Credit: JonnyLeather.com

“Holy Chord” came across as a glowing discovery of all things hopeful and innocent (and to be frank, I didn’t appreciate the album at first but having seen the act, I can’t stop listening to it now). “Colour Coding” was the dance rock hit the guys grew up listening to but didn’t intend to emulate; in an intimate setting such as last Friday, the venue felt heaving and sweaty, a polar opposite to what was going on around us. It was hard not to be moved during their set. The dueling falsetto wails of Tim Derricourt and Dave Rennick work in a way you couldn’t have imagined, allowing the strength of each man to bolster the sound of the band and push them sonically.

Grown men shredding their vocal chords for the amusement of some shoegazing bloggers? It was a priceless moment of mutual appreciation: the band loved the crowd and love the city, but it was also very clear just how much New York “gets” Dappled Cities. The vocal interplay on “Vision Bell” kept everyone smiling; it takes a confident group of performers to work elements of so many bands into a sound that is decidedly their own.

Tim Derricourt’s presence is unbearable at times. He is utterly unaware of the charisma he possesses, yet has a way of toying with the crowd with his nebbish charm. He knows how we think he feels about himself, but there he is with 200 plus eyes upon him his voice shattering through you, singing as if his microphone was stolen before sound check and he just can’t bear to cancel the gig. This is the rare occasion in which shared vocal duties work. Rennick plays the heart throb to Derricourt’s “Ducky,” a relationship that allows the band’s more intricate pieces to move as a unit and not merely as a song nearing a completion.

In a nutshell, a band lost the word “fly” from the cover of their album but learned to soar. A cheesy metaphor? Certainly, but if you are a fan of rock music, Dappled Cities need to be heard. Their work pulses and splashes its way into your conscience, pulling you off the floor before you have a chance to dissent.

Too many subtle elements are lost in the album’s mix, pushed too far into the foreground for the listener to truly comprehend what is being presented on a set of headphones. Granddance is like a piece of art admired on a poster or in a textbook. Once you stand mere inches from the frame, you cannot pry your eyes away. You can finally appreciate the nature of the art they produce.

The Band
Hugh Boyce / drums
Dave Rennick / vocals / guitar / keys
Ned Cooke / keys / samples
Alex Moore / bass
Tim Derricourt / vocals / guitar / keys

Upcoming Tour Dates
Tuesday 17 July
The Intersection, Grand Rapids, Michigan
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Wednesday 18 July
Birdies Bar & Grill, Indianapolis, Indiana
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Friday 20 July
Slow Down Small Room, Ohama, Nebraska
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Saturday 21 July
Larimer Lounge, Denver, Colorado
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Monday 23 July
The Independent, San Francisco, California
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Tuesday 24 July
The Echo, LA, California
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Wednesday 25 July
The Troubadour, LA, California
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Thursday 26 July
The Beauty Bar, San Diego, California
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Friday 27 July
Anderson’s Fifth Estate, Scottsdale, Arizona
w/ Tokyo Police Club

Sunday 29 July
Varsity Theatre, Minneapolis, Minnesota
w/ The Fratellis

Monday 30 July
Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
w/ The Fratellis

Tuesday 31 July
Newport Music Hall, Columbus, Ohio
w/ The Fratellis

Wednesday 1 August
Black Cat, Washington, DC
w/ All Smiles

Thursday 2 August
The Mercury Lounge, NYC, New York
w/ All Smiles

Saturday 4 August
Johnny Brandas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
w/ All Smiles

Sunday 5 August
TT The Bears, Cambridge, Massachusetts
w/ All Smiles

Tuesday 7 August
Mod Club, Toronto, Ontario
w/ The Fratellis

Last 5 posts by Shawn M. Smith

• A'tris Advances to Fall Final Round at Famecast - November 19th, 2008
• Video Hook-Up: Little Joy - "Next Time Around" - November 19th, 2008
• CMJ Rewind: Casiokids and Lukestar - November 18th, 2008
• [Contest] Win Mirror's Edge Prize Pack (Xbox 360 and "Still Alive" Remixes EP) - November 15th, 2008
• Daily Dose - Friday Linkage - November 14th, 2008