When chasing after Moby Dick, don’t forget to take along the tartar sauce

I am not quite sure who first said this little gem but I remember it being up on my brother’s wall. Why I bring it up now I don’t know either but the “Harpoons” in the band’s name made me think of it. More to the point, I have never heard of Ezra Furman or his fishermen bandmates until a couple weeks ago when I saw them open for indie favorite Cloud Cult.

~My buddies took home the painting by the way. If any of you have ever been to a Cloud Cult show then you know what I am talking about. The story is hilarious… there is nothing like drinking a bunch of Blue Ribbons and bidding on a painting~

Anyways, Cloud Cult was sick but Ezra Furman was my favorite part of the whole night. The lead singer’s intensity and eccentricities on stage were immediately rock n’ roll. With the Middle East Downstairs(Cambridge, MA) acoustics kicking them up a notch it came across just killer. After the first song my friends and I turned to each other and gave the “these guys kickass” look. Their sound is incomparable to anything I have heard in the indie scene lately and reminded me a little bit of the Violent Femmes. Moreover, the lyrics are amazingly well-written and clever. Here is a dose of some other opinions:

“Bringing Down the Doors is one of the most exciting debuts by a Chicago artist in a good long time.”
-Craig Kot, CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“It’s frightening, and it’s brilliant. I moaned a few weeks ago that I had yet to hear a 5-star album this year. I’ve heard one now.”
-Andy Whitmen, PASTE

Their debut album Bringing Down the Doors isn’t exactly new (2007) but it should be noted that it was produced by Brian Deck (Iron and Wine & Modest Mouse). Mother’s Day has jam status written all over it and Halloween Snow literally made me crack up during their set. I am mostly writing to give readers the heads up on these guys because some of the best stuff I heard was their new songs. They stated to the audience that a new album is on the horizon and I am officially pumped about it. The 3rd song below is a sneak off their new album and one of my favorites during the show.

The Harpoons are signed to Minty Fresh Records out of Chicago but for now are living out and about in Boston. Their tunes carry more of a vintage sound than some of their contemporary indie brothers but hopefully their originality will be appreciated. I don’t know what Moby Dick represents in the indie music scene but the Harpoons should bring their fucking tarter sauce. Concordia Discors

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - Mother’s Day

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - Halloween Snow

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - Take off Your Sunglasses

Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - Banging Down The Doors