The Western Civilization Blow Houston’s Doors Off Tomorrow Night

Yep, I’m gonna get all Karnak with this one: this band will be a big, gigantic, fucking huge deal, and it’s going to happen soon.

I’m talking about The Western Civilization, a bunch of local kids who tomorrow night (Sat., 3/23 @ Walter’s w/Peekaboo Theory and Buxton, who’re pretty good themselves) will be dropping Letters of Resignation, which is possibly the most perfect indie-pop/rock album this city’s seen in years (sorry, Mike Haaga…). And I’m saying this not even having heard all of the damn thing yet.

But forget that part, because the tracks I have heard are so freakin’ brilliant they’re worth the asking price of the album (released on cool local label Mia Kat Empire, by the by) all by themselves. The gentle, thoughtful tick-tocking of the title track hypnotizes me so I bob my head like an idiot, the insistent-yet-beautiful guitars on “Revelations 21:8” come off like Clem Snide at the top of their game, and then when the three/four-part harmonies kick in on “Love Struck Angel,” it makes me want to weep (honest). The songs are simultaneously lush and melancholy, like Conor Oberst’s best attempts at teen angst amplified and broadcast up to the skies.

And dammit, I won’t be there. sigh. My wife is a very understanding lady in general, but if I were to bail on our anniversary to go see some band, well… You’ll all have to go in my place; got it?

(Crap, almost forgot: if you can’t wait ’til tomorrow PM to see the band, you can catch ’em early at the Westheimer Street Fest. They’re playing 2:30PM @ Mango’s, I believe.)