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The Picturebooks Setlist
The Bots North American Tour Dates
09/20 Riotfest - Denver, CO
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09/21 Smell - Los Angeles, CA 09/22 Casbah - San Diego, CA 09/27 Shindig Festival - Baltimore, MD 09/28 Union Transfer - Phila, PA* 09/29 Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY* 10/06 Sinclair, Cambridge, MA* 10/08 Garrison, Toronto, ON* 10/10 Double Door, Chicago, IL* 10/11 Turf Club, St. Paul, MN* 11/06 Billys Ice, New Braunfels, TX 11/08 Foundry, Dallas, TX 11/09 Fun Fun Fun Fest - Austin, TX * with Augustines
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Some say the future will be ruled by ‘bots, …
Though that may be a little tech-cynical and too far off, the future of modern alt-rock does belong to bands like The Bots, a teenage brotherly duo, who stopped by Mill City Nights’ Nether Bar for a show earlier in the week.
Opening the evening was another duo, originally hailing from Gütersloh, North Rhine-Westphalia Germany, called The Picturebooks. Guitarist/vocalist Finn Grabke along with drummer Philipp Mirtschink looked like they just rode in on motorcycles, playing with no abandon and hair flying everywhere.
The pair is out in support of its upcoming Imaginary Horse (out Oct 7 on Riding Easy Records) and plays a swampy, somewhat dark blend of retroist feedback-heavy blues/rock that recalls bands like Wolfmother, that also shows some Southern California influence, where the band has spent a lot of recent time. Grabke’s father, Claus, is a known former skateboarder, producer, and musician, and his son continues with a similar journey.
During their abbreviated opening set, it seemed like Mirtschink was determined to break his drum heads with loud pounding on songs like ‘E.L.I.Z.A.B.E.T.H.’, ‘The Rabbit and the Wolf’ and lead album single, ‘Your Kisses Burn Like Fire’, while Grabke wailed and reverb’d the blues. There was nothing gentle about their set, but it was forceful enough to pay attention to what happens with the band next.
Like the openers, guitar/drum duo The Bots have an affinity for skateparks, noise rock, and putting unbridled energy into their live performance. While most of us spent our teen years just hanging out, playing video games, and causing trouble, brothers Mikaiah (guitar/vocals) and Anaiah Lei (drums),now 18 and 15, have been on tour the last several years, playing almost every high profile festival in Europe, Japan, and the U.S., beginning with the Warped Tour in 2011.
Their debut full-length, Pink Palms (FADER Label) is due October 14th, and the pair is on the road early in support of it, mixing adolescent garage punk, with more traditional blues and rock (a la White Stripes/Black Keys with a nod to early Nirvana and Pixies).
Their 47 min. set began with guitar feedback over sound effects and an ‘80s electronic drum sound, before it quickly morphed into something more primal and punk in nature. ‘Ethopia’, their second song in, roared with a sludgy guitar riff, while the elder Lee’s melodic vocals kept the song from sounding darker than its lyrics.
Before feedback started the song ‘Blinded’, guitarist Lee searched the stage, realizing he had forgotten his setlist, though was able to carry on from memory. Moving to keyboards mid-set, the tempo slowed briefly, with heavy keyboard bass and 80’s-esque rhythms dominating the song, ‘Dinosaurs’.
‘Side Effects’ followed, a song about doing/selling drugs had reflective and somber lyrics that belied the young ages of the duo. The biggest response of the night was predictably for ‘All I Really Want’, a single from the upcoming full-length and the track that’s getting current airplay locally.
Like similar young trio Unlocking the Truth who are poised as the next generation of metal, The Bots seem seasoned despite their young age, and a positive sign of future alternative rock to come.
Though that may be a little tech-cynical and too far off, the future of modern alt-rock does belong to bands like The Bots, a teenage brotherly duo, who stopped by Mill City Nights’ Nether Bar for a show earlier in the week.
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The Picturebooks
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The pair is out in support of its upcoming Imaginary Horse (out Oct 7 on Riding Easy Records) and plays a swampy, somewhat dark blend of retroist feedback-heavy blues/rock that recalls bands like Wolfmother, that also shows some Southern California influence, where the band has spent a lot of recent time. Grabke’s father, Claus, is a known former skateboarder, producer, and musician, and his son continues with a similar journey.
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The Picturebooks Setlist
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Mikaiah Lei
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Their debut full-length, Pink Palms (FADER Label) is due October 14th, and the pair is on the road early in support of it, mixing adolescent garage punk, with more traditional blues and rock (a la White Stripes/Black Keys with a nod to early Nirvana and Pixies).
Their 47 min. set began with guitar feedback over sound effects and an ‘80s electronic drum sound, before it quickly morphed into something more primal and punk in nature. ‘Ethopia’, their second song in, roared with a sludgy guitar riff, while the elder Lee’s melodic vocals kept the song from sounding darker than its lyrics.
Before feedback started the song ‘Blinded’, guitarist Lee searched the stage, realizing he had forgotten his setlist, though was able to carry on from memory. Moving to keyboards mid-set, the tempo slowed briefly, with heavy keyboard bass and 80’s-esque rhythms dominating the song, ‘Dinosaurs’.
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The Bots
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Like similar young trio Unlocking the Truth who are poised as the next generation of metal, The Bots seem seasoned despite their young age, and a positive sign of future alternative rock to come.
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The Bots at the Nether Bar, Minneapolis (15 Sept 2014) |
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