I hurried past the huge crowd of smokers in front of Spaceland all huddled around their cigarettes for warmth in fear that I may have missed Best Coast’s set.  Singer Bethany Cosentino and Guitarist Bobb Bruno were already busy setting up their gear on stage as I grabbed a scotch from the bar. December is the best month to drink scotch and Spaceland actually carries McCallen’s 12 year behind the bar. JACKPOT.

Best Coast began their set with singer Bethany Cosentino’s  signature haunting vocals soaring over the kind of fuzz-driven beachy tone that only twin Danelectros (Bobb Bruno plays a Baritone) can provide. Sitting in with Best Coast on drums was Adam Garcia who has also been seen playing in Imaad Wasif’s band. The set was not without its rough patches but with Bethany’s breezy tunes that make you feel like a 6th grader in love, any mistakes made were largely overlooked. Best Coast shows fabulous promise and I look forward to seeing what lies in store for the band in 2010.

Foreign Born hit the stage next with singer Matt Popieluch sporting a very slick silver suit complete with cropped pants. I have a deep admiration for Foreign Born and back in 2006 I went to nearly every show they played. Their first EP on Startime International in 2005 is still in regular rotation for me today.  The band has endured many different incarnations over the last 4 years but they always deliver a powerful performance full of style and killer tunes.  After this show however I left feeling disappointed.

The majority of Foreign Born’s set was filled with songs that seemed largely influenced by afro-pop and were a far departure from their early epic sweeping numbers that sent shivers up my 21 yr old spine back in 2006.  They did manage to squeeze in a few old favorites into the set but even those sounded completely different than I remember.

Don’t get me wrong—Foreign Born put on a great show that night but they certainly are moving in an entirely new direction that sounds more like their other project Fool’s Gold than the Foreign Born I remember and love. I’m sure they will find new fans with the release of their new album on Secretly Canadian but I will always liken Foreign Born to their earlier work.

—Ashley Jex