Switches Lay Down The Law
Holly GoNightly
February 23, 2008
It’s true that New York is known for its parties—fabulous nights of dressing to impress, followed immediately by staring at one another over a glass of branded vodka while acting thoroughly unimpressed (or in some cases, thoroughly overly impressed) by another’s outfit/name/nose job. Which is why I always like to take a nightlife retreat to a concert venue, a curated event consisting of both socialites and social-lowers who look impressed or unimpressed with good reason. Last night, my music-themed outing took me to the cavernous Terminal 5 to gauge an impression of the U.K. band Switches. The band opened for veteran outfit The Bravery, and brought out a rather eclectic mix of admirers. The Wall Street crew got off just in time to down vodka tonics and mix with skinny teen boys with better hair than me. A few girls in braces debated the authenticity of a writer’s Chloé bag before relinquishing their argument to ear-piercing screams as Switches took the stage. (Their carefully worded verdict, last I heard: “Faker than Blake Lively’s dye job”).
I conducted my own social study, bringing along a chum who “kind of” knew who the Killers were, much less the Bravery. He gave the thumbs up for most of Switches’ performance; thumbs way up for the pitch-perfect single “Drama Queen.” I was in agreement, though the charismatic band seemed to lose a lot of their Brit wit in the vast expanse that is Terminal 5. Their bright spot came with “Lay Down the Law,” the namesake single to their soon to be released album, which seemed to amplify the energy of the crowd, measured in tween scream decibels.
Switches surrendered their stage after a satisfying set, and while I was sad to see lead vocalist Matty Bishop’s bright turquoise underwear exit, I was curious as to how the Bravery would deal with the venue known for its poor acoustics. 30 minutes later, after their team assembled an elaborate light show—and I gave my musically challenged mate a short history on new wave music—the Bravery took the stage, offering a solid, polished performance. With slick lead Sam Endicott presenting a dedication to The Outsiders, and a shout out to Long Island, both the overly impressed and hopelessly unimpressed seemed sated, if not just for the moment.
My carefully worded verdict: crowd pleasing performances, for suits and Pony Boys alike.
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