KENDON A. LUSCHER FOR TVD | It’s August in Cleveland. It’s humid outside. All the shows on TV either suck or are depressing. The big summer movie involves a talking raccoon. Let’s face it, you want to go somewhere air-conditioned, get drunk, and listen to music.
May I recommend Hospitality? They’re coming to the Grog Shop on Wednesday night, and they are pretty bitchin’. This is a band you don’t have to be familiar with to enjoy their show. Imagine an alternate universe where Camera Obscura is more interested in rocking and being cool than making you want to slit your wrists. That’s the elevator pitch for Hospitality.
Hospitality’s self-titled first album is full of upbeat, fun twee-pop. The band is from Brooklyn, but lead singer Amber Papini apes a British accent for no other reason that I can figure out than it sounds kind of cool. This is especially true on their first album where the fake accent is turned up to 11 and the backing band plays their twee arrangements politely behind her. Everything is bright and happy and oh-so-fun.
On their second album, Trouble, Papini restrains the fake accent a little and replaces it with some Brooklyn attitude that is completely rad. Brian Betancourt’s work on bass is a little dancier on this album and Papini’s guitars are distorted more often. Nathan Michel has two first names and his drums are also murkier here, which I think is pretty cool. The whole second album has a darker, edgier tone for a twee-pop band.
I encourage you to come out Wednesday night to see Hospitality. They should play a nice mix of their last two albums. You can dance to songs from Hospitality if you like dancing to upbeat twee. You can dance to songs from Trouble if you like dancing to darker, bass-propelled twee. Or come out and don’t dance at all if you hate having fun. I’m not your parent, and I can’t tell you how to listen to music.
The show’s at the Grog Shop and starts at 8:30 (doors at 7:30) with Porches. and Frankie Cosmos opening.
