I’m not gonna beat around the bush… The Absent Arch are THE BEST young up and coming new bands in the Twin Cities and their debut album ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’ is one of the best local releases of the year.
The Absent Arch write music that rides the fine line between folk & rock like many artists before them, but the natural way which they flow between the two styles & influences is just one of the many things that make this a special band. The first time i saw them, they reminded me of The Frames (feat: Glen Hansard, of Swell Season/Once fame) along with maybe a bit of the raw emotion of Okkervil River, but it’s very obvious from listening to their debut album ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’ that their influences are much more vast.
The track ‘No Titles… None at All’ is one of the many songs on the album featuring the loud/quiet/loud formula that bands like Calexico often employ, and has it’s point driven home by lead singer Will Markwardt’s raw and powerful emotion-packed voice.
‘Ants’, the track that closes the album is one of the quieter songs on the album, but packs just as hard of a punch as any of the other songs on the record by drawing you in from the opening chords.
There’s a lot of great local shows going on tonight, but I suggest you head to the Triple Rock to catch this band before they truly catch fire, you can thank me later. It’ll be the best $6 you’ll spend all weekend, guaranteed.
Friday, November 21st, 2008
21+ | 9:00 PM | $6.00
THE ABSENT ARCH (CD RELEASE!)
A PAPER CUP BAND
THE GLAD VERSION
THE CHORD AND THE FAWN
Thanks to Stacy from CakeIn15.com for introducing them to me earlier this summer by booking them to play the Stone Arch Art Festival.
