Review: The dB's at Eulogy
I thought that the youth of today was in the know: Did they not catch the nod to The dB’s — “She doesn't have to have her dB's records back now" — in They Might Be Giants’ iconic “Twisting”?!?
Oh, that was over 30 years ago, and only old geeks have any idea what I’m talking about.
Despite their growing cult status among jangle-pop enthusiasts, it was clear on Sept. 20 at Eulogy that the legendary power pop band hasn’t quite had the TikTok moment that other indie rock veterans have enjoyed. But with their infectiously catchy tunes, The dB’s could easily win over a new generation of listeners.
This tour marks the band’s first in over a decade and features the same lineup that graced their beloved 1981 albums, Stands for Decibels and Repercussion. It’s hard to believe this was the group’s first-ever show in Asheville, especially considering the members’ roots in Winston-Salem.
The band recently released a remastered version of its debut, with a remaster of Repercussion to be released on Oct. 18. In front of a modest crowd that predominantly consisted of Gen-Xers and lifelong fans, the quartet wasted little time getting to the goods. On the bouncy set opener, “The Fight,” Peter Holsapple proved that he still has that same youthful vocal delivery, and the rest of the group sounded on-point.
A few songs in, fans were treated to a Chris Stamey standout, “She’s Not Worried,” which Holsapple introduced as one of his bandmate’s finest works. The psychedelic pop gem, which could easily be mistaken for a B-side from The Zombies, was delivered flawlessly.
When it was followed with Repercussion highlight “Living a Lie,” the huge influence of the group on the aforementioned They Might Be Giants was made overwhelmingly clear. And throughout the set, it was evident how they inspired the sound of friends and former labelmates R.E.M. When The dB’s disbanded in the mid-’80s, Holsapple even contributed as an auxiliary member of the alt-rock legends for several years.
The performance maintained its momentum as the band showcased the wealth of memorable melodies from their first two albums. Hearing “Love Is for Lovers,” the opener from their 1984 release Like This, was an additional treat. Although some fans will say it lacks Stamey’s eccentric touch, the group’s first album after his departure is nearly as wonderful as its predecessors.
Closing with the supremely catchy “Black and White” and deep cut “(I Thought) You Wanted to Know,” the set ended with a rather ideal euphoric peak — though I wouldn’t have minded getting to hear my personal favorite dB’s tune, “Judy.”
When catching a band four decades past its heyday, it’s pretty necessary to temper expectations. I can’t imagine what seeing The dB’s in 1981 was like — I wasn’t even born yet — but their long-overdue Asheville debut proved they still have the magic.
(Photos by Jonny Leather)
