Future At Governors Ball, Friday June 5th 2015
I wish I’d left Charli earlier and caught more of his excellent set.
Live
Charlie XCX At Governors Ball, Friday June 5th 2015
Starting with an electrified with “Sucker” this is hot pop punk.
Gorgon City At Governors Ball, Friday June 5th 2015
Gorgon City perform first rate House Music and soulful and extremely fun disco via London and they are much better live with a chick singer who can roar and an energetic kick ass attitude
Rae Sremmurd At Governors Ball, Friday June 5th 2015
Rae Sremmurd are the two lively young brats who look like Will Smith’s brats but with you know real talent
DIIV At Governors Ball, Friday June 5th 2015
Right now New Yorks DIIV have stopped acting out your dreams (you remember Alysons story the other day) and are playing some buzzed out fuzzed out guitar indie gear.
The People Under The Stairs At Governors Ball, Friday June 5th 2015
Good guys by definition this is all turntable and all really really awesome with a word to the good fold: let the weed take over your soul they advise. And the raps. They end with an Animals sample, and turns us into hippies.
Governors Ball Kicks In With Black Pistol Fire Friday 5th 2015
It’s raining but not too much and the waft of marijuana is already in the air as Austin,Texas Black
Oldies But Goldies: Remember The Worst Governors Ball Ever, Where Were You In 2013???
Two years ago today -more or less, I took my VIP ticket and stuck it in my ear at Governors Ball as torrential rain poured down for the entire day, eventually cancelling the activities. Man, was I upset and swore I’d never go back again and might have kept to it except, the weather improved for the next two days and then I was thisclose for West’s great performance on the Sunday and so whomp -there I was
Duncan Sheik ing It Off On The Road During A Summer awakening
Far be it for me to just cut and paste some Press Release… ah screw it, who am I kidding? I’ve never met a press release I couldn’t cut and paste if the mood took me! I was never a big Sheik fan till “Spring Awakening” and “Spring Awakening” was the epitome of a modern Broadway musical
Oldies But Goldies: Lily Allen At Roseland, April 20th, 2009
(This is less than two weeks into rock nyc and I was still trying to simplify my writing to the very bare bones, and not finding it easy. Reading this review is a reminder as to how great Lily was, and how meh she became. I happened to be listening to Martha Wainwright earlier today and the same thing happened to her… they couldn’t sustain it
Girlpool At Amoeba, Tuesday June 2nd 2015
There’s something so artisanal and DIY in their attitude, they arrived with a school notebook in which they write their setlists as if they were entries for their common girl dairies. During the whole set, the two girls seemed so in phase with each other, having some funny and almost intimate chatting between the singing parts, and totally connecting during the songs, looking like two perfect accomplices
JD McPherson At Amoeba, Monday June 1st 2015
JD McPherson gave a really great show to the Amoeba crowd, playing a set full of a vibrant energy deeply rooted in American music history. Despite his young age, McPherson transports his audience in an early-Elvis era, as his 50’s-inspired music sounds like a Sun Records throwback
JD McPherson At Amoeba, Monday June 1st 2015
JD McPherson gave a really great show to the Amoeba crowd, playing a set full of a vibrant energy deeply rooted in American music history. Despite his young age, McPherson transports his audience in an early-Elvis era, as his 50’s-inspired music sounds like a Sun Records throwback
The Best Of 2015: Concerts Through May 31st, 2015
Azealia Banks – May 11th – Irving Plaza – This is it folks, in the battle of the women rappers (not to mention men rappers) we have a winner. Banks does everything she said she would, dances, raps, boogies down, takes us on. Pump-parrrrump-pa-rrum-pump
Courtney Barnett At The Roxy, Saturday May 30th, Review
And after much more stage action and ‘Lance Jr’ (a song which certainly has a strong Nirvana vibe), I got this revelation, Courtney Barnett was totally channeling Kurt Cobain! She commanded the scene like a guy, sweeping the room with an impressive force, while being all over the place, unpredictable, creative and destructive
The Gotobeds At Cake Shop, Saturday, May 30th, 2015, Review
the 30 minute set was a brimming with smarts, fast loud with prog rock influences and a smirk on their face joy, and way too friendly not to make friends and way too funny not to be adored and way way way too exciting not be loved.
The Bangles At The Troubadour, Friday May 29th 2015, Review
Bangles have always stayed on the cute side of power-pop and never really ventured to punk energy. But they got into more action with bluesier guitars later on, especially when Kathy Valentine from the GoGo’s joined them on stage for their famous hit ‘Manic Monday’ and a few other gems
Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week of June 1st, 2015
OK, we all know where this is going so why fight it, right? Three days of love, peace and music in the Bronx, it is GOVERNORS BALL WEEK!!! fave: Kate Tempest, Noel Gallagher, Drake, Florence And The Machine, Bjork, Flying Lotus, Weird Al… and more. The only real disaster is Saturday evening, everything else, even Lana Del rey at the end of Sunday, should be fun on Randall’s Island.
Ed Sheeran At Forest Hills Stadium, Thursday, May 28th, 2015, review
The stage was a beauty, the lighting dramatic and the screens like a Greek chorus of Ed’s one moment, and then individual (during “Thinking Out Loud” the music video played on one screen right behind him). The result was a world of Ed’s or only two Ed’s, but always a flux of concepts echoing the songs, which can’t really withstand too much
Will Butler At The Troubadour, Wednesday May 27th 2015, Review
I saw Will at the Troubadour last night, and it was a very pleasant show, laid back and filled with humor and energy, a very intimate one too, as I was standing as close as you can get, still mad at the strict policy of the Troubadour not allowing decent cameras inside (I never have this problem when I go to a show on the eastside) and imagining all the good shots I could have made of Will’s funny poses and comic moves.
Bakersfield Breakers, The 2015 Equivalent To The Raybeats, Are Playing This Weekend
Here are another two chances to catch up with the sound of secret agent men all over the world, rock and roll as it was always meant to be, when the Bakersfield Breakers are playing Route 66 Smokehouse on Saturday from 9 to 12 and playing Jalopy Theater on Sunday at 7.
WOW!!!! Super Furry Animals To Headline Four Knots, Saturday, July 11th, 2015
Now this is a biggie for Four Knots. To be dead honest, it is their biggest ever. Wales’ fave Super Furry Animals, a band I put a tier below Manic Street Preachers but that’s it, came back on active duty in 2014, and haven’t played the States since 2009. This will be their first stateside gig since then and honestly, I couldn’t be more thrilled.
“The Who Hits 50” At Barclay Center, Tuesday, May 26th, 2015, Reviewed
What Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry prove on this last Autumnal tour is decay is a process of the body first, the brain follows it sadly and Tuesday night, we followed the Who down, as they seemed bother eternally Mod kids (I mean the opening, better portion of the show) and elder statesmen battling forces beyond their control. They were kids in old men’s bodies.
Joan Jett And The Blackhearts At Barclay Center, May 26th, 2015, Reviewed
Would I have wanted “Tulane”? Sure. “Fake Friends”? -I’d have taken “Fake friends” over “Cherry Bomb”. “Star Star”? Fuck yeah. But the diminutive spitfire looked ageless and sounded timeless and she had no problem filling an arena. Long may Joan be what she is.
Aaron Embry At The Satellite, Monday May 25th 2015
I don’t think there are a lot of people like Aaron Embry left in this world, people who put such a real emotion in a performance, people who dare to start a set with two a cappella covers in order to celebrate Memorial Day
The Gotobeds At Cake Shop On Saturday, May 30th, 2015
I’m going, though it is gonna be a long night (looks like till midnight), I’ve wanted to catch the band for months now and finally I don’t have to go to fucking Brooklyn. I’ve haven’t been to a club.. oh wait, I went last week. Anyway, I’m still going
Paul McCartney’s Epic Three Hour, 41 Song Concert At 02, Last Night May 24th, 2015
When Bruce Springsteen performs a three hour set we get 30 songs, when Paul McCartney does the same length set we get 25% more as last nights truly epic 41 song set at London’s 02 proves unhesitatingly. Paul is the Ramones of 60s rockers!
Governor’s Ball Nearing Sell Out
That leaves only Three Day GA and some superduper expensive tickets which, when my ship comes in, and let’s be honest, unless more of you cats read this music website might not be in this lifetime, I would buy in a heartbeat
Oldies But Goldies: Ed Sheeran At Mercury Lounge In 2012!
With Ed off on his stadium tour, which reaches New York this week, I thought it might be worth remembering his set at Mercury Lounge three and a half years ago. Already a star in the UK, he hadn’t broken the US yet, hadn’t become best friends forever with Taylor Swift and hadn’t recorded the double album X. Though he was still thinking out loud… at the 200 capacity Mercury Lounge!!
Taylor Swift’s Concerts Are Too Short
“If this album hadn’t been so impactful to the fans, if they hadn’t gone out and broken so many records and made sure that I knew that this album was the most important one to them and the one they liked the most, I probably would have had to pull more old hits into the set.”
Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of May 25th, 2015
The Who never really recovered from Keith Moon’s death, and that’s true: it was a bigger disaster than you can even begin to imagine, despite Moon falling apart in the last few years. And the complaints about the 2013 tour? Not exactly unwarranted. But I end up with my Beethoven comparison… would you say “yeah, I don’t wanna see Ludwig, he’s too old and he’s deaf”? Neither would I. I’m going to Tuesday a Barclay Center. They’re also playing Saturday at Forest Hills.
Holly Miranda At Mrs. Fish, Thursday. May 21st 2015, Reviewed
Her songs often had an unconventional and unexpected structure, but at the first listening, I could tell that the tone was personal and intimate, giving the type of performance you can only call authentic in default of another word. ‘This is the most honest thing I’ve ever made.”
Ed Sheeran Plays Forest Hills Next Thursday, May 28th, So Here Is The Setlist
I like the kid a lot, but don’t love him, still he has a handful of cracker songs. Two of his best songs are here, one of them “Even My Dad Does Sometimes” is MIA. Plus a little skimpy? I figure he is giving 90 minutes.
Oldies But Goldies: Jay Z Opens Barclay Center, September 2012
Back three years to opening night at the Barclay Center and the vibe around Jay Z’s performance is mammoth. I wish I was writing back in the “Fade To Black” reunion days… mow that was a concert. This one? It didn’t live up to the hype but what does, right? 2012, Hov was still a minority stock holder and Barclay Center was opening..
Governors Ball, Sunday, June 7th, 2015: Line Up With Set Times
If Saturday was all about leaving early, Sunday is all about arriving late/. The show doesn’t start proper till Sturgill Simpson at 3pm, and, if you wanna be difficult, skip him and arrive really late for A-TRAK, but once you reach there is a whole lotta tough choices. War On Drugs or weird Al? Noel Gallagher is a gimme, but Hot Chip or Flying Lotus or Lana Del Rey or the Black Keys?
The Rolling Stones At Fonda Theatre, Yesterday, Setlist 2015
Moonlight Mile” is the one that has caught my eye,”Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”? The sequence of song is different from the album, probably because they wanted to hold on to “Brown Sugar” till late. Plus BB King and Otis Redding for the encore.
Governors Ball, Saturday June 6th, 2015: Line Up With set Times
This is an odd day, Saturday starts off awesome, Kate Tempest, the English rapper, Clean Bandit, who I’ve been trying to see for a year now, J Roddy is always a blast, Marina, Sharon, Bjork and Conor at the same time (sorry Conor, I want more Bjork) and then… Ryan Adams headlining? Against Deadmau5? –fuck that shit, I’m going home.
Governors Ball Friday June 5th, 2015, Line Up With Set times
So here we go, sixteen days and the nyc festival of the year hits and I will take a closer look at each day. It sure seems to me, the big draw closers on Friday should be a repeat of Skrillex versus Jack White last year, Drake is going to have 75% of the attendants. Me? I haven’t seen MMJ since New Year’s Eve 2008 and I saw Drake twice last year…
Tanlines At Amoeba, Tuesday May 19th 2015, Reviewed
I can’t hide that these songs could have afford a bit more enthusiasm, should I say that a lot of people were enjoying the beats and the mellow ambiance, even dancing between the CDs rows? The last song, ‘Real Life’ off their 2012 album ‘Mixed Emotion’ had more Brazilian, or at least exotic, beats and brought more fun, although it reminded me about something Moby could have done may be?
City Parks Foundation Summerstage 30th Anniversary Featuring Tedeschi Trucks band At Central Park, Monday, May 18th, 2015, reviewed
Trucks just keeps on firing; and at Summerstage, in what amounts to mostly a business as usual gig, his explosive playing whether quiet vibey or loud guns afire, was what we were there for. Trucks, with his long goatee and skinny studied intensity is more like one of the more minor Old Testament Prophets then a rock star, looked to have just joined the big leagues of guitar heroes last night
Oldies But Goldies: An Imaginary John Lennon Concert Reviewed (from 2009!)
At the birth of rock nyc Helen Bach, Mike Nessing, and I did a lotta hi-jinx we don’t do now. Sometimes we would do 30 posts in a day. For awhile we wrote reviews of imaginary concerts. Here is a Lennon one from 2009, because everytime I put my finger on Walls And Bridges, it slips away
KROQ Weenie Roast Y Fiesta At Irvine Meadows Amphitheater, Saturday, May 16th, 2015, Reviewed
Muse has established a sound and a look, dark and damn serious, with retro-sci-fi-looking outfits, they performed as if they were doing a Shakespearian play with battles directed by David Lynch and scored by Ennio Morricone,… well they used ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ at one point.
“AH Presents Sexy Spring Is In The Air” At Sidewalk Cafe, Saturday, May 16th, 2015 Reviewed
They kept the momentum always, straight forward, and swinging and hitting. It seems like a decision was made to rearrange the sound so it was more of a rock and roll fervor than a blues jazz discipline.The price we paid for some gorgeous workouts was a loss of nuance.
U2 Setlist For Second Vancouver Night 2015: Different But Not Entirely
The setlist hits me as better despite a surfeit from the current one. Both “Mysterious Ways” and “Better Than The Real Thing” remain, plus they finally roll out “One” (if missing one night since 2010 can be defined as finally).
Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks, Week Of May 18th, 2015
It is City Park Foundation’s 30th anniversary of Summerstage, the arts but mostly musical citywide free concert spectacular. They are kicking things with this early opening concert at Summerstage in Central Park on Monday, featuring one of the biggest jam bands around, the Tedeschi Trucks Band. Expect a lotta BB Kings covers… and for free.
U2 Opened Their Tour In Vancouver Yesterday, Here Is Their (First) Setlist 2015
Er, I love U2 live even if I can’t much take em on record but really… to evoke his childhood this way is to provoke nausea in most people. I get it though, it is like Smallville and wee little Bono is the Superboy dreaming of saving the world.
Shelby Lynne At The Concert Hall, Thursday, May 14th, 2015, Reviewed
She is too strange, too flighty, she is too bizarre to be fun to watch, opening her arm wide and basking in the spotlight like it was the sun, there is strangeness in her performance that won’t let you give into it. It’s a little similar to the way you can’t quite enjoy Brian Wilson: she isn’t playing with a full deck. You’re not sure if she is on drugs, but if she is on drugs, it is harder than weed.
Foo Fighters Perform All Covers Gig, Here Is The Setlist
“I’m just a rhythm guitar player in this band, but Taylor makes me sing once in a while.” So says Dave Grohl, goof off guitarist with Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins and his side project, Chevy Meta. Saturday Chevy Neta were performing at Conejo Valley Days in Thousand Oaks in Cali when Grohl and Foo lead guitarist Chris Shiflett for a 19 song all covers set.
Oldies But Goldies: Paul McCartney At Yankee Stadium, July 2011
I say it here and I’ve said it often, when it comes to big musical stars you lose nothing when you tell the truth. If you didn’t write that Surfer Blood’s Python was a bummer, what could I say about 1000 Palms, for you to trust me that it is a goodie. I’ve seen McCartney a couple of times since this show, but this one was the masterpiece
Azealia Banks At Irving Plaza, Monday, May 11th, 2015, Reviewed
Banks energy was astounding, it was hot and you could see her sweating and hard, but she never stopped, never gave it up. Her flow was flawless as well, the songs are great any way but she pounced on them and spit them out with both power and feeling, she rapped them in saliva and style, her tone, her spacing, and her dancing, it was a straight joy to watch her.