Pains of Being Pure at Heart, The Depreciation Guild and Cymbals Eat Guitars @ The Horseshoe Tavern

It's interesting that no matter how long a band has been around, whether it's been a few months or several decades, the blissed-out fuzz of shoegaze always makes me a feel a little bit nostalgic. This is why there was no doubt in my mind that the show last Monday night was going to be right up my alley. The fact that the three bands performing have really only emerged onto the scene over the last couple of years was a perfect way to make me feel hip and relevant, while allowing me to relive my past at the same time. (Admittedly, using words like 'hip' probably decreases my relevancy rating but whatever...)

Kicking off the night was Cymbals Eat Guitars from New York. I was very much unfamiliar with their music despite the fact that everyone from Pitchfork to NME has been hyping them up pretty heavily over the past few months. More than a few sources have been tossing around overwhelming 'best of the year' praise for their debut Why There Are Mountains, and by the crowd's enthusiasm it was obvious that the buzz has reached our part of the globe as well. At first, I have to admit that I wasn't blown away. The instrumentation was tight enough, and the melodies were there, but the style seemed to be blowing an awful lot of 90's alternative air my way. My personal penchant for nostalgia does not really include the modern rock radio of that pre-millennial decade. On top of that, Joseph D'Agostino's screamo vocals irritated me. However, about three quarters into their set they pulled out an impressively ambitious number that actually caused me to take notice. Being unfamiliar with their songs, I'm afraid I can't tell you what song it was, but let's just say that it was enough to make a positive impression on me. The last couple of songs they played were also pretty good, and I'm at a point where I'd be willing to give the album a thorough listen before I pass final judgment on them.

Photos: My shots of Cymbals Eat Guitars are on flickr.
Myspace: Cymbals Eat Guitars

As much as I was looking forward to the evening's headliners, I have to say that my favourite act turned out to be the one that was sandwiched in the middle. Under normal circumstances that would be a bit of a jab at the other band, but seeing how The Depreciation Guild is made up of a few members of that band, including Pains' drummer Kurt Feldman on lead vocals, I'm pretty sure that nobody's feelings are going to be hurt. Besides the obvious shoegaze vibe, there are also sprinklings of psychedelia and electronica incorporated into their mix. The three piece hit the stage with a trippy rear projection of colour on a back wall screen, creating an ambiance that was as fuzzed out and blissful as the music they played. There were times when they sounded as much like Skip Spence's Oar, as they did My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, but it was the little Nintendo like blips and bleeps that really made them stand out from their influences. That unique sound is a product of a classic videogame system turned instrument known as the Famicom, which created not only an intense accompaniment to the instrumentation of the material, but also a necessary aural distraction during those moments when the band was tuning inbetween songs. I have since picked up their album In Her Gentle Jaws, and it truly is nothing short of fantastic.

Photos: My shots of The Depreciation Guild @ The Horseshoe are on flickr.
Myspace: The Depreciation Guild

This is the third time that Pains of Being Pure at Heart have come to Toronto this year, and although the venues seem to be getting a little bit smaller, the love and enthusiasm for their brand of fuzzy pop seems to be as strong as ever. I can't stop listening to their debut, and they're obviously eager to keep things going while people are interested, because part of the reason for their return was to promote a new EP entitled Higher Than The Stars. They showcased several songs from both of those albums and there's no denying the fact that they have a gift for melodic and affable pop sounds. While it's true that they are certainly not one of the more animated bands out there, and I'll admit that it would be nice to see them show a little more enthusiasm, the songs are definitely strong enough to hold a person's attention. There were also a few mild attempts at banter, one of which featured keyboardist Peggy Wang dedicating Everything With You to anyone who loves watching Degrassi, which got a few cheers from the crowd.

Photos: My shots of Pains of Being Pure at Heart are on flickr
Myspace: Pains of Being Pure at Heart

The show is also reviewed over at 'For The Records'