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Local Noise! The Boyz Next Door: DATH
By Maureen Brown | August 6, 2007
By Maureen Brown
Dear and the Headlights have been referred to as “the best local band you’ve never heard of,” as well as the next best thing out of Arizona since Jimmy Eat World. And yes, all of these descriptions are true, but their talent deserves more credit than that. Their hard work and dedication finally paid off for them when they were signed to the New York based label Equalvision Records, which nationally released their first full length CD, Small Steps, Heavy Hooves on Feb. 6 of this year. Yet, Dear and the Headlights aren’t interested in fame and notoriety, in fact they rarely bring up the fact that they are even in a band.
“Like 70 percent of America is in a band, it seems like that…it’s just like you’re in a band? Oh cool,” explains lead singer Ian Metzger, 25. A percentage that is probably not far off from being accurate. Nevertheless, anyone can start a band, but not anyone can create awesome music like these guys can.
It’s rare to find a band that sounds as good as DATH does when they play live, their recordings alone don’t do them justice. Bob Dylan once said of Harry Belafonte that he was, “a rare type of character that radiates greatness and you hope that some of it rubs off on you,” after meeting the charismatic, 6’5” Metzger, you would swear the same quote applied for him. Metzger’s voice is piercing and explosive, his stage presence is undeniable as he stomps his feet across the stage and forcefully strums his acoustic guitar, as he bobs his head to the beat of the drums. He has an intensity that makes the listener believe in every word he sings out. The energy and chemistry that is exchanged between each member is remarkable. Your eyes remain glued to the stage going back and forth between each of these five guys throughout their entire 30-minute set, anticipating their next move. An exchange of witty banter between Metzger and guitarist, Joel Marquard gives the audience a few seconds of comic relief, before you are drawn back into the intensity of the music. Each member exhibits immense talent which is made clear to even the most oblivious of observers. Their fans participate the entire time, singing along with every chorus and verse, clapping and dancing and flailing their arms with the rhythm of the music.
Fan, Meaghan Bunney, 21 exclaims, “They’re full of energy, everyone’s either dancing crazy or at least shaking their legs because the music is that contagious.”
Small Steps, Heavy Hooves may not already be the most anticipated release of 2007, but it might as well be. Recorded in Mesa, Ariz. with famed local producer Bob Hoag (The Format), Small Steps, Heavy Hooves gives the listener everything they could possibly ask for in an indie CD. Some of their tracks are fun, catchy and radio friendly, such as their first single “sweet talk” and “It’s getting easy.”
While others are more dramatic and emotional, which flow off the tongue with an organic lucidity such as “hallelujah,” and “mother make me golden.” However, unfortunately on a few of the tracks there is a laziness in the recordings that is foreign to their live performances. The problem appears to be more in the quality of the recording rather than the bands actual studio performance, although at times this seems less believable than we would prefer.
Yet, altogether the CD is noteworthy, equally combining the extraordinary efforts of each individual member of the band, capturing their individuality, talent, and creativeness. The CD is suitable for everyone; it is a rollercoaster of emotion and enjoyment. It is as if the listener is reading entries from Metzger’s personal journal and viewing a slide show of memorable photographs from his life, that you can apply to your own. The music and vocals that accompany the lyrics capture the feelings of falling in love, and the personal traumas of growing up that can only be best represented through sarcasm.
Dear and the Headlights have come along way since their first show at Borders Book Store on Mill Avenue. They have released their first full length album nationally and have signed with Equalvision Records with intentions of releasing two more full-lengths under that label. They are currently on a national tour with The Plain White T’s and will also be showcased at the world renowned South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. If you haven’t already heard of these five, young, talented guys, you probably aren’t paying attention. You can purchase their CD on itunes, or at your local Zia records store.
To hear more about Dear and the Headlights, check them out online at www.myspace.com/dearandtheheadlights and www.dearandtheheadlights.com and be sure to check out their next local live performance.
Topics: Features, Articles, musik |
August 12th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
That review was spot on.
August 20th, 2007 at 9:37 am
I LUV their sound!
August 24th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Dude, I totally dig the tunez! DEFINITELY have Jimmy Eat World potential. Bout time we get someone back on the main stage rep’ing AZ!!!