Saturday, April 12, 2008

Effervescent Brooklyn quartet Bishop Allen play Pearl Street TONIGHT (Wednesday) with Philly's The War On Drugs and locals The True Jacqueline

If Modest Mouse spent a year in a Chuck E. Cheese ball pit, they might emerge sounding like the delightful Brooklyn quartet Bishop Allen. That's not to say that these indie-poppers aren't a serious band. On their debut, Charm School, the foursome blend sharp, jangly guitars with catchy melodies and big choruses. Songwriters Justin Rice and Christian Rudder write cheeky lyrics and layer their tunes with handclaps and singalongs. The band's carefree attitude, along with their musicianship, make Charm School as addictive as it is playful. Add drummer Margaret Miller and bassist Bonnie Karin, and they enter indie elite. Karin's ethereal backing vocals complement Rice's perfectly -- propelling already memorable tracks into charmed harmonic bliss.

Opening the show is Philadelphia's The War on Drugs who create epic folk-pop songs that draw comparisons to Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and the Arcade Fire. With the acclaimed self-released Barrel of Batteries EP, this quintet has already snagged a deal with indie label Secretly Canadian. Their full-length album Wagonwheel Blues is due out in June. Locals The True Jacqueline round out the bill. Get tickets HERE.

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