Gentleman Auction House hipsterize its Midwestern ways in NYC

June 15, 2008, at Pianos

By Kristyn Pomranz
Published: June 17th, 2008 | 12:30pm

Paddles down. Gentleman Auction House has officially bid its way into orchestral indie pop eminence with its first New York City show. Taking cues from the Arcade Fire and Belle and Sebastian, the band boasts seven members and nearly twice as many instruments, harkening everything from the Jackson 5, to Murder By Death, to the Polyphonic Spree, to Rick James (bitch).

The St. Louis–based septet is talented — very talented. Gentleman Auction House has created highly sophisticated songs with nary a superfluous note. The group's music/audio school backgrounds are obvious in the band members' highly controlled dynamics and stylized staccatos, and their performances are equally polished, every bar played to perfection.

Yet as much as I love orchestrated music, I abhor orchestrated actions. Gentleman Auction House did a lot of synchronized bouncing, a lot of rehearsed physical call and response. The musicians bursted with energy, but it was all checks and balances; nothing felt organic. And when they hollered and screamed, it sounded like a musical notation, rather than an excited, uncontainable energy. Just because they’re not doing the Macarena doesn’t mean it ain’t choreographed.

But here’s what’s truly baffling: I’ve seen this band perform before — in St. Louis — and I couldn’t help but notice the drastic change in the stage demeanor. On its home turf, the group seemed at ease — a buoyant band of musicians just rocking out. At this show, it felt like Gentleman Auction House was playing “New York,” wink-winking for a hipster audience. But such pandering made it all the more obvious that “hip” isn’t its schtick. Besides, haven’t they heard? Urban angst is out — corn fed and earnest is in.

Though its pretenses were somewhat precious, it didn’t affect the quality of the set. The audience was bouncing and dancing — probably more than Pianos has ever seen — and their songs (including new material and a Soul Coughing cover) were so spectacular, the band left the crowd clamoring for more.

As its fame multiplies, the members of Gentleman Auction House needs to hold hard and fast to the homegrown goodness that separates them from the cookie-cutter “cool kids.” Once they learn to embrace their natural charisma and blithe ingenuity, we can throw down the hammer and seal the deal.