High Tension Wires
Saturday
Reviewed by Audra Schroeder, Fri., March 18, 2011
High Tension Wires
Welcome New Machine (Dirtnap)Portland, Ore.'s Dirtanp Records certainly has its eyes upon Texas. These CenTex all-stars – featuring Mike Wiebe of Riverboat Gamblers on vocals, Mark Ryan of Marked Men on guitar, and members of Bad Sports (also just signed to Dirtnap) in the rhythm pit – sound exactly like a synthesis of all those bands on third LP Welcome New Machine. Plus some obvious influences: The "Incorporeal" chorus sounds like Devo's "Uncontrollable Urge." Much like lablemate Ryan's new Mind Spiders, there's a focus on whoa-oh-oh vocals and power-pop-punk riffs as exemplified by "Backbone," perhaps the first punk song ever to reference worker drones and queen bees. HTW does under-three-minute blasts well enough, love songs ("Handicapped Hearts") included. A party album for the impending robot takeover. (Sat., 10:15pm, Easy Tiger)