You know those bands that you thought you’re on the up and up with and then you find out they have been making music for years longer than you even knew about? Yeah, that was me with Peter, Bjorn and John.
When Writer’s Block came out in 2006 and none of my friends knew who PB&J were I was like “oh snap, I’m ahead of the curve!” Wrong. But it really ended up to be an amazing thing because once I fell in love with that album, I wanted more – and more is what I got. Having release two prior albums, Falling Out in 2004 and their self-titled debut in 2002, Peter, Bjorn and John had already been making a big name for themselves in their home country of Sweden and Northern Europe.
Gaining major steam (much to the band’s surprise) after the release of the first single “Young Folks” from their third album, everywhere you went you couldn’t escape “that whistling song”. Dance clubs across the country started playing them and they blew up. Artists like Kanye West were sampling their songs and they started collaborating with some big names in rap and hip hop: including Drake, Wale, GZA, and 88 Keys. In 2009 they played Lollapalooza and even toured with Depeche Mode.
While the band has always stated that they are influenced by new wave and 80s power pop, they have found success in pulling the best and most abstract aspects of these genres and turning it into something new, refreshing, and even a little out there. For their headlining tour this fall, you might have to rack your brain trying to come up with who would be uniquely talented enough to fit in with PB&J’s sound: enter Brooklyn’s Dinosaur Feathers.
Dinosaur Feathers is the type of experimental pop you would expect to hear on a tropical island…that is if you were expecting to hear experimental pop while on a tropical island. Regardless, in an age where experimental music seems to be the current bread-and-butter of the music world, Dinosaur Feathers is doing it in a way that doesn’t make you feel like you’ve heard it all before.
Kicking off the night is Tampa’s indie rock quartet, Guiltmaker. With an EP and LP under their belts, and a newly, self-released digital EP – the boys of Guiltmaker are no strangers to working hard for their craft. Every member plays off each other beautifully, all while finding a way to showcase their talents individually. From the vocalist Shaun Drees’ (who also plays guitar) pure and powerful voice, heavy and haunting guitar and bass riffs courtesy of Dave Teten, Dan Radde, and the having it all tied together by their drummer, Daniel Williams – Guiltmaker has pretty much perfected what so many other indie-infused, post-punk bands can’t even touch…a harmonious unity.
One of the things I enjoy most about Guiltmaker is that they have not abandoned a hardcore sound. While music on the heavier side of the spectrum seems to have taken a turn to the less popular side of things these days, a band that can still make good hardcore music seem relevant by embracing their indie side gets nothing but major kudos and admiration from me. And while they may not seem like a perfect fit for this bill, sometimes it’s not about a cohesive theme throughout a show; sometimes it’s just about making sure you have a lineup full of bands that are all kickass – mission accomplished Aestheticized Presents, mission accomplished.
I have a major feeling that this show is going to SELL-OUT! So just do the right thing and buy your tickets now, before it’s too late. Or if you really have to wait until the day of show, make sure you get out to Czar early. If there is one thing that place is known for is long lines of kids just dying to get in. Doors are at 8pm and tickets are $20 both in advance and at the door.
P.S. make sure to stick around afterwards for Czar’s weekly Saturday night party, Popsickle! Not only can you cool off after a few hours of moving and shaking with an adult Popsicle or Socialist Martini, but I’m betting the bands might hang around too!
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