Freelance Whales are from the same burb as I've lived in for the past 30 years, so, yeah they are homeboys. But they are tailor made for Pitchfork, a melodic droney rock and roll indie band, who can write a song but can't necessarily sell them.
On Governor's Island on Sunday, they were the first set I saw, and given Judah Dadone's junior accounting specialist look, I wondered what the day would bring. What it would bring is without a doubt the most Governor's bBall right down the middle, no diddling about band. They sounded like what the day was. very melodic, jamming at the end of everything song, sometimes arty white noise deviations.
Freelance Whales began their career playing at subway stations in the city, so you would kinda expect them to be louder than this. But they are quiet even when they are noisy, and sweetly shy even when crying tough.
They are like a stream of consciousness concept of what an indie band should be and their first album, Weathervanes, is a pleasant bore. I like em, maybe I'll use em for my next tax audit.
Grade: B