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We weren't going to come to this show, tempting though it was, because of an even slightly more tempting show at TT's tonight, but that one was partially cancelled, and so we arrive here rather late. As a result, we just get to hear The Nightlights' last song, and it's a cover. (The Violent Femmes' "Kiss Off") So I don't really get a chance to form much of an opinion.
This might be Shore Leave's last show ever with their excellent drummer. (There are rumors of a potential new guy who is also supposedly very good, so I have high hopes for them, but it's still sad.) He is fiery and damn near perfect tonight. They come galloping out of the gates tonight with a fast, raucous screamer, and then follow it up with the sweet, spacey song with a gorgeously floaty arpeggio ending that they've been using as a very effective set-closer lately. It's good to mix things up, and it emphasizes the combination of head-clutching complexity and pure catchy prettiness that is the magic of this band. There are a few mix issues tonight, which is probably inevitable with this many instruments onstage (seeing Afshin play keyboards with a bass and an electric sitar hanging from his neck at various angles never fails to entertain me), and I wonder why Charles doesn't get a microphone tonight, but everything that I can hear sounds good.
The Volume are debuting a new member tonight. They're now a five-piece, having added a second singer/guitarist who actually handles most of the lead vocals now. This is potentially great news, as my only real problem with this band before was the weak vocals. (Not bad, exactly, just weak; hard to hear and without a lot of presence.) The new guy is a much stronger singer, and so the tunes, which are solid, come across better. The music is fairly dreamy psychedelia with a bit of a slinky groove in the rhythm section. Unfortunately, with the slightly more cluttered sound, it's getting hard to hear the original singer's guitar, and his playing is so strong and varied and unusual that I'd like to hear it emphasized more.
