Review: Architecture In Helsinki

Why not add some new music to your Memorial Day shopping list?

There is something bittersweet about watching a band grow up. On the one hand you're happy that they have found a sound of their own and that they have lots of enthusiastic fans. On the other hand it was kind of fun when there wasn't many people at their shows. Thus it was with Architecture on Helsinki on Tuesday night. This is the third time we've seen them in roughly the last year. They’ve progressed from playing Cafe du Nord, to Slim's, and now GAMH-- a pretty solid right of venue passage. AIH still plays the same quirky, continual instrument rotating, 8 person, pop lineup that drew us to them in the first place. They've added a few new songs, which we're hard put to describe-- maybe dance music from the '80's listening to the shins and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's. Or maybe not. In addition to all the standard AIH favorites, they also got audience members to sing the Austrian national anthem (no, it's NOT Eidelweiss) and "Home Means Nevada", which is probably the best state song in the union.

AIH now has an enthusiastic and large San Francisco fan base. Most of whom seemed to be that envied 16-22 demographic. Our favorite outfit of the night was described as "80's gothic hooker". Nice. We also observed that '80's dance moves are back in too. Whou woulda thunk it? We caught Tussle opening for AIH. Two drum sets! We haven't seen that since a Modest Mouse show in 1997. Although their sound was good (and yes, very heavy on the percussion, think The Editors), we would have liked them more if they had varied the sound just a wee bit.

Bottom line, if you've never seen AIH, they're well worth checking out. But it is possible to have too much of a good thing. Especially when it involves getting pushed around by teens doing Foot Loose style dance moves. Maybe we're getting old, but you can buy the cd here, and skip the hassle.