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What better way to spend hours on Valentine's day than in a cramped basement decorated with twinkle lights, anxiously awaiting a buzz band ready to debut their new lead singer? Well this low-ceilinged cavern just happened to be below a vegan bakery slash record store, and the buzz band in question happened to be DC based rockers the Apes, so we were in luck. The invisible wall between band and audience dissolved upon the opening riffs of 'Beat of the Double' as vocalist Ape Breck hurled himself into the crowd. Not to be outdone keyboardist Ape Amanda did backbends while pounding her Korgs, and bassist Erick and drummer Jeff followed suit by joyously attacking their instruments. For a band so spastic onstage the Apes have successfully harnessed a raw energy in accordance to their namesakes, but as demonstrated on the new LP 'Ghost Games' their primal urges are polished and delivered in brilliant wallops. After soaking in their single 'Doctor Watcher' we surfaced onto Ludlow street into the winter air, but only after nabbing a cupcake. Happy Valentine's day indeed.