The last time Radio Exile staffer Elie Perler and I headed to a show together, I made him review it. Really, I was tired and since I sometimes exert the tiny bit of executive control that I possess over him, I figured that it was a good time.

Tonight, when I invited him to get over to Mercury Lounge to catch The Explorers Club [MySpace] with me, he returned the favor. It was my turn, it appears.

That’s fine. I knew coming into this sold out evening of rock splendor that I was going to love what we were about to see. He didn’t know their upcoming album, Freedom Wind, so he had nothing to go on, save for the words “glorious,” “rad,” and “wonderful” which I had given as a reply to his simple: “What do they sound like?”

More (including MP3s) after the jump.

One thing that Perler knew (that I seem to constantly forget): if the Mercury Lounge website or the artist’s site says a band goes on at 8:30, the chalkboard out front will always say 30 minutes later. So, when I showed up for the show at 8:15, I waited a bit.

When the show finally kicked off, what amazed me the most was that no one was there to see the band launch into a delicious version of “Forever,” the first single. Blessed with the opportunity to see the newest incarnation of the Beach Boys, the show is “sold out” and no one is there for the opener? Was it because of Passover?

Indie rock is kosher. I can assure you.

What rocks the most about this band is how, even when they can’t really hear their monitors for harmonies (and believe me, their harmonies are complex and wonderful), they don’t care. They just keep playing, and even the occasional half-step or vocal miscue seems so awesome. You can’t top live performance for that raw moment where emotion and performance meet in front of an audience.

The band is from Charleston, SC which would definitely lead you to believe that they should have written country songs, or grew up locked in an attic together surviving on Twinkies and old Beach Boys and Zombies 45s. Honestly, they were effing stellar. I can’t describe it any other way, and to not use “effing” would be wrong. The beginning of “Lost My Head” blows my mind now more than ever. Prior to tonight’s performance, I didn’t really notice how many members were in the band (Attention Labels and PR firms: I hate one sheets! I recycle them immediately. Happy Earth Day, or something) until they all walked onto the stage. They are up to 7 members with the addition of a keyboard player for the tour. Perler thought that was excessive, but it all seems very calculated. I trust them.

Last year, the Long Blondes got me back into surf rock. The Beach Boys Christmas Album hooked me once again on male harmonies that I secretly crave (I swear, that’s why I have all the ‘N Sync albums!) and to hear people taking the material seriously while singing in a high falsetto just tears me up. It’s great. Blame Thom Yorke, I think, but I am a sucker for people who sing like that, and mean it. Then, blame Canada for they need to be blamed for something again.

Highlight of the night goes to mustache guy (his “guvmint” name is James, but “mustache guy” is apropos. Let’s just call him Jimmy. Jimmy’s mustache looks awesome on him, like a guitar playing Magnum P.I.). Jimmy did a back flip off the stage during their last number, “Johnny B. Goode.” He originally intended to take the header off the monitors, but luckily recognized that the monitors were not on the front of the rock solid stage, but on two small tables with the approximate stability of Amy Winehouse.

Back flips = rad.

Dying during the show and scarring people irreparably = not that rad.

I must note that that his flip stole the moment away from poor Dave who had taken off into the crowd to dance and play tambourine like an extra on the set of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, as the crowd finally pours in from the bar.

If you missed this show, you missed out on something great. There are more dates coming up for these guys. Check out that MySpace site and go see them in Wilkes Barre or Philly or Baltimore for these next shows. Big, major ballsy props to Jimmy Mustache, Jason, Dave, Wally, Stefan and Neil for delivering one of the best shows I have seen this year.

The Explorers Club – “Do You Love Me?” [mp3]
The Explorers Club - “Forever” [mp3]

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