A Monday night in downtown Detroit is usually pretty quiet, but last night saw a buzzing crowd of Rockers, Teeny Boppers and Anglophiles filing into St. Andrew's Hall to see UK import Band of Skulls. Touring behind the lastest release "Sweet Sour," the Southampton power trio rocked out an hour of poppy-fuzzy-bluezy for an enthusiastic crowd.
Brooklyn rockers We Are Augustines kicked off the night with a moody set of dark anthems mostly from their lastest disc "Rise Ye Sunken Ships," but things really got going once the headliners hit stage.
Band of Skulls have a simple format: Guitar, Bass and Drums, but they push some serious air with their tight, bombastic riffs. The dual vocals of Russell Marsden and Emma Richardson float over the heaviness with a light deadpan harmony. At times, the vocals were swallowed by the loud guitars, but at times the vocals were allowed to really soar and fill up the room on the slower numbers.
The evening's setlist was a solid hour of fuzzy shoegaze, a mix of new and old favorites handpicked from their brief, but solid catalog of EPs. Highlights included the opening single, "Sweet Sour," slow burner "Cold Fame," and set closer "Death by Diamonds and Pearls."
If you haven't yet, check them out here http://bandofskulls.com/
