Seeing The Subways [Official Site, Myspace] live is the musical equivolant of a torrential downpour. It consumes you. You can’t escape it, and even if you could, you wouldn’t try. It’s the kind of rainstorm that you never want to end. The band’s energy is infectious. They have a “go hard or go home” stage presence, but also a wryness about them - a clear indicator that they love their day job. And this, in turn, makes you love them.

They are also easy on the eyes. Charlotte Cooper is a minx that makes playing the bass look incredibly hot, drummer Josh Morgan has that whole Tyson Ritter thing going on, and lead singer/guitarist Billy Lunn is cold shower-inducing, playing shirtless the entire show. Swoon.

But back to the show. Local Boston rock band Mean Creek [Official Site, Myspace] warmed up the crowd nicely with a solid opening performance. They have traces of Radiohead (think Pablo Honey) in their chord progressions and unique harmonies. The vocals were a little hard to hear at points over the guitar distortion, but they played a tight set and are worth checking out.

The Subways took the stage and threw a few songs off of their latest UK release All or Nothing (due out in the US this September) into the mix of Young For Eternity favorites. The vibe from their new songs is fantastic, and makes waiting until September sort of like waiting for Christmas. Live, their sound was stripped down and as raw as a baby carrot, but with more crunch. These Brits know how to rock.

And scream. Lunn engaged the crowd in a screaming battle during “Rock & Roll Queen,” and then jumped off the stage, making his way through the crowd with his guitar, and played from the bar. You have to love small venues.

They didn’t tap into their slower songs, keeping the pace intense with “Oh Yeah,” “With You,” and “I Want to Hear What You Have Got to Say,” among others. It would have been cool to hear “Somewhere” and the build up that goes with it… or maybe a Rick James cover.

Don’t make the mistake of passing up a chance to see them if they come your way. Truly.

Last 5 posts by Holly L. Perry

• Where Have You Gone, My Better Than Ezra? - June 24th, 2009
• Plushgun (5/19/09, T.T. The Bear's Place, Cambridge, MA) - May 26th, 2009
• Charlie Fink Gets Hugged! A Radio Exile Success Story. - May 22nd, 2009
• Jill Sobule - California Years Review - May 19th, 2009
• Bell X1 - Blue Lights on the Runway Review - April 21st, 2009