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POP ETC<\/a> got the night started right at Terminal 5, opening for The Wombats.<\/p>\n

The band, formerly known as The Morning Benders, consists of brothers Chris (vocals, guitar), Jon Chu (synth), and Julian Harmon (drums).<\/p>\n

After playing a new track called “Vice” off their upcoming album, Chris thanked New Yorkers for having a bit more fun with the music. The band just toured in Japan, where, he said,\u00a0“it was so silent that you could hear a pin drop in between songs.”<\/p>\n

Still, while I was having a good time,\u00a0I felt like I was getting dirty looks for dancing. I am a huge fan of The Wombats, but in my experience at their shows, it doesn’t seem like anyone comes to dance around.<\/p>\n

The band’s charm certainly helped get the energy up a little, with Chris complimenting\u00a0the “attractive audience” on our hair, calling us “well-groomed.” They seem like such a sweet group of guys.<\/p>\n

I have to admit that prior to seeing them live, I was hardly impressed by their self-titled first album. As a whole, the sound was almost overwhelmingly electronic for an indie band, crossing the line of being overproduced. It was great to see songs from POP ETC\u00a0<\/i>like\u00a0“Keep It For Your Own” translate better into a live performance.<\/p>\n

Judging by tracks like “Bad Break” and “Vice,” whatever changes the band has gone through in the last few years has taken them in a new direction, and they’re sounding more like early Depeche Mode, which works much better.<\/p>\n

Their follow-up album, entitled\u00a0Souvenir,\u00a0<\/em>will be released on January 29, 2016.<\/p>\n

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