Austinist Preview & Giveaway: Oxford Collapse, Chin Up Chin Up @ Emo's Friday
Avoid the Noid. Or if you're Oxford Collapse, jump off of the side of a swimming pool and tackle the shit out of the (inflatable toy) Noid. A presumably tanked gentleman is depicted as doing such on the cover of the band’s most recent release, Remember the Night Parties (Sub Pop). In it, OxC reminds us that hard-hitting bands who know how to bring it 80s-style without simply ripping off Joy Division do, in fact, still exist. And in Brooklyn of all places. This trio (drums, bass, guitar) will make you bounce even without the popular quirk of zany synthesizers. It's good old-fashioned power-pop-punk with a soul.
But labeling OxC a nostalgic throw-back would be selling these guys way short. They do a lot with textures, utilizing each instrument to create captivating surges of noise, crowned with Michael Pace's delightfully frantic vocals. And the guys in the band seem kinda dorky, which leads us to believe (because we can relate) that they're actually sincere about making tight rock music rather than providing hip booty shakers for the terminally beautiful.
OxC stumbles into Emo's Friday night with Chicago's Chin Up Chin Up. That's right, Chin Up Chin Up, whose latest offering, This Harness Can't Ride Anything (Suicide Squeeze) builds smartly on their impressive debut, We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers. Certain to be an evening of sweaty hyperactivity, so be sure to caffeinate beforehand. And fill out the below form for a chance to see the show for free!
Oxford Collapse (band website) (myspace)
"Please Visit Your National Parks"(mp3) (video)
Chin Up Chin Up (band website) (myspace)
This Harness Can't Ride Anything (mp3)
Oxford Collapse & Chin Up Chin Up
Friday, Oct 27
Emo's Lounge [map]
Doors open at 8 PM, show starts at 10 PM
$8.50 Advance
[tickets]
Oxford Collapse photo (top) courtesy MySpace
Chin Up Chin Up photo (bottom) by Chris Strong
