CMJ 2008 Day 5 in Photos | 10.25.08
Oakley Hall @ Mercury Lounge
The Rosebuds @ Mercury Lounge
Broken West @ Mercury Lounge
Portastatic @ Mercury Lounge
Wye Oak @ Mercury Lounge
Music Tapes @ Mercury Lounge
A Place to Bury Strangers @ Music Hall of WIlliamsburg
Ruby Suns @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Crystal Antlers @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Uglysuit @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
CMJ 2008 Day 4 in Photos | 10.24.08
Ruby Suns @ Pianos
Oxford Collapse @ Pianos
The Dutchess & The Duke @ Pianos
sBach @ Pianos
Death Vessel @ Pianos
Cotton Jones @ Pianos
Feel Better, Justin Kennedy
Army Navy
Union Hall, 10.28.08 Sometimes an album hits you and it's all that you can listen to. It becomes an obsession, an addiction that you can't fight the need to fight.
In the past month, Army Navy's self-titled debut has been exactly that. Full of hooks reminiscent of classic Teenage Fanclub, it's no wonder how they ended up with a song on the Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist soundtrack. If mp3s had grooves, then I'd have worn them out. Luckily, they don't, and so I continue to listen feverishly.
During CMJ week, other obligations kept me from catching their performance at Union Pool, but I was aware that they'd be back in Brooklyn to play the better "Union" venue, Union Hall.
Last night was the night, and after a week of CMJ, I was worn thin and in dire need of rest, but that wasn't going to stop me. I was set on catching this great new band from the Silverlake scene. At work, I watched as the clock kept ticking faster, but the work kept piling up. A race had begun. With the band scheduled to play at 9:30, it seemed like a lost cause when I fled the office at that very time. Sure, concerts never start on time (CMJ provided plenty of proof on that), but that trek to Park Slope can be a long one.
When I finally exited the Union Street stop on the R, I immediately bumped into my colleague Greg Burgett, and we quickly headed to Union Hall, actually arriving early enough to catch the last song of the preceding band. Shortly thereafter, Army Navy took the stage, and with hardly any voice at all, frontman Justin Kennedy announced to the crowd that he was incredibly sick, but would try to perform for us.
The four song set that followed was almost painful to watch. Not because it was bad, but because you could see the frustration of the band. Kennedy, who really shouldn't have even been trying to sing in his state, apologized over and over. Usually equipped with a sweet, smooth voice, he sounded more like Dylan choking on gravel, often losing his voice entirely midway through a verse. The illness and frustration carried over to his guitar playing as well, while the rest of the band did their best to passionately carry the performance.
It wasn't a good set, but you can't blame the band. They gave everything they could, especially on set closer "My Thin Sides," in which Kennedy exhausted every last drop of energy to have in attempt to overcome his illness.
Feel better Justin. We know your better than this. You'll just have to return to NYC soon to show us. Until then, I'll have your brilliantly poppy record to hold me over.
Photo by Travis Schneider
Pendulum Wraps Up First US Tour at Bowery Ballroom
Pendulum
Bowery Ballroom, 10.26.08
"It's been a long day, long week, long month, long year, but we don't give a fuck!" shouted Ben "The Verse" Mount, frontman of Australian band Pendulum.
Yes, it has been a long week. In fact, the past week of CMJ hysteria destroyed me. I find it hard to stand, and I'm suffering temporary hearing loss in my right ear, which in turn puts my whole body off balance.
My first attempt for recovery came on Sunday with a long lazy day of laying around watching bad TV (Degrassi) and bad movies on TV (Mod Squad). Unable to go cold turkey from concerts, I once again found myself in front of a live band. This time it was at Bowery Ballroom and the band was Australian drum and bass/rock act Pendulum.
No idea what to expect, a few drinks were quickly poured down my throat. Pendulum had just sold out Webster Hall the night before as part of CMJ, and Sunday night was to be the final show of their first ever American tour.
Already playing huge venues in Europe and other parts of the world, Pendulum has only begun to make a splash in the US, but that was hardly noticeable at the Bowery Ballroom, where fans packed the house and danced passionately through the entire beat-driven set.
After being used to indie shows where fans stand still with arms crossed, it was refreshing to see people acting openly passionate about music. And why is it that indie kids hardly dance at all? Are we just that depressed and self-aware that we can't dance?
Supporting their new album, In Silico, Pendulum's sound is a combination of influences of bands like Prodigy and stadium rock. They even use the same lighting guy as Prodigy. Motivated for big things, their shows are energetic and exciting to watch, and after a recent tour with industrial rock legends Nine Inch Nails, they are spending time with right type of bands to learn how to make their shows bigger and better.
CMJ 2008 Day 3 in Photos | 10/23/08
Asa Ransom @ The Delancey
The Dears @ Hiro Ballroom
Eulogies @ Hiro Ballroom
The Muslims @ Pianos
CMJ 2008 Day 1 in Photos | 10.21.08
- Cloud Cult @ Knitting Factory
- Paramount Styles @ Knitting Factory
CMJ Music Marathon Begins Today
Athletes train for months in preparation for a marathon. For the CMJ Music Marathon I prepared myself by putting myself through a rigorous schedule of shows for about 6 months straight, getting very little sleep. But, as I said, there is no reason to go crazy, which is why I've gone through and made a list of the 10 bands to see during CMJ. If you live in NYC, don't spend all your time going to see Vivian Girls, Crystal Stilts and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. They're all great, but they play here every night anyway, so go see these bands:
Music Tapes, Unicycle Loves You, The Dears, Eulogies, Ruby Suns, Army Navy, Paramount Styles, Au, sBach, The Rumble Strips
See a full schedule of CMJ shows here
The Secret Machines Still Rock
The Secret Machines/T.K. Webb & The Visions
Webster Hall
10.18.08
Over a year ago, guitarist Benjamin Curtis left The Secret Machines to form School of Seven Bells with twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, formerly of On! Air! Library!. Before then, Curtis and brother Brandon and drummer Josh Garza were on a clear path of rising stardom in the indie rock universe. With each album, the band was building onto their epic "space rock" sound which has drawn comparisons to bands like Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Ride.
After Benjamin's departure, the future of the band was left uncertain, though the remaining two members made it clear they'd soldier on. Word of mouth spread that The Secret Machines were no longer as great, and expectations fell. Seeing them at Webster Hall on Saturday night, it was clear that I wasn't the only one who's expectations had fallen. The venue was not even close to full capacity for a band who could once easily fill a space that size.
With an interesting stage set-up, the trio (now featuring Phil Karnats on guitar) was quick to shatter those low expectations with an explosive set, heavy with new material from their exceptional new self-titled album. In Karnats, the band has found a legitimate replacement for a seemingly irreplaceable guitar player. Karnats had a strong grasp of the classic material like"Alone, Jealous & Stoned" and biggest hit of the night "First Wave Intact," while displaying his contributions to their sound on great new songs "Have I Run Out" and the epic "The Fire Is Waiting."
Critics and fans who wrote them off when Benjamin Curtis departed will need to take notice, because this performance and the new record have made it loud and clear that The Secret Machines are still one of the most powerful forces in the New York music scene.
As though The Secret Machines aren't enough for fans of thunderous guitars, T.K. Webb & The Visions opened up with an equally intimidating assault of stoner rock guitar mastery, in support of their new record "Ancestor." Their sound is all about Webb's incredible guitar playing which was most memorable on the haunting "God Bless The Little Angels," and Black Mountain-sounding "Year 33." As impressive as they were, they never reached the epic heights that they seem capable of hitting in the future, and that The Secret Machines entire set consisted of. Either way, they're a band to take notice of, and with multiple shows happening during CMJ, T.K. Webb and The Visions are one one of the must-see bands of the festival hitting NYC starting tomorrow.
Morning Benders Played Bowery Ballroom Last Night; Death By Audio Tonight
The Morning Benders
Bowery Ballroom
10.16.08
If you went to the Bowery Ballroom last night, there's a good chance you have a song stuck in your head. Each of the three bands that played write the type of pop songs that attach themselves to your brain and without sucking out your soul away (like shitty mindless pop).
By now, headliners Ra Ra Riot are poised for greatness and getting all of the attention they deserve for being one of the best young bands alive. Last night did little to hurt the hype, with every minute of their set being purely magical, especially the exceptional strings which tie the songs together. Every blog in NYC will be talking about their performances last night and tonight. If you have a chance to see them, do yourself a favor and catch them now before they become superstars.
Berkeley's The Morning Benders have been on the road with Ra Ra Riot for a while now, and played an excellent opening set last night. With some of the catchiest songs of any bands around today, they showered us with a golden platter of sunny '60s rock. I don't like to bring up age when talking about a band—if a band is good, they're good—but it's hard not to marvel at the maturity of their songwriting at such a young age. Like former tour mates, The Kooks, what they're doing isn't going to change music. It's not something that hasn't been done for years and years, but they're really good at it. And sometimes, our ears/brains can't handle knob twisting noise experimentation, and a great catchy song like set-closer "Waiting For A War" is exactly what we need.
The Morning Benders will be at Death By Audio in Williamsburg tonight for a much more intimate show that promises to be a lot of fun.
Ra Ra Riot will be at Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight and Sound Fix Records Sunday night.
NY Press Music Survey
We asked dozens of bands 10 questions each about the local music scene.
New York City has always been a Mecca for great music. We've had Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, the Velvet Underground and Sonic Youth. No matter how many great bands are being produced in Montreal, Atlanta, Chicago or any other second-rate burg, NYC has always produced a higher quantity of quality bands with a huge range of styles. In recent years we've seen a variety of great bands come up and shake the music world; From The Strokes to LCD Soundsystem to TV on the Radio, New York is still producing great music in the 21st century. Many of our best bands become insanely popular, and at times it’s been easy to forget that there's still a slew of untapped talent playing bars and backrooms all over town. No one knows this better than the bands, which is why we asked dozens of them 10 questions each about the local music scene. We’re surprised and thrilled by the volume and variety of the answers, and we hope you are, too.—Jonny Leather
NY PRESS TOP 20 LIST
There are thousands of bands in NYC, and new acts are forming or moving here every day. But there are only so many that are worth your (or our) precious time. Behold, the NYPress’ definitive list of the 20 best bands currently playing. You can disagree, but you’d be wrong.
By NY Press
1. Animal Collective
Mixing Brian Wilson–style production with a psychedelic freak-folk sound, Animal Collective has created the perfect mix of experimentation and pop and become the most talked-about band in New York.
Essential track: Fireworks
2. The Walkmen
Originally overlooked when bands like The Strokes and Interpol were getting all of the attention, The Walkmen, who rose from the ashes of the late, great Jonathan Fire*Eater, are finally getting the praise they deserve with the best album of the year.
Essential track: In The New Year
3. TV on the Radio
The band everyone loves, or loves to hate, has emerged as perhaps the greatest hometown draw around for live shows, and is topping everyone’s playlist with its latest record, Dear Science.
Essential track: Stork and Owl
4. Sonic Youth
For over 25 years, Sonic Youth has ruled NYC's independent music scene, maintaining relevancy and continuing to release great albums. What other middle-aged band could have two members move to Massachusetts and still be cooler than anyone else in town?
Essential track: Teenage Riot
5. Gogol Bordello
A true band of gypsies, their concerts are as crazy as a carnival and ten times as much fun.
Essential track: Wonderlust King
6. Department of Eagles/Grizzly Bear
Sure, the New York Times gave DoE a big, sloppy kiss last month, and Grizzly Bear is the most important thing in Williamsburg since multi-colored Ray-Ban knockoffs, but sometimes there’s a good reason for that sort of adoration. In fact, these are two of the only bands in town we would brave a sold-out crowd to see.
Essential track: Teenagers by Department of Eagles, Little Brother by Grizzly Bear
7. Marnie Stern
Not only does Marnie Stern play guitar like a fucking tornado, but her second album, the much lauded This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That, despite its Miranda July–like name, might be the best thing we’ve heard all year.
Essential track: Transformer
8. Battles
Even if it didn’t feature an all-star cast, Battles would still be one of the most popular bands around thanks to frenzied live shows and last year’s Mirrored, the smartest-sounding rock record since Unwound stopped recording. Stay in school kids, if only to learn your math rock.
Essential track: Atlas
9. Dirty Projectors
After releasing Rise Above, a re-imagining of Black Flag's essential Damaged, The Dirty Projectors went from being totally unknown to being one of Brooklyn's hottest bands.
Essential track: Fucked for Life
10. El-P
Since the early days of Company Flow, El-P has been one of the major forces in hip-hop. Between running hip-hop's best label, Definitive Jux, with acts like Cage, Aesop Rock and Del The Funky Homosapien, and putting out his own brilliant 2007 record I'll Sleep When You're Dead, there’s no better name in NYC hip-hop. Sorry, Kanye.
Essential track: Up All Night
11. Yeasayer
Sounding like they’ve come from another world, Yeasayer blends Eastern and African music styles with a contemporary indie sensibility, creating an authentic colorful sound all its own.
Essential track: No Need to Worry
12. Parts & Labor
A major force in the noise-rock scene, Parts & Labor's music is far more than just noise: It's anthemic, often evoking an experimental Hüsker Dü.
Essential track: Ghosts Will Burn
13. Obits
Sub Pop knows just how good Rick Froberg's (Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu) new project is—they just signed ‘em—and pretty soon so will all of NYC.
Essential track: Widow of My Dreams
14. Les Savy Fav
Behind the greatest beard since ZZ Top and frontman Tim Harrington's outrageous stage antics you’ll find the best post-punk band around.
Essential track: Patty Lee
15. LCD Soundsystem
Over the years, dance-punk has been given a bad name, but LCD Soundsystem is out to change that. James Murphy & Co. put their all into shows and records—hell, they’ve got three Grammy nominations behind them—and it pays off: nobody gets jaded New Yorkers dancing like this crew.
Essential track: All My Friends
16. The National
Even if you didn’t fall prey to the charms of Boxer, the record that, along with lots of whiskey, made last winter tolerable, you can’t deny the band’s power. The two sets of brothers (and one other dude) give great show, and even though they hang out with Sufjan Stevens, they don’t seem like assholes.
Essential track: Apartment Story
17. Apes & Androids
At once futuristic and a throwback, A&A are fun to listen to and put on a great live show (who doesn’t love props?) that mixes robotic sensibility with classic rock riffs. Besides, who doesn’t love operatic vocals á la Freddie Mercury or Ian Svenonius.
Essential track: Hot Kathy
18. Motel Motel
The debut record New Denver clocks in at an ambitious 72 minutes, and every single one of them is necessary listening. This is NYC's best debut record of 2008.
Essential track: Coffee
19. Danger Mouse
There's a good reason that people like Beck, Damon Albarn and The Black Keys have chosen to work with him. There may be no better producer in music right now.
Essential track: “The Mask” by Dangerdoom
20. Magnetic Fields
Stephen Merritt’s rotating combo of music nerds still manage to stay relevant due to forays into experimental territory (the letter “I”?) while maintaining a consistently oddball perspective.
Essential track: Take Ecstasy With Me
Not quite there yet, the following 19 bands are destined to one day rule the NYC music scene alongside Sonic Youth (who seems eternal in life):
Jealous Girlfriends, So So Glos, These Are Powers, Crystal Stilts, School of Seven Bells, Ford & Fitzroy, Asobi Seksu, Harlem Shakes, Chairlift, Pela, Pains of Being Pure at Heart, O'Death, Free Blood, The Forms, Oakley Hall, Gang Gang Dance, TK Webb, Blood on the Wall, Religious Knives
Bunny Boy Comes Alive in NYC
The Residents
Gramercy Theater
10.10.08
There are no words to describe The Residents. There may be no band in history more original and innovative than this totally anonymous experimental group. Once rumored to actually be the Beatles in disguise, The Residents identities have amazingly remained unknown since their 1969 emergence. The Beatles, they are not, but over the last four decades, there are few bands this influential. Listen to anything you think is weird and original today, and The Residents probably did it 30 years ago. Like their contemporaries Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart, The Residents have created an intimidating catalog of record (over 60), but The Residents have done far more than just make music. They were also in the forefront of the performance artist movement along with legendary artist Laurie Anderson. Their tours have been great spectacles that no one should miss, involving elaborate stage set-ups, videos, and of course great costumes. It was in the 80s when they introduced their most famous costumes, dressing in their trademark tuxedos, eyeball masks, and top hats.
In New York, for the first time in years, The Residents performed for three straight nights at the Gramercy Theater, as part of their Bunny Boy tour. As always, the performance was incredibly odd, and unlike anything anyone else is currently doing.
If you're into the absurdly weird, then check out The Residents Bunny Boy series online, which will give you a better understanding of a concert that I couldn't possibly put into words.
Live Picks 10/12/08-10/18/08
