Music, Music and more Music
Predictable and cheesy? Maybe, but I’m a sucker for horns and classic American pop songs. I counted I think 10 musicians onstage including 1 that was signing some of their songs. They played all the classic swing, and pop tunes in a high-energy style at a great sounding venue.
Not a bad choice for the 1st show of the year and at the new Bell House. For the past couple years I’ve been enjoying their unique thematic folk albums including their new one “The Stand Ins.” They had a new member onstage and took me awhile to figure out that it was Lauren Gurgiolo of the DialTones. She provided some serious eye candy to the very crowded male stage. Although a solo heckler provided a needed distraction in the quiet and slow start of their set, I still found the bands’s sound… boring. I guess it took me a few songs to enter the musical wavelength of the band as the 2nd half proved much better and and energetic. The crowd got more into the music including this crazed fan that never stopped dancing and pumping his fists into the air. Awesomeness. Despite the decent set, that was the highlight of the show.
http://www.okkervilriver.com/
What a great musical year 2008 was. Lots of great albums and shows, and I finally put out the DecaComp. If I have to sum up the year it would have to be the practically perfect audio and video piece by MGMT. Now in High Definition. Enjoy.
This was a perfect show to say good-bye to the institutional Tribeca venu. It’s been a very long time since I last saw this turntable quartet but they did not disappoint. Having DJ Precision in the mix still makes them a dominant force in the hip hop DJ world. However, anytime I can see Roc Raida live is a treat. Made me really miss the Wetlands, where they used to play all the time.
I took one last stroll through the tri-level venue and although I’ve had a bad breakup with the club, I had many amazing expereinces there. I landed a dream job there after graduating doing design direction and producing new media events. We were the first club to broadcast live concert streams and worked on countless video shoots and concert promotions. Although the organization was a mess, somehow we always pulled off the impossible. Over time the Knit became less the go-to place for jazz and experimental music so many of us went to Tonic (which has also recently shut its doors). So another music institution succumbs to the “future of New York”, and I’m left wondering what’s left. Leaving the flier ridden hallways I felt proud to have worked in that building and helped unite so many great bands to eager audiences. Good luck in Brooklyn!
Pictures from the show.
After seeing Kirsten earlier in the day I decide to continue the noise rock of the day by closing things off at the late show at Bowery. Unfortunately I just missed Marnie Stern who I wanted to check out. Taking under 10 minutes to set up, the Vivian Girls shyly took the stage to play their lo-fi surf punk noise. I’ve developed a huge crush on Cassie and her spaced out demeanor. She even retorted that she wanted to marry me after I yelled at her during their set. Enjoyable set.
Crystal Antlers is a band you need to see live to fully appreciate them. The sonic spectrum these guys from long beach is impressive. Blending psych, lo-fi, prog and punk into a an energetic set of future music. There was complete chaos on stage but somehow they pulled off an entertaining show with promise of good things to come from them.
Brooklyn’s A Place to Bury Strangers combine classic rock with dark metal to create heavy atmospheres of sound. Although mostly guitar driven their experimental approach to distorted sound adds a heavier and evil slant but never going to far into hell. The best show I’ve seen these guys play thusfar and wanted to just curl up in their reverb finale. A perfect end to CMJ, now it’s time to sleep.
Pictures from the show
http://viviangirlsnyc.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/crystalantlers
http://www.aplacetoburystrangers.com/
Until I got floated a new mp3, I didn’t know anything about this trio from Copenhagen. That song led me to some more live recordings online and I got immediately hooked. The band is very raw and delivers some of the most exciting stuff I’ve heard in awhile. They conjure up the sounds off Sonic Youth with some death metal married with unpredictable sonic structures. I stumbled out of my sleepy hangover to catch them for free during the day and was totally impressed. With just 3 onstage they completely filled the space with such incredible sound. The highlight of CMJ for me.
Pictures from the show.
video from an earlier Cake Shop show.
http://www.myspace.com/kirstenketsjer