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A Review by David Cobb From Houston Calling
visit www.donewaiting.com/houston
Flowers to Hide
Paying homage to Britrock and late seventies rock is a gamble for bands these days, but those that can pull it off in new and interesting ways offer listeners more than just the requisite jangle and drone from drug-addled misfits suckling at the teats of shoegazers and psychedelic garage bands (not that it's a bad thing, mind you). Flowers to Hide may cozy up alongside some of those same misfits, but do so with honest fervor and a sense of modernity that makes their music more than a simple throwback.
The band's music is pure rock and roll, and singer/rhythm guitarist Stephen Anderson leads the way similar to the frontmen of Britrock's best-known sonic pioneers -- stage presence is important, and this guy's got it. Similarly, guitarists Jonathan Espeche and Michael San Luis -- a recent addition brought in to help free up Anderson -- work together to mesh swirling waves of feedback with screaming leads. San Luis brings a love of early new wave to the band, which is reflected in some of the band's newer songs.
While most of the band's songs are much faster -- and harder -- than many of their influences (Spaceman 3, Primal Scream, The Catherine Wheel, The Jesus and Mary Chain), it's easy to tell that the band members are well-versed in their fandom. "She's An Elevator" rocks with Stooges-like energy, while "Space City" and "Here Comes The Tide" show the band's progression and range by blending catchy choruses ("Here comes the tide, it's just a matter of time...") with hooks that are simply interesting to listen to and try to deconstruct. Guitars (Espeche plays guitar on the majority of these demos) wail amidst pounding rhythms provided by drummer Jason LeBaron and bassist Michael Waller.
"Space City" is an indictment on everything that's wrong with Houston and any typical Big City, USA, with all the posing and posturing inherent in any "scene" -- whether it's music, business, or any art form. Anderson is an observant songwriter, which he uses to his advantage in his lyrics. When he sings, "All these people move right through me, like a breeze," anyone who has ever lived in or visited a metropolis understands what he means. In the song, he rails on everything from pollution and traffic ("It's a silicone, hurricane, wireless parade") to pretentious fakers ("Fashion victims with poison darts / To and fro, we fall apart / Scream over static and we call it art...").
There's no one in Houston today making music similar to Flower to Hide's sound, which puts them in a unique position to not only continue to attract an avid fanbase here but also beyond Texas. With past gigs opening for Serena Maneesh, The Warlocks, My Education, stellastarr*, Black Angels, and Longwave, Flowers to Hide are likely one good opening spot away from being able to spread their petals worldwide. Look to MySpace for their newest music and live clips.
