Come Sit Next To Me

One band that I somehow could not find space for in my year end round-up posts that definitely deserves some love is Pela. I caught them on a whim during last fall's DAM!fest and they were so much awesome. I bought their EP via iTunes a few days later and it's been in heavy rotation for the last two months or so. The above video is from last year's SXSW festival and should give you a good idea as to what they're all about. Simply put, if you like thinking man's rock, like The Hold Steady, then you need to give these guys a spin. This tune, "Waiting At The Stairs" is a bit more Okkervil River than the rest of their stuff, which tends to lean towards War-era U2 at times, but, like I said, it's the hotness. I can't recommend their EP Exit Columbia Street enough. But then again, I heart EP's.

[MP3] Pela | Lost to the Lonesome (AAC file)

But don't take my word for it. Jeff pegged them as "Big in '07" over at Gothamist.

Also, if you want more, and I know that you will, the good folks over at World's Fair pointed me in the direction if RySpace, which has a recent Pela gig from the Bowery Ballroom up for your downloading pleasure. I just grabbed it and am going to see how it sounds. I suggest you do the same.