April 30, 2007
The Clientele Monday, April 30 Modest Mouse United Palace Theatre $37.50
Why be modest when you've stuck to your guns, evolved over more than a decade and come up with arguably the greatest record in your catalogue? Die-hards have spun on their heels and pushed their way through the Exit door with the release of the (always on point) Johnny Marr assisted, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. The ex-Smiths guitarist must be pleased as punch that the new and improved Modest Mouse line-up has resulted in the first US Billboard #1 for either band. Let the champagne flow.
Tuesday, May 1
Peter Bjorn and John Webster Hall $20
Swedish 3-piece, Peter Bjorn and John are well on their way to becoming one of the break-through acts of 2007. Their third album, Writer's Block, which was released earlier this year, combines 60's pop influences with a stripped back beatnik sensibility. Lovers of the monster single, Young Folk will not be disappointed by the burgeoning repertoire this act has created. Let's call them the other PB&J shall we? The full album review can be seen here. Bjork Radio City Music Hall $61.00
The ever-experimental electro-pop princess, Bjork returns for a very special NY performance on the eve of her highly anticipated, Timbaland-injected sixth studio album, Volta. Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons also contributes to two duets with the forever young at heart, Icelandic maiden. The always-innovative live performer, Bjork capitalizes on great stage production, lights and sound quality to make her digital soundscape an living, breathing reality. Interestingly, each consecutive solo album since Debut has sold less than it's predecessor. Could Volta be the record to break this pattern?
Thursday, May 3 The Dark Horse Project Pianos $8
The assured sound of The Dark Horse Project is one not easily forgotten. Ex-Lovelies singer, Liv Mueller - whose vocals are at times reminiscent of Kim Gordon's - appropriately surveys the sonic landscape whether it be in the form of alt-country ballads, Serenade and Haunted Face or riding waves of heavy rolling guitars as in Danger. The self-released, self-titled full-length album is out now.
Friday, May 4
Six Parts Seven Union Hall $8
Experimental-pop outfit, Six Parts Seven hail from Ohio and play reflective, acoustic offerings that are simultaneously uplifting and drenched in melancholic wonder. Putting a spell on a Friday night New York crowd may be a toughy for this chilled act....but they may just have a few surprises up their sleeves.
Saturday, May 5
Brightblack Morning Light Mercury Lounge $13
Along with Devendra Banhart and Sunburned Hand of the Man, Brightblack Morning Light complete the Freak Folk fraternity that has emerged over the last couple of years. There are similar organ/ guitar/ breathy vocal themes that run through most of their tracks which seem to move in a dreamy slow-motion. What Brightblack lack in diversity they make up for in contextual perseverance.
Sunday, May 6 The Clientele Maxwell's $12
UK four-piece, The Clientele who musically are similar to The Byrds, The House Of Love, Shack and Belle and Sebastian personify all that is great in UK indie-pop. They nod comfortably in the direction of their luminaries, yet they also bring a lyrical strength to what at times can be a fluffy genre and ultimately deliver something refreshing.
Tags:
Anthony and the Johnsons, Belle and Sebastian, Bjork, Brightblack Morning Light, Freak Folk, Icelandic Bands, Liv Mueller, Mercury Lounge, Modest Mouse, New Music, Peter Bjorn and John, Pianos, Shack, Six Parts Seven, The Byrds, The Clientele, The Dark Horse Project, The House Of Love, Timbaland, UK Bands, Union Hall, United Palace Theatre, Webster Hall
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 4/30/2007
(
Permanent Link
)
 Send to Friend
|
April 23, 2007
Jarvis Cocker
Monday, April 23 Jarvis Cocker Webster Hall $32
Ex-Pulp front-man, Jacko-mooner, intellectual and all-round style icon, Jarvis Cocker carries within him the same subversive, humorous and at times saucy reflections he did when making plans to “meet up in the year 2000” but perhaps minus some of the razzmatazz of his earlier efforts. His gifted underdog scribblings, hip-shaking and carefree fringe tossing remain intact after all these years (was it really 1995 when he and his cohorts headlined Glastonbury and overnight became a household name in the UK?) and he’s breezed beyond the Britpop window with the same apathy for convention as when he was miscast as one of its royalty. Highlights of the Rough Trade released Jarvis (just Jarvis!) include the Crimson and Clover-injected, Black Magic, Heavy Weather, Fat Children and From Auschwitz to Ipswich.
Tuesday, April 24 Patti Smith Bowery Ballroom $17
Legendary veteran punk artist Patti Smith returns to the stage having recently entered her 60’s. Who says that youth is wasted on the young? Though not commercially successful, Smith's influence across many music genres is immense. She is truly an icon of New York's original punk scene but her talent as a singer-songwriter, poet, and human rights advocate has seen her transcend any genre or label.
Wednesday, April 25 Death Of Fashion Club Midway $8
Musicians and evidently urban philosophers, Death Of Fashion are a NYC (via Indiana) 4-piece dedicated to 70’s influenced punk-meets-art-rock. They’re reminiscent of bands such as The Birthday Party and perhaps vocally some traces of Jim Morrison. The path Death Of Fashion walk is a well trodden one, especially given the city in which they’re drawing their influences but this is not enough to dismiss them. Their music still balances itself well against some of their contemporaries and manages to incorporate both dark (Soldier Soldier, Porcelain Voice) and light (These Days, Come Alone) interpretations which make them all the more difficult to pigeon hole – that can’t be at all bad now can it.
Thursday, April 26
The Fratellis Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza $17.75
Yes, it’s that iPod song you can’t get out of your head. You know the one by those Scots who just nabbed themselves a Brit Award earlier this year for "Best British Breakthrough Act"? The Fratellis may have arrived at the "brandy in the den" portion of the whole cross-over indie-rock dinner party but don’t dismiss them unduly because these lads know their way around a song (complete with bah-da-bahs!).
Friday, April 27
Cary Brothers Bowery Ballroom $20 door/ $18 adv
NYC.com has had enough pseudo-epic pop-rockers who seem more concerned with imitation rather than imagination. Cary Brothers (his name!) is best recognized as lending his song, Blue Eyes to the indie touchstone soundtrack to Garden State but with his debut album slated for release through Bluhammock music (May 29th) you’ll find captivating – dare I say it – U2esque offerings that manage to stay upright rather than twist and collapse under their own weight. Possibly a guilty pleasure but Brothers is one to keep an eye on. Check out the album’s title track, Who You Are.
Saturday, April 28 Dean & Britta Maxwell’s $15
New Zealand native and New York resident since 1977, Dean Wareham was an original member of the influential Indie outfit, Galaxie 500. He formed Luna in the early 90's who quietly achieved a solid fan base across the planet due to their breezy acoustic style that on occasion gestured in the direction of The Velvet Underground. It was in the latter stages of Luna (2000) that Britta Phillips joined the group and after seven albums, Luna broke up in 2005. Dean & Britta's sophomore album, Black Numbers is out now on Zoe/ Rounder Records.
Sunday, April 29
Modest Mouse Union Palace Theatre $37.50
Why be modest when you’ve stuck to your guns, evolved over more than a decade and come up with arguably the greatest record in your catalogue? Die-hards have spun on their heels and pushed their way through the Exit door with the release of the (always on point) Johnny Marr assisted, We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank. The ex-Smiths guitarist must be pleased as punch that the new and improved Modest Mouse line-up has resulted in the first US Billboard #1 for either band. Let the champagne flow.
Tags:
Billboard, Club Midway, Dean And Britta, Death Of Fashion, Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza, Galaxie 500, Glastonbury Festival, Indie Rock, iPod, Jarvis Cocker, Johnny Marr, Luna, Maxwells, Modest Mouse, New Music, NYC Bands, Patti Smith, Pulp, Punk Rock, Rough Trade, The Fratellis, The Smiths, U2, Union Palace Theatre, Webster Hall
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 4/23/2007
(
Permanent Link
)
Send to Friend
|
April 11, 2007
With their 3rd album due for a US release this month and shows booked for for May 14th (Bowery Ballroom) and 16th (Maxwell's), NYC.com caught up with Swede outfit Mando Diao to chat about their approach to writing and recording and what it is that makes NYC the city to perform.
Q: What does it mean to you, playing shows in NYC?
A: We love the New York shows. We feel the music history in the venues and this history hits us, gets into our veins, flows through us and gets out again, painting the walls with a new layer of music history. Unbeatable feeling. There’s also never any time to sleep. The crowd is hip, wild and alert. We’re fans of the New York fans, even those who’re not Rangers fans like us. We love all our fans, you see.
Q: Is there an advantage/ disadvantage in being a Swedish band touring the US?
A: It might be an advantage coming from Sweden since it´s considered a quite hip country, with great music and design and people who speak English well but say strange things. Although we've never seen ourselves as "a Swedish band". We still live in Sweden though – and lovin’ it – so OK, it’s quite a process touring in the US. To cover it you need to spend so much time and money. All the shopping takes time for example. But seriously, it’s all up to the great American people to demand that Mando Diao comes to visit more often. More fans, more opportunities.
Q: In returning to this city that has a real appreciation for your music, what do you hope for most in your live performance?
A: Bowery is a wonderful venue. Nothing can go wrong playing there. We know the crowd is great. It's gonna be a blast in all the ways you can think of.
Q: For people who are not yet familiar with your music, what song (yours or someone else's) most sums up the band?
A: Perhaps "You can't steal my love" or "Amsterdam". Maybe we should call it “New Amsterdam” when we play in New York City.
Q: The new album, Ode To Ochrasy is released in the US on April 24. What can your fans expect from this record?
A: Read the reviews, they’re all great and these people will let you know so much more eloquently. But melody, energy, raw power and not so user-friendly lyrics might sum it up. We all think this is our best album so far. It might also be some others best album too.
Q: Can you describe your approach as a band in writing and recording this new record?
A: Most of the songs were written during tours and rehearsed during sound-checks. We didn't want to learn the songs too well going in to the studio cause then you tend to lose a lot of the edgy live feeling. We started off working with a producer. Tried so many different studios all over Sweden. After a while we just got tired of everything taking such a long time. So we decided to phone up an old back-line tech/friend of ours. He has a tiny studio outside of Stockholm told him that we wanted to record the rest of the album there asap. That’s when we got a real feeling for the album. Everything just fell into place.
Q: Roky Erickson is soon to play a rare show at The Knitting Factory in NYC. Can you describe the influence he's had on your music?
A: Yeah, it must be rare as he’s busy 7 days a week in Austin it seems. We've listened a lot too his music during late night parties in hotels and dressing rooms. Especially the song "Night of the vampire" which Mats has a special very creepy dance to. He's coming out more it seems as he’s playing at the Swedish Hultsfred Festival this summer. Roky that is… Mats has not come out yet. By the way, we’re also performing at Hultsfred, so we will see him there for sure.
Q: If there was one thing you would want someone to leave your show with, what would that be?
A: As all we’ve seen is that people leave in a state of shock with a big smile on their face, it would be interesting with something new. How about if they leave with a new friend or a newfound love? People have been known to fall in love during our shows. That would be very New York to us.
Tags:
Knitting Factory, Mando Diao, New Music, Rory Erickson, Swedish Bands
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 4/11/2007
(
Permanent Link
)
Send to Friend
|
April 08, 2007
Youth Group
Monday, April 9
Iggy And The Stooges United Palace Theater $39.50 (All Ages)
Always concerning when veteran rockers get together and give it one last stab, isn’t it? Not so with the uber-lean Iggy. He’s by far the draw card here and prowls the stage with all the charisma, drama and presence that made The Stooges such a seminal punk outfit.
Tuesday, April 10 Youth Group Mercury Lounge $12
Toby Martin, Youth Group’s singer/ songwriter is gifted in his “story-telling” approach to writing lyrics. His songs convey a spectrum of emotions (no they’re not EMO) whether backed by achingly melancholic strings or Cameron Emerson-Elliot’s electrifying guitar stabs. Danny Allen’s powerful drum blasts and Patrick Matthews’ (ex-Vines) precision bass rhythms help to make this one of the great indie acts on the planet. Already being hailed as one of the album’s of 2007, Casino Twilight Dogs has finally been given a release on Epitaph and is a must for all good music fans.
Wednesday, April 11 Annuals Virgin Megastore, Union Square FREE
Taking some time out from their tour supporting Kaiser Chiefs (see below) Annuals are a N Carolina six-piece North Carolina outfit who play intelligent indie-folk- rock. Though often bunched together with Arcade Fire and the ilk, their sound is also reminiscent of Ed Harcourt and Augie March.
Thursday, April 12
Kaiser Chiefs Roseland Ballroom $31
Evidently Kaiser Chiefs are doing something right if they’re pulling a Roseland Ballroom sized crowd. These sassy Brits, the personification of all that was fun about the mid-nineties era Britpop movement give 110% to their live shows though they’re yet to surpass their songwriting highlight from a few years ago, I Predict A Riot. Perhaps not the “Menswear” of the current wave of Brit bands to make waves in the US, they’re also not the “Blur”.
Friday, April 13 Klaxons Studio B $10 adv/ $12 door
With a firm #1 UK album under their arms, Klaxons have the look, the songs and the momentum to make it stateside. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for this dynamic trio – get out your brightly colored cardigans and razor-thin jeans and get sweaty.
Saturday, April 14
The Gossip Knitting Factory $10 adv/ $12 door
The Gossip combine the powerful Rock n’ Soul vocals of front-woman, Beth Ditto with jerky guitar and funky bass lines. Think Janis Joplin minus the hippy sensibility and backed by Bloc Party and your headed in the right direction.
Sunday, April 15 Roky Erickson & The Explosives Bowery Ballroom $25
As front man of the highly influential, 13th Floor Elevators in the mid-sixties, Rory Erickson is famed for first describing his music as “psychedelic”. While injecting the San Francisco scene with much of its counter-cultural elements, Erickson’s edgy, electric blues has continued to inspire generations of musicians including REM, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Radio Birdman, Sonic Youth and The White Stripes.
Tags:
Annuals, Arcade Fire, Australian Bands, Bloc Party, Blur, Bowery Ballroom, Iggy and The Stooges, Janis Joplin, Kaiser Chiefs, Klaxons, Knitting Factory, Menswear, Mercury Lounge, REM, Rock n Soul, Roky Erickson, Sonic Youth, Studio B, The Gossip, The Jesun and Mary Chain, The White Stripes, United Palace Theater, Youth Group
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 4/8/2007
(
Permanent Link
)
Send to Friend
|
April 02, 2007
Albert Hammond Jr.
Monday, April 2
Albert Hammond Jr.
Bowery Ballroom
$17
The always-sharp Strokes guitarist, Albert Hammond Jr. has raised the bar (and some eyebrows) in recent weeks. After the underwhelming response to the recent Strokes album, First Impressions Of Earth, he’s trumped the very band who gave him his leg up. Hammond’s debut, Yours To Keep slays just about everything in its path and is instantly endearing.
Tuesday, April 3
Land Of Talk Union Hall $10
Land Of Talk are one of a seemingly infinite number of great bands to emerge from Montreal in the last couple of years. They gloriously combine a solid indie-rock base powerfully driven by vocalist, Elizabeth Powell who at times is reminiscent of Carly Simon and at others, Chan Marshall of Cat Power.
Wednesday, April 4 Sons and Daughters Bowery Ballroom $15
The prodigy of old-time dirty Rock n’ Roll and hard liquor, Scottish 4-piece Sons and Daughters perform with controlled aggression. At times lyrically dark, it’s easy to get swept away by the bravado of this stylish clan.
Thursday, April 5
Robert Gomez Union Hall $10
New York based Robert Gomez, creates both acoustic and electric driven tracks with a lush production style that sets him apart from the swathe of singer-songwriters drowning your stereo. Signed to Bella Union and having just released, Brand New Town, Gomez looks to be in fine form to repeat the success of label-mates, Midlake. Get on board before some music supervisor for a major indie film production company beats you to the punch.
Friday, April 6 Low Webster Hall $20
Delivering their 8th album Drums and Guns, slow-core veterans, Minnesota’s Low return to NYC. Their humor, unmistakably low-fi approach to making music and willingness to offer up new sensory experiences results in a unique and addictive musical cocktail.
Saturday, April 7 Sondra Lerche Webster Hall $25
With an aggressively Franz Ferndinand-esque title-track to his latest album, Phantom Punch - complete with jerky guitar, infectious hooks and generous amounts of high-hat - Sondre Lerche stands a better than even chance of stealing a few hearts while stateside. Be prepared to hear something familiar but with a refreshingly Scando twist.
Sunday, April 8 The Black Angels Luna Lounge $12 adv/ $14 door
Borrowing their name from the Velvet Underground’s track, “The Black Angel’s Death Song”, psychedelic rock mob, The Black Angels play the kind of music your parents would have listened to in the combi-van driving out to the dessert to take acid and braid hair. Now you too can afford to listen to The Black Angels and feel disillusioned with a government whose foreign policy is out of touch and a stance on war that defies justification as the death toll of young American soldiers continues to multiply.
Tags:
Albert Hammond Jr, Bella Union, Bowery Ballroom, Cat Power, Land Of Talk, Low, Robert Gomez, Sondra Lerche, Sons And Daughters, The Black Angels, The Strokes, Union Hall, Velvet Underground
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 4/2/2007
(
Permanent Link
)
Send to Friend
|
|
|
|
|