Smith Westerns, the middle of three bands who played Bowery Ballroom are the bad boys (rather bad-ish on a night that includes Wavves) of indie rock.
I first saw em last years opening for Girls opening for Los Campesinos and despite the carping of Los Camp fans, I found em pretty good, inexperienced but they had the songs.
Less keen on the album and then nothing at all toll the story buzzing about about Bowery Ballroom’s Hall Of Williamsburg gig in which the underage Westerners raised hell, ran about the place cadging alcohol anywhere they could and ended up getting tossed.
And now, the chance to see how much they’d grown.
Actually, they’ve grown a lot. From somewhat dodgy but in it for the laughs boys they’ve become cool breeze punky rockers always to give into a T-Rex glamness chorus here or a tonal pop blast there.
A half hour on the dot and they were off the stage not before making a strange sorta splash, they come across punky but they are really hard pop and among the many influences worth noting, certainly Girls might be added to the mix. Over the set a melodic sweetness almost gay in countenance and not because of fringed out lead singer in torn stretches and ice cool ‘tude.
The Smith Westerns end with their best song “Be My Girl” before thanking the Bowery for the limitless amounts of Diet Coke they were allowed. 21 next year guys! Legal at last.