Month: August 2006

Boy I sure love these free NY shows! This time Josh Ritter took the South Street Seaport stage as the sun set into East River. It is such a treat to see this extremely talented singer/song writer. His new album The Animal Years is quite a gem and has been gathering praises everywhere. His songs are expertly crafted around his poetic lyrics about life, love, war, and all the places in his life. He played only a few of his hits as he has so many but easily captured even more fans that weren’t familiar with his music. At one point he got the entire crowd to sing along to one of his songs which was quite cool as we were outside at the seaport and open to the public. Josh is always happy to be onstage but he was especially happy tonight, playing outdoors, the weather was perfect, and with a perfect back drop. It’s one of those days that make you just love New York. Thanks.

Pictures from the show.

Links:
http://www.joshritter.com/

Before setting off on their tour, The Long Winters treated NY to a secret and FREE show at the intimate Mercury Lounge. This band is so much fun live and their new album is really good. They played only new songs with the exception of 2 including “Cinnamon”. The new songs is an extension of their Ultimatum EP released late last year. John Roderick continues his story telling lyrics over simple and catchy melodies. The crowd was full of fans and happy to hear the new material, including “Pushover” which is a highly addicting song. Go see them live at Bowery at the end o September.

Pictures from the show.

Links:
http://www.thelongwinters.com/

My ears were still ringing from the Silversun Pickups show on Friday night and yet I was eager to keep it humming when they played again at Union Hall, a new bar across the street from my apartment. The downstairs stage area is very small holding less than 90 people and I was apprehensive from the quality of the sound that was to come.

Considering I never got a chance to see On!Air!Library! before they broke up, I grabbed at the chance to catch 2 of its members now in Daylight For The Birds who started off the night. Their shoe-gazer music is really beautiful on disk and myspace describes the sound as “the last thing you wanna hear before drifting off to sleep. . . .and the first thing upon waking,” which is a very fitting description. I’ve been addicted to the new songs but unfortunately they couldn’t recreate the sound on stage. Playing engaging sleepy music is really difficult live, and felt the band was overall out of tune.

I got a chance to talk to Silversun Pickups before they came on stage and thanked them for a super set at Mercury Lounge. I had a really great chat with the lead singer Brian Aubert about their hometown and, of course, about music. He was really nice and although the band was exhausted from a grueling tour schedule they somehow stayed awake. They took the tiny stage and started with “Creation Lake” which they played as an encore at the Merc. By the time they got through “Melatonin,” the mood was established for the night. The band just exploded and the sound system held up surprisingly well, even as I was in the front row. The band and music has this shy demeanor with catchy melodies but then crash out of it with intense noisy power. Although their album comes close to catching their energy, seeing them live makes you realize the dynamic nature of their sound.

At one point Brian commented on how the band only really existed because of the welcome they got from the NY crowd at CMJ. I’m glad they came back and now armed with an incredible album and more experience. The band really shines when the the bassist Nikki compliments the male-female vocals in several of their songs. She is just so adorable onstage and her bass melodies somehow ground the band as the surge of guitar squalls out. They played an older song “comeback kid” for the encore to make it an incredible show and left my ears ringing for more.

Make your ears happy as well. Buy the album and see them live. I haven’t stopped playing it in days.

Pictures from the show.

Links:
Daylight for the birds
www.silversunpickups.com/

My ears are still ringing after this show and I hope it never stops.
Last night was AMAZING. A great bill of 4 awesome bands. I missed Cheyenne but they’ll come around again. Caught the last bit of Page France which is ok ‘cuz I plan to see them tonight. But what I heard was very promising. A little Elephant 6, a little trumpet, a little Nord Lead, a little of this and that and you got some interesting things happening.

A trepidatious Magneta Lane took the stage next and the first thing you notice is that each member of this trio is very beautiful. The bassist looked like a model with her stiff posture as she banged away at the heavy basslines of their set. Despite being only 19 years old, they totally rocked. The band must have just had a fight as they gave these evil glances at one another and played a truncated set. Regardless, these girls pack quite a punch behind their sultry exteriors.

Silversun Pickups were up next and the crowd really filled up the club. I was VERY excited to finally see this band live. The lead singer seemed a bit giddy and nervous due to the Mtv camera that was constantly filming him and the show. But more on that later. In short, the band went beyond all expectations. They played their slow songs with as much intensity as their heavy ones. The critics keep comparing them to the Smashing Pumpkins but the only similarity really is the fuzzy guitars on their songs from Gish. I feel they are more like my old time favs Lush but with a heavier edge to them. They have a unique sound and extremely catchy songs. They create layered, powerful sounds driven by swirling, distorted guitars which remind you of the indie rock that came out in the early 90’s. The crowd kept the band playing more and more songs till they practically played every song they have. The band then had an after party at Piano’s where they played 5 more songs and one with Magneta Lane.
Their debut, Carnavas, just came out and I bought it at the show and I am listening to it continously now on repeat. It is so freiking good. soooo goooood. my ears are still ringing. let them keep ringing till monday where I’ll see them again at Union Pool.

FUCK Mtv. FUCK Mtv for being there. FUCK Mercury Lounge for letting them film there and not giving anybody any advance notice. FUCK Mtv. NO you can NOT film me and use my image as you please. SCREW YOU. Mtv is no longer the source for music. Shows like 120 minutes and Headbanger’s Ball are distant memories. The day I stopped turning to Mtv, my music vocabulary grew infintely. The power is in the hands of the people. The bloggers have taken over your damn monopoly. The mass public can have the crap music you force people to listen to.

Pictures from the show.

Links:

http://www.pagefrance.net/

เว็บพนันยูฟ่าเบท เว็บพนันที่ดีที่สุด ให้อัตราการจ่ายเงินง่าย และที่สุดของไทย

http://www.silversunpickups.com/