Sometimes opening acts are just there to give us something to listen to while we wait for the band we paid our good, hard earned money to see, but other times, the opener is just as good, if not better(i.e. last month’s Walkmen/New Pornographers show) than the band they are there to support. Now while I won’t quite give that distinction to New Jersey's Titus Andronicus as they open up tonight’s Okkervil River show at the Town Ballroom (Okkervil River is one of my favorite bands after all), Titus is a damn good band that I have yet to see live, but have heard nothing but good things. Last summer, the New Jersey five piece played at Babeville’s Ninth Ward, which is not a big place. For those who have heard the band’s raucous punk sound, which combines elements of Dropkick Murphys and the Pogues with Bruce Springsteen and the Hold Steady, the latter two being fellow Garden State alumni, could imagine the noise and intensity that Babeville’s basement venue managed to contain that evening.
The band is still touring to support their sophomore release The Monitor. Pitchfork gave the album a well deserved 8.7 review and even named it their #10 album of 2010. The Monitor, which is a loose concept album for the American Civil War, is full of pissed off anthems that speaks to today’s youth. Bad break ups, drinking problems, us vs them, and not being accepted (but in this case, being ok with that) are all common themes that pop up over the album, most notably in the epic, 7+ minute opener “A More Perfect Union”. Had the great, but gone too soon show Freaks and Geeks been set in the present, Titus could easily provided the music to the opening credits. After listening to the album, I have no idea how front man Patrick Stickles does not completely shred his vocals chords during a live show, but I am looking forward to seeing him try tonight. Get to Town Ballroom earlier tonight to catch one of the better bands in indie rock today as Titus Andronicus is in town to support Okkervil River.
~mm
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