Photos: The Sounds at Santos Party House on April 30

So there we were, front of the line outside Santos Party House (don't ask how that happened, it's kind of retarded) with our friends Alice and Eileen waiting to get into the venue. Then we got in, met up with rekLES and waited some more. Two hours more. Now, we're not going to lie and cop out and say that we didn't think a ton of times about leaving and not catching the first show The Sounds played in New York in forever and the first date where they would play new tracks from their upcoming Crossing The Rubicon LP, because we totally did. But time passed and we just didn't leave. And we have to say that our decision was paid back in pull and more by a 14-song sledgehammer of a performance from the Swedish quintet, who flew around the stage and flung fists, chords, shouts and sweat--a lot of sweat--for about an hour, playing anthemic older tracks like "Hit Me", "Fire", "Living In America" as well as new songs "Dorchester Hotel" and the group's lead single from their third LP, "No One Sleeps While I'm Awake". It was blistering, battering and, aside from the almost ubiquitous New York City crowd douchebaggery (yeah, admit it), an amazing time.

(mp3)    The Sounds - Tony The Beat

Godspeed!