Well last night I ventured up to the great Metro for a little TNT action. I had heard great things about the opener White Denim from Austin, TX, so I showed up early to make sure to catch their set and I’m glad I did, because they killed. They pretty much did as well as an opener can possibly do. They really rocked out all over the stage, I saw the drummer break at least 5 sticks (the TNT drummer broke all his sticks as well, that’s when you know you’re at the right show), and White Denim’s high energy rock n roll really won over the crowd I think. They were just awesome. After the show I got their upcoming unreleased full length album and it is pretty damn tasty. Certainly be on the lookout for these guys if you get a chance to check them out. Their sound is kind of a very driving/bluesy rock kind of sound, but they certainly take some meanders as well. Highly recommended. The full length CD is really solid also, so be on the lookout for it.

Anyway, after they were done, TNT came out to rock faces off. I will take this time to say that I think the whole ‘sophomore slump’ thing that the blogosphere is piling on these guys (notably from pitchfork) for “Walk It Off” is really unfounded and I don’t see it. Sure, the album isn’t “The Loon“, but you can’t expect the exact same album. I have to say I like the new album, I think it is pretty solid, and they certainly rocked it out live last night. They of course hit their classic songs as well, but they all blended together well, and a lot of the new ones sounded great. They have a great stage energy and were really rocking it out, like I said the drummer broke all his sticks and had to find some more in the middle of the set.

Now, they did completely rock out, and they sounded great, but here’s my complaint, and it’s a big one – no encore. Of course there are bands out there that don’t do a technical encore, but they at least say something like “we don’t want to go through the charade of walking off and back on, so just pretend like we did that, and we’ll play some more songs” (I think Broken Social Scene does this, maybe Wilco did also), but there was not even any explanation last night. TNT walks off the stage after the song without a peep and everyone starts the obligatory encore cheering, but then Metro throws the lights and music on, and everyone looks at each other like “SRSLY?” Very disappointing. Now I don’t know if it was the Metro’s fault or TNT’s fault, but either way, it was a major let down to what was otherwise an awesome, rocking show. I only left with a half-melted face. I want a full melt.

Tapes ‘n Tapes – Lines – From Walk It Off
White Denim – Don’t Look That Way At It – From TBA Title Full Length LP