Burning Airlines

With New End Originals and Naht

Live at the Middle East, Cambridge, MA, November 5 2001

Chris Dahlen

Big ideas and loud music. J. Robbins, frontman for Burning Airlines, spits out lines with long words and dense ideas, shout/singing them over the quartet's tightly arranged rock. "Vibrating without sympathy, resonating like an empty glass and when we break, these ghosts sing softly: 'you can be replaced.'" Only a great singer could make those lyrics rock. It's music that gives a damn earnestly, rather than angrily: it's loud but played note-for-note perfectly, except when Robbins overemphasizes and misses the mike.

The unfortunately-named Burning Airlines headlined at the Middle East Downstairs this week. Founded around the end of Robbins' previous band, D.C. legends Jawbox, Burning Airlines keeps Jawbox's volume but tones down the complexity and noise. That's not to say they're bland, but that the hooks and Robbins' vocals are more important now than the intricate two-guitar attack that worked for Jawbox. The band played about half of each of their albums, Mission: Control! and Identikit. The former is the better album—the latter is more pat and well-organized—but new songs like "A Lexicon" loosened up on stage. Older songs like "The Escape Engine" and "Pacific 231" sounded terrific.

The younger set that came to the show had no trouble staying out late on a Monday. There was a good crowd, even during the opening sets. New End Original played second, with a set of solid overwraught rock music. It wasn't my style, but the kids knew most of the words. On the other hand, the opening band, Naht, was a real surprise for everyone. A five-piece from Tokyo, Japan, Naht is touring in the United States for the first time and is damn excited to be here. "It is so great to be here," they said, several times. Their music was engaging—loud, tight, and earnest, perfect for this bill—and they added a violin on some of the songs, which was a nice accent. But more than anything, it was great to see them have a good time.

Related resources

Burning Airlines' official site at DeSoto Records contains tour information and biographies.

If you missed this tour, a complete show from 1999 is available online.

You can also hear an mp3 from their new album at Insound.com.