Heavy Cream

November 1, 2012 @ Schubas

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Most bands would kill to have a blowout song such as "Funstix Party" to close a show.

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Those Darlins aren't like most bands.

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The Nashville group had the guts to play the wild showstopper in the middle of its set Thursday at Schubas. If the show had ended there, the near-capacity crowd would have received its money's worth. After the song ended, the show let out a deep breath and continued with a handful of new songs the band is road testing before hitting the studio in January. The quality of the new material kept the energy flowing through the room.

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The momentum took off again with the insistent "Fatty Needs A Fix," signature "Red Light Love," and a couple inspired covers they've recorded -- Rockpile's "Pet You and Hold You" and the theme song from the movie Repo Man. Then the worth new "Optimist" and defining "Be Your Bro" closed the main set.

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This show was notable not only for being the best of the half dozen I've seen Those Darlins play in town, but for one of the reasons that made it so. Drummer Linwood Regensburg has transformed his playing from country rhythm-keeping to forceful rock-pounding. That provided appropriate power for Jessi Darlin and Nikki Darlin, who are inhabiting the rock and punk genres more than ever since country-leaning Kelley Darlin left the band in February. Throw in the sturdy bass of Spencer Duncan, Regensburg's former neighbor who has played with the band since March, and Those Darlins performed at their most potent.

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Jessi and Nikki are quite the one-two, fronting punch. Each hits hard. Jessi sung the majority of songs from center stage. Her confidence in the band has grown to the point where she felt comfortable stepping to the edge of the stage numerous times to play guitar hero. Nikki plays guitar, too, but she comes alive most when she sings. She never fails to take the show a level or three higher when she grabs the microphone and steps into the spotlight. Dancing with abandon and dropping to her knees, Nikki sang with combustible energy and sexual magnetism on "Night Jogger."

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Nikki ignited the encore with what has become the band's ace in the hole, a cover of "Shakin All Over." Nikki owns the song with the way she inhabits it and the cocksure manner in which she delivers it. The raise-the-roof performance, which invoked the wildness of Jerry Lee Lewis beyond the included snippet of "Whole Lotta Shakin'," provided the worthy bookend to "Funstix Party."

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The encore opened with a "special Halloween song," Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." Opening band Heavy Cream joined the Darlins, who were still celebrating a day later with face paint. Heavy Cream bassist Olivia Scibelli effortlessly handled the Stevie Nicks vocal lead and the song came across like the real thing for a left-field treat. The encore closed with the country kick of "Wild One."

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Those Darlins' trajectory continues to rise. The band is like a baseball player tearing it up in the minor leagues. It should get the call for TV shows and festival appearances with the release of its next album.

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Those Darlins setlist: