Bottle blonde Alex York is a cool friendly charmer on stage at the Studio at Webster Hall. He struts the stage with a mix of arrogance and diffidence and sings his catchy pure pop for now people with conviction, helped along by a pretty good guitarist.
"Maybe later", he says to one fine who wants him to take off his tank top, "I'll sign anything legal" he tells another. And then with a charming smile sells us on another song.
Among the things that make York a potential star is his obsession with Japan, where he lived in the past. The Japanophile sings his last song in both languages, calls his latest single, about the rise and fall of a Japanese pop star, Alex tells us, "Tokyo Heartbreak" as he pays tribute to his other favorite city.
As always you can tell a band by its choice of covers and a fabulous "Womanizer" has York giving his all and straddling the line between dance, pop, and rock. It is an assured performance.
The penultimate number, "Push And Pull" is his best, a slice of heaven disguised as yet another dysfunctional relationship, and local boy York did himself nothing but favors with an ingratiating , fan friendly half hour of catchy pop with an oriental flavor. 20% of all proceeds from his new single "Tokyo Heartbreak" goes to relief for Japan after the nuclear accident, so go to alexyork.com and help out.
Grade: B+