Dear and the Headlights Photos and Interview

Slated to play several shows at SXSW and day one of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, Arizona indie rockers Dear and the Headlights have some exciting times ahead. But before the guys embarked on their lengthy spring tour, they tore up the stage at the oh-so-intimate Chain Reaction in Anaheim on Feb. 25.

For about an hour, Deer and the Headlights powered through an assortment of old and new songs, borrowing mostly from their latest album, “Drunk Like Bible Times,” which was released last September. The show’s many priceless moments included band members spastically dancing on stage, occasionally switching instruments and constantly joking with the audience. Check out the photo gallery and some quotes from the show after the jump…

As you can tell from the photos, Dear and the Headlights put on a high-energy show worthy of indie rock’s biggest names, but they maintained a refreshingly modest attitude throughout the set, making sure to play every song screamed out by eager audience members.

“We always write a set list, but… might as well play what you wanna hear anyway,” said lead singer Ian Metzger while bantering with fans between songs. “You guys have become the setlist.”

Based on their upcoming gigs and the fact that more than half the crowd sang every song word for word, I’d say these boys are destined for widespread stardom in the very near future. But the guys humbly said during our pre-show interview that they never expected fame and are just in it for the love of playing music.

“We just want to keep progressing, writing better songs, adding new elements and playing different instruments, ” said guitarist P.J. Waxman. “We play this music for us, and to be able to do it we have to tour. It’s work, but it’s also what we want to be doing.”

Waxman and drummer Mark Kulvinskas said that the band has been working on “a little” new material in between touring, but “nothing is done yet.”

Stand-out songs from the set included “Run in the Front,” “Bad News,” and “I Know,” all of which can be heard on Dear and the Headlights’ MySpace. But to get the full face-melting experience, you’re gonna have to make it to one of their live sets, so peep those tour dates and support the band as they conquer the U.S.!

Photography by David Hall