Category: Pics

The best 10 bux ever spent on a night of music. California’s Irving display several influences but always have a consistent sensible poppy sound. Their songs are catchy with surf rock hooks that remind me of a cross between the Beach Boys and The Beatles. They’ve updated all that’s great from the 60’s to a unique modern sound all their own. Their warm melodies had more life on stage than on their new album, Death In The Garden, Blood On The Flowers, which is oh so swell.

I finally got to see the blog-friendly band Voxtrot. This band from Austin has garnered so much buzz from just 2 EP’s and there is no sign of them slowing down. 2 sold out shows at Mercury Lounge and SXSW. Their music is really fun and they make you want to sing, smile, and dance along with them. They are quite charming on stage and the ladies really seem to like them. I was in the front row literally surrounded by a dozen dancing girls. I loved their live set and they played a few new songs that were quite good. They even alluded that they’ll be finally be recording a FULL album. Can’t wait to hear more indie gems from this up and coming band.

Pictures from the show.

Links:
www.thebandirving.com
www.voxtrot.net

I missed openers The Favorite Sons as I’ll be catching them when they open up for Art Brut later in the week.
What I caught from the Sam Roberts Band was decent but nothing that different from a typical guitar band. They are from Montreal and friends of The Stills. Sam Roberts even sang one of the songs he wrote for The Stills later in the night. Pretty good melodies but I’d have to check them out again.

So happy to see The Stills at Mercury Lounge. These art school kids from Montreal make great indie rock with a post-punk sound. They have great chemistry on stage and I felt they played a very tight show. During one point they invited up a trio horn section (including members of Antibalas) to play a couple songs. Their finale including a dreamy version of “Still in Love” which is one of the most perfectly crafted songs I know. They gave us a bunch of new tunes from the new record which sounded great. Very excited for the new album and a repeat visit to NY.

A few pictures from the show.

Links:
thestills.net/
www.samrobertsband.com

How many genres of music can the New York band Benzos combine into 1 show? These guys take guitar rock and create ambient soundscapes layered with dance music and experimental electronic beats. They created these expansive soundscapes that went from dreamy swells into intense explosions. Although their formula of starting slow and getting fast got tiring, I really enjoyed them as an opening act.

Nine Black Alps from the UK has started to build some momentum in the states. Their album “Everything Is” boasts a big rock sound and they amplify it more live. They were quite intense on stage and pulled off every song flawlessly. They have a sound that reminds me of Nirvana but with a modern bitter bleakness. Impressive guitarmanship (including the bassist breaking his guitar in front of me after he broke a string). The show was full of fans and is definitely a band to watch out for.

Pictures from the show.

Links:
http://www.benzosmusic.com/
http://www.nineblackalps.com/

How this show didn’t sell out boggles my mind. All the better as it was a smaller yet energetic crowd to see two great bands. Blake Sennett’s The Elected, who also plays in his other band, Rilo Kiley opened up playing his bright alt-country tunes. They are supporting their new album on Sub Pop, which is pretty good. Their finale improv jam was a bit gratuitous and shoulda ended way earlier. With or without the cowboy hat.

I had so much fun seeing the The Magic Numbers, and they seemed to have just as much fun playing live. Everyone should see this band! I was in the front row and smiling the whole time. There is so much chemistry in this band. Although their songs lean toward hippie pop songs there is a level of good ol’ rock in them. There is also a really nice ebb and flow in their songs and Michele is such a kick ass bass player. They played for over an hour and debut 2 new songs that were soooooo good. And they completely rocked out for their final jam. The girls next to me were going crazy the whole time prompting Romeo Stodart to comment on their antics. The Magic Numbers are a wonderful band and a guaranteed good time.

Pictures from the show.

Links:
The Magic Numbers
The Elected

I’ve had this date circled in my calendar several months now. After only catching a glimpse of him at the Living Room last year, I would finally get to see Jose live. In a matter of months this 27 year old Swedish-Argentine folk singer has emerged into the forefront. I was very anxious to see him at a perfect venue for him, so I arrived first on line to get a table in the front row. Jose captivated the crowd with his hushed vocals over gentle melodies. His intricate guitar picking skills are incredible and he quickly set the mood for the night after the first song. Armed with only a Spanish guitar he creates beautiful, simple songs that are intimate and mysterious. A wonderful and unforgettable night.

Pictures and Videos from the show. (thanks for the camera Jen!)
Crank up the volume on the videos.

Links:
Jose Gonzaléz
His space on my space.

I’m sure you are tired of hearing me blabbing about The Big Sleep and Film School, so this concert’s review was provided by my special guest Elizabeth Ferris:

I must preface this review with two qualifications: 1) I haven’t been to a show since last April, and 2) I am not Pablo. But you probably figured that from number 1. So when Pablo said he had an extra ticket to The Big Sleep, a group he’s been raving about, with Film School and The Cloud Room, I figured the show would be just what I needed to end my absurd live-music hiatus.

I got to The Mercury Lounge just in time to catch the end of Carina Round, a UK trio with an impressive leading lady. In my humble opinion, she did a superb job on her slow-song-as-last-song delivery, and looked great doing it – very crucial keys to success.

And then came The Big Sleep. All I really knew about them is that they’d be loud, but more than loud, they literally envelope you in the best way. It helped that we were standing front-row center, because there was nothing to distract from the intensely personal experience of watching this unpretentious threesome dish out a walloping smack of sound. You are missing out if you don’t see them – soon!

Two vodka tonics later, Film School was up. You gotta give these guys credit for playing their first show since all their equipment was recently stolen. And while I was in no means disappointed by their set, but I did spend most of the time trying to figure out why they need five guys on stage.

Another vodka tonic later, I was asking the same question again of The Cloud Room. They were very entertaining as well. I didn’t know any of their songs, of course, but you could gauge the crowd pleasers based on the many bobbing heads – especially to their “Hey, now, now!” song.

Best money spent on a show all year. The first, true, but not the last!

Pictures from the show

Links:
Carina Round
The Big Sleep
Film School
The Cloud Room

please make a donation at the Film School website to help them from their Van theft in Philly. This sort of thing has been happening a lot lately ;(