Air Traffic with Douglas Fir @ TT the Bear’s, 5.22

Music is often generational. For example, if you’re not a 7 to 14 year old girl you probably think Hannah Montana is worthless, but they all love it and no matter how old they get will have a certain affinity or nostalgia for her music. I’m nostalgic to that weird period post grunge, pre (almost) anything worth while - the transition of grunge to pop punk with a small smattering of that hip hop/rock mix. Now, this time frame was not all bad for music if one positioned themselves right. For example, in 6th grade I bought Daft Punk’s Homework even though my friend insisted I purchase the new Chemical Brother’s CD (the one with Block Rockin’ Beats). Daft Punk definitely helped instill an affinity for electro, while other bands like Presidents of the United States of America, Rage Against the Machine, and Kid Rock - yes, I love Devil Without a Cause - all still get played on my computer.

But since I’m a child of the 80’s rather than a child in the 80’s I never really got into certain bands. Sure, I love early rock and roll, sixties rock and roll, and the seventies punk movement even though I didn’t grow up then, but none of those periods deliver a nostalgic punch that my mid 90’s music does. The same goes for bands like Depeche Mode and the Cure; they’re very good put don’t totally do it for me. And I guess that’s why Douglas Fir didn’t totally get me going.

The vocals have that NWO’s Blue Monday slightly Brit authoritative style. The music is well played but the guitars combined with the effects lead to this rainy day wash of sound that is not dark enough to make me brood but not cheery enough to get my head bouncing from side to side. And the lyrics, while well sung, didn’t pack the punch needed to warrant almost endless repetition (”buy yourself a brand new dress”).

But where I find a music that I’ll never be able to completely attach myself to others find a great deal of worth. Bradley of Bradley’s Almanac really digs the Douglas Fir, but he’s quite a bit older than me and grew up in that era - he’s seen the Cure something like 10 times according to his blog. So, if you’re of that make and model you should definitely give them a shot live, at least to witness a 12 string guitar and the entertaining close kneed movements of Jay Walsh. If you’re not, perhaps give them a listen and then decide for yourself.

♥

Air Traffic’s set sounded really bad. The volume levels of the vocals were under whelming while the bass was overwhelming and bleeding into all the other instruments. Whenever the electric bass was being played the piano and vocals were almost inaudible. Sound issues aside Air Traffic is endearing, but still have to figure out what they really want to be.

At their best Air Traffic summoned up the spirit of piano rock of yester year. A newer song, Can’t Go Back and their first song, I Like That, best exemplified their potential as a band. However, they also have an affinity for rather dull pop songs that use baselines akin to No Doubt, stage techniques from Radiohead, but end up with crooning love songs that don’t hit the mark.

An aside…what’s with floor toms for multiple drum members. Air Traffic did it while the drummer played keyboard so it worked well enough, but Island’s openers Magic did it and it was all but pointless. I guess, floor toms for everyone is in right now.

All that being said, I cannot truly express how much the audio hurt the set. I even felt bad because the guys in the band seemed cheery but rather down about the small turn out. Oh well, so is life.

Read Matt’s review of Fractured Life for another perspective on Air Traffic.

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