Review: The Districts’ Self-Titled EP Showcases a Young Band About to Break Through

Dan MacKnight

    When I found out that White Denim was playing a two-night stand at The Sinclair (Feb. 25 and 26), I looked up who would be opening for them each night.  The Districts, a quartet from Lititz, PA are supporting White Denim on their east coast dates.  After hearing their 2012 debut full-length, Telephone, they have become one of my favorite bands at the moment.  I haven’t been able to stop listening to them for the past two weeks.   Telephone is a masterpiece that they released independently while they were still in high school.  Since then, they have been picking up tons of steam, playing shows with fellow Pennsylvania natives like Dr. Dog and Toy Soldiers.
    In November, the band announced that they have signed with Fat Possum Records, the former label of the Black Keys, and they would be releasing a 5-song EP in late January, just in time for their tour with White Denim.  The Districts teamed up with producer Bill Moriarty (Dr. Dog, Man Man, Toy Soldiers) for the new EP.  It features reworked versions of three tracks off of Telephone (“Lyla,” Long Distance,” and “Funeral Beds”), along with two brand new songs, which will appear on their next full-length album this fall.

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    The EP kicks off with “Rocking Chair,” which reminds me a little of “Shake Me Down” by Cage the Elephant, in the sense that their dynamics shift from whisper-soft to screaming at the drop of a hat.  Vocalist/ guitarist Rob Grote can belt out gravelly, bluesy vocals that drip with emotions and maturity far beyond his years (think Andy Hull-meets-John McCauley). 

  “Lyla” slows the tempo down to a more stripped-down blues ballad, but it doesn’t lose any of that raw, somewhat lo-fi power that shines through in all of their other songs.   The energy gradually builds back up in the next song, “Funeral Beds.”  The song starts off with Grote crooning over his jangly guitar chords, complimented by guitarist Mark Larson’s subtle slide guitar licks.  The song slowly builds up, with Braden Lawrence’s kick drum growing louder and Connor Jacobus’ bass swelling into the mix until about 4:10 where everything crescendos into a controlled sonic chaos.
    “Long Distance” is the first song I ever heard by the Districts, and it is one of my favorites.  The song bounces back and forth between chords with a swing beat.  It reminds me a little of the earlier releases by Dr. Dog, but louder, bluesier and more in your face, if that makes any sense.  The EP ends with “Stay Open,” a 3/4 rocker that jumps from screaming, distorted guitars and organs, to soft, finger picked rhythms in the same verse.  The song ends with some beautiful vocal harmonies, with the Grote singing “I won’t give my love for free, won’t give my love for free, but please, take it from me.”
If this is EP serves as a teaser of what to expect from their full-length this fall (their first on Fat Possum), then it leaves me dying to hear more.  The Districts’ self-titled EP is available on iTunes, Spotify, and for sale on CD and 10” vinyl.  Be sure to catch them this Tuesday and Wednesday at the Sinclair, on tour with White Denim.  These guys are so young and so talented, you won’t want to miss them now as they are poised for success this year.

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Check out a live video of The Districts playing “Long Distance” here:

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