Band of the Week: High Places

There are times when opening bands stick out in your minds like sore thumbs. They were either completely awful and are to never be listened to again, or they blow the roofs off the headlining bands they are playing with and become labeled with a next big thing tag. Both of these occassions are very rare as most opening bands are unfortunately over looked with runs for more alcohol, exiting for a smoke, or some casual chatting with friends before the act you came to see takes over. Twice this year I was in the building when a band called High Places played opener to bands I was very excited to see, the first being Marnie Stern the other being No Age, and both times I saw them play I really don't remember anything of them. Luckily for me, and also for you who are reading this, my brother Tim pointed me in the direction of their debut 7" EP and I have fallen head over heels in love with this band.

Featuring just two members, High Places soars behind the gentle lilt of Mary Pearson and pushes forward to further heights thanks to the synth work of Rob Barber. Combined it creates a sound that is soothing but percussive to the point where you may calmly dance about your room while listening to the songs here. Rob's synth work is impressive on the four song debut, it bleeps and beats perfectly to accompany Mary's cute voice, but also gives the music its life with feeling and movement found in each knob he twists and button he pushes. Of course being only four songs long the self-titled EP is over much too soon leaving you wanting more than there is to be found.

If you find yourself wanting more after checking out the mp3's below and the band's myspace page make sure you head out to see them live, where hopefully they will no longer fly under people's radars like they did earlier this year to me. They'll be playing the Neon Lights party at Union Hall on Friday September 21st as well as CMJ.
High Places - "Head Spins"
High Places on Myspace
Buy High Places by High Places (7" only!)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday's Links:
- VBS.tv has an Spike Jonze interviewing Kanye West
- Brooklyn Vegan has fall tour dates from The Pipettes and The Thermals, who just will not stop touring it seems!
- Also on Brooklyn Vegan today is the sad story that Mo Pitkins is for sale and looks like it will be added to the growing list of closing venues.
- Rachael has some new tracks from A Brief Smile that you can't get anywhere else!
- Pitchfork has Dirty Projectors on their Guest List feature.