Blame the Dog, Talking to Ferns, Takedown
The Grand Emporium
July 5, 1999

Review by Danny Alexander

Blame the Dog delivered the sort of likeable but undistinguished rock set that has become increasingly common in an era when a band like Matchbox 20 and Counting Crows have defined the poles of the pop guitar band. Even if the performers mean what they are saying, a sense of affectation has made too many bands sound bland when they are supposedly pouring their hearts out. Blame the Dog's singing sounded passionate and the playing solid, but no song or performance transcended a sort of stylized competence.

Talking to Ferns cover similar territory as a band, but both their arrangements, which leaned heavily on bass and heavy rhythms, and the singer's unusual baritone growl made for a more dynamic performance. A cover of the Beatles' "Dear Prudence" gave a focal point to the set, making sense of the band's dark, dreamy sound.

The evening's great surprise came with the closing set by Takedown. Takedown's songs mine similar new wave elements made currently popular in the area by bands like the Creature Comforts and Ultimate Fakebook. What's different about Takedown is its aggressiveness and conviction. Brett Stewart sings each song like he wants the back of the house to hang on every lyric, and the rhythm section pounds the energy home. A smart three-piece, Takedown uses its make-up to emphasizes the stark grit of its terribly catchy rock. The band had the house, and kept it right where it wanted it.

--Danny Alexander