August 5-11, 2004

musicpicks

The Clarks

ROCK/POP

When guitarist-singer Rob James found out his band, The Clarks, had landed a spot on Late Show With David Letterman for later his month, he did what any self-respecting, so-long-at-it-he-can't-even-count-anymore musician would do: "I almost wept."

After nearly 20 years with the same four guys — gleaning critical kudos but cruising just below the radar of national attention — landing the Letterman gig was "the kind of goal that seemed unattainable" for the Pittsburgh-based pop-rockers, James said.

While hugely popular in their home base — they routinely sell out arena-sized venues in the Iron City — The Clarks remain surprisingly unknown in other markets, despite the kind of hook-laden pop-rock that makes their latest CD, Fast Moving Cars (Razor and Tie), the perfect roll-your-windows-down-and-crank-it-up summer record.

James agrees that, for whatever reason, this CD might actually kick their career into high gear. ("Fortunately, we don't have to live up to a lot of hype; it's more a word-of-mouth thing.") Typically eclectic, the record features tracks written by all four members that cover an array of styles, ranging from alt-country ("Train"), to psychedelic pop ("She Says Don't Miss Me") to muscle-car rock 'n' roll ("Hell on Wheels"). Influenced by everyone from the Beatles to Led Zep, The Clarks have made it a goal, James said, to create music that's "approachable, even in its hardest-rocking moments."

Thu., Aug. 5, 9 p.m., $12-$14, with Fastball, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-922-1011.

—Nicole Pensiero