Live!
Who: Oppenheimer, Surefire Broadcast When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Galaxy Hut, Arlington
Belfast-based duo Oppenheimer will perform Saturday, with opener Surefire Broadcast, at Arlington's Galaxy Hut. The band is known for electro-pop and has played with such groups as Architecture in Helsinki and the Bravery.
(Good Cop Public Relations)
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If you search for the name Oppenheimer on the Internet, chances are you'll find references to the man called the father of the atomic bomb, or links to the investment company before you'll hit material about the Belfast electro-pop duo. The musical act claims no association with international finance or nuclear power, but its upbeat, keyboard-based sound does offer the opportunity for music writers to make statements such as "Oppenheimer's music is the bomb" and it's "on the money."
Musicians Shaun Robinson (vocals, drums, keys, guitars) and Rocky O'Reilly (guitar, keys, percussion, Macintosh computer) make an endearing, joyous noise. The two had played together in another Belfast-based band, but in 2005, intrigued with keyboards, they began looping and recording tracks and playing in local clubs as a duo. The band first reached a wide audience in Britain thanks to the help of deejay David Holmes and airplay on BBC Radio of "Breakfast in NYC," the first single on the band's self-titled debut CD. Before coming to the United States, however, Oppenheimer honed its act playing with groups including Architecture in Helsinki and the Bravery, and recording with guest vocalist Tim Wheeler of Ash, who appears on the track "Orchid."
The pair joined several other Northern Ireland acts at the annual South by Southwest Music and Media Conference in Austin this year and returned to the United States last month for five weeks of shows, including this weekend's Galaxy Hut gig. Oppenheimer's sound could be described as a blend of the French synth-pop duo Air and the gently rocking indie favorites the Postal Service.
Surefire Broadcast, an indie rock/pop quartet from Hammonton, N.J., will open the show. You can hear echoes of Buddy Holly in its Rickenbacker guitars, but the band also evokes more modern heroes such as the Shins and Grandaddy. On Surefire Broadcast's Myspace.com page, you'll find sound clips and videos, including one in which friends in Oppenheimer are visited by police during a live set at a pool party in Hammonton. Rather than shut the show down, one officer decided to join the fun and is shown dancing and clapping to the contagiously happy music.
-- MARIANNE MEYER
Galaxy Hut is at 2711 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. Admission is $5 and is restricted to those 21 and older. For more information visithttp:/
Suggest a LIVE! event by e-mailing details tomariannemeyer@comcast.net. Please write for the correct mailing address before sending any materials.
