Man In Gray

Artful contrasts with a nod to Dinosaur Jr. and Sleater-Kinney

By Catherine Hopkinson

October 15, 2007

Man In Gray
Man in Gray have been gigging around the city for several years now, treating audiences to political screeds like "Incommunicado" (hailed by the Village Voice's Chuck Eddy as one of the top ten tracks of 2003) off of various EPs. This year, however, the Brooklyn quintet released their debut full-length, and it was well worth the wait. "I Can't Sleep Unless I Hear You Breathing" may feature a glimmering cityscape and flowy script on its cover, but within is some of the most blistering rock you'll hear all year.

The band is clearly interested in artful contrasts, as one nimble, melodic guitar intertwines with a ferocious one. Meanwhile, the vocals alternate between the soft whisper and fierce wail of one Tina DaCosta, a pretty but tough rock chick often found in ripped fishnets. Shades of Karen O? Sure, and a few other of your favorite rock bands (the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Sleater-Kinney, to name a few). Comparisons aside, this is serious business: Don't sleep on these local veterans.

Man in Gray plays Oct. 20 at The Delancey

Ads by Google