By DCist contributor Abby Lavin

Darlings of Oklahoma City’s glam rock scene (yes, apparently there is one), The Stock Market Crash have earned comparisons to David Bowie, Franz Ferdinand, and The Strokes. As much as we love those acts, being so ripe for comparison can be a red flag that the band is a rip-off. We showed up at TSMC’s show at DC9 last night looking to find out what sets them apart from, say, The Killers, or any other pseudo-britpop band.

The short answer is: pretty much nothing. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. What they lack in originality, TSMC make up for in talent and energy. If you want catchy, danceable rock songs, but don’t want to shell out $50 to see The Killers, The Stock Market Crash is your best bet. Plus, their band name puts The Killers’ puny three syllables to shame.

After forming less than two years ago, TSMC released their first full-length album, Geology, at the start of 2006. Graced with the production know-how of Trent Bell, longtime sound engineer for The Flaming Lips, Geology is polished, tightly-wound, ear candy. Their live show was just as good, with the added stimulation of watching frontman Matthew Bacon prancing around in a sparkly tanktop and what appeared to be a vinyl suit.

The crowd was less than 20-strong, and was comprised of two groups: friends of local opening act The Opposite Sex, and passersby who had come in for a Heineken. Despite the weak turnout, TSMC put on a show with the sonic boom and theatrics you might expect from a Madison Square Garden performance, complete with a smoke machine and Bacon literally hanging from the rafters.

The Opposite Sex were pretty good too. They sounded like an angrier version of The Cure, but we were distracted by the blob of black face-paint on the side of the lead singer’s head. Was it supposed to be a melting sun? A jellyfish? Eventually, we decided he was going for the “An asteroid from Planet Cool crashed into my face” look. While this definitely earns him points for originality, he didn’t have to try so hard to impress us.

So, yes, The Stock Market Crash sound like a lot of bands we’ve heard before. But their music is so punchy and heartfelt, “derivative” just seems too harsh. Here’s hoping that these guys are able to catch the tail end of the eyeliner-happy dance rock wave, and ride it all the way to fame and glory.