When: April 29
Where: Silent Barn
Another very tardy live review (and now several days more tardy thanks to Blogger's disappearing act last week). There was a showcase of sorts for Shellshag's Starcleaner Records at Silent Barn a couple of weeks ago. Shellshag canceled their own set at the last minute, but the rest of the bands were plenty to carry the show.
Landlords had played energetic punk that was just a bit country-influenced. Honestly, I don't have that much to say about it (I know!). It was very enjoyable.
Future Virgins were even better. They started their set at full tilt and hit that perfect balance of hardcore and pop (perfect balance is not the same as an equal balance - they are way more hardcore than pop). They were tight, they were aggressive and they were fun. This is one of the best punk bands I've seen in a long time. They're fairly traditional, but they've got their own voice
Of course, the highlight of the night was Songs for Moms, a trio of ladies from California. They've got this feminist cow punk thing going on that, while maybe not musically revolutionary, sounds very fresh. There is a country twang in all of their songs, but the cues they take from country are the genre's greatest strengths, often overlooked by rockists who like "everything except country." Country music has a long history of powerful women with powerful voices and it's an appropriate reference point for the tough wail of SFM's two frontwomen.
The band is more punk than country, though. Their songs are loud, aggressive and often shouted. There's a lot of anger in their music (several songs are about the band's personal experiences with rape and sexual assault) but also a lot of compassion and depth. Their lyrics on their album We Used To Believe In the West are some of the best I've heard in recent years - courageous, personal, insightful, simple yet oblique enough to leave them open to interpretation.
The band is tight. Although their music is purposefully simple - SFM don't need any trickery - their arrangements are deceptively difficult. The band has an exceptional ear for songwriting and arrangement, with instruments dropping in and out, answering back to the vocals, breaking into split seconds of silence, cutting or doubling tempos and cutting through some breakneck licks without ever making a big deal of it. Their melodies are also consistently excellent, very catchy but still interesting.
My only disappointment with the show is just that the band didn't play many songs off We Used to Believe. I love that album and there's not a song on there I wouldn't like to hear live. But the band hit a few of them and their other songs, both older and newer, were of equal caliber.
Songs For Moms aren't cutting edge in sonic experimentation or anything like that - that's not what they're about. They're about seeing how they can carve a space for a new voice using traditional country and punk frameworks. And while they aren't off exploring music's frontiers, they don't sound quite like anyone else I've ever heard. They are a group of rare talent and rare heart. [myspace]
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Showing posts with label Landlords. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Landlords. Show all posts
Monday, May 16, 2011
Friday, March 26, 2010
Upcoming Shows: Drunkdriver, A Place to Bury Strangers + more
Friday, March 26
Vandelles @ Cameo Gallery * Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The Vandelles are a sexy band who play music with great old-school pop/rock songs and enough feedback to make your ears bleed. [myspace]
Nada Surf @ Bell House * Gowanus, Brooklyn * SOLD OUT
Nada Surf were a bit of a "novelty band" (so saith "Wilbur") back in the 90’s. Now they are trying to grow publicity by playing a series of their albums at live shows. It’s not a bad thing. They are a quirky indie rock band and their albums are good and who wouldn’t want to hear that? Well, enough people to sell out all three nights. Snooze you lose.
Saturday, March 27
Hardcore show: Drunkdriver + more @ Market Hotel * Bushwick, Brooklyn
Drunkdriver is a great hardcore band with a tense frontman who paces the stage yelling into his mic while a friggin kick-ass guitarist and drummer show everyone what’s what. I haven’t seen the other bands but it’s an explicit hardcore show and I suspect it will be awesome. [myspace]
Nada Surf @ Music Hall of Williamsburg * Williamsburg, Brooklyn * SOLD OUT
See above.
Sunday, March 28
Landlords, Sightings @ Death by Audio * Williamsburg, Brooklyn
I once saw Landlords and I don’t remember it, but only because I was extremely exhausted. I know they are good, noisy, unconventional and heavy. Sightings is waaaaaaaay out there massive NOISE with crushing bass and intense if inaudible vocals. This show is awesome, you should really go. [landlords myspace] [sightings myspace]
Tuesday, March 30
The Big Pink, A Place to Bury Stranger @ Webster Hall * East Village, Manhattan * $20
The Big Pink is a post punk band that’s pretty good but the real highlight is A Place to Bury Strangers, the loudest band on earth. Tense beats and h-bomb sized guitars. [bp myspace] [aptbs myspace]
The long view...
April
1
Bonnie "Prince" Billy @ Monster Island Basement
Soft Pack, Nodzzz @ Mercury Lounge
2
Bonnie "Prince" Billy @ Monster Island Basement (x2)
Bronx,
Captured Tracks Showcase: Blank Dogs, Wetdog + more @ Glasslands
3
Soft Pack, Nodzzz, Male Bonding @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Wetdog @ Death by Audio
4
Drunkdriver @ Monster Island Basement
Smith Westerns, Male Bonding, So Cow @ Mercury
5
White Suns, PRSMS @ Bruar (FREE!)
6
Bronx,
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza
8
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Webster Hall (SOLD OUT)
High Places @ Market Hotel
9
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ Webster Hall
Pissed Jeans, Himalaya @ Knitting Factory
Pygmy Shrews @ Death by Audio
Xiu-Xiu, Tune-Yards @ Bowery Ballroom
14
A.R.E. Weapons @ Death by Audio
15
Liars @ Bowery Ballroom
18
Liars @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
19
Snoop Dogg @ Brooklyn Bowl
20
Snoop Dogg @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Sweet Apple (feat. J. Mascis) @ Mercury Lounge
Thermals @ Brooklyn Bowl
21
Apples in Stereo @ Bowery Ballroom
Killing Joke @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Thermals @ Brooklyn Bowl
22
Gang Gang Dance @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Los Campesinos! @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza
Quasi, Let’s Wrestle @ Bowery Ballroom
24
Don Giovanni presents: Measure (SA), “Special Guest” (smart money is on Screaming Females, I think – but it’s no sure thing) @ Mercury Lounge
25
Don Giovanni presents: Shellshag, Noun (Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females), Black Wine, Pregnant @ Mercury Lounge
30
Styrenes (mems Mirrors, Electric Eels) @ Death by Audio
May
2
Echo & the Bunnymen @ Fillmore at Irving Plaza
3
Chapterhouse @ Bell House
7
Broken Social Scene @ Webster Hall
Caribou @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
8
Broken Social Scene @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Caribou @ Bowery Ballroom
Primitives, Frankie & the Outs @ Bell House
11
Sleigh Bells @ Market Hotel
15
Parts & Labor, Talk Normal @ Knitting Factory
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
16
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra @ Bowery Ballroom
19
Spectrum, Vacant Lots @ Knitting Factory
July
24
M.I.A. @ Governor’s Island
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