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Only caught the second half of The Dutchess and the Duke and unfortunately couldn’t get into their set. The songs weren’t polished and felt they were just a little “off.”

Super lucky to see The New Pornographers at such an intimate setting. Although the shows have become predictable, when Neko joins the stage it’s hard to pass up a night of super catchy songs. They played many of the classic hits and that many new ones from their somewhat boring new album. We got lucky to have Dan Bejar join then and played many of the tunes he worked on. Despite being kinda drunk he came out for the encore and played “Testament To Youth In Verse” and a fitting version of “Slow Descent into Alcoholism.'”

Australian composer, producer, performer, visual artist JG Thirlwell has has a profoundly influential effect in New York City’s underground music world and in my overall taste in music. Listening to his Foetus work exposed me to the underbelly of NYC sound and completely rocked me. Tonight we had the treat to witness a never before heard piece performed by Steroid Maximus, a big band/exotica mini-orchestra. He was also joined onstage with Steven Berstein as well as an expanded brass section. The show was an experimental and contemporary orchestration of sound. An amazing night under the stars.

Junip was formed in Gothenburg, Sweden, in the late ’90s led by José González. With several organs, synchs and drums the songs are more dynamic than his solo stuff. Although they didn’t play many of the old stuff that has darker undertones which I prefer, the new stuff was engaging. At times trace-like, other times jammy, but always groovy. If you are into the combination of ambient krautrock, check them out.

http://www.Junip.net
http://www.myspace.com/junip

School of Seven Bells is shoe gaze music full of tension. It’s psychedelic and dreamy with hypnotic singing on top. They sold out 2 late shows back to back and it’s a perfect soundtrack for a late hot summer day.

old-y but goody black cab session.
http://www.sviib.com/

Stars put on a spectacular show by putting on 2 sets. The first showcased their new album The Five Ghosts in its entirety. It was my first time hearing any of the new material and it had lots of sombre numbers sprinkled with a few danceable tunes. I felt the first set of songs on the album were a bit more dynamic and stronger than the muddy second half. After a brief intermission the band came out again and played a set entirely based on votes from fans. They played all the hits including “A Thread Cut with a Carving Knife,” which only the NY crowd asked for. Considering it was a song about a “hot and sultry” afternoon in June ending messy was quite fitting for the evening. The night was a successful experiment with rose petals thrown into the crowd throughout the entire evening.
http://www.youarestars.com/home/