This Providence

Seattle pop punks This Providence, although never becoming as prolific as their Fueled By Ramen labelmates that they toured with – such as Paramore, The Hush Sound and Cute Is What We Aim For – enjoyed a bout of fame in the mid-'00s thanks to emo's popularity and the birth of modern pop-punk. They set themselves apart from the masses with a passion for melody; instead of churning out power chords, they gunned for smooth melodies based on soulful vox and slithering basslines. Though currently on hiatus, they apparently still perform house shows and the odd acoustic performance isn't unheard of. It seems that fans can't keep away from their devilishly infectious hits like “My Beautiful Rescue” and “Wolf In Sheep's Clothing”, the latter of which dips it baroque-rock and shares similarities with Panic! At The Disco. If you are able to see them live these days, expect to be packed like sardines into the venue, packed with die-hard followers singing every single word back to the band. They've grown up a significant amount since their earlier floppy-haired days, but their music is no less affecting. There's even reason to believe that the added maturity has lent a gravity to some tracks; their views on life and love and loss (that ol' threesome) have solidified, transforming into adult perspectives from the relative head-in-the-clouds-ness of yore.

Daphne Loves Derby are an indie rock band from Washington. Forming in the early 2000s, they have since released 3 albums and 6 EPs including their most recent full length Good Night, Witness Light (2007). They are an important part of the American indie rock and early emo scene, reminiscent of bands like Dashboard Confessional, The Scene Aesthetic and The Spill Canvas. Daphne Loves Derby are well known for their simple yet poignant music and their heart-breaking lyrics. They have played important festivals like Bamboozle and Warped Tour, remaining ever-popular among teenagers and those in their early 20s. With this in mind, it’s no surprise that Daphne Loves Derby classics like Simple, Starving to Be Safe and Hopeless Love go down a treat among the crowd. After introducing Hopeless Love, vocalist Kenny Choi invites the crowd to help him out with the lyrics ‘if they know the words.’ This seems naïve as the singer is barely audible over the crowd singing along from the first word. However, his smile says that this is not naivety; Daphne Loves Derby know that these songs are a hit and they clearly enjoy playing them as much as the crowd enjoy hearing them. They move on to slower songs like Cue The Sun! where Choi’s soft, gentle vocals really shine through. The harmonica backing is even more intense when played live, creating a live sound that is just as crisp as that on record. Daphne Loves Derby show how it is possible to capture the attention of a crowd of people with meaningful, poetic lyrics and a few simple chords.