Video: The Postelles at the Red Palace
On Friday February 12th, the Postelles arrived in Washington, DC to end their winding U.S. tour. Ready to dazzle the crowd at the Red Palace and conclude the tour with a bang before heading home to NYC, frontman Daniel Balk took some time with WGTB to reflect on the band’s building success and laugh at a few stories from the experience along the way.
Amongst subjects such as band tour traditions, feisty Southern women, and working with the Strokes’ Albert Hammond, Jr., Daniel opened up about the band’s early high school years growing up together in New York City. Three of the four members played in the Postelles’ forerunning band, the Blend. High school coffeehouse-style performances led to residencies at NYC venues and soon enough, the Blend became the Postelles. The would-be college seniors have grown up quickly as their precocious musical appreciation reaches towards the past. Citing early rock ‘n’ rollers Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry as influences, the Postelles’ performance at the Red Palace was at once nostalgic, fresh, and timeless.
As soon as the Postelles began their set with tracks like “Sleep on the Dance Floor,” “Looking Glass,” and “White Night,” any hope of keeping one’s cool was thrown to the wind. The crowd twisted and fell into swing while somehow managing to incorporate token Alternative music head bobbing. The dance moves may just be the epitome of the Postelles’ familiar yet refreshing music. A room full of people too young to have even heard of Buddy Holly, were guided into perfect 1950’s step. Balk’s full-bodied vocals lain over catchy guitar riffs created a unique synthesis of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s origins and Rock ‘n’ Roll’s future.
With their first full-length album set to release in May 2011, the Postelles have a lot ahead of them. The boys have many songs to record, summer festivals to book, and more fervent fans to meet. If their constant New York comparison to the Strokes is any indication, we can only expect the Postelles’ vintage sound to reverberate for as long as their hometown’s legacy, itself. Their fans may be about to try the Boogie-Woogie, but the Postelles just “Can’t Stand Still.”
- Charlotte Japp, host of Mind Travel, Wednesdays 1 – 2 am and Sunday Night Cram Jam, Sundays 11 pm – 1 am
Camera: Katherine Everitt, host of Marz Kat, Sundays 1 – 2 am
Free “White Night” download:
killer video. like the tone of the scenes. the guy you interviewed sorta seems like a phony, though. The first step to paying homage to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, and Buddy Holly is not lumping them in the same category.
Yep, kinda agree that he seemed like a bit of a phony when he was talking about how he just does it like Chuck Berry and plugs in and plays… but all that aside I really like The Postelles’ sound, I think I’ll go see them play sometime.
Reminds me of The Virgins also.
Definitely like the Virgins, Mark. I think the Virgins are a little more funk-ie while Postelles do more of a fifties pop-thing though. Charlotte, this video is amazing and you are an incredible investigative journalist.
this video is amazing