Terminal 5
New York City
June 4, 2009

So Doves are kind of a big deal in the UK. Their latest release, Kingdom of Rust, reached #2 on the album charts and their last two records went to #1 in their homeland. Aside from a little critical praise and an appearance on the first O.C. soundtrack (what?), Doves never caught on in the U.S., not as daring as Radiohead or bombastic as Oasis, and therefore, an afterthought.

But the Manchester trio played NYC’s multi-leveled Terminal 5 last night, and not only did they play it, they sold it out, at $37 per ticket, no less. The fact it was their first local show in four years surely helped, but the resounding success of their layered, atmospheric indie rock remains: Doves are a force to be reckoned with. Five minute=plus epics like “Caught By the River” and “There Goes The Fear” dazzled the dapper crowd on hand, with the latter even enticing dancing, or at worst, bits of rhythmic swaying. Despite the band’s intricate pedigree, more aggressive rockers like “Outsiders” and “Words” were unexpectedly tenacious, thanks in large part to Jez Williams’ guitarwork.

Through it all, frontman Jimi Goodwin remained surprisingly unassuming, dutifully finger-picking his right-handed bass, which he plays left-handed, flipped upside-down. The only tangible bits of emotion he threw to the packed crowd were a few “How’s it going’s” and “New York, New York’s,” draped in his thick, low-pitched Manchester accent.

“Caught By The River,” the closer of 2002′s resplendent Last Broadcast ended phase one; then came an encore of classic Doves proportions: “Here It Comes,” “Last Broadcast,” and finally, the aforementioned “There Goes The Fear,” complete with it’s climactic, multi-percussionist finale.

To any band that dares list Radiohead as in influence: I hope you’re taking notes.

-Chris Payne