It's a truly rare and awesome event when a song heard on the radio restrains your movement and compels a discerning ear; it's a tune to which you instantly relate and sublimely haunts your psyche for days despite having heard it just once.  For me, it started with a somewhat ominous melody on the keys and the bass guitar.  As my interest intensified, I heard the faint tinker of the stick on the high hat and complementary guitar rhythms.  Soon, baritone vocals telling the story of a man who runs into a lost love at a bar joined in.  A verse into the song, a simple drum beat resounded creating a heartbeat.  A viola weaves its way into the mix and all instruments simultaneously increased in pace and volume to become a compelling rock song as the man's torture overwhelms him when his old flame leaves with someone else.  The song - "Sometime Around Midnight".  The artist - The Airborne Toxic Event; a rapidly rising addition to the L.A. music scene that, contrary to what it's name infers, is quite pleasing and beneficial to the environment.

The year 2006 saw the formation of ATE, as singer, writer and guitarist Mikel Jollett and his friend, drummer Daren Taylor, united to create music.  Against the backdrop of personal and familial trauma in Jollett's life, he and Taylor became intrigued by themes from Don DeLillo's novel, "White Noise", during which a chemical spill released toxins into the main character's home town causing widespread fear of death and rampant consumerism.  From whatever connection was felt between the artists and the novel, the newly formed band became The Airborne Toxic Event.  The two were joined by Anna Bulbrook (viola, keys), Steven Chen (guitar, keys) and Noah Harmon (bass), all classically trained on their instruments, and with alarming speed these newbie's have become regulars on Indie 103.1 and KROQ and have played to sold out crowds at numerous L.A. venues. 

Following my initial reaction to "Sometime Around Midnight", I researched ATE on MySpace and iTunes and discovered a band that's a satisfying combination of Brit-pop, post-punk and Indie rock with tunes that contain echoes of notable and gifted artists such as The Cure, Modest Mouse, the Smiths, Pulp and Franz Ferdinand. With Jollett's deep vocals that rise and fall with the music, two guitars, a bass, viola and keys, ATE also adds a personal touch of individuality to classic melodies and popular beats.  Having already added ATE to my music library, I tested the quintet's performance ability at the Troubadour where they satisfied all that my music appetite craves in a live show. 

Having first taken the stage in fall 2006, ATE is virtually a concert virgin.  Although the energy level was remarkable and rivaled that of an excited 14 year old boy, they played with the synergy and confidence of seasoned veterans.  Displaying musical volatility, like the supremely talented Arcade Fire, members of ATE mixed it up by playing several instruments throughout the show.  Bulbrook sang backing vocals and played the viola, keys, electric guitar and the tambourine.  Harmon, trained in the upright bass, played the electric bass sometimes substituting traditional finger plucking with a bow.  Chen played guitar and keys and front man Jollett sang and played guitar as well as the keyboard.  

In direct contrast to its name, ATE's songs exemplify the ability of music to cast a ray of light over dark times; they just make me smile.  At times, heartfelt and heartbreaking themes are evident in the lyrics but the music remains spirited and catchy.  "Wishing Well" and "Does This Mean You're Moving On?" take on themes of suicide and rejection but both are up-beat jams that create energy rather than leave the listener emotionally exhausted.  Perhaps disguising a tragic theme in a dancey groove is a lesson in locating a silver lining in life's inevitable tragedies or maybe it's merely a way to express universal, relatable themes to capture attention.  Any way you view it, ATE's music is inviting and easy to embrace. 

The crowd's approval (and clear agreement with my humble opinion) was evident as they sang along with EP tracks not even a year old and listened intently to songs not yet released.  Jollett expressed a genuine appreciation for the turnout and at one point said something to the effect of, "Thanks for coming out.  This is all we have in our lives so we appreciate it."  To me, it was a sincere "thank you" from artists who take little for granted and play for the love of playing.  Despite having an already engaged and lively crowd, the band threw tambourines into the audience for the encore performance, providing even more of a welcome mat for us to join in ATE's merriment.  The final song was the energetic "Missy", a track to which you'd have to be a robot to ignore the impulse to, at the very least, bob your head.  The final scene: the band in full swing, Bulbrook shaking the tambourine and dancing around the stage and members of the audience playing along.  The concert was truly entertaining and oozing with energy and I defy anyone to see ATE live and not walk out of the venue singing or humming the choruses, even if you heard them just once.  

Hear ‘em:
www.myspace.com/theairbornetoxicevent

See ‘em:
Club Sachi, Long Beach - March 27, 2008
Last Call with Carson Daly - April 22, 2008

By: Megan Karasch
Photo By: Aron Broadley