New York synth-rock quintet The Bravery shook up the post-punk scene with their acclaimed 2005 self-titled debut. The Village Voice proclaimed them to be “New York’s Official Next Big Thing,” and they were, with infectious hits like "An Honest Mistake" and "Unconditional." This ignited a much-publicized feud between the band and Island Records label mate Brandon Flowers of The Killers, who said, "anyone who was once in a ska band could not be serious about the music they were playing now." Ouch!
Comparisons of the two bands result in little more than superficial similarities, for the most part. But like The Killers’ sophomore effort, The Bravery’s second album, The Sun and the Moon, deemphasizes the ‘80s-influenced synth hooks in favor of more swirling guitars. It’s not a radical departure, but it shows growth and a deliberate desire to not just remake their impressive debut like other bands in this genre have done.
If you catch the band live, as this editor did on September 14 at the historic Wiltern in Los Angeles, you’re in for a tight set featuring favorites from both Bravery albums. From the moment singer Sam Endicott kicked off the evening with “Fearless,” the near-capacity crowd picked up the beat and followed the energetic gangly frontman as he worked up a sweat giving the hungry audience a healthy helping of nu-new wave goodness. It all seemed over too fast (about an hour and 15 minutes), which just means fans must be patient for this promising young band to amass the material to match its spirit of delivery. Click here to see if The Bravery is playing near you, and get a peek at them live by watching the embedded clip of "Time Won’t Let Me Go" from Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Set list: 1. "Fearless"; 2. "Believe" 3. "Public Service Announcement"; 4. "This Is Not the End"; 5. "Tyrant"; 6. "Swollen"; 7. "Dandy"; 8. "Time Won’t Let Me Go"; 9. "An Honest Mistake"; 10. "Every Word is a Knife in My Ear"; 11. "Above and Below"; 12. "Bad Sun"; 13. "Unconditional"; ENCORE: 13. "Split Me Wide Open"; 14. "No Brakes."
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