Burgeoning DC band, Tennis System, put on an epic show Wednesday night at the Velvet Lounge. I liked the psychedelic recordings queued before each song and the strobe lighting to set the atmosphere. Elements like extreme energy, noise, and volume made for a lasting impression, as it was my first time seeing them perform. It was hard to even see guitarist Drake Eidson’s hand strumming the guitar because of the visual effects and intensity. Bassist Clinton Cole had his back to the audience for many of the tracks, adding to the surreal vibe. Tennis System successfully combine noise rock and melodic vocals with psychedelia and just a hint of shoegaze. I particularly liked “Esoteric” and “The Web.” It was during that final track where singer/guitarist Matty Taylor catapulted off the stage and really brought everything full-circle. I look forward to "The Future Of Our History"
Standout Track: Shoegaze music is, by definition, an introspective pursuit, one usually attempted from behind a protective curtain of stringy hair. But Tennis System’s “Esoteric” practices an upfront approach to woozy psychedelic rock. Instead of strummy chords and spacey effects, the band opts for energetic down-strokes and billowing distortion.
Musical Motivation: Volume, mostly. Guitarist/singer Matthew Taylor’s old band, the Mantras, mined similar turf, but with Tennis System, he wanted to crank things up a notch. “This is more energetic—a lot more in-your-face,” says the Columbia Heights–based musician. “The other guitarist [Drake Eidson], he’s added a new element to it. He’s from Harrisonburg and was really into hardcore, so he brings a whole different aesthetic.” Then, there’s the gear: “I’m really into pedals. I love effects,” says Taylor. “I have, like, 12 pedals: a Big Muff, an [Electro-Harmonix] Graphic Fuzz, and this Devi Ever pedal—it has a sensor, I put my foot closer and it changes the octave,” he says. “Actually, I blew one of my [amps] up with that pedal. Now I kind of take it easy with it.”
My Buddy Valentine: Speaking of effects pedals, Taylor’s been fortunate enough to get some gear advice from the all-time guru of blasted amps and upper-range hearing loss: My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields. The two met, Taylor says, when he attended the All Points West festival in New Jersey, where Shields’ band played a reunion show. “He had so many good ideas—he told me all the stuff that he would use and what settings,” says Taylor. “He has this pyramid of pedals. If he hits one it sets off six different things. His setup is so crazy. It’s something I hope to one day be able to do.”
DC’s own The Tennis System kicked things off in fine form, with the four-piece successfully melding fairly direct and simple pop melodies to giant swells of guitar squall. Sure enough, this is a band that appreciates what made the late 80s/early 90s U.K. shoegaze scene so appealing. But unlike many of their forebearers, The Tennis System never allow the guitar thunder to outstrip the songs.
Matty Taylor ’s loping, memorable vocal lines were the lighthouse cutting through the foggy haze, and the entire band have mastered the kind of steady, slow build to orgasmic crescendo suites made notable by groups such as Ride. I’m looking forward to hearing more from these lads.
When I arrived at the Rock and Roll Hotel around 8:30pm, Tennis System were still doing soundcheck. To pass the time, I decided to head upstairs and read a newspaper. From my seat at the bar, I could feel the vibrations of the music from downstairs. Apparently Matty, Drake, Clinton and Brad were living up to their reputation as DC’s loudest band before the doors had even opened. There are few things I love more than when a band begins their set with the song I really want to hear. Tennis System started the evening right by opening with a searing vesrion of “FS.” Despite the fact that they’ve only been playing out for about a year, this band is definitely making a mark on the DC scene. Their set featured Mogwai influenced freak-outs and jangly psychedelic numbers that were reminiscent of early Ride - the ideal combination, if you ask me. Their LOUDquietLOUD antics, combined with the use of moody and sometimes disorienting lighting, make for an intense live experience. Assuming they find a way to keep local soundguys from tearing their hair out, I see a very bright future for these lads.
I liked them the first time I saw them and like them even more this time. I still heard the Ride sound this time around but I will add that the bass and rhythm guitar mirror the Wipers kind of rhythm although they don't exactly sound like the Wipers. But any comparison to the Wipers coming from me is a very good thing. The band played strong, rocked out, and have a few really nice songs and is one you do not want to miss by coming fashionably late to the show.
There are few things that please me more than bands that use volume as a weapon. Tennis System are a Washington DC band who’ve gained a certain amount of notoriety for using massive amplifiers at every performance, regardless of the venue’s size. I first learned about these guys when I saw some photos of them performing at Left Bank in April. All four members of the group (Matty, Drake, Clinton and Brad) were brilliantly dressed and were playing some very beautiful instruments. After listening to their song “FS” on MySpace, I was hooked. I was fortunate to meet them after a performance at the Red and Black in June. And like most DC bands, they were incredibly friendly and down for a good time. (They are big fans of giving high-fives. So if you’ve got soft hands, watch out).
In light of the latest (and perhaps final) blowup between the Gallagher brothers of Oasis, it's nice to see some musical siblings that get along. The brothers Taylor, Damien and Matty, don't play in a band together, choosing instead to spread the noise between two bands. Damien's band, (The Sounds of) Kaleidoscope may be the record holders for Nightlife Agenda mentions, probably neck and neck with DJ Dredd. His younger brother doesn't stray too far from that sound; he goes bigger with the Tennis System. The band's main goal is to overwhelm the listener with a full-blast sonic assault and maybe even some trippy lights to go along. Some shoegaze-y melodies are lurking somewhere in the fuzz and squealing, but the band's performances are mostly sensory sensations.
Considering that Tennis System draws from a lot of well-loved influences (The Beatles, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, anything harDCore from the 1980s), they sound surprisingly different from most other bands in the area. Most bands that may share their appreciation for reverb and distortion or even large-scale sound might go for a dreamier route. But Tennis System goes straight for the gut. The songs are certainly well crafted, but their energy and sense of urgency assumes that no listener may have a second chance to notice it. They’re melodic and powerful without giving up their sensibilities of what they enjoy up to the alter of industry or blogosphere-deemed “cool.” But people are starting to take notice.
We caught up with Tennis System and talked about meeting their influences, how they’ve watched D.C. music evolve and why they’re unabashed about playing their live shows very very loudly.
Tennis System, whose songs have echoes of everything from The Smiths to The Dismemberment Plan all masked by a veil of My Bloody Valentine reverb. Hard to go wrong with that combination.
The four men of Tennis System are a disarming bunch of young fellows. Complete with polished looks, eager smiles and firm handshakes, they are ready to win over all of DC with their original rock music. The band performed live at The Red and the Black on June 2 and entertained a large crowd with their own style of exploding rock music.
Tennis System consists of the talented musings of Matty (vocals and guitar), Clinton (bass), Drake (guitar) and Brad (drums). While the band is still fairly young, the members have been involved in many other musical projects for much of their lives. DC has proven to be a successful launching pad for the band and has inspired them with its culturally rich environment and up and coming feel, while being filled with good people according to the band. In addition to the city, some of their influences include Dinosaur Jr., The Beatles, My Bloody Valentine and the Lilys, the last of which provided the band with inspiration for their name.
Their personal musical tastes definitely shine through in their music, which they have made their own. Watch them play and you'll see traits similar to those in their favorite influential, shoegaze bands. The show is loud, make no doubt about that; however, it's loud with a purpose. Stand-out songs include "Beautiful Mistake" and "Esoteric," both of which show off the band's love for pitch bending, distortion tools and intricate rhythms. Their final song of the night "The Web," highlights Tennis System at its best, using melodies and volume dynamics to effectively cast a melodic hypnosis of sorts on the audience. By the end of their set they had enveloped the crowd with a loud-quiet dynamic that culminated into a tangible pressure of sound, releasing you for a moment only to draw you back in for the grand finish.
The band has a busy summer ahead of them with many shows at various DC venues including a benefit concert at Palace 5ive. Tennis System is also in the studio this month recording a few new tracks that will be released later this summer with another release in vinyl this fall. You can expect their new songs to be upbeat and employ their trademark pedal work. Just in case the album doesn't come with listening instructions I suggest the following: 1) insert ear plugs; 2) press play on your CD/record player; 3) turn up the volume as loud as possible (acknowledging your neighbors' tolerance for music and the presence of small animals or children); and finally, 4) proceed to rock out.
DC’s Tennis System, who opened, shared Japandroids’ big-sound, small-scope ethos, if not the aesthetic. The four-piece played arena music scaled (sometimes awkwardly) to club size, a shoegaze-indebted space rock with soft edges, in which bursts of feedback occasionally melted into hooks.
Washington DC’s very own Tennis System began the show with what I’m told was loud, post-shoegaze, reverby, pop in the vein of Low. Unfortunately, I, being chronically tardy in every aspect of my life, missed Tennis System but given the descriptions I got from many friends, I will be sure to check them out in the future and you would be wise to do the same.
Last night, we had an opportunity to attend Tennis System’s show at The Red & The Black located in the Atlas District/H Street NE corridor. Tennis System provided a highly explosive 45 minute set with pure energy that does not disappoint. If you haven’t heard Brad, Matthew, Drake and Clinton live, Tennis System is something that you should hear now. Here’s to something new and refreshing in the city!
The Tennis System - Pure shoegaze at the start but the set moved into a pop-psyche direction, not unlike a poppier, more upbeat Ride. I don't know my shoegaze scene too well and it seems like many categories to be awash with fuzzy borders and category combinations, but all-in-all, a catchy band.
DC’s music scene is bursting with many talented local artists and bands. An up and coming band called The Tennis System will be performing a couple of tracks tomorrownight at the Black Cat.
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your hard work. Hope to see you at the 2nd annual Utica Music Fest. Over 200 performers in over 15 venues for 3 DAYS! Visit our site for more info and performer submissions. Have a great day!
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Hey Matthew. Great show last night, man. It was really nice to see you after so long. We've got to do that again sometime soon. Sorry I couldn't stick around after your set, but...you know, gotta get up early and work.
