Last month Moaning front man Sean Solomon told the record club Vinyl Me, Please, “I think we take a lot of influence from Abe Vigoda and No Age, but I don’t think it’s something people will necessarily notice.” He’s right in the sense that the LA postpunk trio sound like they could have emerged from any contemporary underground rock scene; their style befits any guitar-based genre that’s vaguely sad, or sharply employs effects pedals, or is something that people with little frame of reference for music might incorrectly describe as “goth” or “emo.” Their new self-titled debut (Sub Pop) contains sounds that verge on Abe Vigoda’s synthy solemnity and No Age’s mighty echo, but the first thing I picked up on was a shade of the sort of cold, midwestern minimalism that departed Chicago postpunk heroes Disappears played so well. Despite displaying the distinctive marks of the groups that influenced them, the members also share some of their own personalities on the album. The driving “Does This Work for You” shows Moaning have promise, and that they’re able to harness and handle weapons-grade chilliness with a pop star’s uncanny ability to immediately connect with listeners. v
Moaning by MOANING
Tue 3/20, 8:30 PM, Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, $10, $8 in advance
