Honorary Title earn ‘next big thing’ buzz

I try to keep myself open to all kinds of music. Rock, sure. Hip-hop, uh-huh. Hey, maybe even some bluegrass or jazz once in a while. Still, I’ve got my prejudices. Nothing against the fans or the artists, but I just can’t get my ear around anything “jam rock,” “contemporary country” or “emo,” that offshoot of punk rock marked by heavy-handed lyrics of loss, longing and general emotional catharsis. It’s in no short supply these days, thanks largely to the likes of Chris Carrabba and his band, Dashboard Confessional, who helped open the door for a steady succession of similar groups. And while I am kind of spooked by the cult-leader vibe Carrabba emits, I can agree with him on one point: The Honorary Title have “next big thing” potential.

Handpicked not that long ago by the emo poster boy as an opening act for Dashboard, the Brooklyn, N.Y.-based group – essentially singer-songwriter Jarrod Gorbel and his multi-instrumentalist pal Aaron Kamstra – does exhibit enough heart-on-the-sleeve-ness on its debut disc, “Anything Else But the Truth,” to earn a nomination to the genre. But the urgency of Gorbel’s vocals and his wry, intelligent lyrics on tracks such as “Frame by Frame” and “Bridge and Tunnel” set the band apart from the maudlin, shoe-gazing crowd. And an abundance of smartly crafted pop melodies throughout only raises the bar further.

Constant touring since the release of the album in June, steady rotation of the music video for “Bridge and Tunnel,” and featured slots on the soundtracks for the shows on the WB network have all helped stimulate a well-deserved buzz about the group.

You can see what all the fuss is about yourself on Sunday, Dec. 19, when The Honorary Title comes to Ushuaia in Orono, playing on a bill that also includes kindred musical spirits From Autumn to Ashes, Emery and Emanuel. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show starts at 6.

Tickets for Sunday’s show are $15 in advance and are available at all Bull Moose Music locations. For ticket information, call Ushuaia at 866-7700. For more about The Honorary Title, visit www.thehonorarytitle.com. George Bragdon can be reached at gbragdon@bangor

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