The World Is… is a midwest emo band from Willimantic, CT. They blend styles from a wide array of influences, including mewithoutYou, Explosions in the Sky, and American Football. The result is powerful and unique. Their name gives a good hint of what you can expect from their music, melodrama and ambition. Though, they don’t take things too seriously, considering all of the playful edits they make to their name. “The World Is A Beautiful Cat and I Am No Longer Afraid to Meow, Meow, Meow”, for example. They have a pretty sweet bag patch with that (and a cat of course).
This was my second time seeing The World Is (They played in Greenville over the summer). The first thing I remember about both performances was how astoundingly clear everything was. The eight-piece dynamic allows for quite a massive sound. Some of their songs are downright anthems (see “Gig Life” or “Getting Sodas”), and their lyrics are tinged with introspection and nervousness.
They’re one of the forerunners of the so-called “emo revival,” which is all well and good. I’m down for new ears on these bands. After all, it’s what allows TWIAPB to go on nation-wide tours, and heck, my radio show is dedicated to the genre. I just hope all the extra-attention doesn’t water down the genre because it’s the “cool new thing”.
Anywho, to the real story: The band started things off with, “Blank #9”, an instrumental and the first song off their album. Then Shitty Greg sang the first words of the set with “Victim Kin Seek Suit”, from their EP. Their set consisted of mostly new songs, nearly playing through their whole album in order. Hilariously, one of the guitarists filled the space between songs by speaking backward gibberish into his mic. Still, the crowd was pretty stagnant until, by request, they played the heavy hitting “Eyjafjallajokull Dance.“ Right then a little bit of hell broke loose and pushing ensued. They ended their set with “Getting Sodas,” but not before giving the words, “This one’s your problem.” At last, the crowd had warmed up to them and pushed the stage, with David Bello shouting the lyrics “The world is a beautiful place, but we have to make it that way…” I’m definitely looking forward to the next time they come to NC.
-DJ Nasty Nate
