29 November 2011 (gig)
30 November 2011
Other than a few songs, The Drums are an entirely unremarkable band. However, they were highly entertaining on the 2010 NME tour, so I took the chance to see them again.
The Drums have released a decidedly average sophomore album since then, leading to the live show becoming bloated with mediocrity rather than improved with a few more songs like ‘Let’s Go Surfing’ and ‘Best Friend’. This was a bit of a bummer, as other than a few of the better songs from their debut, such as the aforementioned ‘Best Friend’ and ‘Forever and Ever Amen’, everything they played was entirely forgettable and utterly unremarkable.
Live, as on record, The Drums thrive off the energy of frontman Jonathon Pierce, a man who clearly devotes more time to using a hairbrush as a pretend microphone in front of the mirror than attempting to imbue his lyrics with more emotional depth than a twelve-year-old girl's diary. Pierce, sporting a shirt on top of another shirt, because he’s that kind of a guy, shook what his mama gave him all up on that stage.This distracting everyone from his ridiculous lyrics and made the whole affair a lot more enjoyable for everyone involved.
Most notably, for some bizarre reason, they decided not to play ‘Let’s Go Surfing’, undoubtedly their best song. I have no idea why they left it off the set list, and it upset everyone and we all left crying.
