Tilly and the Wall

Last Saturday night at the Mezzanine belonged to die-hard indie pop fans and absurdly wasted Treasure Island Music Festival goers.  The former bouncing up and down and the latter attempting to mosh, they battled it out to the impeccable timing of Jamie Pressnall's tap dancing.

"You guys are wild!" exclaimed Neely Jenkins as she finished a song during which 3 or 4 grown men toppled over one another front and center of the stage.

Aside from being told by a friend to RSVP for the show and listening to a few songs while crossing the Bay Bridge, Tilly and the Wall was unknown to me.  I expected to bop my head.  I expected to jerk my knees around a bit.  I even expected myself to let out a few excited yelps.  I certainly didn't expect to get completely swept away into the sweetly simple magic that is Tilly's indie pop sound.

I first knew I was a goner when I saw Pressnall, Jenkins and Kianna Alarid do a few synchronized Supremes-style arm movements.  A team dancer for years, I can't resist the appeal of a rehearsed, extravagantly costumed performance.  Add to that a rhythm section that relies heavily on a tap dancer and I'm sold.

Although Pressnall's dancing stole the show for me,  the drum kit and tap shoes battle was over-planned and lacked a real chemistry.  In a similar way, the contrast between the casual shorts and t-shirt ensembles of Derek Pressnall and Nick White, and the sparkling fluorescent colors of the female half of Tilly appeared inept rather than ingenious.

After poking around blogs for a bit I've learned that Tilly and the Wall has generated a fair amount of buzz around indie music lovers.  Whether it was the late timing of the show or the clumsy drunkards in the crowd, Tilly still seemed like they are still literally getting used to the limelight, standing up on stage and the task of performing.  Elton John owned his outrageous get-ups, as did Freddie Mercury and Bowie.  There is a great deal of charm in amateur bands, but Tilly is past that.  They certainly don't sound like first-timers and they shouldn't behave like them either.

Of course I have had two days to examine the teeth of this gift horse (the show was indeed free).  While chanting, "One more song!" along with the rest of the crowd all I wanted was one last fix of that beat.  

I don't know how much I will listen to Tilly at home, but next time they're in town I'll seriously consider seeing them again.