Given the wide open, triumphant tone of their record, Nothing are certainly a dour-looking group of dudes. The Philadelphia quartet looked downright menacing, their two guitarists and bass player all wearing dark toques as they sound checked their gear (and whipped out an impromptu run through "The Beautiful People"). However, once their set started, the deafening wave of their music took over, even if the band remained rather mum throughout their far-too-brief 25-minute set.
Their vocals float over top of their music on record, but were buried on this night, which is a shame since that's where their melodies lie. Nothing's dream-pop and shoegaze forebears were often accused of boring live sets, but the quartet, their members having cut their teeth in the hardcore and metal world, are quite the opposite. Active and engaged onstage, their thundering sound demands body movement, both from the band members and audience. The set ended with an extended jam and singer-guitarist Dominic Palermo's guitar being thrown to the ground.
Their vocals float over top of their music on record, but were buried on this night, which is a shame since that's where their melodies lie. Nothing's dream-pop and shoegaze forebears were often accused of boring live sets, but the quartet, their members having cut their teeth in the hardcore and metal world, are quite the opposite. Active and engaged onstage, their thundering sound demands body movement, both from the band members and audience. The set ended with an extended jam and singer-guitarist Dominic Palermo's guitar being thrown to the ground.