Audio By Carbonatix
UPDATE: For more photos of Tennis, Miniature Tigers, and Gospel Claws click here.
Let’s just put it out there: The first time I heard indie boy-girl buzz band Tennis, I absolutely hated them.
For starters, I generally hate chick singers who don’t have anything spectacular to offer (though a few of my all-time faves are Victoria Legrand of Beach House and Neko Case). I also hate blondes (I’m a blonde). Suffice it to say, going into the show, Tennis had a few strikes against them, but there was a large part of me that hoped I would be proved wrong. I wanted to be convinced.
The verdict: I’m not convinced. Yep, I still hate Tennis.
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The good news about Tennis is their live sound is identical to what I’ve heard (over)played on satellite radio stations. The bad news is their songs are hard to differentiate, each sounding exactly like the next.
This could be why I noticed the crowd diminishing toward the end of their set, especially in what was once the high-energy all-ages section during Miniature Tigers’ performance. Maybe the youngins had a curfew to make or maybe Phoenix has found a new generation of music lovers who actually know their shit.
During the last encore song, Moore’s vocals got deeper. And for that, we “thank you,” Alaina Moore.
Critics Notebook
Last Night: Tennis and Miniature Tigers at Crescent Ballroom
The Crowd: Young faces rocking bangs and glasses and plenty of jaded 20-somethings.
Random Notebook Dump: Moore reminds me of a high school cheerleader turned “indie rocker” after visiting Brooklyn once.
Overheard: (From a few chicks leaving the show early, “I mean, it’s not that I don’t like Tennis.” (uh-huh)
Tennis Set List:
Long Boat Pass
Take Me Somewhere
Never to Part
Sea Farer
Marathon
Petition
Deep in the Woods
Robin
Baltimore
Traveling
Origins
Pigeons
It All Feels the Same (hmm, fitting)
My Better Self
Highroad
Encore:
Cape Dory
South Carolina
