Week of 1.26.15 :: Indie Rock * The Districts - 4th and Roebling
With just enough buzz and carefree loudness to sound part Manchester Orchestra, part The Strokes, part You Me & Apollo (R.I.P.), The Districts are a promising young band on the indie rock scene. [They've also drawn many comparisons to The Pixies.] Originally hailing from Lititz, PA (where?), but now calling Philly home, four then-in-high-school dudes started a band in 2009 and set out to create quality, honest music.
Don't let their youth fool you - The Districts have an old school quality about them that gives their indie rock vibe a subtle blues twist. [They also feature a bit of slide guitar and harmonica from time to time.] The voice of frontman Rob Grote has the perfect amount of grit and soul, and it tends to slide down at the ends of verses in a way that you just can't ignore - it hits you right in the feels (in a good way, of course). The Districts - Rob Grote (vocals, guitar), Connor Jacobus (bass), Pat Cassidy (guitar), and Braden Lawrence (drums) - signed to Mississippi label Fat Possum Records in 2013, and haven't looked back. The year 2014 was good to The Districts - they played some notable festivals like Shaky Knees in GA, Boston Calling, Loufest in STL, the Reading & Leeds Festival in the UK, AND they played Lolla! Which sadly, I did not know until just now. Fail.
What about this year, you ask? The Districts are releasing their newest album, A Flourish and A Spoil, on February 10th and will be touring in celebration (check out their tour dates here)! They're also playing at Bonnaroo in June (TN), Hangout Beach Festival in May (AL), Sasquatch! Festival in May (WA), and the Governor's Ball festival in June (NYC), so musicsouls everywhere, be on the lookout for their sets! I will be at their Chicago show next month (2/20) at Lincoln Hall, and I cannot wait to be so happily engulfed in the loudness. But until then, take a listen to their song "4th and Roebling".
(P.S. Also check out "Lyla")
Photo courtesy of The Districts Facebook page.