thatwasthen at The Troubadour Live Review by Claire Gallagher

Last night we played our album release show and gave away about 200 copies to an amazing crowd of family, friends and lovers. Photos and videos are on the way! Here’s what Claire Gallagher from BNB had to say.

via BestNewBands.com

It’s funny—I’ve featured these guys twice in the BNBTV Spotlight and seen them play two or three times before, but I’ve never actually reviewed a concert of theirs. Alas, that time has come, and I’m not entirely sure if I can find the right words to do them justice—hell, I don’t think there exists expressive enough words to do them any hint of justice. From the moment they step on the stage, they are a cohesive unit with a personality and a presence that is so crucial in the makings of a great, successful band. Also, as I’ve mentioned before, thatwasthen has an ever-growing, rock-solid fan base (pun freaking intended) of family and friends, now growing into friends of friends, etc. This draws large, tight-knit, highly dedicated crowds—the audience had nearly doubled from the start of the night by the time they began their set—and creates a beautiful sense of community. Furthermore, they were celebrating the release of their new self-titled album, so there was an extra underlying sense of excitement.

photo by: jonny c

As for the music, it’s catchy, infectious, and downright lovable; it’s filled with clever lines and wit with a fierce classic rock influence. Every musician in the band is straight talented as well: singer Brenton Sinay’s got vocals for days with roving eyes piercing glances; bassist Benny Dacks must be one classy gent cause while his spidery fingers expertly navigate the bass, he’s always got a pinky up; lead guitarist Nick Papageorge can shred with the best of them, and his performance falls nothing short of making love to his gleaming white guitar; guitarist/keyboardist Nathan Londgon is the ultimate multitasker, laying down keyboard chords with a hot red guitar hanging from his neck; drummer Chris Bridge throws and twirls drumsticks while pounding the life out of the drumset. These guys are truly—and I use term in its purest meaning—a band. Well done boys.

Claire Gallagher, BestNewBands.com

We will be posting videos and pictures from this show in the next few days. Also, we’ll be uploading the rest of the album to our SoundCloud and the music player at the top of the page.