On Monday night, the pair performed fab sets. Photos by Santiago Felipe.

View more shots & download a Max Vernon tune AFTER THE JUMP…

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Our brilliant guest blogger, Elizabeth Callanan, attended last night’s gig and provides the following review. Alice Smith fans are die-hards. So much so that the last season of Lost & the threat of a blizzard couldn’t keep them away from Joe’s Pub last night for the finale of a string of sold out shows. Even though the streets of the East Village were eerily quiet due to the snow, the excitement was palpable as people cued up to get a preview of the Grammy nominated chanteuse’s new LP (out in June). A didn’t disappoint. Simply put, she’s INCREDIBLE live & her new songs are fabulosity.

Her debut album (For Lovers, Dreamers & Me) came out in 2005 and her devoted fans have been chomping at the bit for new material ever since. Last night, Alice Smith and her band delivered with a setlist chock full of new songs and a few old favorites that continue to defy categorization. You see, Alice Smith is a bit of an enigma. It’s not just that she has a four octave range or that she’s got the voice of a Broadway singer in a Hollywood body but more that her sound is so unique and nearly impossible to pin down. Her songs effortlessly blend blues, Broadway, and ballads with hints of reggae, funk, and cabaret. Her voice has the power and emotion of Edith Piaf, the soul and depth of Nina Simone and a flavor that is 100% pure Alice Smith. The new songs showcase her amazing vocals perfectly while continuing to explore a broad range of musical influences. She’s certainly an artist to watch and a must-see live performer. Be sure to visit Alice Smith on MySpace.

MP3: Alice Smith – Live On The Interface

As hinted at last month, The Last Goodbye is an adaption of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet featuring the music of Jeff Buckley. When I first read about this unlikely collaboration, I must admit that I was equally intrigued as I was skeptical. A bevy of tracks from Grace & Sketches For: My Sweetheart The Drunk will always hold a special place in my heart and I was fearful that these tunes would be butchered and/or interpreted incorrectly. By last night’s second performance, I could tell that all of my worries were entirely irrational! The fourteen person cast not only did the Jeff Buckley tracks immense justice (each & every one of their vocals were spot on and sent shivers down my spine), but the actor-singers were undoubtedly successful in paralleling the sentiment in the aforementioned classics with the most well-known tragedy of all time. The ninety minute show was stunning from start to finish. In fact, I’m still reeling from it, twelve hours later. The Last Goodbye will have two more NYC runs over the course of the next few weeks. Whether or not you’re a Buckley fanatic, I strongly suggest your attendance!

More photos, selected composition listing & a JB MP3 AFTER THE JUMP…

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Enjoy the untitled ditty below. Download a Sondre Lerche MP3 at bottom of post.

MP3: Sondre Lerche – To Be Surprised

Well, 2 shows in one evening (June 1st).

For ticket info, head here.

Visit Sondre at his official site.

MP3: Sondre Lerche – To Be Surprised

Well, 2 shows in one evening (June 1st).

For ticket info, head here.

Visit Sondre at his official site.

MP3: Sondre Lerche – To Be Surprised

Well, 2 shows in one evening (June 1st).

For ticket info, head here.

Visit Sondre at his official site.

MP3: Sondre Lerche – To Be Surprised

Details are as follows:

July 18th
Joe’s Pub
New York, NY

View his spring Euro dates here.

Visit Chris Garneau on MySpace.

MP3: Chris Garneau – Not Nice

There’s a very limited number of acts that I can endure seeing more than a handful of times within any given period. The Lisps fall directly into this noble bunch. Since January of 2007, I’ve witnessed the Brooklyn-based band’s magnificent live show on nearly a dozen different occasions. I’ve watched them perform for a mere handful of zealous fans on a chilly winter’s evening at Pianos & I’ve also observed the 4-piece wowing a sold-out crowd at Joe’s Pub for their record release party (circa this past Saturday night). For 70 minutes, The Lisps validated their buzz-worthy stamp with exuberance & poise. Opening with the acoustic TMS favorite, ‘I’m Sorry’, and closing with their equally brilliant, ‘Sidewalk Girls’, The Lisps delivered their strongest and most cohesive gig to date. Expect ’08 to bring the zany band universal adoration from coast to coast, mountain to mountain & river to river.

Read my review of Country Doctor Museum here. Visit The Lisps at their MySpace page.

MP3: The Lisps – I’m Sorry

There’s a very limited number of acts that I can endure seeing more than a handful of times within any given period. The Lisps fall directly into this noble bunch. Since January of 2007, I’ve witnessed the Brooklyn-based band’s magnificent live show on nearly a dozen different occasions. I’ve watched them perform for a mere handful of zealous fans on a chilly winter’s evening at Pianos & I’ve also observed the 4-piece wowing a sold-out crowd at Joe’s Pub for their record release party (circa this past Saturday night). For 70 minutes, The Lisps validated their buzz-worthy stamp with exuberance & poise. Opening with the acoustic TMS favorite, ‘I’m Sorry’, and closing with their equally brilliant, ‘Sidewalk Girls’, The Lisps delivered their strongest and most cohesive gig to date. Expect ’08 to bring the zany band universal adoration from coast to coast, mountain to mountain & river to river.

Read my review of Country Doctor Museum here. Visit The Lisps at their MySpace page.

MP3: The Lisps – I’m Sorry