popular thinking

LIVE IN CONCERT: WE ARE SCIENTISTS, AMBULANCE (LTD)

At the Paradise Rock Club, Boston, Oct. 26. Went for the ambient chill rock sounds of Ambulance, left rather impressed by the quirky trio known as We Are Scientists. Say what you will about these boys sounding like a better match with Hot Hot Heat (in fact they're back out on the road with those Canadian upstarts). But the three men of We Are Scientists are fun to watch and listen to, even if they do look like they could have scientific day jobs. Each guy had his own period-piece hairdo: drummer Michael Tapper had the jam band beard look, bassist Chris Cain was rocking the mid-70s mustachio, while lead vocalist and guitarist Keith Murray had sort of a new wave floppy front do. But back to the witty portion of the program. Typical between song banter...Keith: "Someone stole our set list." Chris: "I think our lack of initiative stole our set list." Their banter continued outside after the show. As for merch, they're only offering a three-song EP with bear-chasing video of "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt." Virgin Records is waiting until January to release the band's major-label full-length debut. But if you see We Are Scientists headed for your city, do go and check them out. You'll be glad you did. Unless, of course, you don't care for upbeat post-punk pop and rock tunes. By the way (and by by the way, I mean I know I haven't given Ambulance enough blog ink), I enjoyed Ambulance, too, especially since seeing them live finally let me know whether and how to pronounce the Ltd. suffix on their band name. The answer is don't.

Listen: We Are Scientists, "Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt"