The Sounds

Key Club - July 30, 2009

Live Review by Joe Cortez

What is it about female lead singers that sends fans into a frenzy? As I stood among the masses inside a very packed (and very hot) Key Club one Thursday night in July, I was amazed by the sheer control Maja Ivarsson, lead singer for The Sounds, wielded over her fan base. Every word, every motion to the audience was followed through with uncompromised devotion. It was at once exhilarating and inspiring; too bad she can't run for office.

Before taking the stage, I wasn't sure of what to expect from this Swedish quintet. I had seen past television performances where the group seemed a little reserved and unsure of itself. A stark contrast considering its music: a gleefully retro blend of bouncy synths, funky riffs and catchy lyrics. But when the house lights dimmed it was clear the boys and girl of The Sounds were in their element. A small, intimate club on the Sunset Strip proved to be the perfect venue for the band to deliver a high energy set covering the span of its thus far impressive recording career.

As good as these songs are, it's difficult to imagine a male vocalist bringing as much power, passion and, yes raw sex appeal to these rock-tastic dance floor anthems. But that's part of the band's charm and an important lesson in just how vital the right singer is.

Although I, along with every other person in attendance, was absolutely transfixed by Ivarsson, this was by no means a one-woman show. With Ivarsson left to woo the crowd, the boys in the band played with focus and determination and a pace that rarely let up, slowing down only once for a prom night-worthy slow jam.

The power this band has when performing live is palpable, so much so that it is about as impossible to listen to its studio output at home, alone as it is to watch The Rocky Horror Picture Show on DVD. That's no slight against the three albums the band has released thus far - the latest, Crossing the Rubicon, being about as good as the previous two. However, when taken as a whole, the back catalog seems to be more or less an excuse to kick out the proverbial jams. Playing live to a capacity crowd of adoring fans is what The Sounds do best and that is exactly what the band did this night at the Key Club.