Live Review: The Rural Alberta Advantage

If the critics peg you as the next big insert-seminal-indie-band-here, is it all downhill from there?  Is there any way to step out of a shadow you never meant to get under in the first place?

These were the questions that The Rural Alberta Advantage were most definitely not contemplating this past Friday night at the Drunken Unicorn. The band released their debut album Hometowns in 2008 to a veritable avalanche of Neutral Milk Hotel comparisons, most of them favorable, but nonetheless intimidating. Lesser bands might have let the comparisons get to them, but not the RAA.  Friday night found them here in Atlanta for the first time, doing what they do best: forgetting all about the critics and just playing as hard as they can.

Continue reading at Atlanta Music Guide.

Live Review: The Morning Benders

The last time the Morning Benders came through town, it was a balmy October and they were the first band of the night, playing in support of Ra Ra Riot. Since then, the four-piece from Berkeley, Calif. has toured the country, had 2008’s Talking Through Tin Cans featured on iTunes’ Indie Spotlight, and recorded a follow-up album. Friday night saw them return to the Drunken Unicorn — only this time, they headlined the bill.

Continue reading here.