The dark basement of the Catacombs is the ideal place to see the American Analog Set, sitting on a couch, drinking a mocha. The only thing missing was a fireplace and a warm blanket. Their music is so slow and calming, I can't even conceive of them playing at a bar or nightclub; they'd probably bore everyone in the room to death. You can't go to an AmAnSet show expecting to rock out, dance, or even bob your head to the beat. However, seeing AmAnSet is perfect for the purpose of either getting lost in your thoughts or trying to rid your mind of thought altogether. After an insanely hellish week and concerns over my post-college future looming, I chose the former, letting their sound be the background for my reflections. This is music for people who need to think or for people who don't want to think ever again.

AmAnSet doesn't provide too much in the way of lyrics; when singer/guitarist Andrew Kenny does sing, I find his sweet, soothing voice acts more like another instrument rather than as a means of telling a story. I could care less what he's trying to say, really, because it's just so calming and beautiful. The music is generally fairly minimal, often featuring only Kenny and the simple strums of his guitar; however, when you least expect it, the band brings you out of sedation as the drums, bass, and bells swell and build into a much more powerful sound. The bells especially added a really nice element to their songs. They played mostly off of their newest album, Promise of Love, but we were also treated to older beauties like "Choir Vandals" and "Punk as Fuck" (the most misleading song title ever). This is a band that will warm you on a cold night and relax you after a particularly frustrating day. As I sat there watching them play, I looked around the room at the faces of the audience, wondering what was going through their heads at that moment.

Honestly, I probably could have had the same experience sitting in my room, listening to their albums with the lights down and a candle lit. But there's something about having the band right there, lulling you into tranquility, knowing that everyone around you is lost in their own little worlds as well.