I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the Epoch’s self titled debut for a couple of months. It’s an ambitious album, which I would loosely describe as indie-pop. But it’s much more considered and complicated than most pop records, with multi-layered songwriting that doesn’t easily reveal its strengths, though I sense them there; they seem to be buried just below my current comprehension of the record. On first listen, it's quirky, with electronic flourishes complimenting that traditional guitar/bass/keyboard/drums setup.
The show at the Mercury Lounge was about a week before the record was released, and like many shows there, it was pretty industry heavy. The opening band really, really sucked. Not that they couldn’t play their instruments, but it was embarrassing. I’ll leave it at that.
The Epochs did a very good job (better than I expected) of recreating the subtlety of the record live. The show felt like there was some kind of tension underneath the surface of the music that never quite broke through; deliberate, controlled, and interesting while not quite rewarding. I don’t claim to yet “get” this record or the band, but I will continue to spin the record and see what happens. For fans of quirky, complex pop without the sugar coating, this band may be for you.

Labels: Concert Reviews, The Epochs