THE NEW CENTURIES
SWEETIE
Edinburgh Castle
August 18, 2007
 
 
Lately I've been really selfish about going to shows. Namely, I’ve been going to shows to pass out fliers for my own purposes. I'll admit it. However, last Saturday I actually went to a show for the sheer fun of it. Crazy, I know.
 
Unfortunately I missed The Ian Fays - I hear wonderful things about them, but alas I can't review them because, well, I didn't see or hear them. But I did see The New Centuries and Sweetie and, to be blunt, it was f-in' awesome.
 
This is the first time I’ve seen The New Centuries with their new bassist, Adam. Ryan, Jeff & Sabrina previously played as a trio after the departure of their former band members, and I was actually partial to the triad line-up. Jeff’s guitar playing balances melody & rhythm majestically; it is the optimal style for interweaving with Sabrina's backbeats and Ryan's semi-crooning vocals and synth parts.
 
They kind of reminded me of a more modern Modern Lovers the first few times I saw them, but with Adam in tow The New Centuries bring the rock, and it's impressive. The dynamics of the band's songs are still in tact – their individual parts still mesh well together, and the notes aren't competing for space with one another – there's just more balls behind it.
 
Their set was pretty short when I saw them, which on one hand was sad for those of us loving them, but it also left me wanting more which I always, always love in a band.
 
Sweetie is a band I've been meaning to check out for a long time. Yet I have sadly missed them until last weekend. I say sadly because Sweetie completely blew me away.
 
Bringing back the early 90s indie rock that goddamn I love so very much, Sweetie, like The New Centuries, are really addictive. The band is a four-piece ensemble comprised of guitar, bass, synth & drums (both The New Centuries and Sweetie had female drummers, which I thought was really cool, especially since they both rock).
 
To me Sweetie is the quintessential Indie pop/rock band. Catchy, catchy guitar & synth hooks with really sweet, laid back vocals. Omar's vocals remind me of a slightly softer and more soothing Ira Kaplan (of Yo La Tengo), and I was bobbing my head in total joy.
 
Their brand of indie rock is the kind I can listen to non-stop – it was like that feeling when you're on a road trip and you chance upon an awesome college radio station that is playing everything you want to hear exactly how you want to hear it. Sweetie brought back the joy of new band discovery for me, and for that I say thank you.
 
Again I feel bad for not being able to report on The Ian Fays that night, but as for The New Centuries and Sweetie - you have to have to have to check them out.
 

The New Centuries are playing September 25th at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco, CA.

[Jen Chochinov]
 

[STREAM] Sweetie: Various Tracks 

[STREAM] The New Centuries: Various Tracks