Review: Verbal cd-release show, 02/19/05

Saturday, February 19, 2005
Verbal
Coastal Drag
Other Passengers
visuals by RADAR[theory]
DC9, Washington DC
*updated 2/26/05*

The Verbal product launch party got off to a good start with Other Passengers. These New Yorkers kinda reminded me of The Killers crossed with Codeseven - new new wave of a sort. At any rate, it was very enjoyable and I would definitely see them again.
4.5/5

Coastal Drag are also from New York and have more of a garage rock look and sound. Their lady drummer seemed to be very popular with the two guys standing in front of me. I thought their songs were pretty much indistinguishable.
3/5

Keeping with the 'product launch' theme, the Verbalists were outfitted in their finest business attire and opened with a Power Point presentation outlining their mission statement and goals for the new fiscal year. They played a solid set (in spite of a few sound problems) and covered quite a few of the songs from the new record. I would say that Verbal is one of the finest instrumental rock acts of our time.
*CD review: The Name We Sell Now
This 9- track album is Verbal's first formal release. Each track flows seamlessly into the next (much like their live set) and I think the real strength of the band is that they play as a cohesive unit. The cd in particular gives kind of a 'wall-of-sound' effect that's really spectacular when turned up really loud. Freedom rock indeed.
5/5

And now it's time for a new segment I like to call "Several Questions with the Bass Player" - so here is the gist of my interview with Bill from Verbal.

MoS: Do the Washington Nationals have a chance in hell? (The answer is 'NO')
BF: No

MoS: Who would win in a steel cage match between Other Passengers and Coastal Drag?
BF: I would have to give that one to Coastal Drag.

MoS: The Village Voice called Coheed & Cambria's second album the worst of 2003 and the worst of 2004, where does the new Verbal album [The Name We Sell Now - out now!] fall?
BF: (laughing) probably worst of 2006

I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce the unofficial mascot of Murrain of Swains, except that I can't really find the picture I'm looking for online (Martin Prince playing the lute in The Simpsons episode 'Bart's Friend Falls in Love') so this will have to do: Lute Fruit.