The People's Temple - "Never More / Miles Away"

Even though they're rarely satisfying, I'm always interested in live releases by bands. When they're pulled off well they can sometimes save songs that were rendered uninteresting by poor production - sometimes the live version dramatically improves the original by just plain being a better/ more refined arrangement (compare the studio and live versions of Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" and you'll know what I'm saying). Any band that's willing to release a true live document not mired in post-production overdubs (lookin' at you KISS) is always compelling to me. Check out Grand Funk Railroad's imaginatively titled Live Album for one of these. Yeah, I know, Grand Funk ain't the hippest band on the block, but seriously, check that record out. It's the sound of 3 dudes kickin' out the jams, live and raw, competent drumwork by Don Brewer and all.

Anyway, much like GFR this post's subject is a group of guys from mid-Michigan, specifically, you guessed it, Lansing. The People's Temple are two sets of brothers that started playing out in 2008. In these 5 short years they've gotten a decent amount of attention for playing psychedelic garage rock, oft-compared to bands of the 60s though they honestly sound more like an 80s or early 90s college radio band with the reverb cranked up to me. The entertainment writer at City Pulse (that'd be Lansing's free weekly) is really into them so it's hard to not know what People's Temple are up to when every time they do anything it's written about in the paper. Their records are pretty cool, but they've honestly bummed me out every time I've seen them live. Sometimes they've just been downright sloppy, or loud for the sake of loud with no real inspiration. They almost always have an off-putting stage demeanor where they seem to hate their audience and berate the staff at venues. They could be fine people off-stage, I've never spoken to any of them, but they just generally seem unapproachable and inconsistent. Some writers call this an "intense stage show"... I tend to think of it as something I don't want to pay to see.

Lansing's hottest indie band, or the "Surly Mod" gang from The Warriors?

Which is why I'm pumped about their new release, a live 7-inch featuring a song apiece from their two albums. This is the sound of a band rocking out as a tight live unit, and I have no reason to believe this is anything but a real document of a great show. Plus I don't have to look at them grimacing at the whole room and can just enjoy the sound. This "Never More / Miles Away" 7-inch came out at at the end of February on Jack White's Third Man Records (named after Mr. White's failed attempt to start a Burning Man-esque festival in the ruins of Detroit) and was recorded at the on-site venue for Third Man Records in Nashville. Maybe these guys try harder on the road... or Jack picked the two best songs of the set. Either way, this is a really solid listen and I'm also just plain proud that a band from my beloved overlooked hometown is working with such a great label. The People's Temple are currently on tour to SXSW so... maybe I'll check them out again when they're back in town. Order the 7-inch from Third Man - it's a good listen and this is a label that is more than worth supporting.

It's a fact, Jack.