Tapes ‘n Tapes w/Oberhofer :: Friday, January 28, 2011
On Friday January 28, Tapes ‘n Tapes turned up at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. They’re promoting their 3rd album, Outside, and brought with them Brooklyn based Oberhofer to kick-start the night.
Kick-start, hand clap and body jerk, they did. Oberhofer bring charming light lyrics to light charming melodies with jingle-jangles from their guitars. A solid, clear voice from Brad Oberhofer leads the quartet but it’s the drummer who gives them an edge. He may look like your computer-code-crunching-cousin but he takes hold of the rhythm section like the spawn of Keith Moon. There may be too many oohs-oohs and whistles in the songs for some. And with titles like “oOOOooOOo” and “AWY FROM U” this unsigned band, who was playing its first night on tour with Tapes ‘n Tapes, are a work in progress. They did, however, ignite the evening with their offering and when they came to the end of their set they left many of the revelers wanting more.
Tapes ‘n Tapes then took to the stage in vast contrast. By the end of their first chord they brought the tone down. They may have looked to stamp authority on the evening but it was like a kidney blow to the atmosphere. Only die-hard fans wouldn’t have cared and it took the Carleton College graduates a trip back to their first CD release before they took the crowd where they wanted to be. “The Saddest Of All Keys” was the highlight of their new material. This rocking bluesy stomp was placed nicely, next to Freak Out which closed the first set.
Jakov’s Suite and concert closer “Insistor” were other peaks. “Insistor” set the tongues of music insiders wagging when it was released in 2005, asking what other gems they had to offer. One or two more is the answer. It sent fans away with a bounce in their step and a tune in their head.
