Gambles

October 26, 2013 @ Schubas

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Those Darlins have changed a bit every time I see them with each change making their stage show a little better. Three of their many concerts I've seen have been at Schubas. Each has featured a slightly different lineup. This one with new bassist Adrian Barrera was a complete departure from the country/rock/punk mix of a band I first saw in 2009. At this point, the band is on track to figure out exactly what it is. The country is gone, and the rock is here.

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The most obvious move away from their beginnings was a complete lack of songs played from their first album, Those Darlins. I imagine this version of the band will bring some of those songs back and rock them out in the future. For now, the emphasis was on the new music. The opening song, "Ain't Afraid," was a proclamation of how this band acts onstage. In a world of change and problems, lead singer Jessi Darlin screamed, 'I ain't afraid, I ain't afraid, I ain't afraid anymore." Other standout new tracks played were "That Man," "She Blows" and the first single from Blur the Line, "Optimist."

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While Jessi seems to have taken the lead in the band, one of the best spots in any Those Darlins show is when Nikki Darlin steps out in a featured moment. That moment was "Night Jogger." She sang and moved with abandon before eventually dropping to her knees. Nikki gives the band an extra bit of sexual angst onstage that some bands cannot pull off.

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Before closing with "Be Your Bro," the band played what sadly turned out to be an aptly-timed cover of "White Light/White Heat" by The Velvet Underground. It was a great verson. The stage was pure chaos as opening act Gambles joined the headliner and completely destroyed a tambourine. At that point, no one knew that Velvet Underground leader Lou Reed woud die the next morning.

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Those Darlins are as good as any band on the road right now, though they might need a hit song to push them through to bigger rooms. I don't know if or when that might happen, but they are making all the right moves as performers. They're what rock and roll is supposed to look like onstage.

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Those Darlins setlist:

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