The Nightgowns

BEST PROMOTION STRATEGY: THE NIGHTGOWNS
The up-and-coming Tacoma, WA, indie- and electro-pop quartet, who played the rooftop at Cheers late-night, have a unique way of promoting the sale of their latest album, Sing Something: "After the show we're giving away free hand jobs," joked singer-guitarist Trevor Dickson. "Oh, and we have CDs too." Sexual favors aside, their catchy, upbeat sound speaks for itself, especially one unidentified track with fuzzy, overdriven bass, 8-bit synthesizer sounds, and a bright lead guitar jangle. - Spin Magazine

I'm playing catch-up with Tacoma band the Nightgowns' "Sing Something" album, which came out last year and layers buzzing synths over catchy songs that sometimes sound like the Cure, sometimes their own brand of sweet/sad groove-focused pop. "Windwalker" is one of the Cure-ish ones, a smooth nighttime fog that finds repetitive guitars and synthesizers working toward the same wistful goal, with sentimental lyrics about bakeries turning into factories and barns into K-Marts. One of the "Sing Something" tracks that doesn't use a drum machine, the beat on "Windwalker" is easy, a soft pummel in an enveloping song that sounds better the louder it goes. - Seattle Times

(Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside) The lo-fi synth sound—those buzzes and chirps we all remember from 8-bit videogames—is seemingly ubiquitous these days even outside the bitsynth scene, but Tacoma band the Nightgowns offer a unique take on the sound, using those chintzy but surprisingly charismatic timbres to leaven their potent, deliberate pop songs. Some of their songs are a little too archly dramatic, but their best are mellowed in those vintage tones, which have aged like a fine wine resting on its side in a deep cellar. In the Nightgowns' capable hands, the harshest of sine waves is matured into a honeyed, richly complex backdrop for dimly glowing, romantic jams. They open for Blue Horns, who currently are Portland's jumpiest rock band, with watertight melodies that are damn near unsinkable. NL - Portland Mercury

Not until pulling the KEXP card was I allowed to re-enter the Skychurch, which had apparently filled to capacity shortly before The Nightgowns hit the stage. The Nightgowns (formerly The Elephants) started things off with “Narwhal Aerobics,” the first track off of their latest release Sing Something. The introductory tribal blips, unforgettably mottled chorus and title that takes its name from the tusked whale makes this song an instant winner in my book. Following their first song was my personal favorite track off the new album, “Working For a Living,” which pairs musings on the menial nature of work life with a nauseatingly catchy synth line. Keyboardist Cody Jones works indelible pop magic while gingerly pecking at his keys on this one. In fact, when combined with the stoic and steady drumming of BJ Robertson, I think that The Nightgowns showcase the best use of synth I’ve heard in a very long time. Though seldom sparse, the keys are always magically placed smack where you want to hear them the most. This undeniable truth is no doubt one of the irresistible draws of this band.

“This is a real rock show, but there’s not a lot of bootie shaking,” a playful Trevor Dickson (a strong proponent of bootie shaking, clearly) announced midway through the group’s set. The frontman, looking very much like Tacoma’s answer to Angus Young, serenaded a lucky birthday boy before jumping into the rest of the set.

A lot of The Nightgown’s songs sound like gems from a time in music history long past. Sing Something is the first release from these boys under the new name, though I was thrilled to hear an array of songs from The Elephants’ back catalogue sprinkled in their set, including the bouncy “Oh Tina.” This band poses some truly epic moments, most notably on the song “Cosmic Clancy,” a track that hearkens back to New Order sensibilities and tops things with off cryptic vocals. Though occasionally undecipherable, Dickson’s lyrics are insightful and poetic — a truly charming aspect of this band’s aesthetic.

It’s a wonder to me that The Nightgowns haven’t blown up as much as they have. I highly recommend the new album and you can catch them at The Tractor Tavern on August 7 with Seattle pop darlings Boat. - 90.3 KEXP Seattle

Tacoma, Wash. doesn't have the reputation for music that its neighbors Seattle and, further south, Portland have. But Tacoma is getting a little more attention this year for a group called The Nightgowns. The four-piece band released it's full-length debut earlier this summer and have since been touring and getting some airplay, including a featured spot on NPR member station KEXP. The Nightgowns' new CD, Sing Something, is a nice mix of mostly uplifting, if occasionally moody, electro-pop gems. The band's music is heavily influenced by '80s pop sounds, but lack the heavy handed production. Analog drum machines and synths anchor the songs, but the melodies are more intricate and the mix more finessed. There are a number of standout tracks on Sing Something, but "Buoy" is the one I keep going back to: - NPR (National Public Radio)