I checked out The Stills second sold out show at the Mercury Lounge last night. Their debut, Logic Will Break Your Heart, turned out to be one of my favorite records in 2003, and was a legitimate follower to the post-punk revival that Interpol had helped spawn the year before. Over two years later the band finds themselves with a changed sonic landscape and renewed lineup. Founding member and guitarist Greg Paquet left the band last fall. Primary Songwriter/drummer Dave Hamelin moved up to fill his spot, while Julien Blais has moved in behind the kit. Touring keyboardist Liam O’Neil also became a full time member.
So would The Stills continue to build on their early success or would they be rudderless with a new lineup and indie-rock’s affinity for post-punk waning? They launched the set with their new single ‘In the Beginning’. It’s a rousing song, but definitely not your Stills of old. Any post-punk leanings have been stripped away. Left behind is the tension and guitar interplay that made songs like Gender Bombs and Lola Stars and Stripes so successful on the last album. What results is a straight up, slightly retro (featuring hammond organ) rock song that really didn’t move.
Already, I’m skeptical. This is the first new song we’ve heard in a couple of years…and this is it? I was disapointed. Furthering my skepticism, 2 of the next 3 songs were the aforementioned stars from the LAST RECORD. The band appeared to be into their new music, but I don’t think I’ve ever been to a show in which a band’s new songs were so heavily outshined by the old stuff. I could only compare it with Ride’s forgettable ‘Carnival of Light’ record. Anticipation so high, then nothing. The problem was, my anticipation for the new Stills record wasn’t that high. I just wanted to hear some good new songs from them. It wasn’t a matter of not being familiar with the material. The new songs just weren’t that great. This continued on, and they played the entire set alternating from old to new, never confident enough to really put the new songs out there on display before retreating to familiar territory. Because of this, the crowd seemed to have a great time, never too far removed from the songs they loved. Predictably, they ended the set with their original single ‘Still In Love Song’.
While still at the show I began to question what happened to this band. Why was the former drummer, now the lead singer? Guitarist Tim Fletcher sang just fine on all the old songs. Hamelin is good, but why the flip flopping? I couldn’t help but feel this band had a real identity crisis. I don’t really feel that the new songs are an evolution, and that this band is really a new band, once again trying to find its way. They sold out 2 shows at the Mercury Lounge on the strength of their old material. I would be surprised if those fans come around again when they play Bowery after the new record comes out.
