More

 Click here for photos from this show in the QRO Concert Photo Gallery

 Click here for photos of A Place To Bury Strangers at Siren Music Festival on Coney Island in Brooklyn, NY on July 18th, 2009 in the QRO Concert Photo Gallery

 

A Place To Bury Strangers is fronted by Oliver Ackermann, who owns Death By Audio, a company responsible for creating custom effects pedals (and a Brooklyn venue - QRO venue review).  It's only natural that the band relies heavily on the effects pedal along with distortion and feedback, and it's amazing what comes out the other side when an effects pedal, distortion, and feedback, are used the right way.  What could easily become acid to the ears instead manages to come across as ear candy - so long as one remembers the earplugs during a live APTBS show.

More

 Click here for photos of A Place To Bury Strangers at CMJ 2008 in New York, NY in the QRO Concert Photo Gallery

 Click here for photos of A Place To Bury Strangers at South Street Seaport on June 27, 2008 in the QRO Concert Photo Gallery

 

A Place To Bury Strangers picked the perfect venue in town to carry out their sonic assault, Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, October 18^th.  The subterranean club was about as dark as it gets, initially lit by a lone black light, which created the perfect ambiance.  These boys from Brooklyn brought the noise and then some.  The show kicked off with a little help from a fog machine, which was used heavily throughout the entire set.  A strobe light was added here and there for good measure.  APTBS showcased that noise can in fact be crafted in such a way that melodies and pop undertones still shine through, which is why this band is able to make it work.  The comparisons the band has received are spot on: equal parts Jesus and Mary Chain and My Bloody Valentine, a dollop of Ian Curtis' vocal stylings, and a dash of 80s goth.

With only two full length albums under their belt (QRO album review), there isn't a large catalogue for APTBS to choose from, but the 45-minute set, which lacked an encore (?!), was simply too short.  The crowd was into them but apparently the feeling wasn't mutual.  They decided to let the music do the talking and didn't utter a single word to the crowd the entire night.  Anyone looking for something other than your dime a dozen indie rock band should consider checking out A Place To Bury Strangers as their talent is best demonstrated live.  It bears repeating that if you do, just don't forget the earplugs.

Set List: