I caught Annuals at the first of two NYC shows last week, this one happening at Sin-E. Wow. The first thing I noticed is how much better their live show is getting every time I see them. Annuals have really brought it up a level since their last stop here in July. They opened the show with Brother, drawing a strong reaction from the audience, and didn't look back from there. Annuals are doing a great job at pulling off a complex sound live, and they don't miss a beat. Coupled with a good sound man, I could clearly hear the detailed textures of their songs, which were further enhanced by a terrific rhythm section. I've seen many bands this year using multiple drummers live, but I've only seen one other band (Liars) use them with this much purpose and precision. It isn't a gimmick, it's simply the best and only way to create the big, multi-layered drums that make up some of my favorite moments on their upcoming debut, Be He Me. Annuals are getting tighter and more confident; the results are fun to watch and great to hear. I'm definitely looking forward to catching them at their October show at Irving with Spinto Band and Art Brut.

Labels: Annuals, Concert Reviews