Image by Angela Lu
As Tall As Lions trumpet heavenly glory in New York
June 30, 2009, at the Bowery Ballroom
By Angela Lu
Published: July 3rd, 2009 | 9:40pm
This wasn’t supposed to be happening at a rock show. Onstage, a man was summoning beautiful, syrupy notes from his trumpet —a haunting and trippy yet reflective vibe straight from Miles Davis, Bitches Brew–era (Columbia), with massive concert hall reverb. The notes were played legato, long and slow, smooth and soaring, delicate and distant, minimalist and massively sexy.
With the glimmer of his trumpet, the bugle boy — a tall, slim looker — appeared even more dapper than he did before the show. His horn produced timeless magic with its inherent sophistication, worldly and regal like the earliest kinds found in King Tut’s grave.
More magic unfolded as a second trumpeter joined in later and harmonized gorgeously with a slightly dissonant line. No, this wasn’t supposed to be happening at an indie rock show. This was the crossroads where pop delectability and high art met up for coffee and became the best of friends, a combo as perfect as PB&J.
The band was As Tall As Lions, an indie rock outfit from Long Island so entirely marketable in the pop music industry with euphonious, Pink Floyd–derived vocal harmonies, that teenage boy band fans everywhere could swoon upon a first listen. At the same time, however, As Tall As Lions are also a pop band so technically gifted and faintly experimental enough to attract even the most severe and picky of music Nazis.
As Tall As Lions are an anomaly with Radiohead’s almost singular ability to craft both the catchiest radio hits as well as ambient, experimental material that might seem like it comes from another artist altogether. It is the definition of musical brilliance and genius — being innovative and different but not so different that you lose the ears of 99% of the population.
These are rock masters who can empower you with a sense of adventure and endless possibilities. At the Bowery Ballroom, singer Dan Nigro channeled Bono and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy at his most operatic; The Mars Volta’s Cedric Bixler-Zavala at his whiniest,; and Justin Timberlake in perfect falsetto while he belted out choruses and melodies that would require a hairdryer to unglue from your brain.
Bassist Julio Tavarez churned out powerful, distorted bass lines all night long—everything from disco octave–playing style to long, supple slides. Tavarez managed to do all of this while he also danced manically with a cocky smirk on his face, pursed lips, or a grimace. An aggressive groovemaster, his rhythms along with gifted drummer Cliff Sarcona drove songs forward with lightning-quick flourishes and dexterity underneath the heavenly quality of Nigro’s voice and guitarist Saen Fitzgerald’s spare, spacey, and delay-drenched arpeggios.
The adolescent audience moshed, danced, and hopped for several hours in delight as the band segued flawlessly from song to song in their heart-pumping set.
Watch out because this band means business, and seeing as how they left the crowd in this packed venue wanting more even after a generous encore, it looks like it’s going to be a very lucrative career.
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As Tall As Lions official site
As Tall As Lions Myspace page
Issue #35
Comments
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marpod (8 months)
I love these guys. Never seen them live though. Thanks for the review!
chucky8810 (8 months)
the most underestimated band, awsome music hope to see them live soon
cacophony (8 months)
ATAL is one of the greatest bands around today and i can't wait to see them live
aimwithoutacause (8 months)
so true that their songs are appealing to even the pickiest of listeners. great band, probably my favorite at the moment.
ddoing (8 months)
As Tall As Lions truly is so creative that only the finest-tuned listeners can appreciate their genius. Ah, the bittersweet "OM" of real alternative masterpiece.
jesswhoo (8 months)
I wish I could have been there! They are amazing live... every show is heavenly.
mjp75 (7 months)
ATAL's live show is top notch. I've seen them several times, both as an opening act, and as a headliner, and I'm always overwhelmed by their sets
frajeff91 (7 months)
I'm so glad to hear they sound great live. I recently won tickets to a show, and I'm so excited to go. I've been watching a ton of youtube vids and it seems that everything you say is true, and that this show will NOT disappoint!
wibcasto (7 months)
The first two songs they released have been incredible. I can't wait for the new album.
ck354696 (7 months)
this was my third time seeing ATAL live. i haven't felt anything like after an ATAL concert. you just feel great. if you haven't seen them live, seriously, get tickets asap to a nearby concert.
Rogers (7 months)
Haven't seen them yet :/ but I will in August. So excited.
GarnetJ (7 months)
Fantastic review!!! I heard great things about the Bowery Ballroom show and wished I lived closer to NYC. I've seen ATAL many times in concert and they never ever disappoint. Their live energy is infectious! You can't help but walk away in a post-concert euphoria, yet saddened that the show is over. The addition of Duncan on trumpet was a wonderful surprise when I saw them at SXSW this year. I can't wait to see them with Dredg!
Keagan (7 months)
ATAL proves to be one of the best bands in the scene today. I hope to see them sometime soon.
gregt (7 months)
I've seen ATAL a handful of times, and they keep getting better and better! Twice at Hofstra University, and once at the Triple Crown Records Anniversary show December 2007 at Blender Theatre. They sound flawless live. Great stage presence and really awesome guys. The new songs sound so good and I am really pumped to see them Thursday night to hear those new songs live (July 30 @ Irving)!! New album should be amazing. [Play more shows in Long Island, please!]
iambaker (7 months)
If you think the albums are amazing, just wait until you get a chance to see them live. ATAL is the "holy s***" package of indie music.
whythankayou (7 months)
:D Great show, of course
CapturedDreams (7 months)
Wow, this review was beautiful. It captures how I feel for ATAL with the words that I can't come up with myself. Thanks!
juuulia (7 months)
ATAL is so criminally underrated, and they're also one of the best live bands I've ever seen.
loofa (7 months)
Can't wait to see these guys on the 7th!
lorafinn (7 months)
I am so mad I couldnt go to this show! Seeing them live is such an amazing experience.
crazystargrl (7 months)
Great review. I just saw them live for the first time last night. :)
cassielee (7 months)
"The notes were played legato, long and slow, smooth and soaring, delicate and distant, minimalist and massively sexy." --There couldn't be a better description of their stage presence and soul. so well written, i agree with you completely.
lauraslashchad (7 months)
good article. i think this band is definitely underrated and more people should give them a shot because they have a lot of people that believe in them. skip over that pitchfork review. there's tons of love!
butterlfyb05 (6 months)
This is an incredible review! Very on point on describing the magic that is AS TALL AS LIONS. I've seen them 3 times and have never ever been disappointed. The miles davis sounding trumpets blaring, the smooth vocals, and the vibes from the energetic bass and gutiar are only half of what it is to see them live. BEYOND amazing. AS TALL AS LIONS is one band that you have to see live over and over
Keyla87 (5 months)
As Tall as Lions latest album is incredible. Nigro's voice is one that is impossible to forget, it is unique and sensual.
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