Dappled Cities @ Pianos, NYC 3/22/07
Crowds at NYC clubs the week after SXSW are a comical spectacle; bands play to quarter-filled rooms when any other week they'd be packed, and the the people that turn up are a mix of eager-eyed, music-deprived, SouthBy holdouts and burned-out, sleep-deprived, SouthBy casualties. No need to bitch about which we were, but let it be a testament to to our need to see Australia's Dappled Cities (it's official: no more Fly) after missing 'em in Austin.
The indie-pop quintet's been building buzz down under for awhile now (two albums to their slightly-changed name), and we made 'em a band to watch last November when Aussie friends recommended the excellent Granddance (their sophomore effort, which will be their long-overdue US debut, out on these shores this June).
The only measuring stick for the gig for us was whether we'd regret having left our couch, and by that standard Dappled Cities killed it. Would have loved it anyway, though; there's a distinctly Shins-y vibe at play on Granddance opening tracks "Holy Chord" and "Within Hours," but any and all Mercer-nicking is forgiven through the band's sense of craft and their well-honed live chops. Other highlights on the night included first single "Fire Fire Fire," "Beach Song," "Within Hours," and basically everything else they played. The won't be back through the states until closer to record release in a few months, but they're well-worth checking out, no matter your state of exhaustion. From Pianos it was on to Merc for Jamie T (post tk).
More Dappled pics and sonic treats after the jump.
Dappled Cities - "Within Hours" (MP3)
Dappled Cities - "Fire Fire Fire (Tim Goldsworthy Remix)" (MP3)
More to hear at MySpace.
Granddance is out in the US 6/5 on Dangerbird.
Posted at 4:19 PM in Concert, MP3
Tags: Dappled Cities
All I can see here is ironic sweater and haircut. It's almost blinding.
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all I can see here is a hot ass dude who I want to get sexy with
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They're not particularly regarded as a hipster band down here in Aus, despite what the sweater may say.
Rumour has it they're moving to the US for 6 months to support Granddance. Lucky you guys.
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They just sound like every other NME throwaway band. That or I'm getting old.
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The Shins? I thougth they sounded a lot like Mew, minus the annoying. Maybe it was just all the high pitch singing.
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we love our hometown boys in sydney.
i wouldn't compare them to mew at all but then i have seen them a fair few times now.
who confirmed the no more fly? the only thing i don't like about this band is their silly name.
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Dappled are so great. I've seen them 20 times and I don't even live in Sydney. I really do think they are brilliant and a lot better than most of the bands they are compared to. They're gonna make it - I'm sure of it.
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John Claude, stop being such a cynical fuck. It's like you are looking to hate.
Dappled Cities (Fly) are a truly talented bunch that are in no way close to any of the regurgitated NME acts (Kasier Cheifs, Franz Ferdinand et all)
I'm not just saying it from personal opinion, it's pure fucking logic if you listen to the music.
Also, who cares what someone wears on stage? it's the music we are there for.
Continue on being a bitter, image absorbed snob if you must, the rest of us will be on the other side of the room actually enjoying as much music as we can.
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Great band, it's a shame Australia doesn't have the population to suppport full time musicians. So it's up to you guys now... give them a listen
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I feel sorry for anyone who cannot enjoy this band. Amazing stuff.
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seen dappled three times, once in a shitty venue with shitty sound, 2nd in a shitty venue with even shittier sound and 3rd in a bigger venue with over exuberant navy boys with really good sound and each time they were amazingly good, hope they crack it in the US, there cool blokes and are great band, Australia needs to get on the international music scene (Jet don't count).
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