As a nostalgic lover of pre "emo" distortion driven rock music I have a few things to say about the Pains of Being Pure at Heart's recent show at the EARL.

Firstly, they're guitar sound was amazing. There were two guitar players: one playing a USA strat for the main riffs and the other a vintage jaguar for mostly rhythms and a few lead melodies. The combination of the two set ups was bottom end that would make lovers of bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Smashing Pumpkins grin.

The bass player was excellent, laying down pentatonic progressions like a machine. She added a tremendous amount to the band as most bass players do but in a fashion that stood out loud and clear due to her rig as well as her raw emotion and energy.

The singer/guitar player had a very monotone voice for "down and out" verses, which sounded great for the style of the band. He is not limited to that tone though by any means. During breakout choruses, one could really hear the octave pick up in his voice with no struggle at all. The tracks that the band played were very standard (at some points I thought I was listening to a My Bloody Valentines/Ramones collaboration).

Not to say that they were not excellent as they were, but there were definitely some rhythms that were lacking some accompanying leads. Simply if these melodies (background/ foreground, etc would have been present then I would say "so on point."  I had a blast at the show at the Earl and,  all and all,  despite my snobby "perfectionist"  musical critiques of the fashioning of their song writing, I would most definitely check them out around town the next time they are booked.

A video of the band for their song "Young Adult Fiction" recently release: