THE DIG PUTS BABY'S ALL RIGHT IN A FRENZY

I remember my first time like it was yesterday. The first time I saw The Dig was about two years ago at Glasslands Gallery for the release of their full-length album, “Midnight Flowers.” It was one of the best happy accidents I recall having in recent years. The band touted strong lyrics, amazing melodies and two members took turns on lead vocal duties, something I appreciate immensely as it gives the ears a fresh perspective. Having followed the band through their subsequent EP releases, I was itching for a chance to see them again and hear the new material. Thursday night at Baby’s All Right in their hometown Brooklyn, that itch had finally been scratched.

The band didn’t show up alone however. D.C. band The Sea Life opened the show with their lo-fi indie rock. The lead singer, Jon Weiss had a great voice that sort of reminded me of Adam Duritz. The group was lively and energetic; there were times when I feared that Jon and his bassist, Payton Brown would collide. Luckily they didn’t. Songs like “Prozac and Merlot” and “The Collector” kept the crowd rocking throughout their set, and earned them a ton of new fans by the time it ended.

Next up was Youngman Grand, another Brooklyn band whose songs seemed to all meld into each other, one after the next, to create this sonic experience. Easily my favorite song from their set was, “Calmxxx.” They band’s songs all seem to have these incredible breakdowns in the middle that you can’t help but get lost in.

Third on the bill was Modern Rivals, also from Brooklyn. They played whimsical dream pop that I absolutely loved! Wonderful balladic vocals and intricate harmonies coupled with a myriad of sounds layered atop one another created it’s own atmosphere that enveloped the crowd. Their set was very entertaining and I almost didn’t want it to end.

Until… The Dig took the stage. They started the night off with a few of their slower songs that eased us into the night. Songs like “Over You Again”, “All Tied Up”, “Permanent Night”, and “Cold Afternoon” earned so many “I love this song!” and “Oh my GOD” yelps from the audience behind me. Guys yelling playfully for vocalist/bassist Emile Mosseri to remove his shirt, which he quickly replied, “I don’t think you want to see that…” kept the playful, easy vibe going throughout the night. Their song “I Already Forgot Everything You Said” had the entire crowd singing along, very loudly. I’m not a musician by any means, but it has to feel amazing to hear an entire crowd singing along with each word of a song you wrote. I quickly realized just how many amazing songs this band has in their repertoire.

A frenzied round of applause brought the band out for an encore of 3 songs; “Angeline”, “You and I Lost Control”, and a cover song that was so damned good I’m not even going to tell you the name. You just have to go see the band for yourself and hope to everything holy they play that cover again. The Dig is without a doubt one of the best bands I’ve stumbled across in recent years. Do yourself a favor and go see them when they hit your town.

Article by: Lesley Keller