For the last week and a half or so, I’ve been back home in Virginia for vacation. And while being at home obviously has its luxuries, after searching for some shows to see during my time here, I quickly remembered  just how difficult is it to find a good one in the Washington, D.C. area. Fortunately this time around, a South by Southwest-esque showcase made its way to D.C.’s Rock and Roll Hotel last night, and for three hours on a Thursday night, my music thirst was temporarily quenched.

Making my way into D.C. last night, I knew I would not be seeing your standard, run-of-the-mill indie show. Headlined by Sons and Daughters, this particular concert marked the first and only time these Scottish natives would be supported by the oh so hyped Holy Fuck and A Place To Bury Strangers on their current U.S. tour. And while certainly a strong lineup, I questioned how three bands with such distinct and unique sounds and styles would flow and what’s more, have a large enough overlapping fan base to bring an enjoyable atmosphere.

Thankfully, as I pulled up to the venue 30 minutes late (due to D.C.’s incredibly sensible roads), this last question was quickly answered. With a line to enter the venue stretching almost a block, it seemed as if many had come out for the mere sake of the lineup, rather than for one particular band. And it quickly became obvious that for three hours on a Thursday night, Washington, D.C. would be getting a taste of what South by Southwest is all about.

More than anything last night, it was a showcase for three extremely talented bands, who by night’s end would all easily justify their respective large amounts of hype. As I finally entered the venue, more than 45 minutes after the doors technically opened, I was graced by the ear drum shattering sounds of A Place To Bury Strangers. Though I only got a short taste of the self-described “loudest band you’ll ever hear,” the furious bass beats and guitar screeching produced by the Brooklyn Natives quickly left an impression.

Combined with the flashing strobe light, the entire 15 minutes (that I saw) of their set felt like it was all in slow motion, which in the end, ironically complemented the complex and distorted feedback ringing from the speakers. For some the deafening sound was too much, I saw several exit towards the bathrooms in hopes of saving the remaining bit that was left of the hearing, but for those who made it all the way through, they witnessed the power of music - both emotionally and physically.

Thankfully most of my hearing returned by the time Toronto’s Holy Fuck entered onto the stage.The instrumental rockers, who feature a Battles meets LCD Soundsystem sound, played a truly stunning 40 minute set, which could perhaps best be described as “electro euphoria”. From the quirky keyboard ladened “Lovely Allen” to the rhymatic mishmash of “Choppers,” Holy Fuck filled Rock and Roll Hotel with a non-stop rush of head bopping beats and jaw dropping sounds, and by the time the last few traces of electricity left the room, a collective reaction of “holy fuck” seemed to generate through the audience. I guess Rachel Ray knew what she was talking about…

Needless to say, Sons and Daughters had a tough act to follow as they took the stage a little before 11pm. Their latest album, This Gift, has easily been one of my favorites of the year thus far, and I was quite interested to see how the album’s stunning musicality would translate live.

But as the overly catchy rhythms form Scott Patterson’s guitar descended over the audience, it quickly became apparent that this punk meets blues rock band from Glasgow had come to play. Musically, the sound was just as tight, if not more, than what can be found on any of their recorded work. The raw energy and tremendous quality of frontlady Adele Bethel’s vocals were equally exceptional, delivering a sound that was both electrically charged and passionately real.

In fact, the word “real” may be the best way to describe their hour long performance. The chaotic yet catchy “House In My Head” offered a roller coaster of musical emotions, while their self-described pop song “Chains” exhibited the band’s diversity in sound. In the end, the set was neither over the top, nor lacking substance. It was intense, yet fun, and though Holy Fuck may have stole the show that night, Sons and Daughters provided a night of musical excellence.

Check Out:
Holy Fuck - “Frenchy’s”
Sons and Daughters - “Split Lips”
A Place to Bury Strangers - “To Fix the Gash In Your Head”

More Photos:

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Categories: Concert Reviews, News
Tags: A Place to Bury Strangers, Holy Fuck, Sons and Daughters