Neon Trees were the latest band to hit the 965 TIC Acoustic Cafe, bringing a shot of pure rock energy to an otherwise lazy Sunday afternoon at The Russian Lady in downtown Hartford. The band played an exclusive acoustic set for their biggest CT fans, featuring some brand new songs from their recently released sophomore album Picture Show.

Bedecked in their typically bright, punky outfits, the band took the stage and jumped right into their first song, an unplugged rendition of their new single “Everybody Talks.” The upbeat tune is upbeat and very catchy, a logical evolution of the band’s music from their previous album “Habits.”

Wasting virtually no time with talking, Neon Trees rolled right into “Mad Love,” another new track from Picture Show. The duet between frontman Tyler Glenn and Elaine Bradley is the perfect beach song, every bit as bright and poppy as Glenn’s bright pink and blue hair. This poppy, Summertime vibe is a theme of Picture Show, as Glenn described the new record as “a soundtrack to your Summer.”

The band finished up with a slowed down acoustic rendition of their smash hit “Animal,” which really brought out a new side of the infectuously catchy tune– “We’re normally very abrasive and a wild rock and roll band,” Glenn quipped, basking in the opportunity to take it easy and slow things down a bit for an acoustic show. “But we’re not abrasive people,” added Bradley, confirming they’re all quite nice people.

Neon Trees certainly did seem like nice people… but more importantly– as the Acoustic Cafe proved– they absolutely know how to rock.

–Bill Sencio, 965 TIC