Switches

May 15, 2008

Stubb's BBQ, Austin TX

Nylon Magazine’s Summer Music Tour 2008 featured the likes of She Wants Revenge, Be Your Own Pet, The Virgins, and Switches. My focus was on the hot up and coming band from England, Switches.

As the opening act, Switches began their set with 40 or so on lookers all dressed in their most fashionable punk rock gear. In working the fact that the majority of the listeners were young girls, Switches came on stage in vests, casual pants, and the latest fashions that you can expect to see in the store front of any Urban Outfitters. The girls in the crowd were instantly in love with these skinny rockers as they belted out tracks from their latest album Lay Down the Law and a few earlier songs as well. They looked like the class clowns you loved in high school and their performance was enough to remind you why you loved them.

While I’m almost certain that no one in the crowd knew the lyrics to the songs, that didn’t keep them from bobbing their heads and dancing along. And lead singer, Matt Bishop illustrated just how excited he was as he repeatedly gave energized jumps on stage and jolted his head back and forth during the high pitched lyrics of No Hero, “Don't you know I wish that I could be a better lover?” making this already animated song even more so.

As it was still broad daylight at 7pm when the show commenced, Switches set continued and the crowd increased as people wandered from the back of the venue to the front to catch a glimpse at this new band that was definitely rocking the house. Despite the fact that Switches was a relatively unknown band to much of the concert goers, they were catching the attention of everyone and people seemed pleased with what they were hearing.

During Bishop’s guitar solo in Lovin’ It, he was so in the moment that he completely lost sight of us as his eyes rolled back in his head and he just jammed out. This was truly an exciting performance and these boys gave their heart and soul. During Every Second Counts, Bishop dove to the floor and glanced up at his keyboardist, Ollie Thomas at which point they smiled at one another. It was a break in their rock and roll characters that illustrated that hey, these guys are fresh and new, not yet made cocky by success. And that’s exactly what this band is, fresh and new.

After Switches exited the stage, The Virgins went on to play some edgy soul style of likeable music. Then, as the crowd began to get more and more drugged, black, and topless, the music did too. It was a long way from the Switches’ rock and roll beat to Be Your Own Pet’s style of wanna-be hard core punk. And finally, She Wants Revenge went on to play a decent set to their packed crowd of adoring fans.

Of all the bands on the Nylon Magazine Summer Music Tour 2008, Switches definitely gave the most notable performance. The energy and excitement that those boys brought to the stage transferred to the concert goers and really got the show moving. I’ll be looking forward to their next tour and I’ll most certainly be recommending their music every chance I get.

Just before Switches played the last song of their set, Bishop addressed the crowd in his oh so British accent, “We’re gonna play one more song and then we’ll let the pros get on with it!” It’s that kind of modest and true “we’re just here to rock” attitude that made me fall in love with this band and it’s likely that others will soon follow. Switches’ exuberant performance at Stubb’s was nothing short of excellence.