Antifolk is this all encompassing term, but does it tell us anything? The fact that the 'scene' has produced artists ranging from the gentleness of Kimya Dawson to the insane world of Thomas Truax suggests not. The common thread of these New York based artists, is that they want to do things their way.
Live, Lach comes across like the musical version of Woody Allen. He has similar mannerisms and the same quirky way of looking at the world. That quirkiness carries over into melodies that would very easily fit into the They Might Be Giants sets. But unlike TMBG, he doesn't sing about nonsense. Among his storytelling songs, another common trait between the antifolk lot, there are songs commenting on the world, in the way that underground artists always do best.
In Parade his comments show how the world has really changed from the protest movements of the 70s.
Lach was rejected from the folk clubs when he arrived in New York 20 years ago. Aren't we glad that he was, otherwise we wouldn't have ever got anything as rock and roll as this.