FREEwilliamsburg: Oxford Collapse tomorrow night

A few months ago, Village Voice blogger Tom Breihan posted a concert review titled “The Walkmen Spaz the Fuck Out.” The same tagline could easily be applied to fellow Brooklynites Oxford Collapse; the band’s sound tends to veer towards that of a four cups of coffee and Adderall bender. While it can be argued the terms “angular” and “jittery” are perhaps two of the most overused expressions in modern rock criticism, in this case, they really do seem applicable.

Thu 5/24 8:00 PM Oxford Collapse, Centipede D'Est Union Hall 21+ $8

Oxford Collapse are clearly students of the last twenty years of indie music history, and seem to have amassed quite a body of knowledge in the short span of their twenty-something years. The three members of the band (guitarist Michael Pace, drummer Dan Fetherston, and bassist Adam Rizer) met during a New York University study abroad program in London and hung around the Big Apple post-graduation, relocating to the uber-hip environs of Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Within short order, they signed to Kanine Records and released a well-received album, “Some Wilderness.” The record caught the attention of not only the usual music blog nerds and alt-weekly rock crits, but it also lit a fire in the ears of the A&R department at one of the most venerable indie labels around” Sub Pop.

At the risk of getting all “Us Weekly” on you, I’ll quote “a source close to the band” (OK, a friend of mine who happens to be a huge fan): “I was really worried when they signed to Sub Pop, because I had horrible visions of them turning in to Mudhoney.” Luckily, a quick listen to their hot-off-the-press new record, “Remember the Night Parties,” put all his fears to rest. The OC had not sold out and gone the way of “as featured on tonight’s OC;” rather, they took advantage of their increased budget and access to nifty production and tightened their sound. Their first single, the civic-minded “Please Visit Your National Parks” is all about showing off Pace’s guitar virtuosity, and he takes the opportunity to shred like a hopped up Hendrix. “Kenny Can’t Afford It” is the record’s drum track, with Fetherson doing some spiffy roll action, and “Forgot to Write” finds the bassist leading the way and getting all emo about lost connections. Despite all the strong tracks, the highlight of the album is “For the Khakis and the Sweatshirts,” a snarky shout-out to frat boys who love Ice Cube.

Live, Oxford Collapse come across as calm and confident, an interesting contrast to their frenetic music. They clearly have fun and bounce all over the stage, but never fall prey to sloppiness. I caught their record release show in front of what might be one of the tougher crowds out there: a room full of Williamsburg hipsters in an art gallery. The band seemed unfazed by the challenge that lay before them, and before they were three songs in to their set, the audience was going out of their collective minds. Oxford Collapse seem to have commandeered a perfect storm of energy, charisma, and technical skill; now, all they have to do is convince some skeptical crowds that they have what it takes wear the crown of the next great Sub Pop band.