NOTHING SPECIAL:

Believe it or not, I actually get a substantial number of requests every day from PR people asking for coverage of a band’s live performance or for a review of an album.

In fact, I get more of these requests than I have the time to answer.

Now, I’m not saying this to brag. Obviously I don’t get these requests based on my journalistic prowess because, well, I don’t have any journalistic prowess. PR people have no clue who I am 90 percent of the time, anyway – I could be a monkey behind a typewriter for all they know (although I doubt they are that insightful).

The bottom line is that when you’re an up-and-coming band, nearly any publicity is good publicity, even if it’s publicity from a school newspaper that’s being run by a redheaded tyrant (i.e. Matthew Peterson, editor-in-chief).

Needless to say, a majority of these bands are asking for press because they are desperate (see: horrible). Oh yeah, you’re in a cover band that does Nickelback songs in the style of Green Day? No thanks.

I mean, I’m flattered and all when former members of 98 Degrees contact me in hopes of being interviewed (true story), but come on, I’m not a 15-year-old girl living in 1999 (although I often get mistaken for one).

So it’s no wonder that when I first got an e-mail from Lauren Gibson, guitarist and vocalist of Atlanta-based, electro-indie rockers Today the Moon, Tomorrow the Sun (TTM,TTS), I almost misguidedly overlooked the group as just another attention-needy band.

Luckily though, the repressed 12-year-old Star Wars fan in me has a soft spot for galactic conquest, so the group’s name immediately caught my attention.

And then I discovered that TTM,TTS were anything but desperate for press as they are on the cover of the current issue of the Southeastern version of Performer Magazine, a national magazine that aims to serve independent bands. (The 13-year-old street punk kid in me has a soft spot for legit DIY bands like TTM,TTS [There are apparently a lot of young kids in me (I’m sounding like a pedophile)]).

The problem, though, was that admitting TTM,TTS were light years beyond my expectations would also be admitting that I problematically have an overly cynical approach to music these days. And it’s not that I have a hard time admitting when I’m wrong (untrue story), it’s just that I’m not wrong often (double untrue story).

So, I decided to go see TTM,TTS live at the Alabama Music Box last Thursday night, but I resolved that I would not enjoy the music, I would not smile and above all else, I would not have a good time.

From the get go, it seems TTM,TTS were out to make me look like a fool: They did everything in their power to make the show enjoyable.

First off, their set was fantastic, which angered me to no end.

Apparently, drummer Jeremy Cole knew that one of my pet peeves is a drummer who can’t keep good time, so, obviously just to spite me, he laid down steady grooves all night. Add in bassist Micah Silverman, whose rhythm practically lived in the pocket, and next thing you know, I’m furiously fighting the urge to move or at least tap my foot. It was unbearable.

I even slipped up for a second and thought about asking Micah to join the ranks of my notorious fangirls.

Then guitarist Cregg Gibson, knowing my weakness for masterful guitar effects, decided to make my night a living hell by using his extensive pallet of tones to create an endless sea of sound layers for my ears to rest upon. That jerk!

As if this wasn’t already enough to make me want to hit someone, Lauren Gibson just HAD to open her mouth and start singing, instantly melting the cold heart of a bitter cynic. I even almost smiled for a second.

But I remembered my mission. OK, I told myself, her voice sounds great, but I bet she sucks at guitar! Then, using her apparent psychic abilities to read my mind, she started playing all sorts of tasteful melodic guitar lines.

The entire set was flawless. TTM,TTS had their act together (this explains why they are able to tour full-time), and they wasted no time between songs.

Their stage show reeked of stage presence, energy, and professionalism, even despite there being a relatively small crowd in attendance. And none of this stage energy came off as forced or rehearsed; instead, the band seemed like they actually enjoy their music and are just thankful to have the chance to play. This was pretty infuriating.

So, after their set was over, I decided to approach Lauren in hopes of discovering that the members of the band were actually conceited and arrogant. Unfortunately, not only was Lauren super nice to me, but what did she try to talk to me about? How awesome the other bands (The Worsties, Brenn) they’re on tour with are.

And it turns out that every member of the band acted this nice and showered the other bands with praise. Sickening.

Quite frankly, I was pissed. Obviously, TTM,TTS researched all of the things I like in a band and perfected them all just to make me mad.

So thanks TTM,TTS. Thanks for proving me wrong on a national … well, regional … I mean, local … OK, thanks for proving me wrong on a campus-wide level. Actually, I think my parents are the only ones who read this column.

I say, just to get TTM,TTS back, everyone go online and buy all their music. Then, we’ll get them to come back to town, and we’ll get everyone we know to come to the show. And we’ll all have the best time.

That’ll show them.