Concert Review: Automatic Drawing at The Viper Room

Automatic Drawing‘s live performance and EP release party for “The Captain and the Sea” was held at The Viper Room in West Hollywood on Saturday, October 11. The venue itself was fitting for the setting for the show – high-profile enough considering the location and its history; intimate enough for the concert-goer to feel as if viewing a show put on by friends. The band started the evening off with “Appalachia”, the first song from their EP, followed by a song entitled “Story About the Earth”. It was all to be considered a warm-up, though, for after prompting the audience to inch even closer to the stage did the show really get underway.

The set list moved along fluidly, featuring songs from their new EP – “The War” and “If You Leave”, and a new unnamed song completed about a week prior to the show, engaging in crescendos, diminuendos, strategically-placed drum beats, and softened melodic lulls. Oh, the benefits of a live show, to be the listener of fresher, newer material – one of the few ways to feel special in this world. Thanks, Automatic Drawing; your fans owe you one.

The show rounded out nicely with “The Captain and the Sea” – another track from the new EP – “The Winter Scientist Pt. 1″ and “The Winter Scientist Pt. 2″. It must be said that if any quality is apparent in relation to Automatic Drawing, they are consistent in sound as far as studio recordings and live performance. Such a factor is much appreciated in a genre of music that does not benefit from copious amounts of over-production. It also helps plenty in that they were having a great time during entire show. Perhaps the camaraderie is of truest blue, or perhaps the stage was small – in either case, there was plenty of chemistry between the band, therefore holding the potential of being felt by the audience. However a little off the ball with rhythms – and only here and there – they remained cohesive in their formation and sound. Good n’ plenty sing-along moments allowed for audience members to be just as involved.

And for the thrill-seekers and the mood-shakers – towards the end of the evening there was indeed much raising of the vocal chords (a.k.a. yelling), not to mention a veritable climax involving every instrument onstage. And if you’re going to end a show right, might as well end it with a bang.