Ahead of the July 14 release of their much-anticipated fourth full-length, The Echo of Please, New York indie pop outfit The Pains of Being Pure At Heart are set to return to Nashville for their first local headliner in more than three years tonight, June 27 at The High Watt. Joining the acclaimed band are likeminded indie duo Beverly and synthpop group (made up of Pains backing players) Ablebody, a lineup sure to entice any fan of the evening’s headliners. Tickets are still available right here, and you can find out more about the lineup below!
THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART
Formed a decade ago in New York City, indie pop outfit The Pains of Being Pure At Heart found immediate critical acclaim with their 2009 eponymous debut. Anchored by Kip Berman, a Philadelphia native who cut his teeth in Portland before settling back east, the band’s early years featured a more permeant lineup, though by third album Days of Abandon, only Berman remained as a sole creative force, and, nowadays, simply uses a backing band of players. Channeling elements of noise pop, shoegaze, and even post punk, The Pains have been compared to acts as diverse as My Bloody Valentine and Smashing Pumpkins, and their their forthcoming fourth album, The Echo of Pleasure, due out later this summer, Kip has crafted the project’s most self-reflective, love-geared, lush, and expansive effort to date. Lauded by the tastemaking echelons of the hip music press as well as fans the world over, the group have a reputation not only for their fantastic albums, but for a well-honed live show as well, and with a three year gap since their last headlining local show, we’re thrilled to get a chance to see them in action once more.
BEVERLY
Also New York based, and packing a lush, shoegaze-y, post-punk and indie pop sound not dissimilar from The Pains, Beverly was founded by Frankie Rose (ex Crystal Stilts and Vivan Girls, and now a buzzy solo artist) and Drew Citron. Rose has since departed, but the band are still going string, now a duo rounded out by Scott Rosenthal, and with some collaborative contributions from Kip Berman. Their sophomore effort, The Blue Swell, was one of last year’s best under the radar releases, and they’re a perfect pick to enhance this lineup.
ABLEBODY
A duo made of up of identical twin brothers Christoph and Anton Hochheim, who play guitar and drums, respectively, in The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, LA based Ablebody have been crafting gorgeous, retro, epic, and melodic synthpop for the past several years, nabbing broader attention with last year’s soaring debut full-length Adult Contemporaries. Naturally, their sound is a great compliment to The Pains, and they bring a more upbeat, grandiose energy to the bill. Be sure to show up early!
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, Beverly, and Ablebody will perform tonight, June 27 at The High Watt. The show is 18+, begins at 8 p.m. (doors at 7 p.m.), and tickets are available to purchase for $17.