Back in Argentina. This time I explore the northwest regions of Salta, Juyjuy, and then to Mendoza where I did an expedition up the Aconcagua mountain. Another incredible trip. Check out my photos here.
Matt & Kim
Luckily I have already seen Professor Murder several months back, so I wasn’t that bummed that I missed the majority of their set. Although many people came to see them, the space filled up again to catch the bouncy synth pop of Matt & Kim. This duo was all smiles when they played and they put out one of the most enjoyable videos for their song “Yea Yea”. The crowd was young and energetic and the band set up their gear right to edge of the stage (probably to mimic their cramped Brooklyn loft shows). Kim was possessed pounding away on her drums while Matt played his pulsating keys. The crowd went nuts, dancing, crowd surfing, stage diving, speaker diving. Everyone was having FUN and especially the band, which just added to the overall vibe of the show. One of the funnier moments was when Matt pressed one of the default rhythm keys on his new keyboard which made Kim spontaneously get up and dance to the cheesy loop. The show was only 8 dollars which the band ensured would happen as they stated they wouldn’t charge any amount that they wouldn’t pay for themselves.
So the music isn’t all that original or even ground-breaking, but the band’s DIY attitude towards music and handle of pulsating bubbly synth music is either brilliant or absurd. But that’s not the point. Their music is fun, and their live shows are even better and it’s hard not to be infected by their joy and arresting music. We all left very sweaty and with huge smiles.
The Big Sleep | The Thermals
This show sold out pretty quickly. The big sound of The Big Sleep would finally get a bigger stage. They came out pretty strong playing some of my favorite songs but very few new ones. Although I’m eager to hear some new material, it’s always great to experience this band live. I felt the sound wasn’t perfect at Bowery, and as usual the vocals suffered the most. Regardless, they added more fans to their base. Congratulations on the birth of the twins.
The crowd was anxious for The Thermals, and I couldn’t blame them. Their new album was really good and they have developed their sound into a slightly new direction. And the songs “Pillar of Salt” and “Here’s Your Future” was a recurring anthem for me the previous year. The band was pure energy, playing one song right after another. They never took a break, and either did the crowd. The fans were moving, dancing, singing to every song and really elevated the show. Although I felt the set of songs became a bit monotonous, they would sprinkle in some of their more guitar catchy ones to maintain the momentum. The lead singer and bassist constantly moved around the stage and kathy’s hair was always bopping back and forth to the songs. It was a genuine fun night and the Thermals made sure of that.
Links:
Pictures from the show.
http://thebigsleep.net/
http://www.thethermals.com/
Pillar of salt video
Ayano Kataoka & Joshua Quillen | Explosions In The Sky
I got 2nd row tickets for the third part in the Wordless Music Series. It took place in a church-like concert hall at the Society for ethical Culture. Ayano Kataoka, a native from Japan, started the night with a riveting solo percussion performance. She was then joined with Joshua R. Quillen to play two songs on two enormous marimbas. I was especially moved by their performance or Steve Reich’s “Nagoya Marimbas”
I finally get to see Explosions in the Sky again and this time showcasing some new material form their new album that got released that day. This 4 piece instrumental band has seen a huge rise in popularity despite not being on the radio, avoiding all Live Nation/Clear Channel venues, and not signing to a major. Their triumphant emotional songs shook the building. They started the set with “All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone”, the title track off their new album. Although expected to only play 4 songs, they gave us a few more which made the night even more special. The space quickly became consumed with their soundscapes and didn’t let up until they finished an hour later. As usual they played through each song without any breaks and left the stage exhausted. I was on the edge of my seat the entire show and the venue and sound system was perfect for the perfromance. I was so impressed by this band and completely captivated by their live performance once again. Definitely the show to beat for 2007.
Pictures from the show.
Links:
pics and mp3 from 2005 show.
Frida Hyvönen | Jens Lekman @ Mercury Lounge
At first I was pissed that the late show at Mercury Lounge got pushed back even further, but I was very excited to find out that Frida Hyvonen was going to open up. She is also from Sweden and played these very emotional and intense songs. At times soulful, and then sometimes downright hilarious. She would eat 1 grape before each song that I thought was quite sexy.
I passed up seeing Jens Lekman play at Bowery and opted to see him play solo in a more intimate space. He is one of those performers that can captivate an entire crowd with only his voice and guitar. Jens is an incredible performer, has confident stage presence, and his live performance is even better than his recordings. His set included a surprisingly large amount of crowd participation for a NY crowd including whistling, verbal drum beats, clapping, and sing-alongs. He asked one fan to hold the lyrics to a song that he would sing in Japanese as we passed photos from the 70’s that he had found under a rock. Another interesting song was when he invited Frida to do a Finnish song with him. She translated each of the phrases for us and sounded like an instructional language guide converted into a humorous song. The ambience in the room was so engaging and filled with such warm vibes. In the middle of his song “Julie” a surprise 2 person horn section appeared from the back, one standing on the bench with a sax and the other with what I think was a trombone! He closed the set with a song played on a thumb piano that was quite wonderful. I can’t believe how incredible his voice is and left the show so happy and wanting more. This was one of the most unique live experiences I’ve had in NY and one of the best shows I’ve seen at the Mercury Lounge.
The Diggs | The Muggs @ Magnetic Fields
Really glad to see the Diggs on their home ground in Brooklyn. The band rocked out the intimate space at Magnetic Fields (which has a nice whiskey/bourbon selection). The band somehow always gets their guitar songs to build with such a steady momentum until it explodes. For some reason many bands can’t replicate this sound live as they do on their studio album (like Mazarin). They played a great set and did a new song I didn’t know starting with the lyric “I just got out of the shower, My apartment is on fire” which for some reason brings up some interesting visual connotations.
Next up were The Mugs, another Brooklyn band that I’ve been meaning to see for quite some time now. The four piece do guitar rock with good melodies blending different sounds and genres of music. Although there’s nothing that ground breaking here, the lead singer does have a great voice and when he’s on the keys, that’s where the band shines.
Links:
thediggs.com/
themugs.com/