NEW YORK, NY—When it comes to a band like The Faint, being in the business for more than a decade pays off. At the first of the new-wave electro group’s back-to-back shows at Webster Hall, they very much proved they were veterans of the genre, who—rather than being worn down and tired from being in the biz for so long—have instead spent the last 14 years in the industry crafting, honing in on, and perfecting their skills. And honestly, I was surprised. There are so many young hot bands dabbling in, and very much succeeding in, creating killer electro beats in makeshift studios and tiny basement bedrooms, that there’s more competition nowadays for The Faint than ever before.
Dance music is much more mainstream than when these guys started out in ‘05, but after seeing their gig, I realized this hasn’t affected them at all. In fact, The Faint’s performance went a long way in proving that they would give any other electro act a serious run for their money. The quintet gave the crowd exactly what they were looking for; edgy electro new-wave beats which boasted just the right amount of punk, funk, experimentation and attitude. Their performance was high-energy, and the tracks they chose consistently hit the spot for fans.
But above all, The Faint’s major strength was the chemistry between the band members, and the energy and atmosphere they roused inside Webster Hall. It’s a wonder that the quintet is not only still together after all this time, but that they’re always finding ways to improve their music to make it more upbeat and more dynamic. Their latest delivery, Fasciinatiion, was written, recorded and produced entirely by the band’s members—who very obviously have a rich and deep bond. There was a mutual understanding between all of the players onstage, and an unspoken synchronicity which I haven’t seen in a while.
I think it would be a bit too far-fetched to expect another dozen or so years out of these guys—and to be honest, I’m not sure I would want to see that—but they’ve definitely still got a lot of grunt to give, and plenty more years up their sleeves. The Faint hasn’t weakened with age—they’re as strong as ever.
