Recap: Tapes N' Tapes at First Avenue
The local indie-rockers came home to a crowded Mainroom that showed up early for the openers too.
Josh Grier, Jacob Hanson (Jeremy's brother), Erik Appelwick of Tapes N’ Tapes
For the first time in a long while, the First Avenue Mainroom was filled to capacity as the opening band hit its first chord. Hotly anticipated local media darlings Solid Gold were at the forefront of a lineup also comprising Wild Light from New Hampshire and Minneapolis-based headliners Tapes 'N Tapes, ending a multi-city tour with this Feb. 6 show. It was hard to say which hometown band had people buzzing more: All week, people had been alternately referring to it as “the Solid Gold show” and “the Tapes 'N Tapes show.” Even though it was TNT's tour, many in the sweltering crowd were there to see both local bands kick it up a notch. (See also Decider's previous interviews with Tapes N' Tapes and Solid Gold.)
Solid Gold delivered; the front third of the house swayed and bopped along to the “nnn-sss nnn-sss” of the techno beat that infuses much of the music. Given the group's heavy lean on electronics, it was sometimes hard to determine where the sounds were all coming from—was that beat from the drummer or the laptop? And were the swirly light boxes dotting the stage cool, or just there to serve as distractions from the band? Much adulation surrounds Solid Gold, but it was hard to tell if there was much real substance behind what the band was doing. It’s puzzling; they’re certainly better and more entertaining than many bands, but there's still something missing.
Solid Gold
Solid GoldWild Light's Adult Nights is a decent infusion of late-90s punk-pop with indie sensibilities, but it didn't translate to the live show. Most of the crowd talked through the set, and numerous snarky comments on the lyrics could be overheard. Even a song like “California On My Mind,” which uses the word “fuck” three times in the refrain, sounded flat and dull.
Wild LightsTapes 'N Tapes bounded onto the stage with arms raised greeting the hometown crowd. Lead singer Josh Grier, who now looks a bit like our lord and savior with his long locks, was clearly excited to be home. After two or three newer tracks from last year’s Walk It Off, someone in the crowd yelled, “Play some older stuff!” This sentiment seemed to reverberate through the audience, as tunes like “Cowbell” and “Insistor” put people into a frenzy. Even better, the newer tracks TNT performed—some for the first time ever, according to keyboardist Matt Kretzman—were full of lively and lush guitars, a hopeful sign for the next album.
Josh Grier of Tapes N’ Tapes
Jeremy Hanson of Tapes N’ Tapes
Matt Kretzman and Erik Appelwick of Tapes N' Tapes
Josh Grier and Erik Appelwick of Tapes N’ Tapes
