Fell in love with a band: Engineering at AthFest 2010

I don’t know who they were, never heard them before, but there was talk. While I lamented about no real reunion show happening at this year’s AthFest, more than one person told me: Yes there is. It’s a band called Engineering, and they are amazing.

And short-lived, apparently. I tried to find out what I could about them, and aside from learning they played some shows in 2006, couldn’t find much else. The AthFest guide said they play “new wave and post-punk-inspired dance pop, taking cues from Joy Division, The Police and Gang of Four.”

Wow, really? You had me at Gang of Four. OK, I have to see this band.

At 12:22 a.m. Saturday at the Go Bar I discovered true delight, as the trio known as Engineering took the stage, all wearing black shirts and keen grins, and blitzed through a 30-minute set of perfect dance-pop-punk-rock music. The three managed to sound good in the Go Bar, which is notorious for its bad acoustics, and the mostly crowded room was set to dancing and cheering loudly.

The guitarist and lead singer, who yes I don’t know his name, scratched out gritty guitar riffs across the funky bass line and pumping beat from behind the kit. At one point the singer mentioned about playing a “new song” which had me thinking – maybe they’re back, and maybe this won’t be a one-off. Because as annoyed as I am for not knowing anything about them – aside from the fact that they’re REALLY GOOD – I’m heartened at the possibility I might be able to learn more about them in the near future.

If you missed this AthFest show, you missed one of the best.