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Marta Topferova | Powaqattsi (Philip Glass) @ Prospect Park

A Hopi word meaning “parasitic way of life” or “life in transition, Powaqqatsi is also 1/3 of the ‘Qatsi’ movie trilogy. The soundtrack was performed live in perfect Brooklyn summer weather. This movie contains more human voices than the others in the series and they were surprisingly represented in the orchestra pit. Children from a local school began the hypnotic intro to the movie and the entire score was perfectly timed to the visual. A cleric from a local mosque sang the final call to prayer to end the incredible night.

Pictures from the show.

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No Age @ South Street Seaport

Finally, I get to check out L.A.’s No Age live and join the significant buzz around this band. I am really digging what they are doing with energy + music. With only 2 members they create some of the most interesting mix of soft, loud, noisy, artful punk. These guys were awesome live and I was probably the oldest in the overly excited crowd. These guys don’t sound perfect but I think that’s part of the point. The potential within their innovative sonic noise is very exciting.

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The Feelies | Sonic Youth @ Battery Park


Despite the incredibly long lines to get into this free show, I did catch some of The Feelies play their guitar no-wavish rock. Reuniting after 15 years, I was impressed how tight they were on stage and felt their songs held up in today’s musical world.

The sold-out crowd enthusiastically welcomed New York’s Sonic Youth to Battery Park. Kim Gordon started the evening with “She is not Alone” and then into “Bull in the Heather”. The band played a great selection from their past catalogs and even forgot the lyrics to one of her songs. Ending with “100%” for their second encore made this 4th of July memorable. After 25 years, this band continues to impress me with the direction they take their music. Afterwards we didn’t see fireworks from a rainy roof on the Upper East Side.

Pictures from the show.

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Nicole Atkins @ Socrates Sculpture Park

So they parked this giant mobile home/hot dog stand at Socrates Park in Queens. Some bands including Salt and Samovar and Nicole Atkins played inside it for a summer show. It sounded crappy but the day was so perfect you can’t really complain about a free show with a beautiful sunset as the backdrop.

Pictures from the show.

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Interference | Swell Season @ Radio City Music Hall

Never playing before in the US, Interference opened things up tonight with Fergus O’Farrell soulful voice and passionate songs. I was impressed.
Glen and Marketa of Swell Season continue their fairy tale adventure by selling out Radio City Music Hall. They mentioned their humble beginnings playing small shows at Pianos and continue to be in awe of the success they have garnered. Although they practically played the same set of songs from the Beacon show, they did debut a few new tunes and some incredible covers by Van Morrison. Other additions occurred when Marketa invited her sister to sing “Gently Johnny” with her and when Glen invited Inteference onstage to sing “Gold”. The genuine admiration between the 2 could be seen and felt. Unfortunately they didn’t do a Pixies cover, which I have been seeing floating around on the web, but rather “Into the Mystic” by Morrison. Although the crowd and the set was borderline adult contemporary-ish, seeing them at such a great venue was well worth it.

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Tulsa | Palamor | The Oranges Band @ Union Hall

Not sure why the Massachusetts band is named Tulsa or why it was only 1 person, but the solo performance to the 8 people in the crowd was pretty good. The songwriting and range of melodies Carter Tanton spewed out will make me want to see him again.

3 ladies (plus a lonely guy) from Brooklyn making catchy songs sounds like a sure hit right? Nope, in all the times I’ve seen Palomar play I’ve yet to be impressed.

The Oranges Band played their punky rock way too loud on the Union Hall sound system. They were on stage having a good time but what came out of the speakers was distorted and too much of feedback. Luckily their loud riffs kept me awake.

http://www.parkthevan.com/tulsa/
http://www.palomartheband.com/
http://www.theorangesband.com/