Dear New Centuries,

I <3 you.

The first time I saw you play live was at the tail end of the two-day local-music-dirty-fun-fest known as the Scatterbrain Jamboree. I couldn’t think of a better context to experience The New Centuries. Who could not totally crush out on you boys and your post-punk-synth-rock-dance-pop-new-wave/no-wave goodness?

For those who don’t know:

Singer/synth guitar god Ryan Bogart’s crooning, yelping vocals-with-a-sneer sometimes remind me of Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse – but perhaps that’s because on stage he has that cocky high schooler thing going on, and Isaac is known to be kind of a dick. It’s an interesting combo that enthralls me: I hate to love him because honestly he sometimes makes me want to kick him. And yet I’m totally enamored all the same…

Guitarist Jeff Bissell rocks my world with his gutsy, beautifully rhythmic guitar riffs. At the Jamboree he was wearing these amazing red jean. Oh yes, I remember clearly. Jeff is that perfect combo of nerdy-chic and rocker that you can’t help but adore…sigh Jeff…

George Michael’s drums… Well wait, let me back up: Yes, his name is George Michael. And yes, he does remind me of the famous George Michael. Which one, you ask? Both: the awkward Arrested Development character and the Wham icon. Also, he has a killer ‘stache. Seriously, it’s awesome. His energy is beyond insane, and his intense pounding drums make you want to move your ass.

The New Centuries are a force to be reckoned with live. They have fun onstage and it shows. They kick shit over, throw stuff into the crowd, and dance around in that not-necessarily-rythmic way that genuinely moves you because it’s so for real. It’s fun and it’s the fucking shit.

Their energy is as infectious as their sound, and you can’t help but want to dance and rock out and want more and more. And the audience eats it up, too. At the Jamboree they played a cover of George Michael’s “Careless Whisper” and the crowd went wild, belting out a screechy all-guts-and-heart rendition of “I’m never gonna dance again, guilty feet have got no rhythm, though its easy to pretend, I know you’re not a fooooool.” Ah, what an amazing guilty pleasure.

[Katie Kaapcke]