I went into last night’s gig with enormous expectations and a great deal of anticipation. Much to my chagrin, I would have to classify Noah & The Whale’s show as a colossal disappointment. While the band’s unreleased tracks (from their punk project, The A Sides) sounded intriguing, the bulk of the songs performed off of Peaceful The World Lays Me Down lacked any real flair or magic. In fact, had it not been for their brilliant single, ’5 Years Time’, monotony would have entirely ruled the evening. However, judging from the roars of the sold out crowd, I realize that my opinion easily places me into the minority. Check out Noah & The Whale at one of the remaining dates on their North American trek and form your own conclusions. Visit the band on MySpace. MP3 at bottom of post.
Friendly Fires are young. Friendly Fires are British. Friendly Fires have spent the better part of the last few years perfecting their unique & jangly dance pop via repeated listens to !!!, New Order & LCD Soundsystem. Last night’s show served as a teaser of what’s to come (the band’s self titled debut LP is out internationally on September 1st) and it was magnificent. Electrifying frontman Ed Macfarlane hops around the stage like a bizarrely magical hybrid of Ian Curtis (Joy Division), Luke Jenner (The Rapture) & Dave Gahan (Depeche Mode). Meanwhile, each & every FF track is concise, charming & absolutely addictive. To say that we’re eagerly awaiting their NYC return would be a massive understatement. Visit Friendly Fires on MySpace. Photos, setlist & MP3 below.
(Setlist) Hospital. Your Love. White Diamonds. Jump. On Board. Strobe. Paris. Ex-Lover.
Following a stunning set at ATJ Fest 2008 (video here), I had no choice but to check out the Brooklyn based trio for my second time in under a month. Highlighting eight tracks from their highly anticipated debut record, Does You Inspire You, Chairlift melded surrealism, melody & splendor into one giant indie pop rubber band ball at last night’s gig. Frontwoman Caroline Polachek’s divine vocal range lies somewhere between Chan Marshall (Cat Power) & Kate Bush all the while injecting a certain vigor that those aforementioned artists typically reserve. Chairlift’s bittersweet & arresting instrumentation (courtesy of Aaron Pfenning & Patrick Wimberly) adds further layers of exquisiteness. Catch Chairlift this summer on their North American trek with Ariel Pink. Visit Chairlift on MySpace.
Considering my undying adoration for their 2006 debut LP (No Midnight), I was elated upon hearing the news that Birdmonster was set to premiere selections from their highly anticipated sophomore effort, From The Mountain To The Sea (due out in August), at NYC’s Mercury Lounge. The 11 song set focused heavily on LP2 but wasn’t totally void of early Birdmonster staples. The Cali based band soared through ‘Spaceman’ & ‘Balcony’ with as much finesse & exhilaration as ever. The newer tracks certainly broaden Birdmonster’s range. Whereas nearly every tune on No Midnight was magically abrasive, Mountain‘s hymns tend to skew somewhere between ballad and fist pumper. A truly tremendous & rarely tackled median. Catch a video from last night’s performance over at Q’s Gigoblog.
Visit Birdmonster at their official MySpace page. Enjoy the full setlist & an MP3 below.
Setlist: Our Ashes. Lost At Sea. Greenland Sound. Balcony. New Country. Born To Be Your Man. I Might Have Guessed. Spaceman. The Only One. My Love For You. Residue.
Roughly 250 people were presented with a sneak peek of Joan Wasser’s sophomore LP, To Survive, last night at NYC’s Mercury Lounge. Interspersed with two tracks from her debut record (‘The Ride’ & ‘Eternal Flame’), Joan and her bandmates tackled the vast majority of the forthcoming release with sheer elegance. Whereas Real Life was reminiscent of a bashful diary entry, To Survive is more akin to an intimate yet seductive love letter. Judging from her glorious fifty minute performance, there seems to be a strong sense of romanticism and tenderness throughout the album. A perfect companion for a passionate summer soiree! It hits shelves on 6/10 via Cheap Lullaby. Further info can be found here.
Visit JAPW at her official MySpace page. Download an MP3 of ‘To Be Loved’ at bottom.
What a difference ten weeks can make. Late January marked my first encounter with the Cali based buzz act. On that evening, the duo soared and I became an instant admirer (full review here). Fast forward to last night – riding a tidal wave of well deserved acclaim, The Dodos managed to easily sell out Mercury Lounge and magically outshine the phenomenal aforementioned winter gig. With added help from a part time xylophonist, guitarist Meric Long & drummer Logan Kroeber performed a passionate, intense and blustery 60-minute set highlighting the vast majority of their new LP, Visiter. Favorites of the evening: an extended saxophone friendly take on ‘Fools’, a tender rendition of ‘Ashley’ & the spry opener, ‘Red & Purple’. Visit The Dodos at their MySpace page. Photos & MP3 follow.
It was a little over a month ago that I discovered the brilliance that is San Francisco-based duo, The Dodos. Armed with just a 4-piece drum set, a sampling pedal, tambourine and alternating acoustic/electric guitars, The Dodos performed a truly awe-inspiring set, showcasing numerous tracks from their forthcoming record, Visiter. Their songs are primal, raw and ferocious. In similar fashion to Animal Collective’s landmark LP, Sung Tongs, The Dodos provide their listener with a roller coaster of sound, melody and emotion. The band’s intensity in a live setting brings to mind O’Death, The Secret Machines & Low. Fantastic! To witness the magic face to face, catch The Dodos at one of these upcoming gigs.
Enjoy a clip of ‘Joe’s Waltz’ (courtesy of AbbeyB) below. More photos & MP3 follow.
