Spirit Family Reunion Played Bowery Ballroom

On Saturday night Spirit Family Reunion played Bowery Ballroom. I know most of the band so I was super excited for them. If any band deserves to play the big stage it's Spirit Family. Not only did they play but they managed to sell the place out, which is incredible!

The first act up that night was Blind Boy Paxton, who is a 24 year old kid from Watts, Los Angeles. Somehow in that urban jungle he discovered blues, Americana, ragtime and bluegrass and he dedicated his life to it. The man is fantastic! He plays several instruments - banjo, guitar, fiddle and more - and plays them all very well. Seeing him play is like getting into a time machine and transporting yourself to the Mississippi Delta in the 1920's. Not only is he an awesome musician but he has a great stage presence, getting laughs throughout the set.

The next act was out of place on the bill. Something just didn't click so I headed downstairs and sucked down some brews to kill the time.

As I headed back up I ran into to Stephen from SFR. He came over, said hello and we caught up a bit. I asked him what it felt like to sell out Bowery Ballroom and he very sincerely answered, "I'm freaked out, man".

A few minutes later they took the stage to a packed house and started up. The set was made up of quite a few tunes that I haven't heard them play before. They sound absolutely amazing and the enthusiasm they showed was contagious. They absolutely owned that stage and I can honestly say it was one of the best shows I've ever seen at Bowery Ballroom.

They closed with "When My Name Is Spoken" which is one of my favorites and also a favorite of the crowd. Everyone was singing along and dancing around. Then went off stage for a few minutes and came back for an encore. They asked the sound man to kill all the mics except the main one and then the whole band gathered around for a stunning rendition of "I'll Find A Way". The whole band took turns on vocal duty and then Nick stepped forward in front of the stage and shouted a sing-along with the crowd. Every single person there joined in. It was so loud that you could barely hear the band.

Before the song started Stephen came over to the mic and told the crowd how he was at a show at Bowery Ballroom a few weeks earlier and texted his manager saying, "I don't think we can do this, man" - well, they did it and they did it better than anyone I've seen do it there before.

Freelance Whales & Lawrence Arabia Played Bowery Ballroom 4/13

On Tuesday we headed over to the Bowery Ballroom after a round of drinks at Home Sweet Home. The Freelance Whales were headlining a sold out show with New Zealanders, Lawrence Arabia, warming up the crowd for them.

Let me start by saying that I hate the name Lawrence Arabia, it's just awful. Fortunately, I can't say the same thing about their music. The first song started off very slow and frankly I wasn't impressed. However they picked things up during the second song and I got a better feel for what they were all about. Most of their songs started out very slow and then about a minute in they'd start rocking. They kinda sounded like Band Of Horses covering the Pixies. Overall, I think they're a pretty good band but it would be nice if they mixed up the formula a little more.

Next up was my favorite band from Queens, Freelance Whales. It's hard to believe that the first time I saw them they were playing in front of 20 people upstairs at Pianos. In less then 6 months they're now headlining a sold out show at Bowery Ballroom, that's just amazing!

This was the 4th time seeing them for me but the first show on a big stage. I was really curious about how they would pull it off since they usually just huddle around in a circle and play unamplified. Obviously that wouldn't work in a room the size of Bowery Ballroom. When they came out they were set up like any other band - drums on a riser, guitar to the left, bass to the right and the singer in the center.

The sound was pretty fantastic but I have to say I enjoy the smaller setup more. As great as the songs are they lose a little bit of their charm when played on the big stage. That said, Freelance Whales are just an amazing band and it's only a matter of time before they're headlining the big stage at Central Park.

My only real complaint is they opened with some of their best songs first and played new stuff at the end. I would have much preferred an encore with a song I could actually sing along to. But all-in-all that's a minor complaint for an otherwise beautiful show.

Tonight: Greg Ginn (Black Flag) @ Cake Shop; Freelance Whales @ Bowery Ballroom

If not for my recent obsession with Queens band Freelance Whales I would most definitely be at Cake Shop catching Greg Ginn and the Taylor Texas Corrugators. You see, Greg Ginn started a little band back in the late 70's called BLACK FLAG! Yeah, he's one of those dudes that more or less shaped all modern rock music and without question influenced anything remotely related to punk and hardcore. His current band is almost a jam band of sorts so don't bother strapping on your hippie stomping boots because this sure as shit ain't no Black Flag show.

Greg Ginn & TTC

@ Cake Shop

$8

http://cake-shop.com/calendar/

Freelance Whales 

@ Bowery Ballroom

8:30PM

SOLD OUT! 

Little Boots w/ Yes Giantess and The Plastiscines

Little Boots w/ Yes Giantess and The Plastiscines

@ The Bowery Ballroom

9/16/09

Headed over to the Bowery the other night mainly to check out Yes Giantess as I was familiar with Little Boots already and truthfully had no idea that The Plastiscines would even be playing. Here's how it went down:

I had a quick chat outside with Yes Giantess' lead vocalist and songwriter Jan Feldman before heading in. Pretty cool dude. Seemed very optimistic about getting New York's classically stoic crowd to dance. I was pretty sure he would manage it because I'd heard some of their tunes before coming out and generally liked what I'd heard.

But I wasn't dancing, I just wanted to sit. I ended up in the balcony near the VIP section. Never been up there before. Every time I come to the Bowery it's usually always front and center. But I had a great view from up there, at any rate, and was blessedly off my feet.

The Plastiscines

French girls all made up to look retro in their gold sequins, black tights and Ronnie Spector hair. They threw their bodies around stage carelessly. A bit of punk rock and soul twisted together is what I took away from it. They played well, seemingly just as vested in getting the crowd to move as Jan was.

It wasn't quite the full house it was going to be later on when Little Boots came on, but there were already a number of people there. Most of us were doing the head nod/foot tap bit, which didn't seem enough for Katty Plastiscines (lead vocalist/guitar) Because she threatened to hold up the show if we didn't give her what she wanted: full on ass shaking. She wanted us to scream for them. Well, after a few dozen tries to initiate a more than just warm enthusiasm out of us during a spirited cover of Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking", she finally gave up and ended the set. Mumbling about how French people "do better than this." Ok, well...

We liked the girls, seriously. They were pretty good. Very high-energy; great performers. They're songs are decent - "Barcelona" "Shake" "Bitch" "Lost In Translation" - and we weren't NOT entertained. But this is New York. Unless we're wildly drunk and you are bigger than life, all you're getting is some modest crowd participation. Sorry.

Yes Giantess

Besides that, punk music is more of a thrashing kind of thing. Too much for this crowd. A lot of them were a little sophisticated (read: older) I noticed. What we needed, really, was heavy fucking beats and a synthesizer overload.

Enter the boys of Yes Giantess. Not seconds out of the gate, they unleashed a maelstrom of synthpop on the fattening crowd. Yeah, we were very happy. It was just kind of blinding. First, if you're a fan of dance music, you have to understand the thrill of hearing a good beat blasting out of a sound system over your head.

Though, initially, I wasn't too keen on Jan's vocal style, I have to admit. You could tell they designed their songs around that whole college party crowd. Kids who listened to emo in their spare time when they think no one's looking. That hi octave whine was starting to creep in there. But what was produced around it was so enjoyable, my initial irritation with it ebbed away, and dude had me moving in my seat like crazy.

Three synth keys, two computers and a drum kit rocked the house off it's foundation with heavy hitters "Tuff n' Stuff" "Can't Help It" "The Word". By the end of the set, everybody was pumped for Little Boots.

Little Boots

She came from Irving Plaza playing Perez Hilton's show with Ladyhawke, Semi Precious Weapons, Frank Music and others. Dressed in blue sparkles. She was phenomenal. She got the crowd hype all over again after about a twenty minute wait while she got from point A to point B.

She dropped fan favorites "Remedy" "New In Town" "Stuck On Repeat" "Meddle" and "Love Kills" among a few others. It was a non-stop pounding adrenaline rush. Complete with flashing lights. How many times can you say the same thing? The crowd swelled to capacity, everybody danced and sang along.

I liked looking down on the sea of people rippling in her wake. I'd never seen her live. Listening to her tracks I'd felt she was just a slight notch up the Kylie Minogue ladder. Watching her on stage, I found her to be a bit less plastic. She was a warm and vivacious performer. Of course, this was not an arena, and there were no costumes or dancers. Boots has enough of an edge that she could fit easily in with a Ladyhawke and a La Roux, as opposed to say, a Britney Spears. She doesn't need an auto tuner, in other words.

She did get me out of my seat.

Alright, no pictures ( I have a good d excuse this time!) Plus ones were cut and my photog was a casualty to the massacre. But, I did spot Nicky Digital there and said hey to him. He was hold up in the balcony with me a good portion of Yes Giantess and Little Boots set. And since I watched his camera bag for him, I think I've earned the right to tell you to head over there and peruse his pics. Oh, wait, that works out for him too...

Chairlift @ Bowery Ballroom 9/5

Kenya went to see Chairlift on Saturday, here goes...
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Chairlift w/ John Maus and Here We Go Magic
@ Bowery Ballroom

Maus:
Missed John Maus by a hair, but from outside it sounded like the world was coming to an end and Maus was issuing a proclamation from heaven with a little machine and a microphone. Very experimental, loud booming, omnipresent vocals distorted appropriately by some (I don't know the name of) machine breathing over space-aged sounds. I had no idea what he was doing in there, I couldn't see for the brick wall smack in front of me, but it sounded epic and pleasing.

I was left to imagine elaborate costumes, make up, hair, lights, puppets. I don't know what, something theatrical to fit the taste that the avant garde, extreme, noise pop was putting in my mouth.

When I finally got inside, however, and caught the last dying seconds of his act, I was disappointed to find one average, ordinary looking dude standing there, center stage, not channeling Bowie. Sweaty, hair-covered face pressed to the microphone, fist clenched in the midst of some emotion I missed out on. The last sound died out and he disappeared.

Here We Go Magic:
"We've been living in a cabin all summer." he declared just before showing us what that actually meant. 'Stream-of-consciousness', psychedelic, indie-folk - all apt descriptors for such a trippy jaunt through Luke Temple's simultaneously calming and enthralling world.

Their set seemed short to me, but quite the tick up the level of enjoyment by great leaps and bounds. I watched from the back, intrigued. Unfamiliar with their songs and unable to snag a set list, I couldn't tell you specifically what they played. "Tunnelvision" "Ahab" and "Only Pieces" must have ended up in there somewhere.

They played what seemed like a handful of endless, ascending tracks that built you up and then came crashing down on you. Intimately involved with each piece to the puzzle, it was like watching a hobbyist in practice with extreme concentration, manipulating the pieces and creating a perfect picture. So subtle, so loose, then so intense and all encompassing in one singular stretch of time. Everyone involved played as much for themselves as they did for us, becoming lost in what they were doing.

It was a very good set and quite the primer for Chairlift.

Chairlift:
Who turned out to be one of the most amazing bands I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing on stage. Caroline Polachek (vocals, keyboards), Aaron Pfenning (guitar, synths, vocals) and Patrick Wimberly (keyboards, drums).

Most times now days going to see someone you've never seen before, there's usually always something commercial to attach them to. "Bruises" is that thing for them. But it is by no means the highlight of what they gave us.

Caroline all but cut herself open and offered up her blood for our consumption. She was raw and vulnerable and absolutely present for each offering. Backwards white washed jeans, sweaty tank top depicting the clouds, she danced around bumping into keyboards, smacking a cow bell with a drumstick, crawling on her knees and singing, singing. Her voice never wavered or lost pitch, always perfect, reverb and all.

Aaron spent a great deal of time on his knees as well, making adjustments to his effects machine. Patrick was busy hopping from drums to bass, and back again. A drum machine filled in for him when he was out of his seat. There was another dude up there, all but invisible, positioned strategically directly behind Caroline at an angle.

They tore through their set, everybody's hair in their faces. Performing:

Garbage
Dixie Gypsy
Flying Saucer
Evident Utensil
Territory
Planet Earth
Bruises

They also played an encore of two songs. "Somewhere Around" and "Make Your Mind Up". The latter song kind of blew mine away. It was brutal and tinged with emotion. It created a perfect, haunting echo left standing in its wake after they cleared the stage for the final time and left us in the dark.

Catch them on tour with Phoenix and The Killers if you can.

Wavves, Woods, Real Estate, & Popo Played Bowery Ballroom 7/15

Battle of the Bands: Vocal Distortion Edition would be a great way to describe this show and honestly it's the only thing these four bands had in common.

I got there pretty early and for good reason, Popo was playing. These dudes have played a few shows out in deep Brooklyn and they're good. Wednesday night was no different. They play high energy punk and had the Ballroom packed, which is not easy to do when you're the first of four bands.

My only negative thing is that they have a song that has the exact same riff as "Nervous Breakdown" by Black Flag. When they started playing that I actually started singing along and then realized they weren't. So yeah, let's scrap the Black Flag knock off song, otherwise good shit - as always.

Next up was Real Estate, whom I've seen once before in a similar situation. Here's the thing about Real Estate - they're super fucking mellow. Like drink a jug of red wine, eat ten pot brownies, and take a toke off an opium pipe mellow. So why is it these dudes always play AFTER fast punk bands? Honestly I think I like them but I'm always so worked up from the opener and then they come on and bore the shit out of me. Again, it's weird because I dig their music it's just that it's a tough transition to go from pogoing to sitting on the floor vibing.

Woods was next up on the bill. I didn't know much about them before-hand, aside from seeing their names on Todd P bills at far off DIY venues. I had no expectations and that's probably good because they were pretty weird. The music was interesting and they had this circus gimp dude writhing on the floor screaming into a pair of rigged headphones. On the floor in front of him were a bunch of pedals he was using to manipulate the fuck out of his vocals. It was kinda cool really. But again, Popo set the mood for me and these kids were also kinda mellow so I couldn't get into it.

From what I've heard of Wavves I wasn't sure what to expect. I mean I thought they were kinda punk but then the fact they have Woods and Real Estate opening for them made me think I may have been misled. Well, they quickly affirmed their punkness when they opened with "Nervous Breakdown" by Black Flag. Sound familiar? After the first few chords I was like, "Oh shit, these dicks ripped off Black Flag too?", and then the vocals came in and it was actually the real "Nervous Breakdown". It was a killer cover (and likely a jab at Popo) and it was a great way to wake everyone the fuck up. A pit instantly formed and did not die down for the rest of the set.

That's pretty much all it took for me. I was sold after that. The originals that they followed with were all in the same spirit. People were jumping around going crazy. It was super fucking fun. My single complaint with Wavves is the vocal distortion is too much. I dig vocal distortion but when no one can understand what you're saying between songs it's too much. Otherwise Wavves play this very So-Cal sounding brand of garage punk. Lots of Agent Orange and Black Flag can be heard and then a little modern indie is thrown in to keep the youngsters interested. I'm just super bummed that I didn't go see them at Market Hotel.

Wednesday night could have been two awesome shows but instead it was one mediocre event. Popo and Wavves whould have played a show together and the same goes for Real Estate and Woods, both would have been cool shows. But sandwiching Real Estate and Woods between two upbeat punk bands is just dumb. It totally ruined it for me. I still left happy after seeing Wavves but it was just a weird night overall.

Wavves

Woods


Popo

Tonight: Wavves @ Bowery; Motel Motel & Evil Dead 2 @ McCarren

Wavves, Woods, Real Estate, & Popo are playing Bowery Ballroom tonight. That's a pretty solid lineup if you ask me. I've seen both Popo and Real Estate before. Popo are just fucking awesome and Real Estate is good but a little too mellow at times. I'm sorta on the fence about Woods and Wavves so seeing them live will be interesting.

Elsewhere! Motel Motel plays at Summerscreen at McCarren Park across from Turkey's Nest. They actually let people in with Big Buds last time, which is super awesome. Also, the movie is Evil Dead II, so it's going to be really fun.

The Low Anthem Played Bowery Ballroom

BSC contributor Kenya stopped by Bowery Ballroom the other day to check out The Low Anthem on Monday.
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After garnering much praise on their handmade independent release, The Low Anthem released their Nonesuch debut, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, with new track listing and remastering by Bob Ludwig. The Rhode Island trio met at Brown and play a multitude of unusual instruments. Among the 27 on the record (recorded on Block Island) are zither, pump organ, Tibetan singing bowl, and an oil drum. They've been on tour with Ray Lamontagne, Elvis Perkins, and Josh Ritter, performed at Bonnaroo and will be at the Austin City Limits festival, among others this summer.

They started the set out by playing "Cage the Songbird". Well, they started out by offering members of the audience some left over steamed dumplings after admitting a fear of seeing empty space in front of them when they took the stage. But they came on to raucous applause and the pleasant surprise of seeing the place nearly packed. The ballroom was full of people who were obviously very comfortable with standing still, as this particular brand of gospel tinged folk encouraged swaying in place.

Low Anthem just got back from Bonnaroo. They hardly seemed fussed. Instead, they were relaxed and unhurried. In fine form, they breezed through their set of old familiar tunes, collaborations and covers at shows end with ease. It was a fantastic way to kick off the re-release of their album. Its very possible that while singing, the soul crawling out of Ben Miller's vocal chords forced my eyeballs to pop out of my head. If they've heard it, they've heard it a few times. They must be tired of the comparison. Bob. Fucking. Dylan. I feel like Bob Dylan has an academy somewhere and these are his graduates.

On stage, they were surrounded by the many tools they used to invoke Darwin and bring it to life. Each band member playing musical chairs throughout the set. They rarely made use of the drums but didn't need to. Ben Miller and Jeff Prystowsky, both classical composers, shaped and molded each tune in such a way that allowed for immense diversity in the way they recorded and performed them. Which makes for an album that is distinctive and never boring.

The show made me feel like I was at home in Arkansas drinking lemonade in the back yard and listening to the crickets and watching the fireflies dance around. The Bowery was so quiet at times during the set (save for the band's harmonies), if you closed your eyes you'd literally be somewhere else. One could see why this band was the perfect fit for Tennessee-based Bonnaroo festival. Imagine being in a tent and letting "To Ohio" wash over you.

Timid, down-to-earth, talented and gracious, the members of Low Anthem deserve their critical acclaim. They showed the audience - mostly veteran fans who'd been with the band since the first imaginings of some of Darwin's tracks - their appreciation.

Superdrag Played Bowery Ballroom 4/9

Gabe and Irv headed over to the Superdrag show at Bowery Ballroom on Thursday. Here's a recap Gabe wrote with some photo's from Irv.
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We were supposed to meet at Bowery Ballroom at 8pm. Irvin (BSC picture-taker aka Mr. Photog) and Ethan were waiting for me out front. I was about 20 minutes late.

Ethan- “Nine, Ten, Eleven. Remember those numbers,”

“What’s that? Why?”

“That’s all he said when I asked him when the show starts.”

He looked over his shoulder to a 250 lb bearded Suge Knight look-alike checking IDs at the door.

“…Asshole.”

I couldn’t tell if he was talking to me or Suge.

“So the first band doesn’t go on for another forty minutes? Sorry guys.”

Yes, I am absent-minded. I think most of my friends realize this by now.

“Well, look on the bright side: gives us plenty of time to get drunk. What bars are around here?”

Irvin- “Crash Mansion or R Bar. There’s not much else around.”

I’m not a big fan of either of those bars, and I expressed as much. But Mr. Photog makes friends everywhere he goes. Not only is he incredibly affable and energetic. He LOVES taking pictures of people, and it shows, which is inherently flattering to anybody getting their picture taken by him.

Pia was bartending at R Bar. Friendly, funny, and beautiful, (Pia, if I had a phone, I might have the balls to ask for your number) she poured us beers as a terrible band’s guitarist squealed away from the back room.

Pia- “So you guys are actually sort of working right now?”

Sobering reminder of the task at hand. She had been regaling us with tales of blackout drunkenness. All the stories were second-hand, since she didn’t remember any of it herself. Try saying “21-34 30th Ave at 31st St” next time you get into a cab after 12 cosmos. He dropped her off in Times Square.

I looked at my watch. It was after 10 o’clock. We had to get back.

Bowery Ballroom. Downstairs we saw my two old roommates, Valeria and Stella. They are both big fans of Superdrag. In fact, they went to both NYC shows on both nights. And I think I remember Stella saying something like, “They are my favorite band ever. But you have to understand, I was like 15 when they came out.” An unprovoked apology for liking the band.

I’ve heard a lot of that stuff about Superdrag. Somebody else I know, who’s musical tastes are usually on the same rails as mine, has autographed and framed setlists from two of their shows. My awareness of them is as a band from the mid-90s glut of post-grunge MTV bands. And I don’t like to do that to bands. I don’t like to pigeonhole them into one-hit wonderdom just because I’ve been unaware of their output over the years. They have a respectable following, even after these 15 years, and after an alcoholism-induced breakup and subsequent Christian output by their main songwriter. But they’re back now. New record. New tour. And I was at Bowery Ballroom to listen and hopefully discover what I’d been missing. And they brought their friends from Knoxville to open up for them.

We got there just at the end of The Tenderhooks set, and Irvin disappeared into the scattered bodies near the front of the stage. If not for the lightning flashes from his camera, there would’ve been no evidence of his presence. Inter-gender country vocal harmonies, while the guitarist finger-picked his way through a humble progression. I’m such a sucker for that stuff. “Raise high the roof beams, dancing” was their final refrain for the night. I thought it set a nice theme. Suddenly Irv reappeared at my side against the bar.

“They sound good. Look at these pictures I got.”

He scrolled through a few of the shots he’d snapped on his camera’s view screen.

Next band was The High Score. Shiny new Les Pauls crunched out some good ole Tennessee bar fare. They reminded me of the Black Crows, without the recklessness. Nothing really to think about. I was getting it. Music’s fun. You don’t have to analyze it and write an 800 word blog about it. A nice thought. I wish I could subscribe in earnest. “It’s a mighty good wine” they sang.

Something a little peculiar happened when Superdrag walked onto the stage. First of all, they were setting up all their own equipment, plugging into amps and pedals, setting levels. There wasn’t a curtain or anything to hide them. They were exposed, and everyone in the room was silently staring at them. Judging from the eavesdropping I was doing, most people there were long time fans excited to see one of their favorite bands reunited. You would think there would be some positive heckling. “I love you John Davis!” Something like that. It was silent. They were looking at them as if looking into an aquarium.

So they start the first song. People sing along. Verse-Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Bridge-Chorus-Out. They do it again. And again. They are good songs. There is NOTHING to think about. So why am I thinking about it? I have another drink. There are cheers. But the band looks a little affected. Especially Davis. Is there some sort of underlying Christian guilt about reforming a band that drove you to addiction, the sin of false idolatry? Is he thinking about it too much? Am I? Yes. Definitely. They are good songs. Just shut up and enjoy them. Ethan finishes off a beer, burps, and says “I feel like I’m eating dry white toast that’s 15 years old. Let’s get outta here.”

I never even got to hear them sing it: “Who sucked out the FEEELAAAAANG?”

Link:
View The Full Photo Set On Flickr

Tonight: City And Colour @ Bowery Ballroom

The lead singer (Dallas Green) of my favorite band (Alexisonfire) is in town with his solo project, City & Colour. At this point you've probably heard C&C, since it's been blowing up like crazy over the past 2 years or so. Every time Dallas comes through town he sells out a much larger venue then the last time he was in town. This time it's TWO sold out nights at Bowery Ballroom - impressive!

If you're a fan of AOF then I have no idea if you'll dig City & Colour. It sounds nothing like Alexis but there is, of course, the perfect voice of Dallas leading the way. Otherwise it's mostly acoustic and mellow, two words never used to describe AOF. That said I've seen C&C live and Dallas is fucking amazing to witness. I'll be there tonight truly enjoying myself, which doesn't happen at shows too much these days.

Here's some video from the last time I saw Dallas:

MP3:
Coming Home - City & Colour

More Songs (Apparently the indie bloggers have finally caught on):
C&C On Elbo.ws

Apes And Androids Are Playing Bowery Ballroom

Brooklyn Ski Club's favorite band has moved on to the big times! On May 30th Apes & Androids will headline The Bowery Ballroom. They just posted the flyer on their MySpace page so I thought I would share - it's awesome. I can't wait to see what kind of crazy shit they do this time!

Link:
Get Tickets

Yeah Yeah Yeahs At Bowery Ballroom

Last night marked concert number 6 in seven days. This was the last of the bunch and what a note to go out on. I arrived at the Bowery Ballroom around 9:45, I was under the impression the first (and only) opener went on at 9PM. So I was a bit surprised to see that no one was there yet and the stage wasn't even set up. I hung out downstairs on one of the couches for what seemed like an hour before the opener came on.

I can't remember who it was and I'm too damn lazy to go look it up but I wasn't impressed at all. So I stayed on my little couch and waited them out. While I was down there I was able to scope out the crowd. James Iha was there trying not to be noticed. I also saw the guy with the fro and the huge beard from TV On The Radio - I don't think he even attempts to go unnoticed at this point. I also saw this guy who was quite interesting looking - he was wearing a weird white turtle neck with a corduroy suit. He also had long hair and a huge Duane Allman 'stache, when he walked by he flipped his hair - it was hilarious. I think he was the secret gay Allman brother - Fabrizio Allman.

Ok, sorry - back to the show. After what seemed like forever, the opening band finished their set and I headed upstairs - beer in hand. I managed to snag a decent spot to the side of the stage, not too far from the front. There was an abundance of johnny-come-latelys who were trying to push there way towards the center. It was really fucking annoying and I barely resisted the urge to choke slam a few of them. Anyway, the YYYs took the stage and the crowd started cheering. (I just realized that was the first time I actually mentioned the YYYs)

Karen was totally out of control - she knows how to put on a good show. The new guy was kinda annoying, he looked like he didn't belong. He was "rocking out" a little too much, like he was trying to be a rock star or something. Nick is a skinny fucking freak but damn he can play guitar. I don't mean that in any sort of virtuoso way - he just plays huge. The drummer, whose name I don't know, is fucking sick. The fills he was playing were very unique - I never really noticed the drums before last night.

The show was great and the band managed to get to most of their hits. I have new respect for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs after this show. They definitely deserve the hype they've been getting building up to their new album. They are playing NYC again in May - I recommend you go.

Sorry, this review is half-assed - I'm tired and burned out from too many concerts. But I still got some decent pics.

METAL!

James Iha amongst the commoners

Mission Of Burma At Bowery

Last night I was lucky enough to end up on the list for Mission Of Burma at The Bowery Ballroom. They were playing with the much hyped new band Battles (Dance MP3). Due to the Williamsburg Bridge being shut down for a few minutes I got there a wee bit late. I missed all but one song by Battles - although I heard a couple more from outside and downstairs. I won't comment on them since I didn't see enough but they have a very cool set, which you can see in the pics below.

After they left the stage I went downstairs and had a beer. About half an hour after Battles left the stage Mission Of Burma finally strolled out. I was a bit surprised by how old they look, they reminded me of high school science teachers - not the nerdy type, the former acid head type. The drummer kinda looks like the guy who plays Freddy Krueger. Anyway, they joked around a little and then jumped into some music.

The crowd started pogoing up and down on the first beat. The band started off a little slow in my opinion but about halfway through the first set they found there groove. They were just tearing through shit and absolutely killing it. It was just an amazing performance by the old school soldiers.

It made me think how punk is associated with youth, yet it's 30+ years old. Seeing old crusty science teachers up onstage playing jittery punk was a bit odd. Nonetheless, they were fucking awesome and could out punk any mohawked & tattoo'd twenty year old. The new stuff they were playing was pretty good, unlike most aging bands they stuck to their guns. I hate bands that think because they've been around for a minute that they need to experiment or mature. Fuck that bullshit - yes I'm looking at you Metallica.

Mission Of Burma played a full first set and then took a 15-minute break. I went upstairs and grabbed another overpriced beer. They came back out right on time and played another full set. Even after that set was over the crowd wanted more - so the band came back out for a two song encore. Goddamn these guys have endurance, they played for almost two hours.

I am so happy that I had a chance to see legends like Mission Of Burma. The show was so much better then I imagined it would be. Mission Of Burma have not slowed down with age. They are still an amazing band and you have to see them when they come around.

"That's When I Reach For My Revolver"

Battles