Dark Victoria

Ben Franklin defined insanity as “doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results,” which explains why he only flew his kite into lightning once. In pop music, you want that kind of insanity -- plus repetition and reiteration on a theme, which, if done properly, can intensify an already strong early result (i.e: Why build a sad little altar when you can erect a whole cathedral of hurt?). This is what The Source Victoria achieve on their evocative debut, what they and YOU in the future will term “epic pop.” To produce a Homeric epic simile of sorts on each track, a certain amount of formulaic planning is necessary. Start off with intense brooding about a troublesome chick or business partner, and if they can be interchangeable, even better. Then you’d better build up to a goddamn melodic chorus with a universal sentiment of the “I want you, you betray me, we need help” variety and a gorgeous resolve that you can’t get out of your head until the next song bricks over it. Brendan Murphy has a nice, rough hewn voice that suits all three of those overriding yearnings, while the band and Grammy Award-winning engineer Chris Testa (Jimmy Eat World, Dixie Chicks, Switchfoot) never let up sonically, so you have a kind of Jeff Buckley/Foo Fighters merger. Check out their MySpace page to sample “opportunistic,” which Jim Adkins remixed, and “Miss Spirual Trampoline” which we like to think is what the parachuters on the cover are aiming for.
Fri., Dec. 21, 9 p.m., 2007