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Murder by Death / This Providence

live in Levittown
2006
live show

Review by: Brian
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Murder by Death (link)

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Published on December 5th 2006

Ho-ly shit. I pulled into a parking lot with plenty of space, which led me to believe that the Hush Sound's headlining tour had turned a modest draw here at Club Ritual in Levittown, NY, a spot finding many repeat visits by myself this past year. But when I walked into the venue, my eyes fell upon the cold, inhibiting gazes of over a hundred 16-year-old girls (and a few of their male counterparts, of course); I felt sort of nauseous. Then it hit me: Decaydence Records...MTVU play...reviews claiming similarities to Panic! at the Disco...fuck.

Thus, I wasn't getting anywhere near the stage for Murder by Death. But at least this wouldn't be a complaint for another band or so.

This Is Me Smiling played dorky indie-power-pop stuff for, by the time I got there, a song and a half. It wasn't terrible or anything, but I could think of a few better openers that would've fit the bill just as well.

Now, This Providence is a band I found doing an otherwise repulsive, oversaturated genre some fair justice on their first full-length, Our Worlds Divorce. Unfortunately, the followup, This Providence seemed to conform a little sternly to the styles of their new label, Fueled by Ramen. Too bad that's the band's main audience, now; out of the eight songs they played for their set, seven came from the newer album. Ugh. Besides musical similarities, This Providence even looked like they share members with their label mates, which came as shocking to me for some reason. They played decently enough, but the Gatsbys-esque riffs were some of the only things keeping me sane. Even one or two more songs from Our Worlds Divorce would've sedated my outrage, but alas... In any event, the crowd unsurprisingly loved every second.

Set list:

Secret Love and the Fastest Way to Loneliness

Card House Dreamer

An Ocean Between

The Road to Jericho Is Lined with Starving People

My Beautiful Rescue

Walking on Water
Well Versed in the Ways of the World

A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

What a horrible, horrible tour for Murder by Death, something even the band inherently knew as they romped through their alt-country / indie rock stomps, led by Adam Turla's ghost-of-Johnny-Cash inflection. Turla was his usual dry self, beginning things by simply stating "We're a rock'n'roll band," probably to the dismay of the vast majority of the audience. The set, while played well and with the occasional welcomed explosion of dynamics from both Turla's voice and the four-piece's instruments, hardly stirred a reaction from the crowd. One particular group of girls in front of me danced awkwardly to feign interest when they weren't busy taking pictures of each other on a Sidekick. Sweet! I actually would've preferred the band play more from their recent/fantastic In Bocca al Lupo, but I also hadn't seen them for three years, so hearing those old cuts from Who Will Survive, and What Will Be Left of Them? and beyond was ace too.

Set list (7:50-8:23):

The Desert Is on Fire
Boy Decide

A Masters in Reverse Psychology

Sometimes the Line Walks You

I'm Afraid of Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolfe

One More Notch
Until Morale Improves, The Beatings Will Continue

Brother

instrumental

While the set itself was fine, I couldn't help but feel a little robbed. Maybe this is one of the reasons Murder by Death is so underrated, playing 33-minute support slots for crowds nearly impossible to win over. Even the mind-blowing, ten-plus-minute medley they used to close even their opening sets with was pared down to a mere three or four minutes here. Also, it would've been nice to have at least one person join me in humble, reserved sing-alongs, but maybe my chances will fare better on an upcoming run with Reverend Horton Heat, or even on the tour with fellow Eyeball alum Thursday.

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Posted by canaandrumz on 2006-12-07 06:21:34

When I saw them in Richmond they opened with that song and the lead singer said right before "Hi, we're murder by death and this is the best song I've ever written"

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at 6:06 PM (EST)

I bet "Sometimes the Line Walks You" would be a killer live song.

Posted by inagreendase on 2006-12-05 23:19:45

which probably explains the little girl following they're starting to build.

Dude, MBD couldn't have a little girl following if they wanted to. They're only flocking to this tour because there's more than one Fueled by Ramen band on it.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 11:15 PM (EST)

you got something against sidekicks?

because i do

can't wait to see MBD in pittsburgh on Saturday

Posted by robynjoy on 2006-12-05 22:05:18

awesome band and lovely people. odd pairings do seem to be their theme as of late though.

going to see them in pittsburgh saturday...hurrah!

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 9:59 PM (EST)

i saw this tour in st. louis and the crowd response for murder by death was terrible. almost the entire crowd talked through the band's set and rarely clapped.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 4:53 PM (EST)

every time murder by death comes anywhere near me they are a supporting act for a string of shitty emo bands... which probably explains the little girl following they're starting to build.

Posted by mattp330 on 2006-12-05 15:50:23

in the month before war all the time came out i saw murder by death open for thursday and this day forward at a skate park. the live show was amazing just for the attitude they display and the song selection

Posted by hvmyselfabear on 2006-12-05 14:28:52

Murder by Death is a great band, but they really should take their booking agent out back and shoot him.

Posted by inagreendase on 2006-12-05 13:40:35

To answer your question, JonC: Maybe it's because it's a little unexpected when you go to see a band like Murder by Death. And when you see that type of person at a show with a band like Murder by Death, obnoxious talking and distracting social interaction during the band and tons of disinterest throughout suddenly become an unfortunate focal point.

Posted by jonc on 2006-12-05 12:13:57

dammit, totally screwed that up — something else that is annoying.

Posted by jonc on 2006-12-05 12:12:26

Why do so many reviews start on this site start by saying how many stupid girls/people in general there are at shows? They're everywhere and always will be, and they'll seem more annoying the older we all get.

Posted by thebouncingsoul on 2006-12-05 10:20:30

I love Murder by Death but I really don't know what the fuck they're doing on this tour...who are they trying to convert?

I'm certainly not going to pay my 13 bucks to see a 33 minute set

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 12:13 AM (EST)

i'm not a huge fan of murder by death's cds, but i saw them live once and thought their show was really good.