So after being impressed with them opening for The Walkmen, I caught Giant Drag over at Amoeba tonight. They are a band of 2, singer/guitarist, Annie, and drummer/synth bassist, Micah. The drumming while playing keyboards is definitely an interesting gimmick, but other than occasional vocal batterings of Micah (these 2 must have dated at some point), the focus is on Annie and her endearing, cute demeanor and strong vocals. Funny & witty, with a vulnerable facade that kinda shields actual vulnerability, you get the sense that she is a really cool, unpredictably crazy person.
They sound like a mix between 2nd album Hole (that’s not bad like it sounds) with Stinky Puffs cuteness, but the vocals vary between sleepy Mazzy Star and a stronger Mirah. Take that, Brian Howe. There’s a new king of snooty comparisons. Basically they sound like a northwest band, but they’re from L.A.
The show was good, a bit poppier than I remembered from the last time, perhaps just from being more familiar with the songs. They repeated a great cover of “Wicked Game”, and ended with a good new song that sounded more Team Dresch, because the vocals were so strong. I dig them. Their new album, Hearts And Unicorns came out last week.
:: Giant Drag - Burnt Picket Fence ::
:: Kevin Is Gay (video) ::
That background image on their website of Annie stabbing a Polaroid with a knife makes one thing very clear, she is a ‘cool, unpredictable, crazy person’. I wonder if they plan to follow CYHSY!’s footsteps and ship all their cd’s from home. It seems they have a decent thing going with no label. What sucks is that despite they will be touring with Stellastar* in coming weeks, they are not opening for them at the show I’m going to tonight at the El Rey.
Giant Drag is on Kickball Records, which appears to be a subsidiary of Interscope. I heard them on 103.1 the other day, so I’m sure they have more support than CYHSY.
CYH seem to be doing just fine on their own. They have announced a New Years Eve show at Irving Plaza. Anyone interested in a New York New Years?
A New York New Years (a NYNY?) sounds good to me.
You know, I should probably visit nyc then. Have tickets already gone on sale (sold out)?
tickets are on sale. it is not yet sold out.
giant drag are very cool and very crazy