"'Discovering' oxygen is...closer to, say, discovering America: the meaning of the phrase depends entirely on the perspective." --The Invention of Air

Alphabet Graveyard and my discovery of the band Gentlemen Auction House have a rather interesting story behind them. It all begins on the 7 Train, heading back into Manhattan after watching the Mets beat the Milwaukee Brewers. (Incidentally, the new Citifield is absolutely beautiful, and the old Mets fans who sit in the cheap seats are still so colorful with their language.) My three friends and I wound up in conversation with another quartet of pals who had happened to stumble into the same car as ourselves. After the usual introductory smalltalk, we happened upon the subject of music, which led one of our four new friends to tell us about this band who had been staying in the living room of his apartment for the past couple of days, and who would be playing a (free) show at an apartment uptown the next night. Always up for hearing new bands and seeing live music (especially when it's free!), I exchanged numbers with these fine gentlemen, declined an outing with them to a bar that evening, and transferred trains at Times Square, parting ways.

The next night, I took a train uptown to the apartment where this show was taking place. I had arrived just after their first set had ended, but shortly after they finished their cigarettes, they began their second set, and I fell in love. Gentleman Auction House, hailing from St. Louis, blend indie rock with ska and even some poppier influences. The full-plus-half-kit drums they have support the keyboard foundation for most of the songs, while a skilled guitarist adds both melody and chordal strength to creative lyrics. The bassist, who claims to "play a little bass," and who had played minimal bass until joining Gentleman Auction House, holds a firm line, fitting the style and, at times, providing interesting harmonies to the somewhat minimalist lines of the rest of the group. Though the lone guitarist is also the lead singer, he is often joined by the (only) female keys player, and the keys/trumpet player. Especially live, these voices blend to create the perfect vocal sound to complement the somewhat rough instrumental sound.

I absolutely love this band. Especially since they are such a great band, but relatively unknown, I recommend that everyone buy this album. Normally I'm against such consumer whoremanship, but this band is worth degrading myself to help them succeed. (Plus, to be honest, I talked to most of the members after the apartment show and tried to get gigs in St. Louis, Kansas City, or New York; so helping them means helping me.)