By Jodi Root

Bishop Allen makes simple, yet adorable pop music. Their male/female harmonic story tale lyrical style, set sing-songily atop a bed of mixed percussion, light guitars and twinkled xylophone action is just too cute for words. And so are they. Bishop Allen brought their spring like charm to a full house last night at Chicago’s Subterranean. The hour long set was packed full of songs from their 3-week old release, Grrr . . . as well as some older favorites from 07’s Bishop Allen & the Broken String including the ridiculously catchy “Rain” and “Click Click Click Click.” I regret not checking these guys at SXSW, their delectable sugary sweet pop beats would have been the perfect soundtrack with the summer like heat—but they brought their own form of sunshine into the snug club walls last night regardless. I didn’t even realize that Grrr. . . had hit record store shelves until I caught word of this particular show. I checked it immediately and was instantly pleased—highlights from the record and last night’s show included “The Ancient Commonsense of Things,” “Dimmer,” “Shanghaied,” “True or False” and “Dirt on Your New Shoes.” The crowd ate it up big time—smiles were definitely a plenty. Def check this act out next time it hits your local club, you won’t regret it.

Buy: Bishop Allen – Grrr…
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Myspace: Bishop Allen
MP3: Bishop Allen – “Rain”
MP3: Bishop Allen – “Dimmer”