When: July 3
Where: Shea Stadium
How do I get so far behind on these?!
So some shoegaze bands played a show. The Vandelles played first which is weird because they never play first and are far too good to play first. So anyway, I missed their set as did most people. LAME. Anyway, some of their badassery was captured on video, which is cool but may make you (me) regret missing it all the more.
The next band to play was called Heaven. They're a sort of obscure shoegaze supergroup with a member of Ambulance Ltd and one from the Big Sleep/Snowden. Someone was telling me they had a member of Swervedriver, but I don't think that's true. It does look like two members played on Swervedriver's Adam Franklin's solo record so that's probably the origin of that story. One of them has also played with Dean & Britta (of Galaxie 500/Luna) so basically, what this means is that in their niche genre, they're about as pedigree as you can git.
They're newish and they were pretty good. Interestingly, they were by far their best when they were doing more ambient, hazy muzak than when they tried to get all songy. And this is coming from someone who has absolutely no patience with that wishy washy stuff. Which means two things: 1) they were really good at that wishy washy stuff and 2) they were really not great at more beat+plus+melody, faster paced songs.
At their subtler moments, though, the band was transcendent. Really spiritual stuff. Which is why I started like shoegaze in the first place (well, that and it's loud). It was in these moments when the not-very-groove-centric drummer was at his best, laying down massive slabs o' drum. Likewise, the vocals shined in these not-trying-to-be-catchy moments - there was something very genuine and natural about them. [video]
I wrote up Dead Leaf Echo pretty recently and I don't really have anything to add. It's just nice to finally see all their pieces fall into place. By the way, if you were wondering where the awesome bass was coming from (as the people behind me during the set were), the band is sans bassist, but their stuff sounds way better than your average prerecorded bass line. That's because they stacked several layers of properly studio-recorded bass on the track. Then, they routed the recording through a proper bass amp in addition to the PA. Which is freaking brilliant. It was, in fact, the best prerecorded bass I think I've ever heard. [video]
Of course, all of the bands were just building up to Austin-based shoegaze gods Ringo Deathstarr. This band makes me swoon. Their guitar can obliterate your speakers and ear drums. (In the best possible way.) This rich guitar, full of phantom melodies and shifting pitches, is straight out of Loveless, but the vocals are more tuneful that My Bloody Valentine's, a lot closer to the good old pop tunes of the Jesus & Mary Chain (who ripped them off the Beach Boys, but that's neither here nor there).
"Jasper" once asked an Austin shoegazer of his acquaintance about the band and was informed that everyone in Austin thought they were a joke and "that girl doesn't even play an instrument" or something like that. If that was ever true, the joke's now on him. "That girl," bassist Alex Gehring, is sick. She's an absolutely great bassist - her lines simultaneously groove deeply and punch you in the chest. As is typical in the genre, the bass carries a lot of melody while the guitar becomes sheer roar. Meanwhile, electro/dance-derived icy beats from drummer Daniel Coburn make the whole thing sound a lot like "Soon" (you know, that last song on Loveless that's everyone's favorite MBV song ever).
But what's really great about Ringo Deathstarr isn't that they write amazing songs and get mindblowing sounds out of their instruments. It's that they're genuinely insane. Cracked. Unhinged. Pure batshit out of their mind nuts. Which is what made this one of the most punk rock shoegaze shows of all time. I mean, first of all, in direct defiance of the name of the genre, guitarist Elliot Frazier at several points leapt into the audience midsong. Then at some point, they invited a bunch of people up on stage (primarily from the previous bands) and somehow things devolved such that both the guitar and drums had been seized by people who weren't in the band at all and the music fell apart in chaos. But that's not the insane part. The insane part is that after the song finally stopped breathing, Gehrig insisted that her two bandmates return to their instruments to finish the song (which had veered in the direction of crazytown before its as-recorded coda). Coburn, I believe, thought the set was over and had gone to the bathroom so the band announced that they would wait (and therefore all of us would wait) for the drummer to return to the stage. So everyone stood around awkwardly for a few minutes, and then Coburn showed up and they immediately launched into the song where they'd left off. For about twenty seconds, until the song was over.
I mean, who does that? Only a true genius. And only by accident. It was, obviously, one of the best endings to a show I've ever seen. And I've seen a lot. [video]....[more video]
Showing posts with label Ringo Deathstarr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ringo Deathstarr. Show all posts
Monday, July 18, 2011
Friday, January 8, 2010
Albums to Watch for in 2010
*** DISCLAIMER: As with last year's list, these are albums I would like to see in 2010. Some have not been announced, and some probably don't and won't exist. I'm not trying to start rumors, I'm just an optimist!!***
Dinowalrus - This one is real and it's coming out soon. Like, in a week. I haven't listened yet, but I'm pretty sure it's going to kick ass. The band's experimental psychedelic drone probably isn't for everyone, but if you're into that stuff (and you should be!), this is as good as it gets. [myspace]
Dum Dum Girls - The debut is out in March. Dum Dum Girls are what's right about this whole lo-fi pop revival. [myspace]
My Bloody Valentine - A girl can hope, right? Right?
Ringo Deathstarr - I was hoping for this one last year, but this year it's actually looking promising. The loudest, densest, prettiest shoegaze in ages. [myspace]
Seawhores - Heavy and confrontational, yet melodic, Seawhores have earned their cult following. I don't know if they are planning an album, but since they signed to Death By Audio Records, they must intend to release something at some point. [myspace]
Shellshag - This one is real too, it comes out in February and it's going to rock. The band's two members like to get fucked up and fuck up and fuck you up. What else could you want? [myspace]
Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus play hardcore punk that's at once traditional and original, pushing boundaries with their ambitious compositions, shoegaze-influenced guitars and thoughtful lyrics. [myspace]
And keep an eye out for these too...
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (March)
Fiasco (we'll see...)
Interference (February)
Liars (March)
Los Campesinos! (January)
Quasi (February)
Radio Dept. (February)
Sisters (we'll see...)
So So Glos (we'll see...)
Spoon (January)
Dinowalrus - This one is real and it's coming out soon. Like, in a week. I haven't listened yet, but I'm pretty sure it's going to kick ass. The band's experimental psychedelic drone probably isn't for everyone, but if you're into that stuff (and you should be!), this is as good as it gets. [myspace]
Dum Dum Girls - The debut is out in March. Dum Dum Girls are what's right about this whole lo-fi pop revival. [myspace]
My Bloody Valentine - A girl can hope, right? Right?
Ringo Deathstarr - I was hoping for this one last year, but this year it's actually looking promising. The loudest, densest, prettiest shoegaze in ages. [myspace]
Seawhores - Heavy and confrontational, yet melodic, Seawhores have earned their cult following. I don't know if they are planning an album, but since they signed to Death By Audio Records, they must intend to release something at some point. [myspace]
Shellshag - This one is real too, it comes out in February and it's going to rock. The band's two members like to get fucked up and fuck up and fuck you up. What else could you want? [myspace]
Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus play hardcore punk that's at once traditional and original, pushing boundaries with their ambitious compositions, shoegaze-influenced guitars and thoughtful lyrics. [myspace]
And keep an eye out for these too...
Monday, October 26, 2009
CMJ Summary - Part 1
The first band I caught at CMJ was Washington DC's True Womanhood at Cameo on Tuesday. They are known for their dark post-punk ambiance, with eerie guitar and vocals over complex breakbeats. When we walked in, the band was already playing and the sheer volume at that moment took the music to a new level. I thought, "these guys are on fire."
Unfortunately, they weren't quite as on fire as I had thought - the sound was awesome in the house, but it seems like they were having some difficulty hearing one another on stage. The drummer stopped at one point because he couldn't hear the guitarist - which was an error, since everyone should ultimately adjust to the drums no matter what. The band was still clearly great, but they weren't playing very tightly. Bassist Melissa Beattie once again, held everything together, keeping the drums and guitar on the same page, taking the lead in stage presence and seeing every song through from start to finish.
TW are definitely worth hearing. Tuesday night was clearly a bit rough, and even with all the setbacks, they still sound more far more interesting than most of their peers. [MySpace]
I stuck around for Naked Hearts and reached a new level of dislike for the band. Now, I used to like Naked Hearts alright, but the beginning of the end was their EP last winter. I liked them live when I only heard a couple of songs at the beginning or end of their set, but as it turns out, trying to sit through from beginning to end is really not for me. All the songs sound the same. When Noah Wheeler sings, he's way offkey. Amy Cooper is better, but even at their best, the band proves nothing more than an excellent example of cliched mediocrity. It's generic indie rock for the generic fan. [MySpace]
On Wednesday, I headed over to Cake Shop to catch the Kanine Records showcase, catching first Depreciation Guild. The more I hear of this band, the more I've cooled off on them. They are a electro-shoegaze outfit, with dense waves of guitar sound over sharp electronic beats (coupled with live drums). Their walls of sound are some of the best you'll find these days, and the beats are interesting.
However, all of the songs sound the same. The melodies, sung by guitarist (and Pains of Being Pure at Heart drummer) Kurt Feldman, fail to hold any interest, and there's not enough variety in the instrumentation underneath to make up for it. It's great for a song or two, especially their best one or two songs. Unfortunately, the rest of their repertoire sounds like inferior versions of the same.
The band also suffered from the lack of their usual visuals. Depreciation Guild are one of the only bands around to effectively use projections to enhance their music - they generally project changing blocks of color behind the band, enhancing the already multicolored sound of their layered guitars. Without it, the band's shortcomings are further unmasked. Though they have some great talent and are doing some things very right, they've stretched their one trick far too thin. Time to break the mold or dissolve into obscurity. [MySpace]
Next up was Ringo Deathstarr, my perennial favorite among contemporary shoegazers. Like Depreciation Guild, their guitar sounds are inpenetrable, but unlike them, Ringo Deathstarr has melodies and songwriting to match. The baritone vocals ground the music in irresistible Britrock pop tunes, while the guitars growl underneath.
Near the end of the set, the band began pleading with the audience to dance, which was a misguided effort - their beats are good for a shoegaze band, but they're a shoegaze band. Singer Elliot Frazier threw himself into the crowd to generation some motion, which was certainly a noble effort and made the show that much more fun - but it's a scientifically proven fact that shoegazers don't dance. However, Dinowalrus drummer Josh Somethingorother took the opportunity to jump on stage and turn up all of the knobs on Frazier's pedal board, ending the song in a screaming mess of feedback and fuzz.
The band got cut short, which is par for the course at CMJ. They may have made a little to much of a stink about it, but they did a good job cramming what they could into the end of the set and narrowing down their setlist to the best of the best. I sure would like to see something happen for this band, but they don't have that aloof DIY cool that seems to be the golden ticket these days. Which is one of the reasons they're so great. [MySpace]
I skipped most of Zaza, who played next, because having seen them a few times, I've become bored with their droning.
However, I stuck around for Dinowalrus, one of my hometown favorites. The band plays drum-heavy noise that doesn't sound enough like anyone else to give me a single reference point to work with. From droning groves to descents into noisy chaos, the band is certainly unconventional.
This set (only three songs, I think?) didn't excite me as much as the last couple I saw. I've mentioned before the band's "lack of structure." Frontman Pete Feigenbaum pointed out that the band spends a lot of time on their arrangements, and so I should clarify what I mean by that point - I never meant that the band was oblvious to structure. In fact, it's clear that what Feigenbaum says is true, the band must arrange their songs with great care. It's just that the conventional elements of structure in rock music - songs, choruses, verses, solos, etc. - don't apply to Dinowalrus. If they did, it wouldn't be the band it is, but it does put them in a tricky position. There is a reason 99% of rock music uses certain structural elements, and if you're going to buck tradition, you've got to make the music work just as well without them. Dinowalrus falls a little short of this, leaving the audience a little lost sometimes as to exactly what ideas the band is trying to convey.
That said, they are still one of NYC's best. And while the first two songs seemed to ramble a bit without really drawing me in, the third was crowned with a sparkling guitar riff that stood out for its straightforward beauty in the dirty, mess of sound. The juxtaposition and the composition surrounding it was nothing less than brilliant.
The main appeal of Dinowalrus, in any case, remains Josh Whatshisname. After watching his CMJ set, I tried and tried to think of a single [rock] drummer who could show him up. But if I've ever encountered one, I've forgotten. I think it's safe to say Dinowalrus has the best rock drummer I have ever seen. It's not just the beats he plays, but the way he plays them, with absolutely natural, organic rhythm, the drums an extension of the man, the man an extension of rhythm in the abstract. He doesn't overplay, he's never flashy, he just plays the drums. Hell yes. [MySpace]
Unfortunately, they weren't quite as on fire as I had thought - the sound was awesome in the house, but it seems like they were having some difficulty hearing one another on stage. The drummer stopped at one point because he couldn't hear the guitarist - which was an error, since everyone should ultimately adjust to the drums no matter what. The band was still clearly great, but they weren't playing very tightly. Bassist Melissa Beattie once again, held everything together, keeping the drums and guitar on the same page, taking the lead in stage presence and seeing every song through from start to finish.
TW are definitely worth hearing. Tuesday night was clearly a bit rough, and even with all the setbacks, they still sound more far more interesting than most of their peers. [MySpace]
I stuck around for Naked Hearts and reached a new level of dislike for the band. Now, I used to like Naked Hearts alright, but the beginning of the end was their EP last winter. I liked them live when I only heard a couple of songs at the beginning or end of their set, but as it turns out, trying to sit through from beginning to end is really not for me. All the songs sound the same. When Noah Wheeler sings, he's way offkey. Amy Cooper is better, but even at their best, the band proves nothing more than an excellent example of cliched mediocrity. It's generic indie rock for the generic fan. [MySpace]
On Wednesday, I headed over to Cake Shop to catch the Kanine Records showcase, catching first Depreciation Guild. The more I hear of this band, the more I've cooled off on them. They are a electro-shoegaze outfit, with dense waves of guitar sound over sharp electronic beats (coupled with live drums). Their walls of sound are some of the best you'll find these days, and the beats are interesting.
However, all of the songs sound the same. The melodies, sung by guitarist (and Pains of Being Pure at Heart drummer) Kurt Feldman, fail to hold any interest, and there's not enough variety in the instrumentation underneath to make up for it. It's great for a song or two, especially their best one or two songs. Unfortunately, the rest of their repertoire sounds like inferior versions of the same.
The band also suffered from the lack of their usual visuals. Depreciation Guild are one of the only bands around to effectively use projections to enhance their music - they generally project changing blocks of color behind the band, enhancing the already multicolored sound of their layered guitars. Without it, the band's shortcomings are further unmasked. Though they have some great talent and are doing some things very right, they've stretched their one trick far too thin. Time to break the mold or dissolve into obscurity. [MySpace]
Next up was Ringo Deathstarr, my perennial favorite among contemporary shoegazers. Like Depreciation Guild, their guitar sounds are inpenetrable, but unlike them, Ringo Deathstarr has melodies and songwriting to match. The baritone vocals ground the music in irresistible Britrock pop tunes, while the guitars growl underneath.
Near the end of the set, the band began pleading with the audience to dance, which was a misguided effort - their beats are good for a shoegaze band, but they're a shoegaze band. Singer Elliot Frazier threw himself into the crowd to generation some motion, which was certainly a noble effort and made the show that much more fun - but it's a scientifically proven fact that shoegazers don't dance. However, Dinowalrus drummer Josh Somethingorother took the opportunity to jump on stage and turn up all of the knobs on Frazier's pedal board, ending the song in a screaming mess of feedback and fuzz.
The band got cut short, which is par for the course at CMJ. They may have made a little to much of a stink about it, but they did a good job cramming what they could into the end of the set and narrowing down their setlist to the best of the best. I sure would like to see something happen for this band, but they don't have that aloof DIY cool that seems to be the golden ticket these days. Which is one of the reasons they're so great. [MySpace]
I skipped most of Zaza, who played next, because having seen them a few times, I've become bored with their droning.
However, I stuck around for Dinowalrus, one of my hometown favorites. The band plays drum-heavy noise that doesn't sound enough like anyone else to give me a single reference point to work with. From droning groves to descents into noisy chaos, the band is certainly unconventional.
This set (only three songs, I think?) didn't excite me as much as the last couple I saw. I've mentioned before the band's "lack of structure." Frontman Pete Feigenbaum pointed out that the band spends a lot of time on their arrangements, and so I should clarify what I mean by that point - I never meant that the band was oblvious to structure. In fact, it's clear that what Feigenbaum says is true, the band must arrange their songs with great care. It's just that the conventional elements of structure in rock music - songs, choruses, verses, solos, etc. - don't apply to Dinowalrus. If they did, it wouldn't be the band it is, but it does put them in a tricky position. There is a reason 99% of rock music uses certain structural elements, and if you're going to buck tradition, you've got to make the music work just as well without them. Dinowalrus falls a little short of this, leaving the audience a little lost sometimes as to exactly what ideas the band is trying to convey.
That said, they are still one of NYC's best. And while the first two songs seemed to ramble a bit without really drawing me in, the third was crowned with a sparkling guitar riff that stood out for its straightforward beauty in the dirty, mess of sound. The juxtaposition and the composition surrounding it was nothing less than brilliant.
The main appeal of Dinowalrus, in any case, remains Josh Whatshisname. After watching his CMJ set, I tried and tried to think of a single [rock] drummer who could show him up. But if I've ever encountered one, I've forgotten. I think it's safe to say Dinowalrus has the best rock drummer I have ever seen. It's not just the beats he plays, but the way he plays them, with absolutely natural, organic rhythm, the drums an extension of the man, the man an extension of rhythm in the abstract. He doesn't overplay, he's never flashy, he just plays the drums. Hell yes. [MySpace]
Friday, October 16, 2009
Upcoming Shows: CMJ Music Marathon
The CMJ Music Marathon is nearly upon us, and it's time I give you my recommendations.
Here is my recommendation: AVOID CMJ. Skip the bands from this area or any you have the opportunity to see in other circumstances. CMJ is awful. It is expensive. It always runs late. The bands are hustled on and off stage in half an hour. Forget proper sound checks. If you want to chance the latest thing, you're going to be in some filthy basement you've never heard of, crushed against the wall by boring hipsters. It is just not worth it.
That said, there are some bands you should hear at CMJ because they don't play around NYC much. Here's my list:
Dum Dum Girls (Los Angeles, CA) - That DIY crowd got old fast, but there are a few bands in the bunch still worth listening to. Dum Dum Girls (actually just one girl, plus a touring band) are one of those, with good songs sung in a beautiful voice. Check it. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Saturday, October 24 * 8 PM * Mercury Lounge (LES, Manhattan) *
JEFF the Brotherhood (Nashville, TN) - Ex-Be Your Own Pet, these brothers are brilliant musicians who slide smoothly between punk and metal, with a familiar sound that's easy to love but hard to classify (psychedelic? garage? lo-fi?). They will be back in NYC before too long, though, so don't break your neck to check them out at C(rap)MJ. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Friday, October 23 (technically Saturday) * MIDNIGHT * The Charleston (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
* Saturday, October 24 * 10:20 PM * Union Pool (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
Let's Wrestle (UK) - Let's Wrestle are a fine lo-fi indie pop band with really, really catchy, lovable songs. I haven't seen them live yet, but love the recordings. [MySpace]
* Wednesday, October 21 * 11 PM * Bell House (Gowanus, Brooklyn) *
* Friday, October 23 * ?? * Glasslands (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) [unofficial]*
Little Girls (Toronto, Canada) - One of my bands to watch, Little Girls just put out an outstanding debut which I haven't written up yet because the release date snuck past me. Gloomy, gothy post-punk, with a very lo-fi aestethic and a nervous, lively stage show, Little Girls are the shit. (The only thing I don't like them is that pedophiles sometimes accidentally end up on my blog when I write them up, due to poor google searches. Not kidding.) [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 1:30 PM * Cake Shop (LES, Manhattan) *
* Wednesday, October 21 * ?? [not on CMJ schedule, for some reason] * Union Pool (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
* Friday, October 23 * 10 PM * Pianos (LES, Manhattan) *
Lovvers (UK) - Fun, rowdy and somtimes nasty UK punks. Ladies, stand up front for a chance to get a smooch. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 11 PM * Santos Party House (Chinatown, Manhattan) *
? Thursday, October 22 * ?? * Pianos (LES, Manhattan) ?
* Saturday, October 24 * Afternoon * Brooklyn Bowl (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
* Saturday, October 24 * 11 PM * Union Pool (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
Male Bonding (UK) - I first paid attention to this band because I think I once read that “Male Bonding” was the name of an early incarnation of Sonic Youth and I liked the name when they used it. Presumably, this band’s name is unrelated, since that’s some pretty obscure Sonic Youth trivia (if it’s even true). But I’m glad I noticed the band, no matter the reason, because they are awesome noise punk, with simple, raw songs, endearing melodies and some loud-ass guitar. [MySpace]
* Tues. (actually Weds.) * 1 AM * Cake Shop *
* Thurs. * 11:45 PM * The Delancey *
* Fri. * 11:10 PM * “On the Side” at Seaport *
* Sat. (actually Sun.) * 2 AM * Mercury Lounge *
Ringo Deathstarr (Austin, TX) - The best shoegaze band of our generation, highly underrated, extremely awesome. Massive walls of sound, deep, entrancing melodies, pitch bends and sick beats. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 11:30 PM * Fontana's (Chinatown, Manhattan) *
* Wednesday, October 21 * 9 PM * Cake Shop (LES, Manhattan) *
* TWO NON-CMJ SHOWS - 10/22 & 10/23 - See their myspace page for more info *
True Womanhood (Washington, DC) - Radiohead-esque experiental rock from DC. Up-and-comers who put on a great live show. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 8 PM * Cameo Gallery (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
? Saturday, October 24 * 3 PM * Death By Audio (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) ?
Here are some other shows you might want to know about:
Atlas Sound (Atlanta, GA) - Experimental, arty low-key rock from Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10 PM * Le Poisson Rouge *
* Weds. * 10 PM * Music Hall of Williamsburg *
Broadcast (UK) - Highly lauded electronic duo with hints of shoegaze and post-rock, but with strong pop vocals. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 11 PM * Le Poisson Rouge *
Busta Rhymes (Brooklyn, NY) - well, duh. [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 11 PM * B.B. King *
Harlem (Austin, TX) - on the thrash end of the hardcore punk spectrum, Harlem are one of the best of their genre today. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10 PM * Santos Party House *
* Fri. * 8 PM * The Suffolk *
Múm (Iceland) - Beautiful post-rock electronics, though perhaps a bit too gentle for some. [MySpace]
Pissed Jeans (Philadelphia, PA) - noisy, punky band in the SubPop tradition. They are hardcore but not at all off-putting, and make a real racket with their guitars. [MySpace]
* Sat. (actually Sun.) * 12 AM * Mercury Lounge *
U-God (New York, NY) - mem. Wu-Tang Clan. Enough said. [MySpace]
* Tues. (actually Weds.) * 12:10 AM * Southpaw *
And if you insist on checking out local bands, here are the absolute best:
Ambulance LTD - shoegaze-influenced rock with a guitar sheen and good songs. [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 10 PM * Mercury Lounge *
The Antlers - a sad band that has some ambient influences and some electronics but is still a rock band. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10:15 PM * Music Hall of Williamsburg *
* Thurs. * 10 PM * The Delancey *
The Black Tie Party - some good DIY punky goodness. [MySpace]
* Thurs. (actually Fri.) * 12 AM * The Charleston *
Cold Cave - not actually local, but they play around here a lot these days. A very interesting electronic group that can be really fucking loud and dissonant and in your face. [RFR Live Review] (...they've grown on me since then) [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10:30 PM * The Studio at Webster Hall *
* Fri. * 11 PM * The Suffolk *
Coyote Eyes - post-punk with interesting rhythms, guitar experiments and amazing, distinctive vocal melodies. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Weds. (actually Thurs.) * 12:30 AM * The Delancey *
Darlings - their simple, DIY aesthetic is kept interesting by their apparent insanity that makes the sometimes appear to be playing completely different songs at the same time. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Weds. * 10 PM * Glasslands *
The Depreciation Guild - massive electro-shoegaze walls of sound. And good-looking boys. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Weds. * 8:15 PM * Cake Shop *
* Fri. * 9:30 PM * Cake Shop *
Dinowalrus - off-the-wall, edgy music that defies convention, kicks out insanely complex rhythms and rocks as hard as anything. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tues. * 9:30 PM * Santos Party House *
* Weds. * 10:30 PM * Cake Shop *
Hunters - an experimental punk band with a lot of creativity and no pretence. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 10 PM * The Charleston *
Japanther - local pop-punk with a true youthful spirit and a pretty big following. They aren’t commercialized or dumbed down, they’re smart and uncompromising. They just also happen to be catchy and energetic as hell. [MySpace]
* Weds. * 10:15 PM * Suffolk Back Room *
Knight School - lo-fi indie pop with sweet little melodies and a lot of fuzz. [MySpace]
* Fri. * 8:15 PM * Bruar Falls *
Obits - first-rate hardcore punk. [MySpace]
*Sat. (actually Sun.) * 1 AM * Mercury Lounge *
Screaming Females - PJ Harvey does classic rock? Gutsy guitars, hard rock common sense and a punk attitude, from one very small, very rad woman. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
*Weds. (actually Thurs.) * 12 AM * Mercury Lounge *
Screens - I don’t really know much about this band, but from the little I know, I have a good feeling about them. They are probably not the most accessible, but they are doing something original and exciting. I haven’t heard them live, but I have a hunch they’re worth checking out. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 7:30 PM * Santos Party House *
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - bluesy and rootsy, but challenging, punkish and just plain weird music by another very small, very rad woman, this one with a hand-powered harmonium and a very foul mouth. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 11 PM * Pianos *
* Sat. * 11 PM * The Delancey *
Young Boys - like the Jesus & Mary Chain, messy, feedback-laden noise with solid, head-bobbing melodies under the surface. One of the coolest bands in New York these days, and one of the few the scenesters have yet to uncover. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tues. * 7:45 PM * Fontana’s *
Here is my recommendation: AVOID CMJ. Skip the bands from this area or any you have the opportunity to see in other circumstances. CMJ is awful. It is expensive. It always runs late. The bands are hustled on and off stage in half an hour. Forget proper sound checks. If you want to chance the latest thing, you're going to be in some filthy basement you've never heard of, crushed against the wall by boring hipsters. It is just not worth it.
That said, there are some bands you should hear at CMJ because they don't play around NYC much. Here's my list:
Dum Dum Girls (Los Angeles, CA) - That DIY crowd got old fast, but there are a few bands in the bunch still worth listening to. Dum Dum Girls (actually just one girl, plus a touring band) are one of those, with good songs sung in a beautiful voice. Check it. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Saturday, October 24 * 8 PM * Mercury Lounge (LES, Manhattan) *
JEFF the Brotherhood (Nashville, TN) - Ex-Be Your Own Pet, these brothers are brilliant musicians who slide smoothly between punk and metal, with a familiar sound that's easy to love but hard to classify (psychedelic? garage? lo-fi?). They will be back in NYC before too long, though, so don't break your neck to check them out at C(rap)MJ. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Friday, October 23 (technically Saturday) * MIDNIGHT * The Charleston (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
* Saturday, October 24 * 10:20 PM * Union Pool (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
Let's Wrestle (UK) - Let's Wrestle are a fine lo-fi indie pop band with really, really catchy, lovable songs. I haven't seen them live yet, but love the recordings. [MySpace]
* Wednesday, October 21 * 11 PM * Bell House (Gowanus, Brooklyn) *
* Friday, October 23 * ?? * Glasslands (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) [unofficial]*
Little Girls (Toronto, Canada) - One of my bands to watch, Little Girls just put out an outstanding debut which I haven't written up yet because the release date snuck past me. Gloomy, gothy post-punk, with a very lo-fi aestethic and a nervous, lively stage show, Little Girls are the shit. (The only thing I don't like them is that pedophiles sometimes accidentally end up on my blog when I write them up, due to poor google searches. Not kidding.) [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 1:30 PM * Cake Shop (LES, Manhattan) *
* Wednesday, October 21 * ?? [not on CMJ schedule, for some reason] * Union Pool (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
* Friday, October 23 * 10 PM * Pianos (LES, Manhattan) *
Lovvers (UK) - Fun, rowdy and somtimes nasty UK punks. Ladies, stand up front for a chance to get a smooch. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 11 PM * Santos Party House (Chinatown, Manhattan) *
? Thursday, October 22 * ?? * Pianos (LES, Manhattan) ?
* Saturday, October 24 * Afternoon * Brooklyn Bowl (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
* Saturday, October 24 * 11 PM * Union Pool (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
Male Bonding (UK) - I first paid attention to this band because I think I once read that “Male Bonding” was the name of an early incarnation of Sonic Youth and I liked the name when they used it. Presumably, this band’s name is unrelated, since that’s some pretty obscure Sonic Youth trivia (if it’s even true). But I’m glad I noticed the band, no matter the reason, because they are awesome noise punk, with simple, raw songs, endearing melodies and some loud-ass guitar. [MySpace]
* Tues. (actually Weds.) * 1 AM * Cake Shop *
* Thurs. * 11:45 PM * The Delancey *
* Fri. * 11:10 PM * “On the Side” at Seaport *
* Sat. (actually Sun.) * 2 AM * Mercury Lounge *
Ringo Deathstarr (Austin, TX) - The best shoegaze band of our generation, highly underrated, extremely awesome. Massive walls of sound, deep, entrancing melodies, pitch bends and sick beats. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 11:30 PM * Fontana's (Chinatown, Manhattan) *
* Wednesday, October 21 * 9 PM * Cake Shop (LES, Manhattan) *
* TWO NON-CMJ SHOWS - 10/22 & 10/23 - See their myspace page for more info *
True Womanhood (Washington, DC) - Radiohead-esque experiental rock from DC. Up-and-comers who put on a great live show. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tuesday, October 20 * 8 PM * Cameo Gallery (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) *
? Saturday, October 24 * 3 PM * Death By Audio (Williamsburg, Brooklyn) ?
Here are some other shows you might want to know about:
Atlas Sound (Atlanta, GA) - Experimental, arty low-key rock from Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10 PM * Le Poisson Rouge *
* Weds. * 10 PM * Music Hall of Williamsburg *
Broadcast (UK) - Highly lauded electronic duo with hints of shoegaze and post-rock, but with strong pop vocals. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 11 PM * Le Poisson Rouge *
Busta Rhymes (Brooklyn, NY) - well, duh. [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 11 PM * B.B. King *
Harlem (Austin, TX) - on the thrash end of the hardcore punk spectrum, Harlem are one of the best of their genre today. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10 PM * Santos Party House *
* Fri. * 8 PM * The Suffolk *
Múm (Iceland) - Beautiful post-rock electronics, though perhaps a bit too gentle for some. [MySpace]
Pissed Jeans (Philadelphia, PA) - noisy, punky band in the SubPop tradition. They are hardcore but not at all off-putting, and make a real racket with their guitars. [MySpace]
* Sat. (actually Sun.) * 12 AM * Mercury Lounge *
U-God (New York, NY) - mem. Wu-Tang Clan. Enough said. [MySpace]
* Tues. (actually Weds.) * 12:10 AM * Southpaw *
And if you insist on checking out local bands, here are the absolute best:
Ambulance LTD - shoegaze-influenced rock with a guitar sheen and good songs. [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 10 PM * Mercury Lounge *
The Antlers - a sad band that has some ambient influences and some electronics but is still a rock band. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10:15 PM * Music Hall of Williamsburg *
* Thurs. * 10 PM * The Delancey *
The Black Tie Party - some good DIY punky goodness. [MySpace]
* Thurs. (actually Fri.) * 12 AM * The Charleston *
Cold Cave - not actually local, but they play around here a lot these days. A very interesting electronic group that can be really fucking loud and dissonant and in your face. [RFR Live Review] (...they've grown on me since then) [MySpace]
* Tues. * 10:30 PM * The Studio at Webster Hall *
* Fri. * 11 PM * The Suffolk *
Coyote Eyes - post-punk with interesting rhythms, guitar experiments and amazing, distinctive vocal melodies. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Weds. (actually Thurs.) * 12:30 AM * The Delancey *
Darlings - their simple, DIY aesthetic is kept interesting by their apparent insanity that makes the sometimes appear to be playing completely different songs at the same time. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Weds. * 10 PM * Glasslands *
The Depreciation Guild - massive electro-shoegaze walls of sound. And good-looking boys. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Weds. * 8:15 PM * Cake Shop *
* Fri. * 9:30 PM * Cake Shop *
Dinowalrus - off-the-wall, edgy music that defies convention, kicks out insanely complex rhythms and rocks as hard as anything. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tues. * 9:30 PM * Santos Party House *
* Weds. * 10:30 PM * Cake Shop *
Hunters - an experimental punk band with a lot of creativity and no pretence. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 10 PM * The Charleston *
Japanther - local pop-punk with a true youthful spirit and a pretty big following. They aren’t commercialized or dumbed down, they’re smart and uncompromising. They just also happen to be catchy and energetic as hell. [MySpace]
* Weds. * 10:15 PM * Suffolk Back Room *
Knight School - lo-fi indie pop with sweet little melodies and a lot of fuzz. [MySpace]
* Fri. * 8:15 PM * Bruar Falls *
Obits - first-rate hardcore punk. [MySpace]
*Sat. (actually Sun.) * 1 AM * Mercury Lounge *
Screaming Females - PJ Harvey does classic rock? Gutsy guitars, hard rock common sense and a punk attitude, from one very small, very rad woman. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
*Weds. (actually Thurs.) * 12 AM * Mercury Lounge *
Screens - I don’t really know much about this band, but from the little I know, I have a good feeling about them. They are probably not the most accessible, but they are doing something original and exciting. I haven’t heard them live, but I have a hunch they’re worth checking out. [MySpace]
* Tues. * 7:30 PM * Santos Party House *
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - bluesy and rootsy, but challenging, punkish and just plain weird music by another very small, very rad woman, this one with a hand-powered harmonium and a very foul mouth. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Thurs. * 11 PM * Pianos *
* Sat. * 11 PM * The Delancey *
Young Boys - like the Jesus & Mary Chain, messy, feedback-laden noise with solid, head-bobbing melodies under the surface. One of the coolest bands in New York these days, and one of the few the scenesters have yet to uncover. [RFR Live Review] [MySpace]
* Tues. * 7:45 PM * Fontana’s *
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Live: Ringo Deathstarr + the Vandelles
When: 7/31
Where: Cameo
I reviewed the Vandelles pretty recently, also at Cameo, so I won't repeat myself. The band still rocked and this time, seemed to be genuinely having fun too.
I have said many times that Ringo Deathstarr is the best contemporary shoegaze band around. And that's because they absolutely are. The thickly layered, distorted, tremolo guitars are straight from Loveless, but coupled with the melodic sensibility of the Jesus & Mary Chain. No, it's not the most original music out there, but that doesn't change the fact that it's some of the most enjoyable.
To be honest, the band is about average live, not boring to watch by any means, but not anything unusual. To me, this point is almost negligible because hearing shoegaze live and loud is always rewarding. And though not particularly active or engaging while playing, the band still managed to gain momentum in their set by keeping the sound and songs flowing.
The band played the best songs off their 2007 EP and a couple other familiar songs, along with some new material. I heard one good Manchester-esque beat and some catchy new melodies too. I think there's an album on the way, so get ready!
The night was finished off by Blacklist, but I'm saving that for a separate review. Stay tuned...
Where: Cameo
I reviewed the Vandelles pretty recently, also at Cameo, so I won't repeat myself. The band still rocked and this time, seemed to be genuinely having fun too.
I have said many times that Ringo Deathstarr is the best contemporary shoegaze band around. And that's because they absolutely are. The thickly layered, distorted, tremolo guitars are straight from Loveless, but coupled with the melodic sensibility of the Jesus & Mary Chain. No, it's not the most original music out there, but that doesn't change the fact that it's some of the most enjoyable.
To be honest, the band is about average live, not boring to watch by any means, but not anything unusual. To me, this point is almost negligible because hearing shoegaze live and loud is always rewarding. And though not particularly active or engaging while playing, the band still managed to gain momentum in their set by keeping the sound and songs flowing.
The band played the best songs off their 2007 EP and a couple other familiar songs, along with some new material. I heard one good Manchester-esque beat and some catchy new melodies too. I think there's an album on the way, so get ready!
The night was finished off by Blacklist, but I'm saving that for a separate review. Stay tuned...
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Upcoming Shows: No Age, Ringo Deathstarr + more
Wednesday, July 29
Two shoegaze-y shows worth checking out - and the ambitious gazer might be able to swing both, since they are not more than a fifteen minute walk apart...
Screen Vinyl Image + Violet Hour @ Annex | LES, Manhattan
The Annex can be a little creepy and pricey, but Screen Vinyl Image are worth the trouble. An extremely loud, extremely dark electro-shoegaze outfit, SVI hail from Virginia. I haven't been quite as fond of them with their new drummer, but that may just be a matter of time and adjustment. Either way, the sheer volume and density of the music is exceptional. Violet Hour are a similarly-minded duo, less dark and less heavy, with a definite arty bent. They band frequently invites guests to join for sets, making each show a new experience. Bring earplugs!!! [SVI MySpace] [VH MySpace]
Soundpool, Me You Us Them @ Webster Studio | E Village, Manhattan | $10 adv. / $12 dos.
Soundpool's rich dreampop has been an NYC favorite for years, with swirling guitars, sweet melodies and warm distortion-fuzz. Me You Us Them makes a more post-punk form of noise pop, with more focus on vocals and the occasional open space than shoegaze proper. [SP MySpace] [MYUT MySpace]
Thursday, July 30
Method Man, Ghostface Killah @ Nokia Theater | Midtown, Manhattan | $35-$40
Every time I think of specific members of the Wu-Tang Clan, I start to say, "oh, that's one of my favorites," but then I realize they are all favorites. Bring da ruckus.
Iran @ Bowery Ballroom | LES, Manhattan | $15
Destroyer is actually headlining this show, but I don't really give two shitzus about that dude. I only recently got around to seriously listening to Iran's 2009 release, and I like it a lot. The band has the guitarist from TV on the Radio and while I recognize TVOTR has made greater strides in terms of originality, on a personal level, I prefer Iran, whose indie rock is more down-to-earth and satisfyingly cynical. [MySpace]
Friday, July 31
July goes out with a bang...
River to River: Polvo, Obits @ the Seaport | Downtown, Manhattan | FREE
Polvo were one of the original Chapel Hill math rock bands of the early 90's. Labelmates of Slint, Don Caballero and the rest of the best (on Touch & Go), Polvo rock loud and hard, arty, noisy and way better than the mathy post rockers of recent years (DD/MM/YYYY, I'm looking at you!). The Obits are far more recent, and play punk that's a bit easier to digest, but similarly hardhitting and similarly intelligent. [Polvo MySpace] [Obits MySpace]
Blacklist, Ringo Deathstarr, Vandelles @ Cameo | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
WOW. WOW. WOW. Three amazing bands, goth-tinted new wavers Blacklist, shoegaze masters Ringo Deathstarr and noise-surf rockers the Vandelles. Whoever selected this lineup is positively brilliant - it has plenty of variety, but enough common ground (post-punk/Jesus & Mary Chain influences) to appeal to the same audience. Ringo Deathstarr, I firmly believe, are the best shoegaze band of the present generation, and since they live in Austin, TX, you shouldn't miss the chance to hear them whenever they pass through town. [BL MySpace] [RDS MySpace] [Vandelles MySpace]
Mekons (acoustic) @ Bell House | Gowanus, Brooklyn | $15
I would be remiss not to mention the Mekons playing in town. Seminal punk/post-punks from the late 70's UK, the Mekons are known for the artistic daring and their ability to occasionally have a sense of humor. I don't think I'm trekking to Gowanus for an acoustic set, especially when so much else amazing is happening on Friday, but they are living legends and certainly merit a mention.
Saturday, August 1
Dean & Britta, Crystal Stilts @ Prospect Park | FREE
Dean & Britta are ex-Luna, and Dean ex-Galaxie 500. The two have been known to occasionally perform songs from their old bands, but their newer material together is equally excellent. British-inflected noise-pop so charming I dare you not to love it. And the Crystal Stilts...what to even say anymore? I don't like their attitude but I sure love their music. They sound like a C-86 version of Joy Division, or for those of you who have lives and don't spend your time reading about the indie rock scene in the 1980's UK, they have awkwardly jaunty but dark baritone vocal lines, melodies frequently coming from the bass, minimalist drumming and a certain noisy, unpolished guitar sound that's subtle but beautiful. [D&B MySpace] [CS MySpace]
So So Glos, Lovvers, Sundelles, Babies @ Death By Audio | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
So So Glos are punks with bad attitudes. Who doesn't love that? Lovvers are a really excellent UK punk band I just recently reviewed. Sundelles do a good job combining old-school rock'n'roll songwriting smarts with a noise-punk sensibility. I haven't heard Babies, but it features members of Woods and Vivian Girls. Which means it could go either way - painfully boring or amazing. I don't have high hopes, but we'll see. [SSG MySpace] [Lovvers MySpace] [Sundelles MySpace]
Sunday, August 2
Deerhunter, No Age, Dan Deacon @ Williamsburg Waterfront | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | FREE
In what will probably be the best "pool party" of the summer, experimental noise rockers Deerhunter and enthusiastic noise punks No Age will share the stage. They are joined by Dan Deacon, whom I've never listened to because I find his name uninspiring (no, I don't think that's a good reason, just being honest here). What am I carrying on about? You'll be there. [DH MySpace] [NA MySpace]
Two shoegaze-y shows worth checking out - and the ambitious gazer might be able to swing both, since they are not more than a fifteen minute walk apart...
Screen Vinyl Image + Violet Hour @ Annex | LES, Manhattan
The Annex can be a little creepy and pricey, but Screen Vinyl Image are worth the trouble. An extremely loud, extremely dark electro-shoegaze outfit, SVI hail from Virginia. I haven't been quite as fond of them with their new drummer, but that may just be a matter of time and adjustment. Either way, the sheer volume and density of the music is exceptional. Violet Hour are a similarly-minded duo, less dark and less heavy, with a definite arty bent. They band frequently invites guests to join for sets, making each show a new experience. Bring earplugs!!! [SVI MySpace] [VH MySpace]
Soundpool, Me You Us Them @ Webster Studio | E Village, Manhattan | $10 adv. / $12 dos.
Soundpool's rich dreampop has been an NYC favorite for years, with swirling guitars, sweet melodies and warm distortion-fuzz. Me You Us Them makes a more post-punk form of noise pop, with more focus on vocals and the occasional open space than shoegaze proper. [SP MySpace] [MYUT MySpace]
Thursday, July 30
Method Man, Ghostface Killah @ Nokia Theater | Midtown, Manhattan | $35-$40
Every time I think of specific members of the Wu-Tang Clan, I start to say, "oh, that's one of my favorites," but then I realize they are all favorites. Bring da ruckus.
Iran @ Bowery Ballroom | LES, Manhattan | $15
Destroyer is actually headlining this show, but I don't really give two shitzus about that dude. I only recently got around to seriously listening to Iran's 2009 release, and I like it a lot. The band has the guitarist from TV on the Radio and while I recognize TVOTR has made greater strides in terms of originality, on a personal level, I prefer Iran, whose indie rock is more down-to-earth and satisfyingly cynical. [MySpace]
Friday, July 31
July goes out with a bang...
River to River: Polvo, Obits @ the Seaport | Downtown, Manhattan | FREE
Polvo were one of the original Chapel Hill math rock bands of the early 90's. Labelmates of Slint, Don Caballero and the rest of the best (on Touch & Go), Polvo rock loud and hard, arty, noisy and way better than the mathy post rockers of recent years (DD/MM/YYYY, I'm looking at you!). The Obits are far more recent, and play punk that's a bit easier to digest, but similarly hardhitting and similarly intelligent. [Polvo MySpace] [Obits MySpace]
Blacklist, Ringo Deathstarr, Vandelles @ Cameo | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
WOW. WOW. WOW. Three amazing bands, goth-tinted new wavers Blacklist, shoegaze masters Ringo Deathstarr and noise-surf rockers the Vandelles. Whoever selected this lineup is positively brilliant - it has plenty of variety, but enough common ground (post-punk/Jesus & Mary Chain influences) to appeal to the same audience. Ringo Deathstarr, I firmly believe, are the best shoegaze band of the present generation, and since they live in Austin, TX, you shouldn't miss the chance to hear them whenever they pass through town. [BL MySpace] [RDS MySpace] [Vandelles MySpace]
Mekons (acoustic) @ Bell House | Gowanus, Brooklyn | $15
I would be remiss not to mention the Mekons playing in town. Seminal punk/post-punks from the late 70's UK, the Mekons are known for the artistic daring and their ability to occasionally have a sense of humor. I don't think I'm trekking to Gowanus for an acoustic set, especially when so much else amazing is happening on Friday, but they are living legends and certainly merit a mention.
Saturday, August 1
Dean & Britta, Crystal Stilts @ Prospect Park | FREE
Dean & Britta are ex-Luna, and Dean ex-Galaxie 500. The two have been known to occasionally perform songs from their old bands, but their newer material together is equally excellent. British-inflected noise-pop so charming I dare you not to love it. And the Crystal Stilts...what to even say anymore? I don't like their attitude but I sure love their music. They sound like a C-86 version of Joy Division, or for those of you who have lives and don't spend your time reading about the indie rock scene in the 1980's UK, they have awkwardly jaunty but dark baritone vocal lines, melodies frequently coming from the bass, minimalist drumming and a certain noisy, unpolished guitar sound that's subtle but beautiful. [D&B MySpace] [CS MySpace]
So So Glos, Lovvers, Sundelles, Babies @ Death By Audio | Williamsburg, Brooklyn
So So Glos are punks with bad attitudes. Who doesn't love that? Lovvers are a really excellent UK punk band I just recently reviewed. Sundelles do a good job combining old-school rock'n'roll songwriting smarts with a noise-punk sensibility. I haven't heard Babies, but it features members of Woods and Vivian Girls. Which means it could go either way - painfully boring or amazing. I don't have high hopes, but we'll see. [SSG MySpace] [Lovvers MySpace] [Sundelles MySpace]
Sunday, August 2
Deerhunter, No Age, Dan Deacon @ Williamsburg Waterfront | Williamsburg, Brooklyn | FREE
In what will probably be the best "pool party" of the summer, experimental noise rockers Deerhunter and enthusiastic noise punks No Age will share the stage. They are joined by Dan Deacon, whom I've never listened to because I find his name uninspiring (no, I don't think that's a good reason, just being honest here). What am I carrying on about? You'll be there. [DH MySpace] [NA MySpace]
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Thanks!!!
Hey, thanks for everyone who came out Saturday, it was a great night! And thanks especially to the bands, who played totally kickass sets. I'm not gonna review my own show, obviously, but I do want to mention that 28 Degrees Taurus finished (pre-encore) with the sickest version of "Crash and Burn" imaginable.
And one last time, thanks so much to our hosts at McKibben for letting us use their space and helping us promote the show. And to Vanishing Point, who were generous with their equipment and time - these guys rock and everyone should check them out and go to the shows they put on around town.
Here's the annotated playlist, if anyone is interested:
[[Gracefully]]
[[Ifwhen]]
[[28 Degrees Taurus]]
Somehow my playlist got changed around after the show, I think. Which is fine, it wasn't really a great playlist to start with. (To be totally honest, I snuck out during 28 Degrees Taurus's encore, so I'm not sure what happened.) Based on my "last played" list, this is what was played:
And one last time, thanks so much to our hosts at McKibben for letting us use their space and helping us promote the show. And to Vanishing Point, who were generous with their equipment and time - these guys rock and everyone should check them out and go to the shows they put on around town.
Here's the annotated playlist, if anyone is interested:
- I Believe - Skywave
- Flying - Telescopes
- It's You - Heavenly
- Stomach Worm (Stereolab) - It Hugs Back
- A Great Divide - Parts and Labor
- No Fun - Lovvers
- See/Saw - Jay Reatard
- Useless Inventions - Guided by Voices
- The Year without a Summer - Coltrane Motion
- [^This is my new favorite shameless pop band, only recently heard them for the first time.]
- Everyone Knows Everyone - The Helio Sequence
- [^I may have got a little carried away with the pop thing.]
- I'm Ok You're Ok - Let's Wrestle
- Starrsha - Ringo Deathstarr
- [The best shoegaze band of its/our generation]
- Glue - Sisters
- [^Since reviewing this band, it's really sunk in that they are one of New York's most promising new bands. Delightfully minimalist poppy garage rock.]
- Teenage Super Party - Wavves
- Clusterfuck - The Manhattan Love Suicides
- [^The MLS are every shoegaze/noise pop/indie pop DJ's dream. Dozens of perfect pop songs clocking in at well under three minutes.]
- How Will the Others Survive? - Tears Run Rings
- [^The second best new/contemporary shoegaze band, after Ringo Deathstarr.]
- See You Shine - Alcian Blue
[[Gracefully]]
- Soft as Snow (But Warm Inside) - My Bloody Valentine
- Like Flowers at Night - Panda Riot
- Sweet Girl - Ringo Deathstarr
- Love Is a Wave - Crystal Stilts
- Sky Ghosts - Depreciation Guild
- One Plus One Equals Three Or More - Mahogany
- Here Should Be My Home - No Age
- Death Ray - The Brother Kite
- Come Saturday - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
- Way Too High - Secret Shine
- My Aquarium - Drop Nineteens
- A Silent Tide - Flying Saucer Attack
[[Ifwhen]]
- My Weakness - A Place to Bury Strangers
- Why Don't We Do It in the Road - Lydia Lunch
- Cigarette in Your Bed - My Bloody Valentine
- Fever - Screen Vinyl Image
- Teen Angst - M83
- So Long - Brief Candles
- Supervitesse (Robin Guthrie remix) - Mahogany
- Sunday Night - Ren
- Sweet Abyss - Ecstasy of Saint Theresa
- Detroit Diesel - The Manhattan Love Suicides
- Noise-Bleeding Girl - Werewolves
- [^Werewolves helped set up this show, but I didn't play their song to pay them back, I played it because they are awesome.]
- Swallow - My Bloody Valentine
[[28 Degrees Taurus]]
Somehow my playlist got changed around after the show, I think. Which is fine, it wasn't really a great playlist to start with. (To be totally honest, I snuck out during 28 Degrees Taurus's encore, so I'm not sure what happened.) Based on my "last played" list, this is what was played:
- Tak! Attack! - Black Affair
- Bomb the Surf - The Vandelles
- Pleasure and Pain - Soundpool
- What New York Used to Be - The Kills
- First Communion - Gang Gang Dance
- Missing You - A Place to Bury Strangers
- Balloons - Foals
- You Can't Be Funky - Bush Tetras
- Darklooming - The Depreciation Guild
Monday, March 9, 2009
Upcoming Shows: Ringo Deathstarr, Vandelles, Blank Dogs + more
TOMORROW - Tuesday, March 10
Autodrone @ The Annex - LES, Manhattan
Autodrone's dense, dark rock combines hints of shoegaze, grunge, metal and new wave in perfect proportion. They seem to be opening, so get there on the early side. :: MySpace
Wednesday, March 11
Vandelles, Ringo Deathstarr and Black Swan Green @ Cake Shop - LES, Manhattan - $8
The Vandelles take 50's and 60's pop music and put it through an incinerator of psychedelia and screaming feedback. Ringo Deathstarr are, without a doubt, one of the best American shoegaze bands out there. They're just up from Austin, TX for a couple of nights so don't miss your chance to see them! Black Swan Green are a fairly new band on the scene, doing something shoegazy and cool. I haven't heard them, but I've heard a lot of good things about them, so show up early and see what they're all about. :: Vandelles MySpace :: Ringo Deathstarr MySpace :: BSG MySpace
Thursday, March 12
The Pogues @ Roseland Ballroom - Midtown, Manhattan
The Pogues. Celtic folk punks. C'mon, they're classic.
Friday, March 13
The Pogues @ Roseland Ballroom - Midtown, Manhattan
The Pogues. Again.
Saturday, March 14
Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs, Women + more @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - $13
The Crystal Stilts used to be one of my favorite NYC bands, but they recently broke my heart. I'm going to give them another chance but I'm mostly recommending this show because Blank Dogs and Women are among the opening acts. Blank Dogs run with Wavves, Woods, Nodzzz and the rest of the lo-lo-lo-fi crowd. Women is an experimental band that sounds somewhat like post-rock's forebears - you know, the ones that still knew how to rock. :: CS MySpace :: BD MySpace :: Women MySpace
Sunday, March 15
Takka Takka and the Secret Life of Sofia @ Cake Shop - LES, Manhattan - $10
Takka Takka are your typical experimental indie rock, though far above average. They can be a little odd and perhaps pretentious, but they've earned their reputation. The Secret Life of Sofia plays darkly ambient noise-folk, introspective and melancholy but loud enough to keep your attention. :: TT MySpace :: TSLOS MySpace
Autodrone @ The Annex - LES, Manhattan
Autodrone's dense, dark rock combines hints of shoegaze, grunge, metal and new wave in perfect proportion. They seem to be opening, so get there on the early side. :: MySpace
Wednesday, March 11
Vandelles, Ringo Deathstarr and Black Swan Green @ Cake Shop - LES, Manhattan - $8
The Vandelles take 50's and 60's pop music and put it through an incinerator of psychedelia and screaming feedback. Ringo Deathstarr are, without a doubt, one of the best American shoegaze bands out there. They're just up from Austin, TX for a couple of nights so don't miss your chance to see them! Black Swan Green are a fairly new band on the scene, doing something shoegazy and cool. I haven't heard them, but I've heard a lot of good things about them, so show up early and see what they're all about. :: Vandelles MySpace :: Ringo Deathstarr MySpace :: BSG MySpace
Thursday, March 12
The Pogues @ Roseland Ballroom - Midtown, Manhattan
The Pogues. Celtic folk punks. C'mon, they're classic.
Friday, March 13
The Pogues @ Roseland Ballroom - Midtown, Manhattan
The Pogues. Again.
Saturday, March 14
Crystal Stilts, Blank Dogs, Women + more @ Music Hall of Williamsburg - $13
The Crystal Stilts used to be one of my favorite NYC bands, but they recently broke my heart. I'm going to give them another chance but I'm mostly recommending this show because Blank Dogs and Women are among the opening acts. Blank Dogs run with Wavves, Woods, Nodzzz and the rest of the lo-lo-lo-fi crowd. Women is an experimental band that sounds somewhat like post-rock's forebears - you know, the ones that still knew how to rock. :: CS MySpace :: BD MySpace :: Women MySpace
Sunday, March 15
Takka Takka and the Secret Life of Sofia @ Cake Shop - LES, Manhattan - $10
Takka Takka are your typical experimental indie rock, though far above average. They can be a little odd and perhaps pretentious, but they've earned their reputation. The Secret Life of Sofia plays darkly ambient noise-folk, introspective and melancholy but loud enough to keep your attention. :: TT MySpace :: TSLOS MySpace
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Albums to watch for in 2009
***Disclaimer: This is a list of albums I hope to see in 2009. Most of them haven't been announced, and probably some of them don't/won't exist. I'm not trying to start rumors, I'm just an optimist!!***
A Sunny Day In Glasgow - This electro-dream-pop outfit made some waves in 2007 and now, we have it on good authority (their own) that they are heading into the studio again. Last time I heard them, their music seemed to be moving in a more aggressive direction, which means 2009 may well blow their already-excellent 2007 release out of the water. :: MySpace
The Harlem Shakes - I'd like everyone to note that I had faith in these guys all along. And now it's official, they're back! I'm going to go freak out now (in a good way). :: MySpace
Mahogany - They are noise pop legends, and I'm pretty sure I heard them say they were coming out with something soon. In any case, at their recent show, the new material was some of their best ever, which is hard to even believe. True, they may let us down, but they also have the potential to knock our socks off, yet again. :: MySpace
My Bloody Valentine - It's possible, right? :: MySpace
Ringo Deathstarr - The next best thing to My Bloody Valentine. I think they owe us an LP. I demand an LP! :: MySpace
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - I'm confused. But hopeful. Anyway, the only thing Shilpa [ex-Beat the Devil] is better at than confusing people is putting out crazy and amazing music. :: MySpace
The Vandelles - I could swear I heard these guys were working on an album, but I'm looking all over and I can't find the info anywhere. Nevertheless, I will be surprised if we don't see something substantial soon. And I will be even more surprised if it doesn't totally kick everyone's ass. :: MySpace
A Sunny Day In Glasgow - This electro-dream-pop outfit made some waves in 2007 and now, we have it on good authority (their own) that they are heading into the studio again. Last time I heard them, their music seemed to be moving in a more aggressive direction, which means 2009 may well blow their already-excellent 2007 release out of the water. :: MySpace
The Harlem Shakes - I'd like everyone to note that I had faith in these guys all along. And now it's official, they're back! I'm going to go freak out now (in a good way). :: MySpace
Mahogany - They are noise pop legends, and I'm pretty sure I heard them say they were coming out with something soon. In any case, at their recent show, the new material was some of their best ever, which is hard to even believe. True, they may let us down, but they also have the potential to knock our socks off, yet again. :: MySpace
My Bloody Valentine - It's possible, right? :: MySpace
Ringo Deathstarr - The next best thing to My Bloody Valentine. I think they owe us an LP. I demand an LP! :: MySpace
Shilpa Ray and Her Happy Hookers - I'm confused. But hopeful. Anyway, the only thing Shilpa [ex-Beat the Devil] is better at than confusing people is putting out crazy and amazing music. :: MySpace
The Vandelles - I could swear I heard these guys were working on an album, but I'm looking all over and I can't find the info anywhere. Nevertheless, I will be surprised if we don't see something substantial soon. And I will be even more surprised if it doesn't totally kick everyone's ass. :: MySpace
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