As the first band took the stage at the Ottobar last Wednesday night, one couldn't help but wonder how they were able to move their lower extremities in light of the fact that their jeans looked like they were taken straight from a 6-year-old's wardrobe. It seemed quite a feat that the men could concentrate on playing music while certain vital organs undoubtedly lacked proper circulation. It was clear the Boston pop-punk band, Boys Like Girls, like not only the girls themselves but probably enjoy shopping at the same clothing stores as well.
All spermicidal jeans jokes aside, they played a decent set that seemed to warm the crowd up just enough. Martin Johnson, their lead singer, called the crowd "mellow" which "is expected when we're just trying to play a low key opening set," he said. One of their songs, "Dance Hall Drug," steals popular melodies from old songs to combine in a catchy single. Their sound, though, is not very different from any of the other up-and-coming pop-punk bands that are appearing on the scene from every angle these days.
Valencia tuned the show down an octave while adding a substantial amount of energy to the stage. The 5-member band danced from stage left to stage right and back with instruments in tow. Their guitars were lower and more cutting than Boys Like Girls, which complimented Valencia's lead singer's alto-tenor range. Their single, "3,000 miles," was a hit with the crowd. Many fans knew the lyrics, which is somewhat surprising for the 2nd band of a 5-band bill. In the end, Valencia did not disappoint.
It seemed that half the crowd was taking a bathroom break when Over It began their set. The band wasn't well received at all, and they acknowledged this fact when the lead singer asked, "Why aren't you guys having fun?" Their music sounded very watered-down, without any real energy. Their instrumentalists weren't enthused and that attitude definitely translated itself to the excitement level of the performance. Aside from the handful of fans that actually cared about what they were playing, Over It certainly didn't gain any interest from the indifferent audience.
It wouldn't have been hard for Punchline to deliver after Over It's poor showing, but mic trouble stalled their start. After a second round of sound checks, Punchline came out with a bang and got the audience moving more than any of the previous bands. They began with some new songs from their recently released second album. More fans recognized these recent hits than the three of four songs from their old album, which can only mean the band is increasing its scope of listeners. Both new and old material hit a high note for the evening, literally and figuratively. Punchline's music was incredibly spirited and so were the band members' bubbly personalities. If there wasn't another band scheduled to play, these guys would have fooled anyone into thinking they were the headlining act.
Even though Punchline stole the show, Spitalfield was not a disappointment. Their music lends itself to a more relaxed atmosphere, which closed out the show nicely. The melodic guitar parts and swing-influenced drums lowered the tempo on the evening to the crowd's appreciation. They focused on playing more of their new material, which is slow-paced to an even greater degree than many of their old songs. Regardless of the rhythm change, the band played with genuine emotion that made it even easier to enjoy what they were playing.
Aside from some minor fashion faux pas and the occasional equipment problem, the night was well worth each patron's $13 ticket.
