Review: Lipreader/Brick Mower @ Township, 4/17/12

By Jason Duarte

Nothing breaks up the work week like a weeknight show. Tuesday night, Lipreader, The Please & Thank Yous and Meat Wave joined forces with New Brunswick, NJ's Brick Mower, for a fun night of pop punk tuneage.

This was my first introduction to Meat Wave, which features local recording dude, Joe Gac. Their drummer was mesmerizing, and their hooks were memorable. The vocals and guitar reminded me of the Marked Men, but more electrified and gritty.

The Please & Thank Yous played next and belted out some new songs. According to singer/guitarist Geoffrey Schott, there's a finished new record, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Those dudes are always a good time live.
Brick Mower took the stage next, and killed it. They too, played some new songs, and existing favorites such as "Slow Too Fast." They were selling a tour-exclusive demo tape limited to 30, which has three of my new favorite Brick Mower songs. Much love was shown and their Chicago fanbase grew that night - just in time for their return on June 30 with Black Wine.

Lipreader closed out the night, playing songs off their Broken Heart Attack 7'' and some others I hadn't heard before. It's always cool seeing a drummer who's also the lead singer. The Ergs!, Phil Collins/Genesis come to mind. And The Eagles. And Black Wine actually. They played a solid set to their hometown friends and fans, and when the music was done, everyone was hanging out and mingling; buying merch, shaking hands and drinking beers. A damn good way to throw some fun into the workweek. Plus, BRICK MOWER SLUMBER PARTY!

Here's a dark video I shot of "Slow Too Fast," the last song of Brick Mower's set Tuesday night. Enjoy!

'Broken Heart Attack' by Lipreader

By Kevin Toomey
Lucky Gator Records
October 26, 2011
Rating: 3/5

In my last review (Noise by Numbers - Over Leavitt), I mentioned the growing influence of the 1990s resurgence and how it could be a bad thing. This time around, I’m getting a '90s vibe that I’m not bummed out by even though I probably should be. Lipreader’s (ex-Das Kapital) Broken Heart Attack 7” out on Lucky Gator Records presents four songs with a sound reminiscent of Jawbreaker or a less political Broadways. I think I like it better because Lipreader doesn’t sound like they’re trying to recreate the signature sounds of their influences, but instead take that sound and make it their own.
The record starts off with a bit of a snoozer, “The Next Train Home,” but it’s over before you get a chance to really give it much thought. The next track, “CHOKE,” brings it back up with a song about the ex-girlfriend that can simultaneously make a guy want be with her as she is “choking out all the life I have left.” Depressing as it sounds, this is a song I kept going back to. The band’s own description of: “Sad songs. Happy guys.” is pretty accurate. The last two songs, “Blankets and Sheets” and “Sleeping In,” are also really good and almost sound like a toned-down Off With Their Heads. All songs are available streaming on the band’s MySpace, two are up for free download at Lucky Gator Records' site and the 7'' is available for $5 here.