The Fratellis & Airborne Toxic Event preview

The Fratellis, Airborne Toxic Event
House Of Blues, Chicago
Wednesday, September 10, 2008

If they rely too much on the calculated cool of their two albums, The Fratellis stand to be overrun by openers Airborne Toxic Event.

For the second-straight album, Scotland’s Fratellis stick with what they know best — Slade. It’s not all they got (Quiet Riot are and shall remain the World’s Greatest Slade Tribute Band), but Here We Stand (Cherry Tree/Interscope) does its boot-stompin’ and hip-shakin’ like it studied the moves from a safe distance in the BBC archives. While somewhat updated to evoke the Arctic Monkeys’ sneer, it’s not The Fratellis’ game to have fun at the expense of others. Mama, weer all crazee now — if you and Dad say it’s O.K.

The Airborne Toxic Event aren’t so dangerous either, despite what their ominous moniker implies. But that doesn’t mean their self-titled, Majordomo-released debut isn’t about to absolutely lose it, either. Too busy to repeat a chorus, ATE frantically push every track to the brink of the stage, appearing all too willing to tumble into the crowd. Even as they struggle to keep their highly modern influences in check (The Stills, British Sea Power, Razorlight, and so on), you can’t help agree that sacrificing utter originality for pure kinetics was the right thing. It’s what allows “Papillon” — the ultimate prisoners’ tale — to exist as an allegorical suburban lament, because to Airborne the endless cycle of drinking and carousing is incarceration and they have to get out right fucking now. The only overthought moment is marathon-closer “Innocence,” tacked on at the last minute as if they realized the album would only be an EP without it. But there’s your validation for the nine tracks that come before it.

Electric Touch also open.

— Steve Forstneger

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly