Concert review: Burning Hotels, Mon Julien, Air Review, and Menkena at Granada Theater (January 14)

by Brenna Rushing

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The Mon Julien CD release party was overshadowed by Mon Julien's opener, Air Review, and closer, Burning Hotels.

The Granada Theater's Saturday night CD release party for new band Mon Julien was not only destined to be a celebratory night for the band’s premiere, but also an enthusiastic one stuffed with some of the hottest local music around. The indie rock lineup offered just the right amount of variety between acts to entertain crowds without losing interest -- which is often not the case with local music showcases.

Opening band Menkena proved that shoe-gaze music is here to stay. Their lethargic sound of stacked guitars and accompanying pedals was led by front man Jimmy Menkena and his guitar. His murmured vocals become muddled underneath the dominant pedals. The band added crashing cymbals to their quiet sound, creating a crescendo element that helped break up the orbital melodies. The composition was a soothing mix of songs that could either help put audience members to sleep, or create a musical break from a stressful day.

Air Review was next. Whether it’s their in-sync harmonies or varying styles from past to present, Air Review consistently hits the mark. The Fort Worth band has drastically grown in popularity in the last year with the release of their newest singles, which show a totally new side to the former Brit-pop group. They’ve stepped back from their Coldplay stylings and headed towards the grittier Radiohead sound by cranking up the volume and incorporating longer jam sessions. On Saturday night, shrill guitar pedals added texture to their mellow vocals, giving their impressive lyrics the accompaniment they deserve.

Although the evening was crafted for Mon Julien’s CD release, the crowds didn’t seem all that eager for the new bands’ set. Cory Watson and Brian McCorquodale, formerly of Black Tie Dynasty, make up the new act, with the help of producer Mark Pirro (Polyphonic Spree and Tripping Daisy) and Mckenzie Smith (Midlake). Yes, the '80s are back in a fierce way, but not in the cheesy, keyboard solo kind of way. Mon Julien is trying so hard to be from the '80s that they haven't yet reinvented it for today’s taste. Everything from Watson’s emphasized vocals to McCorquodale’s keyboard fades screamed "teased hair and spandex."

The pair does has the talent to go solo, however: Watson’s pipes go on for days and their vision for something different from their previous sound has definitely surfaced. What it lacked was cool factor. It was also difficult to differentiate their songs because they all feature the same tempo and set-up.

This was not the case for the headliners of the night, the Burning Hotels. Their self-titled sophomore release has skyrocketed the Fort Worth band onto every local hipster’s iPod and various stages across the DFW area. Their '80s dance numbers kick-started the party that this crowd had been begging for, beginning with “Days Are Gone.” Chance Morgan and Matt Mooty have staggering onstage confidence that stole the spotlight.

Their confidence was slightly diminished after some disconnects between the drummer and the rest of the band, however, but the timing fell back into place once it was called out. Morgan’s stretched chords and vivid storytelling carried them through the analogous catalog, avoiding any potential boredom. Towards the close, Morgan asked for audience requests, and not surprisingly, “Allison” came up first. The stiff, reverberating track paired nicely with their encore closer, “Wildly Inappropriate,” to end the night with a diminished yet energetic dance party with plenty of die-hard fans.

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