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It had been more than two years since I last saw The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. In that time, their self-titled debut album had been released to lots of acclaim, leading to a deservedly high level of popularity in the indie world in general and not just the New York City indie-pop scene that they came out of. They’ve also released an EP entitled “Higher than the Stars” along with several 7” singles leading up to the release of their 2nd Lp Belong, which just came out the other day. Whereas Belong is a much more “hi-fi” effort with big-time producers Flood and Alan Moulder, their live show has also gotten an overhaul. Much more dynamic, energetic and confident as a live band now than in their earlier days, Pains are now a bona-fide headlining act that are just as adept with anthemic sing-alongs featuring noisy blasts of feedback as they are with their earlier über melodic and speedy indie-pop. In other words, their inspirations these days seem to hew closer to early Ride, My Bloody Valentine and on the title track of their new Lp, Siamese Dream-era Smashing Pumpkins (all artists that Flood and Moulder have worked with) than to say, Boyracer.
Regardless, they opened with “Belong” and just got better as the show went on. They played a mix of songs from the new Lp as well as from their 1st one, with songs like “The Body,” the single “Heart in Your Heartbreak” and “Heaven’s Gonna Happen Now” sitting well alongside older nuggets like the first album’s “Young Adult Friction” and “This Love is Fucking Right”. Singer/guitarist Kip Berman also took great pains (sorry) to mention that he grew up in the Philadelphia area and one could tell that he genuinely enjoyed playing in his hometown.
As much as I enjoyed the headliners, I have to admit that I didn’t much care for the much hyped Twin Shadow. Sounding like all sorts of ’80s acts ranging from early Duran Duran and Simple Minds to, at times, later period Members and even Fine Young Cannibals and Johnny Hates Jazz, they seem to lack the songwriting skills of many of their influences. I like some of those artists, but it’s still unfortunate that they choose to mimic the cheesier elements of the ’80s, particularly since none of them are old enough to remember what it was like when that stuff first came out and what’s now known as indie rock wasn’t nearly as easy to hear and see as it is now. Oh well.
I did, however, like Philadelphia locals Creepoid, who were the first band of the evening. Sounding like a druggier, more shoegazy Velocity Girl, they seemed a much better match for the headliners than the much more well known Twin Shadow were.
