Dntel at Emo's [Show Preview]

OC Weekly

Dntel w/ The One AM Radio and Geotic at Emo\’s
Tuesday, August 23
Emos (603 Red River St)
$12, inside, 9pm doors
[info] | [tickets]

You might know Jimmy Tamborello (certainly this guy knows who he is) as one half of The Postal Service, whose 2003 debut Give Up went on to become the best-selling album for Sub Pop since Nirvana’s Bleach. And the vocalist for that duo, one Ben Gibbard, cashed in his newfound popularity with a chart-topping band (Death Cab For Cutie) and a movie-star wife (Zooey Deschanel). But tangent to all this success, Tamborello has maintained a low-profile as Dntel, his electronic guise he’s performing in tonight at Emo’s.

Dntel’s roots date back to the late ‘90s when Tamborello was experimenting with sounds in his bedroom, but 2001’s Life Is Full Of Possibilities marked the cementing of his sound. Building songs with various keyboards, drum machines, and computer manipulation, Tamborello combined it all with particularly strong, wistful melodies. And the title was certainly prescient, as the album highlight “(This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan” featured vocals by Gibbard, thus leading to their fortuitous partnership years later. Since then, Dntel has released a number of albums and remixes, including a pair of experimental EPs (After Parties 1 & 2) late last year that point to exciting new directions to come.

Touring with Dntel is The One AM Radio, a fellow L.A. outfit that specializes in straightforward dance-pop, albeit with a moody and dark vibe. The trio is supporting their fourth full-length, Heaven Is Attached By A Slender Thread. Opening the night is Geotic, the ambient side project for Will Wiesenfeld, a.k.a. rising electro-pop artist Baths. The music is heavy on languid atmosphere and vibe, but you can study up by downloading Geotic’s entire discography for free at his Angelfire page (you read that right).

Dntel: [official] [myspace]
The One AM Radio: [official] [myspace]
Geotic: [official]