Pageantry - Friends Of The Year

EP review by kev@thesoundofconfusion.co.uk

Austin trio Pageantry call their music "pop-gaze", which would, one assumes, imply a poppier version of shoegaze, although that's perhaps not quite right. Yes, they'd come under the all encompassing banner of "popular music" and have the influence of shoegaze about their music, but really the 'Friends Of The Year' EP is just good old alt-rock. There's nothing wrong with that though, and the music they make is really very good, especially when they toy with psychedelia, as best exemplified by the ending to the wonderful and wandering 'Dirt'.

They get off to a great start with the title-track, a song that's not unlike early MGMT in some ways. They don't really do formulas, preferring to let the music take them wherever it goes, and this approach really suits them, especially when it leads to diversions and dabbles with grandeur. 'Disaster' also has a slight psych edge, but for the main part is simply a great alt-rock song that once again doesn't follow any particular plan; it could be several songs glued together. As is often the case, something a little more epic is saved for last. 'Family Tree' could be the best tune here, and yet again sees the band exploring different avenues and changing direction a few times. Whatever phrase you use to describe them, Pageantry are a very good band.





Pageantry's website

Stream or buy the EP

Catch them live:

FRI 23 AUG Club Dada, Dallas, TX, US
SAT 24 AUG Mohawk, Austin, TX, US
FRI 30 AUG Hailey's, Denton, TX, US
FRI 13 SEP Davey's Uptown Ramblers Club, Kansas City, MO, US
SAT 14 SEP The Bridge, Columbia, MO, US
SUN 15 SEP The Jackpot Saloon, Lawrence, KS, US
WED 18 SEP Quenchers Saloon, Chicago, IL, US
THU 19 SEP Reggie's Music Joint, Chicago, IL, US
FRI 20 SEP Maxine's, Hot Springs, AR, US
SAT 21 SEP Scoot Inn, Austin, TX, US
SAT 05 OCT Unknown venue, Denton, TX, US
FRI 18 OCT Index Fest 2013, Dallas, TX, US
FRI 25 OCT Unknown venue, Denton, TX, US





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