By: David de Young
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| Katie White of the Ting Tings - Photo by David de Young |
Since that time the band has had nothing short of a stellar year. In 2008, their debut album We Started Nothing went to #1 in the UK, and at the end of June they played the coveted John Peel stage at Glastonbury. The following week they were one of a select few bands BBC Four ran all day set highlights of. Though I missed them live at Glasto, while staying near Llangollen in Wales the week after the festival, I watched their set on the television with friends in the living room then later on down at the Pub. By the end of that day I am convinced curious glances at their gripping set on the telly had led to questions, then conversations which ultimately made the Ting Tings even more of a household name in the UK.
Fast forward about a month and make a quick jump over the pond to the USA and the Ting Tings were another of the bands selected to have their full set from Lollapalooza in Chicago broadcast live over the internet by AT&T blue room. This high quality audio and video stream looked and sounded great as I blasted it through my sound system and viddied it on my 100 inch projection screen. It was almost like being there -- minus the heat, the inflated beer prices, and the crowds.
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| Jules De Martino of The Ting Tings |
Local Twin Cities psych-pop band Solid Gold opened Monday’s show, playing as a three piece instead of with their usual four members. Despite being down a man, many in the audience remarked on how good the band sounded. In my opinion they are continuing to get better and are definitely a band to watch in coming months.
Those who have not seen The Ting Tings live may be surprised to learn they are a two piece band: Jules De Martino on drums and Katie White on vocals and guitar. As they emerged on stage, White said, “We’re the Ting Tings, nice to meet you,” and the band opened with “We Walk.” First I made my way to the center of the crowd to meet up with some friends from 89.3 The Current who were on hand to enjoy the show. But halfway to the stage was not close enough for me, and soon, as the temperature and humidity in the club began to reach the level of a summer day in the Everglades, I continued to delve into the crowd seeking a better vantage point to snag my photos and soak up the music.
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| The Ting Tings at the Varsity |
Song two of the set was “Great DJ,” the song The Current is now spinning in heavy rotation. (Vita.mn had already voted “Shut Up And Let Me Go” - which they would play later - one of the songs of the summer.) White raised her hands above her head and began clapping as she’d done in Chicago at Lollapolooza two days earlier. But the indoor crowd at the Varsity would take a little more warming up than their rabid Chicago counterparts, and before the clapping could spread to the back of the club a guitar tech had handed Katie a guitar interrupting the flow of the moment.
It was during “Great DJ,” however, that things started taking off. (Always a good sign when the show takes off from song two!) Not surprising perhaps, as danceable tunes mentioning “the girls and the boys” have a way of reminding you what’s really important in life, which if you ask me surely includes being young, running wild on summer nights and dancing.
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| The Ting Tings |
One criticism I’ve heard about the Ting Tings is that they often sound derivative of certain 80s bands, and Blondie is the most frequent band brought up in this regard. Point taken, though Blondie being one of my favorite bands ever I don’t have a problem with that. The Ting Tings also remind me variously of The Bangles, Romeo Void, and Toni Basil (remember “Hey Mickey”). But the next song “Keep Your Head” totally reminded me of The Clash. Again, I ask, when was that ever a bad thing? I am pretty sure I like this band for exactly the some reason some of the naysayers don’t, so we’ll just have to agree to differ and move on.
And speaking of derivative, by the time the song that could almost be a Blondie outtake, “Be The One” was played I was way past trying to think of what the song reminded me of and way into the overwhelming sense of joy I was feeling synth line bounced along and White sang “this was your idea, don’t keep me waiting” and “what you gonna offer now?”
“Shut Up and Let Me Go,” without a doubt the biggest hit from their debut album We Started Nothing was as well received as you might expect. The band then left the stage, coming back for a single encore consisting of the album's title track.
As the short 40 minute show came to an end a fan in front of me exclaimed to her boyfriend, “That’s it?”
Yes, it was short, but ever so sweet. And besides, with just one album out so far they really had played pretty much all their songs. A band best experienced live, I am convinced he Ting Tings are still on their way up and will continue to become better known. In the greenroom after the show some of their biggest fans (including me) downright pleaded with their manager to help bring them back to town soon.
Related links:
Location Info:
The Varsity Theater
Artist Info: Solid Gold, The Ting Tings
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