I’m not really trying to justify the Bravery. They are a crap band. But I’ve seen them something like 5 or 6 times. And they are playing a free show at my alma matter this Friday and I am tempted to go. But not alone, because going back to AU with the sole purpose of seeing a crap band and having people see me seeing the crap band, alone, is not worth it. However …
I first saw the Bravery in 2004 when they were doing a residency at the Metro Club in London. Four Thursdays, all Bravery. Their parents were there and they’re from suburban Maryland and their music was poppy and synthy and they were wearing eyeliner and sweating and the room was like a closet. I was so close to them and the stage and the music sounded new and exciting, so I fell in love. Examps of photos I took at that show:
At that point they only had an E.P. out, and I listened to it CONSTANTLY. Then I came back to the U.S. and saw them at Fletcher’s in Baltimore and stood at the front of the stage with Sam Endicott’s crotch in my face. Then the album came out and I was still smittened, though I could feel it waning a tad. Here are some examples of why the love started to fade:
Lyrical:
From the song ‘Public Service Announcement’ — “You put the broke in broken-hearted / You put the art in retarded”
Press: They say that their hometown is New York when they’re actually from Bethesda.
They are in a feud with the Killers (lamest band to be in a feud with evs? Poss. Brandon Flowers is a married Mormon with a Hitler ‘stache). When they were trying to get back at each other, the Bravery revealed that one of the Killers members used to be in a ska band, and then it came out that Sam, lead singer (and the most toasty) was in a band called SKABBA THE HUT. Photo evidence:
Sam is in the back with the braid / dred things.
Also, in the Glastonbury issue of NME, I saw a picture of Mike H. (blue eyeliner boy)’s penis. Because he played the show naked.
Anyway, then the Bravery played a show after their HORRIFIC and CRAPPY second album came out like two months ago. I went to it. It was fun and brought me back to that dingy, smoky club in Tottenham Court Road. I also met the lead singer’s parents and we became BFF. But just for laughs, here are some quotes from the Pitchfork review of The Sun and the Moon:
Rating: 1.8 (out of 10)
“To understand what a failure of a record this is, you have to consider the few redeeming qualities of the band’s self-titled debut. Despite its shameless Cure copping, “An Honest Mistake” left open the possibility of the band becoming a jaded, Americanized Franz Ferdinand, while “Fearless” and “No Brakes” flashed subtler, smarter synth and basslines than nearly anything on Hot Fuss. However, seeking to now eschew their blatant touchstones, the band strips down to a more guitar-based mush not beholden to any one or two specific influences, but remains shockingly unoriginal nonetheless.”
and
“‘”Every Word Is a Knife in My Ear,’ an utterly unsexy, castrated version of “Take Me Out”, wouldn’t even be plausible as a sticker on a goth teenager’s bookbag– let alone as a relatable relationship grievance.”
and
“However, The Sun and the Moon– an album content to find hooks with the least resistance, to place the last 10 years of indie rock in a blender, and try to foist that gruel as something novel, to offend the very art of rock’n'roll– vindicates even those extremists who practically urged to blacklist this band. Have you no sense of decency, Bravery?”
L
O
L.
So, who’s coming to the show with me?
