Local Motion: The Hibernauts

The opening group on a three-band bill is generally the one people miss most, perhaps because the slot usually goes to the least experienced — and often not-quite-as-good — band. It was quite a pleasant surprise, then, to see The Hibernauts open for Black Tie Dynasty and Berry at Off Broadway in December — and to be blown away by just how good they've become. Most noticeable were the quartet's backbeats and bass lines, both of which added some spine to atmospheric but danceable numbers. As I've said before, the Hibernauts' guitar tones and plaintive vocals resemble the Walkmen, but hints of Interpol, New Order and other keyboard bands also emerged in concert. The group plans to record an album with man-about-town/Gentleman Auction House member Mike Tomko, so expect even better things in the near future.