New Wave Gospel

Maybe you missed its Cinco de Mayo show at SpiderPussy, but if you like dangerously catchy, keyboard-driven tunes, Elkland is your band. The synth-poppers formerly known as the Goat Explosion bring their brand of hook-laden electro back to South Florida after finishing a stint opening for Erasure. Formed in the backwaters of upstate New York and weaned on evangelical gospel, the band shunned its roots and instead consumed a heavy diet of Depeche Mode, the Smiths, Joy Division, and other 1980s English new wave. They eventually grabbed the notice of NYC A&R men, signed to Capitol, and released their first full-length, Golden,earlier this year. Sporting the requisite semi-asymmetrical hairdos and faux-hawks, these pretty boys put on a performance that belies their obvious youth, prancing, dancing, and rocking across the stage in fits of melody.

Second-most unexciting promo shot ever.

Related Content

• Nitzer Ebb Will Prove Goth's Still Cool at Grand Central
  November 11, 2010
• French Group Nouvelle Vague Makes Punk and New Wave Go Bossa
  February 11, 2010
• The Perfect Holiday
  December 23, 2010
• Your Own Personal Jesus
  May 13, 2010
• Less You Know: Bad Brains Guitarist Dr. Know Is a Man of Few, Powerful Words
  September 15, 2011

More About

• Joy Division
• Depeche Mode

Elkland plays at 11 p.m. Friday, October 14, at the Pawn Shop, 1222 NE Second Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $15. Call 305-373-3511. Elkland also appears at 8 p.m. Saturday, October 15, at Respectable Street, 518 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Tickets cost $8. call 561-832-9999.