An Northwest indie rock invasion in the late June desert? Yes, please.
Rogue Wave and Helio Sequence – both made up of kooky popsters with way too much talent – each put together tremendous sets Tuesday.
Both defy description a bit too, though neither is particularly groundbreaking. But sometimes indie excellence lies more in making a stew of various influences than stepping out on your own.
For the Rogue Wave, think a bit of the Shins, but more straightforward rock most times.
For Helio Sequence? Well, the Modest Mouse sound is definitely there a bit, but the harmonica wailing and feedback guitar brings in some Neil Young elements.
Regardless, both bands should be doing a lot better than a 100-person draw, even in the middle-of-the-week, middle-of-the-summer Tucson. Oh, and they will. Just thank me when you go check them out.
1 comment:
I saw Helio Sequence at the DougFir in Portland and Rogue Wave at Holocene in the same city. Both were terrific shows. Sub Pop is trying to push Rogue Wave as the next big indie band, but for some reason, they won't take off. I love their album. Helio Sequence is tremendously talented. They're from Beaverton, OR, the dullest suburb of Portland. But their sound is the most polished and complex of all of the lap-pop bands around. Think Postal Service, but with Southern fried rock and folk harmonica. I wish I could have seen them on the same bill at Hot Cong.
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