If you couldn’t tell, we really enjoy Cymbals Eat Guitars. With an interview late last year and this, the second review of a show for their more recent tour, you could almost say we’re smitten. There’s a reason for this though, and it’s all over their debut, Why There Are Mountains. The sonic waves and innocence of a fresh face ready to conquer the world with fiery guitars and a heavy hand were too good to pass up on record. Live, they’ve certainly more than proven themselves as a force to follow in the world of up-and-comers.

The last time they circled around the block, they were part of the supporting cast, merely introducing us to what they could do onstage. Now back for another round, this time as headliners, they needed no introduction for their sold out show at D.C.’s Rock n’ Roll Hotel. From the get go of set opener  “The Living North” you tell that something was different. What was captured in a moment on record would only be a taste of what this foursome was capable of when put in front of an audience. Joseph D’Augostino’s guitar work was simply captivating as he moved from furious strums to smooth, but angsty fret work and back again. What you couldn’t see on the frets, you could on his animated face has he tore through every note with reckless precision, letting you know how difficult it was by how far his tongue stuck out, or how his eyes squeezed closed.

The rest of the band was just as in sink with D’Augostino’s need to move, as they all thrashed about, feeding off their fellow hair tossers in the front row. The energy in the room was electric with many choosing to look mystified at the deafening spectacle. The reason could’ve been that, for a band so fresh, they were incredibly on point, never flaking or missing a step. Extra distortion and solo’s were thrown in the mix to make epic numbers like “And the Hazy Sea” even more grandiose. That was the clincher for the night. That there’s more to this band than just a hyped record, and that they could play their hearts out, building on songs that you didn’t think could be elaborated any more than they already were.

As the all too short set wore on, sweat dripping from brows and hands, the zeal only built. On tunes like “Cold Spring” and “Some Trees” every lyric was at near scream as the veins pulsed from D’Augostino’s neck showing that even though this might have been his thousandth show, he still meant every word. When it came time for that obligatory encore after just nine songs, they humbly asked, “What would you like us to play, a new song, a cover?” The audience was torn, so they played both, touching on a Dinosaur cover, and a new track with a name that neglected to be mentioned. As no surprise, it fit right in with the rest of the night, furthering our hearing loss.

The band has a long road ahead of them, but at this pace, they’ll be speeding through it, blasting away every audience. Their shy stage presence and subtle bravado made up the charm of these slightly nerdy guys. It was clear when they walked on stage that they were nervous and excited to see such a swelling audience, but when they turned on the effects peddles, it all seemed so comfortable and natural.

With only one record under their belt, Cymbals are on their way to establishing themselves as the live indie rock band for the new year. That’s big news for a small band who has had no trouble selling out the tiny clubs around the country. So get in on the fun while you can, because from here on out things can only get bigger.