I gotta part ways with Morrissey on this one...there's nothing lovelier than seeing deserving friends get recognized for their talent and heart. I was thrilled to watch The Dead Trees (nee Furvis) get pressed to sign CDs following their opening set for local soon-to-be-favorites Little Joy (featuring Fab from the Strokes). It was so good to see the lads from my days back in Boston looking good (with an assortment of dapper tour facial hair) and sounding even better during a short but spirited set that showed off songs from their amazing new album, "King of Rosa." I felt like the ghost of late- nights-past, sneaking up on them without warning, but it was a very happy reunion.
Here's some indie rock insider knowledge for the nerds out there: Todd from the Dead Trees once did a guest turn as the bassist for that other Strokes' side project fronted by Albert Hammond Jr. That band featured Longwave frontman Steve, who was also in attendance at the Troubadour, and who I happen to be interviewing tomorrow evening for The Boston Globe. I've known Steve long enough to have a story about drinking tequila with him the night they got dropped by their label (it happens to the best of us), and it was great to catch up and wage that age-old debate: NYC vs LA.
But our focus was soon hijacked by the amazing Little Joy set, which featured guest turns from all of the Dead Trees on just about every song. The Little Joy album is one of my top five favorites of the year, and they killed it with joyous (adjective intended; pun unfortunate) renditions of their Bossa Nova-flavored indie rock, which I adore for being so refreshingly uninterested in being too cool for school. Highlights included the introduction Fab's bandmate (and girlfriend) Binki Shapiro gave to the song "Unattainable" she wrote for him, which made him beam like a goon and stick a shiny pink heart in the middle of his forehead, and their inspired cover of one of my favorite songs ever, "Eat at Home," from Paul McCartney's entirely perfect album "Ram." They ended their set with album track "Brand New Start," which is a perfect love song; sweet and a little old fashioned, with just enough of a sexy swing.
Then it was off to the East Side bar Little Joy that first inspired the band's name for last call, more catchup conversation and a few games of pool. Little Joy (the band, not the bar) will be taking the Dead Trees to Europe in January, which is amazing for them, but I'm already looking forward to their next visit to Los Angeles.
