The Hourly Radio with Decoder Ring - Pianos (New York) / The Hourly Radio - The Annex (New York) - Saturday, March 25, 2006

by Rachel Pesin
12 April 2006

I discovered THE HOURLY RADIO on Friday, March 24 while at The Big Takeover office. I immediately fell in love with their two-song single, “Deaf Ears/Crime Does Pay” and went online to find more of their music. I discovered that they not only had a bunch of other great songs, but also that they were playing two shows in New York the next day. Needless to say, I was there!

The first gig was at Pianos, and I showed up for The Hourly Radio’s time slot, meaning that I arrived just in time to see the band on before them (anyone who’s been to a show in New York knows they never stick to the original time schedule).

Luckily for me, the band, DECODER RING, from Australia, were amazing. This six-piece play lush, ambient, shoegaze electronic-pop; half the set was perfect chill-out music while the other half consisted of beautiful dance tracks. The music was accompanied by vocalist LENKA’s breathy, ethereal voice. The band also use film to enhance their music; images of flowers budding, marshes, clouds, oceans and other serene nature landscapes make for the perfect background to their gorgeous music.

After Decoder Ring, The Hourly Radio (pictured above) took the stage.

They’re the perfect blend of all things British (by way of Dallas!). Before I saw them live I described them as a new wave-y, Brit-pop, dark dance party and I have to say that’s exactly how they were live, which means they were amazing! I personally was blown away by the talent this band has and how great their songs came off live.

Vocalist AARON CLOSSON not only reminded me of the vocalists in DELAYS and JJ72 (two U.K. bands) but he physically reminded me of IAN CURTIS.

What I liked most about this band is that they weren’t trying too hard to have a certain image, like “dark, brooding, Brit-inspired band.” This is probably due to the fact that they’re not from a huge city full of hipsters, but regardless, it was nice to be able to tell that this band care about the music, and only the music.

After their all-too-brief set, they headed over to the Annex for their second gig of the night because, like many other bands that come to New York after SXSW, they sought to make the most of their post-SXSW New York time.

I think I preferred this set over the first one, because instead of playing “Crime Does Pay”—their big, dance-y track—first (like they did at Piano’s), they chose to lead up to their dancier numbers by first playing their more slow-burning, intense songs. Also, at the Annex, they were bathed in dark lights and dry-ice vapor, which, although not so much fun for the nostrils, sets an amazing scene. I was doubly impressed.

If this band plays with the “right” bands (other bands heavy on the darker, Brit influences) and continues to work hard, I have no doubt that they’ll be the Next Big Thing. EDITORS, beware.

Links:
Decoder Ring
The Hourly Radio

Filed under concerts indie-rock