The Beat Surrender

Call me wierd if you like, but the lead singer of The Thrills, Coner Deasy, has always reminded me of something out of sesame street. No matter how I try to fight it thats what I think of when I hear him sing. There is something elmo-esque about him, it’s something to do with the way he moves his mouth and of course the way he sings, or does he sound more like Marge simpson?..I can’t really be sure. All I know is that my boyfriend had slightly too much fun in the car on the way to the gig imitating his voice which got very distracting after a while.

After getting stressed trying to find a parking space and having a very minor tiff with the guy on the door because he wouldn’t let us in (thanks for your help by the way Kev) we eventually made it through the doors. Life is never simple is it? Having missed the support act we were ready for the real stuff.

I don’t suppose i’ve ever thought of the Thills as a band i’m thrilled by (excuse the pun). I like their songs, but i’ve never really given them much thought if i’m perfectly honest. I don’t think i’ve come across anyone who has said they dislike them…i mean i’m sure there are lots of people out there that do, but i’ve never come across them. So a live gig was a really good chance for me to form an opinion on them.

They began the set with the most recent single from their new album ‘Teenager’ (brought out 23rd July this year) called ‘midnight choir’ which they released on the 15th of October. Its a good starter. It sounds like there is a train driving the song along. You can imagine the views going past the window as it makes its journey. Catchy rythms on the banjo and intermittent ooahhhohhh’s go together extremely well. Both Perfectly compliment Conor’s voice. The song builds to a crescendo before it gets right back on that train again, carrying on from where it started. It’s just really good music…you can’t fault it. It’s pop music with an extra sparkle that other pop bands would struggle to surpass. The crowd are relaxed and happy to just sit back and let the boys on stage do the work.

The next song (a welcome blast from the past) ‘Big Sur’ was a real crowd pleaser. ‘I’m so sorry’ was slightly weak and was reminiscent of a Disney song…sesame street? Disney? whatever next? The crowd finally livend when they heard ‘Santa Cruz (you’re not that far)’. A bit of harmonica is added which is always a delight to the ears…fun to watch as well. Things became a little boring at one stage as they played too many slow songs together, but this sluggish period didn’t last long and they went on to play ‘The Irish keep gatecrashing’ (from their 2004 album ‘Lets Bottle Bohemia’ which was fantastic and really got things going again. The next song ‘One horse town’ from their 2003 album ‘So much for the City’ had a cracking chorus but a weak verse.

Obviously the happy sunny voice of West Coast American was still there in each and every song, however the lads seem much more thoughtful with this new album and their new songs are more mature, reflective and personal. The title of their new album ‘Teenager’ communicates this slight change in tack.

Continue