El Ten Eleven touches down tonight.

Let me tell you a little bit about a band that's playing tonight at Mississippi Studios. El Ten Eleven is named after a big ass plane and they know how to fucking play. Today's post-rock genre is mostly ignored, with a large contingent of its inhabitants learning how to dance and getting into electro (ahem) but there are still some serious winners that are cropping up. Among them are El Ten Eleven, a band that has three albums already under their belt and are touring for the fourth, of which you can only buy at their shows until they officially release it on November 9th.

a WHOLE LOT MORE after the break


The first two albums I personally (maybe a little unfairly) lump together with the likes of Pinback. Its harmonic, melodic, chilled out music, made for harmoniously chilling out with a girl named Melody. But in 2008, they released These Promises Are Being Videotaped, a tightly produced gun to your head. The lead track, Jumping Frenchman of Maine, pulls back the hammer on you and makes you start dancing. Stockholm Syndrome kicks in at around two minutes. Now that they have your attention, they bring you one single notch lower to I Like Van Halen Because My Sister Says They Are Cool, another infectious dance rock track with piano crescendos, and god dammit this drummer is good. A return to form follows in Fat Gym Riot, a quieter track that features awesome bass. Adam And Nathan Totally Kick Ass (not their names, by the way) is a Ratatat-like rock and roll anthem with some super guitar slides.
The rest of the album is jam-packed with energy, including a cover of Radiohead's Paranoid Android which I cannot wait to hear live. The last two, Chino and Numb Tooth, are headbanging thrashers reminiscent of Death From Above 1979. Ah, the good old days. At only a half an hour long, These Promises begs an immediate replay.

Listen at the bands website: Jumping Frenchmen of Maine - El Ten Eleven
Get the song straight from the band: Jumping Frenchmen of Maine - El Ten Eleven
Here is an upbeat track from their second album, Every Direction is North:
Listen at the bands website: Hot Cakes - El Ten Eleven
Get the song straight from the band: Hot Cakes - El Ten Eleven

Apart from being great musicians, they seem like pretty chill dudes. They offer each album on a pay-what-you-want type model here on their website. "Its a new world order in music, and we're glad to be a part of it." "Plus, downloading has zero environmental impact and our electrons have a fresh lemony scent." See, what'd I tell you? Professionals.

Now for the M. Night Schalaamandon twist: THE GUY HAS BEEN PLAYING ONE OF THESE THE WHOLE TIME:

What he's playing there is a sumbitchin' double necked guitar and bass combo. You heard right. Pretty much the ultimate rock star instrument. The drummer just plays regular drums -- but good lord! He's insane! Have you been listening to this?!

So go and see them tonight, doors at 8:30, shows at 9, at Mississippi Studios. Baths is bringing the trip-hop vibe and Sister Crayon is bringing the art-rock California attitude. And its only ten bucks! And the Bar Bar, Mississippi's annexed bar, has the best hamburger I've ever had in my life. Its the Rhino BBQ Burger or something. Whichever one costs 6 bucks. They've got a comparable vegetarian version too. So go have dinner and then see a great show!