Bass Drum of Death

Finding a middle ground between Jay Reatard's brand of garage rock and JEFF the Brotherhood's liberal usage of early '90s guitar riffs, Mississippi duo Bass Drum of Death ripped through their set with casual abandon, saying little to the growing crowd drawn in by the frenetic energy that characterized the first half of their set. But as they reached the midway point, their songs (featuring a second guitarist live) started to take more shape, each improving on the last, without losing the momentum that had carried them at the outset. While the group's sound isn't the most original thing going, sharp hooks and a well-paced setlist made Bass Drum of Death a worthy discovery.