They've Got the Look and the Sound

October 29, 2010
By Peter Jacobs

This Monday, Wildfire Lounge became a haven for hipsters. Featuring acts from all over the map, the venue got loud and rowdy with Tropical Punk, Eternal Summers and the always brilliant JEFF the brotherhood.

The show got a quick start with Tropical Punk, formerly Sweetheart, formerly Tropical Punk. These IC rockers have made themselves a concert mainstay in recent months, but it’s welcome. Their sound is catchy and fun, with harmony galore. It is a rare sight to see only one member of this quartet at the mic. They were hampered a little on Monday by the initial static in the sound, but they warmed to it and slipped into their comfort zone for an enjoyable end to the set.

Next up was Eternal Summers, a drum and guitar duo from Roanoke, VA. Their sound changed with every song, with one number standing out as a simple rhythmic pop song, calling forth just enough distortion to make the sound crash through, while the next was darker 60s surf track, sounding like the theme to a hypothetical Creature from the Indie Lagoon. The few constants came with their interactions, both with the audience and each other. The guitarist and singer came off as engaging and accessible, as the drummer struck an odd tension between maintaining composed and losing complete control. However, as a group, they played songs that transcended genre and sounded great.

The headliner and main attraction was JEFF the brotherhood, a literal brother act from Nashville that has been tearing through the blogosphere for years. With a lot of hype behind them, they did not disappoint. Their songs are anthemic in their simplicity, with riffs and choruses taking on a new level of importance through repetition. Their bass drum, full of rips and tears as it proudly proclaims “Jeffro Tull,” is telling of the band: full of power and not too serious.

The band worked through the whole genesis of their sound, from the opening chords to their power riffs. Intros could start off sounding like garage-rock pioneers the Kinks or Moby’s “Honey,” but without fail would end up at the core of their song, with screeching guitars and pounding drums. Standouts included oldies such as opener “U Got The Look” and crowd favorite “Bone Jamm,” a melodic rable rouser. The newer material featured more complex drum and guitar parts, presenting a band that was more restrained and thoughtful than their supposed roots of playing in various Tennessee garages. However, nothing could beat the “oh shit” moment of their closing number was headed. An extended jam that pushed the brothers to their limits, it was all at once fast, loud and awesome.