The War on Drugs Bring 80s-lacquered Psych Pop to PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION – Cincinnati CityBeat

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Photo: Atlantic Records

The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs frontman Adam Granduciel must have a thing for 1980s-era Bruce Springsteen. The bands fifth LP I Dont Live Here Anymore, effectively melds the grandiose Heartland Rock of Born in the U.S.A. with the melancholic introspection of Tunnel of Love, yielding the Philly-bred sextets most accessible record yet.

Of course, Granduciel, who relocated to Los Angeles a few years back, has long revelled in the sounds of dreamy, 80s-lacquered Psych Pop. Burning, from the bands breakthrough third record, 2014s Lost in the Dream, recalls an unlikely mix of The Cure and Tom Petty doing a cover of Rod Stewarts Young Turks. 2017s A Deeper Understanding moved into a jammier, more cinematic realm clocking in at 66 minutes, its awash in atmospheric synths, propulsive rhythms and Granduciels trademark searching guitar lines and modest, Dylan-esque vocals.

On the early albums, I definitely wasnt confident as a writer or a singer, Granduciel said in a conversation with Interview Magazine last November.

I saw vocals as an accompaniment to the music I was making with my friends. I just wanted to have fun and make art. This is our fifth record, and Im by no means a master of the craft writing songs and producing music still doesnt come easy but theres more to sing about. Theres actually something to feel, that I can attempt to translate into music. I dont think I went into this record focused on that, but I think thats what drew me to the songs that I ended up choosing.

The War on Drugs plays PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION (101 W. Fourth St., Newport) on Sunday, Feb. 6. Doors open at 7 p.m.

All attendees must show proof of either full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID test taken within the previous 72 hours.

Tickets and more info: promowestlive.com.

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The War on Drugs Bring 80s-lacquered Psych Pop to PromoWest Pavilion at OVATION - Cincinnati CityBeat