys would get their asses kicked playing hockey.
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 1:31 PM
four dirty, smelly young men
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 1:39 PM
Starts off like LCD Soundsystem for sure, then tries to be the Strokes...but then decides to ultimately ape like the Killers.
This band could be 'real' - but they sound 'fake' as fuck.
Posted by me | January 21, 2009 1:43 PM
sadly they'll probably sell a fuck-tonne of albums
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 2:07 PM
they sound horrible and extremely fake. good luck at capitol.
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 2:30 PM
These guys sound pretty cool and will probably do well on the licensing tip...too bad they signed to capitol records though...
Posted by Haterade | January 21, 2009 2:36 PM
my douchebag meter is pinned.
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 2:51 PM
D-bags straight to MTV's TRL
Posted by Dooder City | January 21, 2009 3:15 PM
I'll be at Mercury Lounge. Got my tickets. Vocalist has a Jagger thang going as Guardian review above notes. Guitarist has some edgy riffs up his sleeve. Sneak peek: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJXZlY9dCU8&feature=related
Posted by AJB | January 21, 2009 4:08 PM
They make Vincent Gallo seem non-creepy.
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 4:26 PM
Was ^^^^^^^^^^ posted by:
1) band member
2) A&R
3) manager
4) publicist
My guess is ALL OF THE ABOVE and it all = DESPERATE.
Fail.
Posted by b.LOUD | January 21, 2009 4:28 PM
CUT OFF YOUR PANTS SAY YEAH
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 4:29 PM
b.LOUD-
my guess is capital records intern!
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 4:46 PM
these guys put on a great show at Monolith. suck it
Posted by nick | January 21, 2009 5:37 PM
the phony handmade flyers and cover art suck too.
NICE TRY.
How long before they're playing "Rock Band" shows with the All American Rejects?...oh wait...some people consider that success!
hah.
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 5:57 PM
these guys put on a great mediocre set to a crowd of like 20 people at monolith
they didn't play cmj this year it was cancelled so they can wait to come to do these very important shows before heading to uk for tour w/ passion pit.
ps -- that song away song blows!
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 6:52 PM
too much work work work. vegans like a groove...uh oh uh oh..
Posted by Anonymous | January 21, 2009 11:21 PM
I stumbled upon this band on tour last summer and they are sweet dudes who make sweet tunes. Could not be further from the all American rejects.
Posted by Alex | January 22, 2009 10:47 AM
these guys are great. catchy as shit. really nice guys too.
Posted by Anonymous | January 22, 2009 11:08 AM
LETS GO RANGERS!
Posted by Anonymous | January 22, 2009 1:45 PM
What does being nice have to do with the music?
This music and their image is total bullshit. Maybe some think that they have 'sweet tunes,' but they are exactly what the Bravery were to the Faint: Fucking vampires.
So, enjoy the sweet tunes of these cool dudes from the independent underground scene in Portland. Fine....
But they ARE bullshit.
Posted by Anonymous | January 22, 2009 2:42 PM
Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen And keep your eyes wide The chance won't come again And don't speak too soon For the wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'...
Posted by androgynous | January 22, 2009 3:03 PM
The manager for this band is a total douche...but the band is actually pretty damn good. See them live before you mock them. (though the way they are being marketed is too über hipster to the point of idiocy)
Posted by chaos theory | January 23, 2009 9:03 AM
See these guys live and you will never be the same again.
Posted by Rick White | January 23, 2009 2:18 PM
p.s. fake is the new real (www.fakeisthenewreal.org)
Posted by Anonymous | January 23, 2009 5:42 PM
far from fake. as real as it gets. it's easy to see guys that look like this and plaster them with negative speculation because of all the other junk out there. all their recordings for "mind chaos" were self-produced (except "song away") and created in the basement of a friend's house. They also drove their last tour van on strictly vegetable oil. That type of effort is far from fake. you would be a wise person not to brush them off as another fake band...i used to be a little skeptical too. if you like to feel good vibes- they are a good place to go to. but if you like to wallow in pompous cynicism...stay away from their shows...you'll only bring down the positivity. thanks.
Posted by anon | January 23, 2009 6:28 PM
love these guys! the music, the lyrics, the performances - say what you want, but i wish nothing but the best for them. ive seen them 4 times - cant get enough.
Posted by Anony | January 30, 2009 8:31 PM
I saw them live and you kinda go back and forth between, "woah, little white guy has some soul!" and "oh God, PLEASE stop trying so hard."
Definitely a very energetic show. I could see them winning over a crowd of late-teens / early 20-somethings though.
I ran into them after the show on the street. They seem like nice enough kids
I won't be going out of my way to support them, but if they became the face of modern corporate music, that'd be fine by me as its vastly better than most else on the Billboard 200.
Posted by Nylund | May 22, 2009 6:03 PM