Even though Annuals released “Be He Me” in 2006, I somehow did not discover them until late last year. Because sometimes I want to be three years behind the times? Who knows. In order to correct this gregarious oversight, I paid homage to the group at the Bowery Ballroom last night- rumors of their crazy live shows swirling through my brain. Let me tell you: they ain’t rumors people.
Annuals rock not one but two drummers (Zack Oden alternates between kit and guitar while Donzel Radford covers a variety of various percussion instruments) so why shouldn’t they open the show by placing lead singer Adam Baker and guitarist Kenny Florence on light-up snare drums just to add to the fun? The group segue-wayed flawlessly from “Always Do” straight to their newest single “The Confessor” giving the crowd exactly what it was looking for with Baker’s intense, brooding vocals and the catchy harmonies of Anna Spence. A note on Spence, she a terrific keyboardist and I can’t help but be incredibly jealous of the fact that she gets to travel around with 5 guys and play music. That’s pretty much my dream job. She is kind of my new idol.
Other highlights of the show included flashbacks to the first album, both “Chase You Off” and “Carry Around” were some of the best live songs I’ve seen in a while, and Mike Robinson’s spastic dancing that only elicited more and more smiles as the show continued. That wacky redhead. Unfortunately the one song I really desperately wanted to hear, unrequited love lullaby “The Tape,” was MIA from the line-up but it’s just another reason to check out this group again. I also ran into Adam Baker outside the venue where he was chatting up fans. Really chill laid-back guy who told me I had “a cool gig going-on.” (Thanks Adam. I know.)
If you haven’t gotten on the bandwagon yet (or you’re semi-clueless like me sometimes) check out Annuals’ album “Such Fun” with cover art by Bob Ross and his happy little trees. Video “The Confessor” is below with illustrations by bandmember Oden. He’s a talented little guy, eh?
