What Laura Says (And Why You Should Listen)
by Kat
We heard of What Laura Says through a recommendation, promising a fun bunch with a colorful, all-over-the-place sound. I looked forward to enjoying the new band signed to the Annuals’ label but never imagined stopping in my tracks. Captured by a new level of music, I recognized that watching WLS was to observe a happening of something real and dare I say it – original! They’ll have you revisiting your music views, I promise! To explain literally what was on stage – five guys, two guitars, a bass, drums, keys and occasionally, shakers and a triangle – describes a story commonly found in today’s live scene. The challenge is, no details are suitably telling for a What Laura Says performance – it’s meant to FEEL! Devendra Banhart is said to have given his blessing – and after plunging into this refreshing Tempe band, so do we!
We try to thoroughly marinate in the bliss of any show, but something about this one left us incapable of remembering the last time something was so…prominent. If we tried dissecting What Laura Says, we would perhaps compare the gentle folk charm of a band like Iron & Wine, the southern-soul jive of Cold War Kids and the playfully psychedelic elements of Passion Pit. After listening to “Roll Some Coin,” we thought WLS surpasses the rock n roll standard of The Black Keys or Kings of Leon easily. The genres aren’t purposely bent with each song change, this simply IS the freedom of their style. The beauty is that What Laura Says are all of your favorite bands wrapped into one…but still, there is something extra-curricular about them. Even their percussion extends to the non-typical means of empty jars, vases and used spray cans. WLS has an essential sound, a reminder of all the music you love but still somehow invigoratingly different, making it hard to put a finger on. Moments that have you thinking ‘Sly & The Family Stone’ embody groove or a straight out slow jam but can soon turn into backing vocals and spoken noise layers for a musical round – a flexibility that is awesome to hear! I love that amongst their sea of stresses and rocker manes, What Laura Says have the regular “band look,” fooling onlookers to think that they can guess the band’s category. While on stage, they pull anything off – a must see is the spot-on gospel energy in “Keep Running Shoes Special” where WLS holler to the crowd, shrieking “Go to church!” before breaking into a rumble. The music is indeed visual but what you’ll notice is not the variety of color but rather, the box it’s in…of What Laura Says Thinks and Feels, the brand.
Special Thanksto Heathcliff Berru
- July 8, 2010
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