[live review + video] Keep Shelly in Athens, Body Language, ABADABAD @ Brighton Music Hall

ABADABAD has been climbing the indie ladder lately, performing a few CMJ showcases as well as opening for KSiA last Friday at the Bowery Ballroom. They were the only band not using electronics, and they counteracted the other bands’ lack of guitars by having three guitarists for maximum rockage.

Stoic poses, serious (borderline disinterested) faces, and singer Jeremy Lee Given’s southern upper lip snarl defined the band’s image, and the songs were heavy on the tape-delayed, jangle-pop wonder. Hopefully there are many more good things to come for this hard-or-hardly-working bunch.

BODY LANGUAGE took the stage and totally slayed it from start to finish. This lovable gang of Brooklynites decked out in cardigan sweaters and glasses played skintight sparkling electro-pop that tickled Allston’s dancey-bone in a way they hadn’t felt since they started hating Passion Pit. It’s been a long time since my feet moved as crazily as during Body Language's set, and it was clear that everyone else in the room was on the same trip.

Keep Shelly in Athens seemed nervous on stage; this is their first international tour after all. Singer Sarah P. was confident though, dancing and smiling. She asked ABADABAD how they liked the rendition of their single, to which the band all popped geeky smiles and nodded in approval. The songs occasionally lacked the dynamics that the album has, but the live show was still worthwhile and very enjoyable. I’d be on the lookout for the next KSiA tour, featuring… ABADABAD?

Here’s hoping.