Phillyist Reviews... Murder By Death

When we went to check out Murder By Death at the First Unitarian Church on Sunday night, we thought we knew what to expect. Thanks to R5 Productions, we're used to the quality all-ages shows the Church always delivers. We hadn't seen Murder By Death live before, but we'd been hooked ever since we first heard Like the Exorcist, But More Breakdancing.

Their fiery brand of cinematic Western-style rock saga has carved them a place in the modern music scene that is all their own. It also didn't hurt that singer Adam Turla was drinking whiskey from a water bottle and the band played a pirate song for someone's birthday.

These days they are playing more straightforward rock than they did earlier in their career. However, their songs maintain that epic storytelling quality that sets them apart from so many of their peers. Their singular ability to weigh down shoulders and hearts with tales of torturous loss and the struggles of the common man is in stark contrast to their rapport with the crowd. They look like they're having so much fun playing songs about burning down entire towns and waking up in pieces, covered in blood and vomit.

And the crazy part is that they are having fun. And so are we. You can't help it. They're so much better than a cinematic score, because once they set the tone and the storyline, the rest is left to your mind. Their music is original and incredible, but it's their imagination that will leave you standing there at the end of the night, hoping that bands still grant audiences a second encore every so often.

Maybe some do, but we had to leave the First Unitarian Church last night with Murder By Death's first and only encore still ringing in our ears.

Tragedy never sounded so good.

Image courtesy Murder By Death and Vagrant Records.