The problem with Clues is that you really, really want them to be the Unicorns. And they’re not. They are decidedly a very different band. The great thing about them is that the band they are is incredibly good. Their music is dark, mysterious- nuanced and moody. Their entire set was played with the lights all the way down (hence the extremely crappy photos), which was completely indicative of the tone of their live show. None of the happy, wacky melodies of the Unicorns. Instead, they leave behind a thick trail of movie-score-worthy rock and roll sludge- a dense forrest of indie that you have to wade through to enjoy. The result is a palpably thick live show, one that sucks you in and never fails to entertain. It may not have completely translated to their new album, but Clues are a powerful band that hopefully have more staying power than their many previous iterations.
As for Drink Up Buttercup, I’m honestly getting a little tired of writing about how good they are. If you’ve had a chance to see them live and haven’t yet, you’re an idiot. They are a fantastic live band full of inventive energy, end of story. Pictures below.
Clues:
Drink Up Buttercup:
