Concert Recap: Hammer No More the Fingers with The Big Picture

The Big Picture

It was an amazing night complete with stellar live music at the Tir Na Nog this Thursday. First on the stage was The Big Picture, a big cast of all-star local musicians from the NC Triangle music scene. The songs were very interesting to listen to and avant-garde in a sense. One song seemed to be inspired by Ratatat, the next sounded like Flaming Lips, all the while featuring Lost In the Trees-like vocals and harmonies (the entire band singing together). 

Duncan on guitar

Joe Hall on guitar

Headlining was the Durham indie-rock trio, Hammer No More the Fingers. The set started off with Duncan (bass, vocals) playing two songs on a guitar tuned baritone. I was very excited to hear Duncan play guitar, as he has always stuck to the bass. HMNTF played about 8 new songs which was very exciting. This leads me to wonder if a new album is in the works. The new songs had very unique sounds; funky, emotional, even reminiscent of Radiohead at times. Other tunes captured that classic bass-driven HNMTF sound with crisp, soaring harmonies that so many fans desire. Their encore set featured two of my favorites: Vodka Grasshoper and O.R.G.Y. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday night--did I mention it was free?

Finishing an epic set