Up-and-comers the Postelles Indie It Up

As President Obama blockaded the West Village, the kids got their indie on at the Postelles show at the cozy Bowery Ballroom. You may not have heard of these New York natives, but these boys are headed to the big leagues. Besides inspiring girls (and a few boys) to shriek with delight and releasing an album coproduced by the Strokes' Albert Hammond Jr. this October, they're also opening Interpol's upcoming tour. As we said: big leagues.

From the first notes of "Looking Glass," the band had the crowd hooked. And the hooks are easy and catchy; the very epitome of the dancey-indie wave that started a few years ago. Front man Daniel Balk, in a fetching fedora, was visibly astonished by the wholehearted embrace of "Hey Little Sister" and "123 Stop." In thanks he coquettishly lifted up his tank top to incite the crowd further. It worked. Throwing some old-school punk into the mix, they rolled out "Beat on the Brat," a frenetic Ramones cover. The only way to follow that was to give a hand up to a few willing souls for a good ol' stage invasion during "Stella." You should have seen the hand over hand scramble to climb that stage.

Though this was their first time headlining, the Postelles played like pros and gladly returned for the much screamed for encore. The set was rounded off with the aptly named "Can't Stand Still." There were screams for more, but, alas, that was to be it.

--OLGA BAS

Previously > Billy Corgan and the Pumpkins Smash it up at NYC's Terminal 5