Passion and dedication—these are the two words that came to mind while witnessing MOTHXR perform at the Turner Hall Ballroom last week in Milwaukee. This Brooklyn band took the genre of rock and turned it into something completely their own. The crowd was slow to form, and the band took the stage a little later than expected, but by the end of their set, the venue was packed.
MOTHXR’s music is unlike anything I have ever heard before. Their songs are a mixture of perfectly calculated beats and edgy melodies.
Lead singer Penn Badgley made hitting a foot pedal a form of art. He was constantly using the pedal to trigger the band’s signature beats. Despite his multitasking, he never missed a step.
I was only familiar with a handful of songs going into the show. A week has passed, and a couple of songs including “Touch” and “Impossible” continue to pop back up in my head. The lyrics are simple, and the rhythms are catchy. Not catchy in a traditional Taylor Swift refrain kind of way, but unforgettable in a “this is so different” sort of way.
It was obvious that this indie band is not making music to get rich or make it big. Each band member genuinely seemed to be having the time of their life and was clearly performing for themselves. The connection the band had with every song, every note, every word was undeniable. Their love for their craft was evident, and they weren’t concerned with the crowd’s reaction.
Connecting with the crowd was not one of the band’s strong suits. While it was obvious how physically and emotionally Penn Badgley was feeling the music, the audience wasn’t included in this experience. Badgley repeatedly asked the crowd how they were feeling, but other than that, it was almost as if they didn’t exist.
This out-of-the-box music is not for everyone. However, if you’re looking for some chill tunes to listen to as you do homework or something a little different to put on as you’re getting ready to go out, turn on MOTHXR.
MOTHXR consists of “Gossip Girl” star Penn Badgley, Jimmy Giannopoulos, Simon Oscroft and Darren Will. They released their debut album, "Centerfold," on Feb. 26, 2016. It’s available on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play and Spotify.
They toured with The Neighbourhood across Europe during March and are currently traveling the United States with Poliça until May 7. Polica is a synthpop band known for their eerie melodies and haunting presence.
