A Million Miles Will Present Themselves

...with so much going on in Dayton these days, we somehow missed catching Detroit trio The High Strung at Canal Street Tavern a few weeks back. While this may seem trivial, THS are a band you need to see live. Often averaging 200-300 dates a year which eventually resulted a few years back with their van being left on the steps of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame (with a gold plaque no less), but more recently with a series of touring in public libraries across the country, The High Strung have rather secretly been one of the hardest working bands in the country for quite some time. On their new album, Ode to the Inverse of the Dude (out on Park the Van April 24), prove they can also throw down in the studio. Harnessing all the passion of their stage persona and dressing it up with lush strings and horns and sonics bristling right into the red, this album is just begging for a proper vinyl spin. Be warned, any one of these songs stands to find itself on repeat for days and weeks on end. With juxtapositions of adolescent exuberance against adult expectations, OTTIOTD allows for simultaneous reflection and rejoicing. Filled with symphonic indie pop, soulful strides, and understated anthemic flourishes, The High Strung continue to be one of the best-kept secrets in rock n' roll...

MP3: The High Strung "Real Stone"
MP3: The High Strung "The Lifestyle That Got Away"

The High Strung/The Goody Two Shoes/The Teeth/Mascot @ Nite Owl 11.23.07

...despite the cold and a slow start to the evening, by the end of Mascot's set, the crowd had gathered and was primed for the second band of the evening, The Teeth. Out on tour from Philadelphia with Park the Van Records labelmates, The High Strung, The Teeth hit the stage with a sense of purpose to win over every audient in the room. From our perspective, mission accomplished. Their high-octane vintage-flavored indie rock seemed to find its way into every ear in the room and by the end of their set they had won over virtually every non-believer...



...taking the stage next was local garage practitioners, The Goody Two Shoes. Although we had not been entirely impressed with previous outings, the band seems to be gelling and getting their sound together. This was definitely the best we'd seen them, as guitarist/vocalist C.J. brought her trademark stage presence in spades...




...closing out the evening was one of the hardest working bands out right now, The High Strung. Coming down from Detroit, the band seemed to have a stronger flirtation with the British Isles than the Motor City. As one chiming chorus after another whizzed by under attack from an endless stream of virtuostic bass runs and rollicking drum fills, the band made a strong case for why they could be one of the best bands in the modern cannon....(we apologize for the lack of visuals accompanying the High Strung set. Technical difficulties...)


All photos of The Goody Two Shoes by Marla Bremer

The High Strung/The Teeth/The Goody Two Shoes/Mascot-Tonight @ Nite Owl

...the kids over at Do Tell Records are working their magic again tonight, bringing in two great touring bands to the Nite Owl: The Teeth and The High Strung, along with locals The Goody Two Shoes and Mascot. Touring together as Park The Van Records labelmates, The Teeth and The High Strung traffic in the sounds of The Kinks, Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, Television, The Libertines, and whatever else you wanna think of. Local support act The Goody Two Shoes will deliver their raw garage goodness, while Mascot will open the evening with a solo acoustic set. Should be a good one....