"Philadelphia classic rock revivalists The War on Drugs just got finished touring, but they're gearing up to head out again on a two-month tour that'll include a date supporting The National. The trek is in support of new album Slave Ambient. Carter Tanton and Purling Hiss will open." - Pitchfork
Back to the Earl, only the second show there in all of Rocktober. A solid bill, with Boston's Carter Tanton opening. Mr. Tanton is touring as a trio, including a drummer and a keyboardist who provided the bass lines.
Philadelphia's Purling Hiss followed, and tore the place up with some blistering, electric guitar. As aptly described by Altered Zones, modern-day guitar hero Mike Polizze "has recruited a live band consisting of fellow Philadelphia rock veterans Mike Sneeringer, on drums, and Kiel Everett, on bass. The trio expands the tinny sound of Purling Hiss' records considerably, resulting in workmanlike, head-bopping anthems that set Polizze's guitar pyrotechnics front and center." They had a great retro-psychedelic sound that would not have sounded out of place to me back when I was a teenager, all those many decades ago.
The headliners were Philladelphia's The War On Drugs (it apparently was Philly night). In addition to having what is arguably the greatest band name of all time, The War On Drugs have been described as "one of the most criminally underrated bands currently making music." They lived up to the hype, putting on an epic set, both in terms of intensity and of duration. They started a little after 11:00 pm and didn't wrap up until 12:50 a.m., a nearly 2-hour set.
The headliners were Philladelphia's The War On Drugs (it apparently was Philly night). In addition to having what is arguably the greatest band name of all time, The War On Drugs have been described as "one of the most criminally underrated bands currently making music." They lived up to the hype, putting on an epic set, both in terms of intensity and of duration. They started a little after 11:00 pm and didn't wrap up until 12:50 a.m., a nearly 2-hour set.
The duration of their set allowed them ample time to stretch out a little bit and indulge in some experimental passages. Their outstanding bass player got some of the most unrecognizable sounds to come out of a trumpet since Jon Hassell.
After an hour, when most bands would be wrapping things up (if they hadn't finished already), front man Adam Granduciel started taking requests, and not single songs either, but two or three at a time. "No end in sight," he declared. The crowd had thinned considerably by the time their set finally did finish, but those who stayed were treated to a grand finale of screeching feedback and sonic thunder.
There was no need for an encore. In all, it was a totally enjoyable night of great music.
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