| Atlanta's the Earl recently hosted a sold-out, Friday night show featuring
several nostalgic, garage-pop revivalists, including the critically acclaimed
Girls and Magic Kids. While Girls were the headlining act everyone came to see
(and were impressive in their own right), opening act the Smith Westerns turned
heads with not only their respectable performance, but also their age. Despite
the fact that the Smith Westerns were the only underage individuals in the 21+
venue, they made up for their lack in years with an impressive blend of glam
guitars, '60s pop harmonies and overall catchiness. The teenage quartet
displayed their stripped-down aesthetic throughout their performance, as they
played track after track from their impressive eponymous debut.
Lead singer Cullen Omari, prominently displaying his Girls T-shirt, exuded a
youthful exuberance throughout their set, as his ceaseless smile was only
unapparent when his face was shrouded by his long black hair. Between the
faster-paced, punk-leaning cuts "Dreams" and "Gimme Some Time," the Marc
Bolan-style guitar work on "Girl in Love" or the warm tone of "Imagine, Pt. 3,"
Omari led the band through an efficient set that brought their album alive. Max
Kakacek's guitar work especially added life to their show, as he decorated the
band's typical hazy, lo-fi aesthetic with his invigorating guitar riffs.
The Smith Westerns closed with "Be My Girl," their most popular song to date
- and with good reason. "Be My Girl" finds itself at the center of everything
that the Smith Westerns do right and shines as its innocent lust draws listeners
in. Omari cried, "You keep running' through my dreams / Just be my girl / Out
there in this world." The Earl was nearly at capacity by the time they played
this song and the band more than likely found themselves a whole new set of
followers, judging by the crowd's response.
http://www.myspace.com/smithwesterns | 
