Silversun Pickups [Live] @ Camden Barfly

6th April 2009

April 7, 2009, 03:52 PM

Views: 676   Comments: 1

Silversun Pickups are a band that I had heard a lot about but had barely heard any of their music. So when I finally did manage to hear them I was able to appreciate why they had been so greatly accredited. Skip forward a few months and a few dozen plays of Lazy Eye on Guitar Hero, later and I find myself at the always cramped, little north Camden hot pocket, which is the Barfly.

Knowing little more than the few songs I’d heard online and the track that I had abused on Guitar Hero (and Rockband 2,also) I was waiting intently to hear what else was on offer for me. I was not disappointed. Front man Brian’s voice is certainly very unique when he sings, but really steps up a gear when he raises the tempo and gives it a bit more grit. The line up works superbly, having 1 guitar, bass, keys and drums. The keys adding this great ambient backing to the gently melodic guitar and then pow! On with all the guitar effects and your hit with massive wall of sound, drenched in delay and reverberation. Due to the simplicity of the line up, Silversun Pickups are able to create a great on stage mix, which never becomes too overpowering or mushy.

All the band members seem to give of this great happy vibe and really show how much they enjoy being up there on stage. Musically they are all very tight and show great proficiently. Bassist Nikki Minninger plays some very driving bass lines and keeps the songs flowing, but the best part is when she sings, her soft sombre, backing vocals adding another dimension to front man Brian’s melodic tones. I felt that she could sing a lot more as it really did add so much. Silversun pickups have a great pop sound but also delve in to a more avant-garde side of rock creating mass walls of ambient noise. Can’t wait for the new release.

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