Not all the songs are hits, actually Merritt doesn’t have any hits, but he dug into more obscure material, playing ‘This Little Ukulele’, or ‘The Ugly Little Duck’ (from his Hans Christian Andersen musical) but all the songs were sung with lots of nuances and emotions, emphasizing his amazing low-plunging baritone especially during ‘Josephine’ or the bluesy ‘Xylophone track’
Rockwoods wasn’t a great fit earlier this year, Joe’s Pub is a better venue, with a larger stage and a better vibe for this soulful folk man, or do I mean this folkie soulman, it will give him the room he needs to perform (the Brooklyn Bowl gig was better because the stage was larger), and Joe’s Pub is for adults, it is part of the Public Theatre, it is pop as art venue.
On Saturday night at Avenue A’s Sidewalk Cafe is an unbeatable and completely unique line up, and one I can’t imagine us getting ever again. At 8pm the high heeled new Baby Jane herself, an intense performer with a voice you must hear Cheri Dahl, at 9pm the rock and roll bad ass Susan Said whose Big Life from last year will knock you for a loop, and topping it off, with The American Dream just released, post-punk blues avatar Phil Gammage’s new band Adventures In Bluesland. It is free, it is great, and if you are planning a night out, don’t even think about it twice, go.
I guess I’m a feminist in as much as I have never hit a woman once, even when she kind of deserved it, but Liz just knocked it out of the park on that album. A strong statement that just stuck a finger into the eye of every flannel clad prick in Chicago who decided he was going to start a grunge band
I prefer new Mariah to new U2, so what do I know. I may be the only person in the world to adore last years Me. I Am Mariah, a fine album marred by a crap name and way way way too many songs. But I loved it any way and regret blowing off the Beacon Theatre Christmas run (the bad taste from a lousy New Year’s Eve 2010 gig lingered), if it had been the show that just opened at the Coliseum in Ceasar’s Palace, I’d have found a way to catch it
“This event celebrates the world’s longest running science fiction TV series, features award-winning music written by Murray Gold and features well over 100 musicians, singers, and monsters live on stage”
Whipkey’s strong lyrical command and virtuoso guitar work is equally mesmerizing. He’s currently touring his much- anticipated follow up “Underwater”, a collection Rock NYC raved as a, “Purists dream of electrified awesomeness.”
They were announcing the FYF fest lineup this morning on KCRW, just when I was driving to work, and I have heard the big news which will probably please half of Los Angeles and beyond: Morrissey is headlining!! Good luck with that Sean Carlson! Have you been thinking about a plan B, because Morrissey may cancel at the last minute. But seriously, are you ready for a vegan FYF fest? Because he will demand it, right?
This year looks pretty damn good as well. Another West Coast superstar, Mikal Cronin, headlining among the first list of names, and undoubtedly we will be getting some names as we get closer. July 11th, right after Independence Day, so there is an added plus.
I am happy to hear New York represented upfront, “New Romantics” is a little odd for the second song, and “Blank Space maybe a touch early? Since Taylor isn’t given to encores, I guess there was no reason to leave it for a late sock in the jaw. “Love Story” didn’t get a bigger than anything else reception, as much to do with the mammoth success of the newbie no doubt. All five from Jingle Ball 2014 are represented…
I really had no clue when this mysterious band was opening for Lightning Bolt at the Echoplex on Sunday night, and they turned out to be a very experimental electronic duo, using a giant harp and a table full of electronics, and making a sort of lugubrious horror-movie soundtrack.
I am not claiming she had to perform if she wasn’t well enough to perform, I am claiming she needed to give an account of herself. I wish Prass a long and healthy career, but if she ever isn’t healthy, I wish her the good manners to explain herself properly.
Natalie Prass may be just another Twenty Feet from Stardom overeaching back up singer, her debut album hasn’t stuck and her voice is a little light and a little strange. but the uniqueness works to her favor, and the reason why she hasn’t stuck is because her songs are lush and quirky and lush at the same. The verdict is out till Monday at the Bowery Ballroom.
My buddy Phil Tanner, a great musician in his own right, was at yesterday’s Blur concert, the one I couldn’t get a ticket too for love nor money, and claims they murdered it. I believe him though by reckoning only three songs are oldies and I am not a big enough fan of the new one to be certain they can pull it off a Thirteen.
Trotting out the same set he was been playing for the past year, last night at Madison Square Garden, in celebration of his 70th birthday, when playing God Clapton still had godlike tendencies, but when going rural on our ass he sure wasn’t
“Woman (Oh Mama)”, Joy’s first song off her summer release is a soaring to heights proto-feminist melodic dirge with an African background of chants like Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It is a strange amalgam of sound; not just unlike early Civil Wars, unlike the latterday Civil Wars who were throwing up Portishead (not to mention Michael Jackson) cover versions.
Sufjan Stevens – Beacon Theatre – April 11th – With the album of the year under Sufjan’s belt, here he was performing it live on stage and you could have heard a pin drop, a magnificent performance of (mostly) an album that changes what the term “confessional” means
The first time I saw Blur live was at the Academy in 1994 and they were magnificent, and, till their break up circa 2003, I saw them every time they played New York and they never let me down
So Eric Clapton has been talking about retirement for a year now and these two nights celebrating his 70th birthday sure has the feel of a sirens call. Clapton is one of the blues greats and when I saw him maybe two years ago, he hadn’t lost anything. Indeed, he was better than the well dressed popstar of the 1990s. The only thing stopping me buying one of these shows, Friday and Saturday at MSG, is I am worried the Rangers, who just made it to the second round, are gonna force Eric to move the dates. So I am waiting. If they don’t, I’m there.
It was, as you might expect from a retrospective show (“THE WHO HITS 50!”), hit after hit after hit from that point on. Roger was in fine voice and he continues to defy Father Time with his G.I. Joe action-figure chest threatening to burst free from a barely buttoned shirt
Even if they are playing Webster Hall when they should be at Madison Square Garden, even so, they are a powerful, articulate, smart band of brothers where one brother left too early. It was wonderful to see them, they are such close good friends with such strong and true political convictions. They remind you why you laugh at UK rock at your own risk
The current version of Styx does a much better job of replicating the band’s recorded output than DeYoung’s group, which had a decidedly Vegas sound. Both the guitarists had extended solo turns throughout the night, displaying every cliché in the 1970’s I’m-a-shredding-hot-poop-guitar-hero arsenal. This is a show that someone could enjoy for pure camp for about half an hour, but that’s only 25% of the evening.
LA Font is a quartet which sure shows a lot of energy on stage, playing strong and sophisticated indie rock songs and a sound quite hard to define: some foot-tapping pop melodies, a few layered and loud guitars, building a rock sound which seem to be borrowing from the mid 90’s scene,
Of those I am seeing, Ed is always a blast live and should have no problems rocking the joint. I do wonder if he has an actual band yet? James Taylor I had tickets at MSG last winter but found myself in Florida instead, and Alabama Shakes have a terrific new album, so, yeah, let it rock.
After watching the taping of tonight’s Jimmy Kimmel episode (with the obnoxious Dr. Phil and boxer Manny Pacquiao), Chet Faker arrived on stage and, as it is usually the case for the Jimmy Kimmel show, played two songs recorded for TV, then 3 more for the crowd’s unique pleasure
News of a new eight date tour why exciting in theory, I’ve never seen him live and would love to, in the UK, which includes hot room like the lLbert Hall in London, in support of a Peggy Lee in Latin mode tribute album Latin ala G (I agree, but not my call init?) his twenty third album!!!, he won’t make the trip to nyc.
It was all strategic. Playing a bigtime media gig at New York City Winery , Monday night, with a bad cold, a hacking cough, a million miles from the high notes, and the media, including Billboard, out in numbers to watch her present her fine 2014 album The Way I’m Livin’, the only way Lee Ann Womack could get through the set without capsizing into fits or losing her voice was through a strategy
if this name does not ring a bell for you, let’s just say he plays in the popular band Tame Impala! The psych-pop Aussie band was playing at Coachella and this can explain why Cameron was around, but he is more than a bassist in an ascending-to-fame young band
On stage she matched a passion for music, a sweet but slightly dry vocal, with a charm that felt like we were sharing her life, she let us in, like a door cracked just a little and you could see Shires through Jason’s eyes.
Forgive him if you will, one thing for sure, Muse’s gig on May 8th at Webster Hall (they are playing an invite only gig the next day at IHEARTRADIO Theatre) should be quite an invent. They filled MSG, they should blow the roof off Webster Hall… but I’m not going.
I was reminded recently by a close friend about a line I’d written from the Diamond review of ten years ago, where from the 2nd row, I’d seen pain in his face as he sang of stories that years before had broken his heart. This time, I saw none of that. Just a polished production and a songwriter relying a lot on his star power. He’s a legend and he knows it.
I could tell the audience was mixed, made of old timers punks, probably following Mike’s career since the good old days, and young lookers, part of the usual crowd at Space 15Twenty, the mini-mall which harbors stores like Free People and Urban Outfitters, selling the Bohemian-Coachella look to hipsters
Noah Lennox was not even hiding this time, still standing behind what it looked like a very complex soundboard, connected to a million electric threads but gloriously playing in front of colorful video projections, bigger and more kaleidoscopic than ever… may be he has read all these critiques calling his music, precisely, a kaleidoscope of sounds,
“Solitary Drinking”, “I Hope You Dance”, “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” –three great Lee Ann Womack songs right off the top of my head, though really, just about anything from last year’s The Way I’m Livin’ will do just fine from this wonderful country singer, will be joined by Amanda Shire, who plays a mean fiddle and whose 2013 Down Fell The Doves, is pretty good… not to mention Amanda’s work with her husband Jason Isbell, at City Winery on Monday .
If Hadreas was the queen of the night, Interpol were the kings, bringing their powerful guitars in full action and having a triumphant night. The crowd was so enthusiastic, they had to come for a second encore, and, toward the end of the show, some puissant girls pushed people to get in the front, and even started a serious brawl just behind me
So figure this as an evening of neo-black blues and soul for the masses, all that’s missing is Kendrick. This is black mafia as black art. But really, there is no one D’Angelo can out do his Apollo gig and while I wouldn’t mind seeing either guy again… on a Sunday night???
A lot more people were catching Action Bronson than I imagined and also, despite a ragging from me for his Best Buy appearance last year, Bronson was actually pretty darn good. A killer version of “Easy Rider” was quite the surprise as was his (relatively speaking, he’s a big lad), the athleticism with which he jumped off the audience to mix and match with the audience.
He jumped in the pit, making sure to shake everyone’s hands, signing vinyl, posing for selfies,… people were rushing at the front, I got crushed, and I wasn’t even really trying to fight, but when Tillman arrived at my level, I saw his blue eyes, his hand reaching mine for a frank handshake and I heard a ‘Thank you for coming’… wow, what was the myth he was trying to build?
This moment of the show transported me back to being a little boy watching The Muppets with my parents on the floor of our Queens’ apartment living room. The magic spread throughout the Carlyle as the audience joined Debbie for a pop culture singalong that only Debbie could provide.
Most of his songs are delivered in a slow pace, with a melancholic, solemn, almost severe tone, that was inspiring respect and a complete silence from the public who seemed to have been composed of the quietest people I had ever been with. He had more upbeat tunes, but, even there, the moaning and the mourning dominated the climate.
Vocals are front row in her music, and her very pretty and piercing voice was harmonizing very high with another girl’s backup vocals, over romantic pop songs,… sure, what else? This is a love column after all! The songs were very poppy and upbeat
I would have loved to have said a few words to Butch Hancock after the show – about how much his music has meant to me and it was an honor to see him perform, but I felt like I needed to leave quickly to avoid another manufactured confrontation. So, Danny Boy, don’t worry about profiling me in your club again, because I’ll never be back. And, if you don’t like this pic of Butch Hancock that I took during his soundcheck, sue me.
Though what Stevens realizes is, he is his mother’s son, some of what hurt her he has in him, the same lostness that moved her neglect moves his inability to break the distance. On stage at the Beacon Theatre, Stevens didn’t breakthrough, didn’t save her, himself or us. It was just a concert, after all.
Morrissey’s last album was the iffy World Peace Is None Of Your Business, where he insulted his label Harvest, told them they don’t have a contract with him, and they pulled the album off all internet services, including ITunes. In what amounts to a first, Moz managed to make me feel sorry for a record label.
I saw Earl Sweatshirt back when he was just a name Tyler dropped, till he invited Earl on stage at Hammerstein Ballroom back in 2012, one of the best concerts of the decade and the legend became a goofy looking teen. Two albums later and Earl and Frank have emerged as the two OFs always worth the while, and the last time I saw Earl on stage, Tyler joined him on strage and they were seriously awesome. With the superb I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside under his belt, this Saturday night gig at Best Buy is a must see.
Nick Cave can fill the 600 seats of the Grauman’s Egyptian theater, and just discuss his new book while not singing a single song? The evening was priced as high as a musical performance and the performance part was limited to him reciting a few of his incredible texts, but at this point many people (me included) would pay to see him just reading the phone book
“My name is very sugary, but my personality is very spicy. My mom used to call me a little ball of fire. I love hard. I hate hard. I play hard, but if you calm me down, I can be gentle. That’s what this album is. It shows the true essence of who I really am as a person, as an artist.”
So in anticipation to Nick Cave’s discussion about ‘The Sick Bag Song’, here is the review I wrote following his show at the Fonda in February 2013… Tonight, someone in the audience reminded him how amazing this particular show was,… although Nick Cave said at one point he never remembers anything about his performances.
So how much you enjoyed it depends on how much you still get off on the Stones darkly through the past energetically songs. Me? I don’t get off on it the way I used to and the bigger the song the more tired I am. From “Jumping Jack Flash” to Satisfaction” , “Tumbling Dice”, “Brown Sugar” this was the Stones as written and a little less.
The final night of a three week tour, imagine Television covering Neil Young and you’ll have a sense of the intense beauty but not the immense self confidence at work here. It’s like a bequietuded loud psychedelia.It is the sound of a bloke in charge of his easel, or at least his paintbrushes, the songs are unrushed and uncluttered, it is the sinking sound of past imperfect.
