WU LYF on Tues, Cults on Wed? The lineup as of late can hardly get better @ the Echo. I’m sure many folks pulled double duty, but after the grandeur of WU LYF I was looking forward to Cults’ laidback / throwback girl-pop.

After an epic jockeying for a prime parking spot, I entered the venue as opener Guards finished up one of the first couple songs of their set. This five-piece from NYC via San Diego (just like Cults) has got some nice ideas behind them. The clear distinction of quality is unmistakable as they fly into their next song. Guards strike a chord both relevant and classic – they wouldn’t sound out of place on the Freaks and Geeks or Adventureland soundtrack (as opposed to Sixteen Candles). The lead singer says “thank you very much” after each song, acknowledging the symbiotic musician-audience relationship.

Guards have two or three pretty good songs and one great song titled “Resolution of One”. “On a better day, I hope to give it all away” is crooned with this rare sense of nostalgia lacking bitterness. The quick introduction into the second verse and chorus is quite memorable and worth the price of admission. A couple of their tunes sounded too schizophrenic, going from ballad to freakout and back to ballad in 2:40, but “Resolution of One” shows that Guards can channel some very powerful energy when they follow a singular idea from start to finish.

Cults took the stage a little after 11pm. Singer Madeline Follin introduces the band with a bubbly, “Hi! We’re Cults!” then commands the stage with effortlessness. She and guitarist Brian Oblivion started the band while students at NYC – amazing that a project supposedly recorded for friends could be so ‘radio’ ready! The sexy duo tours as a full band and sound A LOT harder live. Comparisons to The Ronettes and The Crystals fall in favor of a Let It Be Spector wall-of-sound.

“Abducted” sounded amazing and captured the hardness of the original recording. “You Know What I Mean” retained its early Motown Magic. The crowd was obviously digging the harder sound, but I think some of their saccharine sweetness becomes lost amidst the lush instrumentation. As a Motown / OBG purist, I’m always relieved when I hear the revival of classic pop music in the year 2011, which the slick production values on the self-titled Cults captures so perfectly. I can appreciate any live experimentation with arrangements and sounds, but with Cults there was little tone-for-tone sameness.

The mark of great musicianship is versatility. The best artists are chameleons and blend into the colors of the chosen genre. By the time Cults played the viral “Go Outside” late in the set, it seemed to me that they’ve already evolved beyond their debut sound. I wouldn’t be surprised if they put out a completely different record next year, but I want Cults to maintain their youthful nonchalance forever. – Chris Gedos

RATING: 8.35