OK fine, so they’re not amazing composers, instrumentalists, or singers. But they do play an impressively wide variety of musical styles. They’re also liable to make you laugh out loud often. If you’re a fan of their show on HBO then you already know what I’m talking about.
My list of punk/indie bands in my music library is admittedly very short. Perhaps it’s because that sort of music is typically more about the message than the music that comes along with it, but every now and then I come across a band that goes against the grain. Open Hand struck me particularly because of the guitar work and intricate drums, and their singer… actually sings.
To me, Boy Sets Fire is the first band I think of when I hear the genre post-hardcore. But in fairness, that’s because they were the first band I’d heard in this genre (since they’re from our home state), so I might be a little partial. But wouldn’t you know it… just when I was inspired to write a post about the only band to get signed out of our home state, I find they’ve broken up and in a rather tragic way.