ARE THOSE ARMS SNAKES OR ARE YOU JUST HAPPY TO SEE ME?

Yes, this Seattle band put on one of the best sets I saw at this year’s South by Southwest music festival, complete with lead singer Steve Snere hanging over the side of a stairwell and nearly falling to a certain broken neck (had some random girl not pulled him off to safety), but since then I experienced another show of theirs (this summer, in their hometown of Seattle), and was largely underwhelmed.

Perhaps it’s because I was there with three haters who couldn’t stop ripping on the waify beanpole of a swaggering lead singer, or maybe I just realized that said lead singer (who strangely resembles a strung-out, spastic Ricky Schroeder) actually is kind of annoying, but for some reason I just wasn’t feeling it in the same way.

Still, These Arms Are Snakes definitely deserve their place in the underground lyrical synth/spazz post-hardcore scene, and each of their albums has several jams that kick it pretty damn hard. And how the hell could any band with a former member from the amazing group Botch (Bass/synth player Brian Cook) not be at least 1/4 part worthwhile? Okay, fine — I’m a bit conflicted: I do kind of love it and yet I’m already sort of over the punk rock attitude that strikes me as kind of affectedly rough in a put-on, ostentatious manner (again due to the mic-swinging, pretentious cabinet-climbing lead singer). However, I love guitar player Ryan Frederiksen’s jagged tone, and the songs are mostly pretty damn interesting, unnecessary swagger or not.

You can judge recent tracks from TAAS’ 2006 album Easter for yourself on the band’s MySpace page or check out this thorough concert video footage from a couple of years ago at FabChannel.

Or, if you live in Chicago or Austin, get out there and see These Arms Are Snakes play live with another great instrumental band Russian Circles (who I just found out Brian Cook will be playing bass with on their upcoming 2008 release). Tonight at the Double Door in Chicago, and Saturday at Emo’s Jr. in Austin — should be a good ol’ time. Oh, did I mention that both shows are FREE?!? Enjoy.

And while you’re at it, take a listen to fellow Seattle-ites Akimbo…

-KW