The Ting Tings: like a Brit Pop version of Viva Vove ## - Photo: http://bkite.com/011kt

Some people go to shows to hear the album. If the band sounds any different, they're disappointed. I tend to look for something else when I see a band live - switching instruments, guests, covers, etc. Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't be there if I didn't like their album and I'm fine with hearing it, but there's something left to be desired if I just end up hearing the CD at a higher volume than the neighbors would allow me to play at home.

The Ting Tings show last night sounded like a CD - and likely this is because there are only two band members, but I could distinctly pick out at least 4 different instruments most of the time. What this means is that there's a loop somewhere that's being controlled by someone. Where's the spontaneity in that?

At one point, the drummer did play the guitar and drum and sing at the same time. But there was still a mysterious bass guitar sound going on that I never saw, loads of handclaps and even an invisible steel drum/xylophone. I trust that they birthed all the music themselves at some point in the studio - so I don't deny their talent. I just wish they would have thrown a DJ up on stage to put a face to the loops and make me believe that those loops could stop and start at any time.

Their boy-girl pairing reminded me of back in the day when I saw Viva Voce. They also have a male drummer and female guitarist and both sing. The only difference (besides general musical style) is that Viva Voce's guitarist whips ass by playing a double-neck and the drummer actually controls the various loops that they have on a sweet little trigger setup that he hits with his feet and drumsticks. No mystery man behind a curtain for them.