On The Download: The White Tie Affair

The crowd was jumping and singing along (and so was I) as The White Tie Affair hit the stage at Hollywood’s club Avalon last weekend.

These guys from Chicago have been touring the country ever since their debut album was released in 2008. They spent part of the year opening for Lady Gaga and she certainly has taught them a few things about performance.

Sometimes dramatic, always entertaining and certainly fun, lead singer Chris Wallace belted out the tunes from the band’s “Walk This Way” debut CD that are familiar to TWTA fans, beginning with “Mr. Right.” On this evening, Wallace was unusually preppy, wearing a sweater and jacket – and we liked it!

From “Way Down” to “Take It Home” to “Letdown,” TWTA never lost the crowd’s attention. A special treat was in store when Wallace began singing his acoustic cover of Gaga’s “Paparazzi.” But alas, his guitar string broke so he didn’t finish, but a medley ensued which included a cover of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” (made famous to a new generation by the cast of Fox’s “Glee”!) and the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Got A Feelin’.” The crowd loved it.

Throughout the show, Wallace and guitarist Sean P. bantered about nothing particularly memorable. Except that what they said in the moment was funny and you could tell they were having fun. And so was I.

At one point Wallace jumped into the crowd and sang to a group surrounding him before he broke free to greet other fans who wanted a piece of him. It was equal opportunity stage jumping.

TWTA is a little bit Fall Out Boy, and a little bit Panic At The Disco, but at the same time, has all their own sound.

Excitement was in the air when Wallace shared that TWTA is working on a new album and he teased the audience with one new song, “She Knows,” which is just as catchy as all their other songs.

Alas, the night soon drew to a close but not before Wallace lost his jacket and sweater (stripping down to a t-shirt) and Sean P. stripped to a tank top as they sang their most popular song, “Candle (Sick and Tired),” as featured on MTV, radio stations and at gyms everywhere. Glow sticks and Kanye West-inspired sunglasses abounded in the crowd and on stage, as the grand finale was just that — grand.

An hour later, my friend who came with me, and who had never heard of TWTA said, “That was a great concert.”

“It sure was,” I replied.