The Bravery

There was a time, back in 2005, when it looked as if the Bravery would overtake the Killers as the US's premier purveyors of synthy, 80s-influenced rock.

While the Bravery may continue to sound like a hybrid born out of early Cure and War-era U2, the quintet’s strong concert Sunday night at House of Blues Anaheim was certainly no tribute act.

With two chart-topping singles and a gaggle of good press behind them, the synth-heavy quintet drew in an impressively large crowd of eager scenesters, giddy college couples, and a smattering of middle-aged adults looking to get their groove on.

But, as they open with ‘Fearless', we suddenly remember why we fell for them in the first place.

Rotterdam, Netherlands

Dusseldorf, Germany

For every acolyte lauding their self-titled debut album earlier this year an equal number have dismissed them as louche chancers cynically riding the coat-tails of their superior art-rock rivals the Killers.