One of my favorite albums of the past few months has been How Dare You’s debut full-length Comfort Road. I first heard the band via the awesome Rocket Fuel podcast where Jeff Rocket Fuel interviewed singer/guitarist Justin Goldman. Justin talked about how he made his way down the coast from Philadelphia to Florida and hooked up with three like-minded dudes including drummer Zach Swain (formerly of As Friends Rust). Since then, I haven’t been able to stop listening to Comfort Road.
Now, the Orlando, FL band doesn’t do anything you haven’t heard before, but they do it with so much conviction and heart that you can’t help but want to pump your fist, bob your head, or just crank up your car stereo really really loud. The music itself straddles some sort of line (as if there actually is a line, c’mon) between post-hardcore, Gainesville hardcore, and pop punk; so (basically) let’s call it pop punk with an edge. The songs are melodic (even if they are a bit long in some cases), the vocals are raw and biting, and the choruses are of the huge sing-a-long variety. I hear similarities to the mid-tempo sound of the left-coast’s Living With Lions and that is a good thing. How Dare You has shown that they are one heckuva group and I can’t wait until they actually make it to Chicago.
MP3 | How Dare You – My Last Stop On The T Comfort Road
MP3 | How Dare You – Beacon St. Comfort Road
Thanks for the shout out man!
Damn, thats good.
I’m dancing
Just recently found this blog and have to say I’m really liking it. Thanks for some great recommendations!
This is a really good album, one of my favourites of 2009 so far.
Pretty spot on assessment here Eric.
I endorse seeing them live too —- finally caught them this weekend at the Harvest of Hope Festival and they seemed like really nice, down-to-earth guys… and they played a great set, with that same conviction you mentioned. I was disappointed that one of the singers wanted to play a Jawbreaker cover and the otehr singer was against it — playfully of course, but it would have been fun to see.
always interesting to see bands like this in the light of day — since we all usually see most of them in the dank, dark of clubs, basements, etc.)
That would have been awesome to hear the band cover Jawbreaker. Also would have been awesome to be at Harvest of Hope!
Two very nice songs. I’ll definitely have to pick up the full record.