Band of the Week, 5/7: La Dispute

 

Who are they: La Dispute is a band from Grand Rapids, Michigan that employs elements of post-hardcore, spoken word, and several other genres to provide a music palette that is unique and refreshing.  They released their second full-length album Wildlife on October 4, 2011 through Run for Cover Records.  The record is a narrative, featuring short stories as they would be penned by an unnamed narrator. The narrator also provides four “monologues”, songs that sound as if they were the author of the stories jotting in the margins. The creative concept makes Wildlife one of the most inimitable and cohesive records of the past 10 years.

Why they are band of the week: La Dispute just wrapped up their North American headlining tour supporting Wildlife last night in Chicago. The tour featured one of the best support packages of the year: Sainthood Reps, All Get Out, and past “Keep Calm and Carry On” Band of the Week Balance and Composure. Donald and I got a chance to take a trip down to Philadelphia to catch the tour at the Union Transfer, one of the best new venues in Philadelphia. Before the show, we also had the opportunity to sit down with vocalist Jordan Dreyer about the songwriting for Wildlife and a possible continuation of the band’s Here, Hear series of EPs. Then, we got to take in the band playing an exceptional 14-song set heavy on tracks from Wildlife. A La Dispute show is a sight to behold; from Dreyer’s onstage demeanor and personality, to the band’s pitch perfect performance and the crowd’s enthusiastic response,  everything about the show was at another level of energy.

What should you listen to: Hopefully, we should have that interview up on the blog soon. But in the meantime, listen to the best song off Wildlife, the emotional “King Park”. The band has been closing their set with the seven minute track and it’s not hard to see why. “King Park” is La Dispute at their best.