Mic Check: British Sea Power at the Grog Shop on Wednesday

By Pete Kotz on Tue, Mar 25, 2008 at 5:34 am

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A little pretension tossed into guitar-powered tunes about the Larsen B ice shelf.

Way before Vampire Weekend started singing about Mansard roofs, Oxford commas, and other things that need Googling, England’s British Sea Power was writing songs about some super-lofty subjects. Russian literature, historical figures, and tons of nautical themes run throughout the band’s three albums. Its latest -- Do You Like Rock Music? -- certainly pumps up the volume more than 2005’s laid-back Open Season. Still, it’s not ear-piercing stuff. BSP is more concerned with rocking you gently -- with strings, horns, and complex arrangements guiding the way. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t kick ass. This is tough, ambitious music for folks who like a little pretension tossed in with their guitar-powered tunes about the Larsen B ice shelf. --Michael Gallucci British Sea Power performs at 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 26, at the Grog Shop, 2785 Euclid Heights Boulevard in Cleveland Heights. Tickets are $14, $12 in advance, available by calling 216-321-5588.