Mute Math Preview

Mute Math
Schubas, Chicago
Saturday, February 11, 2006

Bolder than bold, Myspace conquerers Mute Math embark on a national club-headlining tour without an album. Fall 2006 probably never felt so far away for the band, but then this a band built for distance: The members are individually based in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Springfield . . . Missouri.

Marrying the macho end of college rock (U2) with atmospheric British pop from the ’80s (Echo & The Bunnymen, Modern English) and youthful indiscretion (Cooper Temple Clause), Mute Math strike a more fearless counterpoint to the guitar-driven Longwave, though they can match them as well on My Bloody Valentine numbers like “Typical.” Sneaky atmospherics aren’t a Mute Math trademark as much as their ability to pump a gigantic chorus into every song. Very Britpop in that regard, despite being American; their debt to Oasis and Suede rears its head again and again, no doubt feeding their reputation as live behemoths.

“Stare At The Sun” posits Dave Grohl remixing the break in Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android,” lending a truckload of evidence that as much as they might want to be the former, it’s the alt-rock stadium anthems of the former (“Picture”) that will ultimately drive this band — at least to their next cross-country rehearsal.

Teasing people as such, their forthcoming, self-titled debut will be available as a tour-only release, until it hits shelves in the fall.

Mute Math play two shows on the 11th with openers Verdera. Karma With AK will appear only on the late bill.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly