I had rather high expectations for Shiny Toy Guns before I went. I loved their first single, ‘Le Disko’, and even put it directly onto my dj setlist. Though I did really enjoy that specific song live on Friday, as a whole I thought their set was a bit disappointing. They sounded too much like the disco version of Evanescence, for my taste.

Their songs are written either for the female singer, Carah, or the male singer, Chad, and sometimes both. I thought this made their sound a bit schizophrenic. I think their music could be more focused if the female singer had lead all of the songs. Her voice was distinct and infused with some great talent while Chad’s voice lends towards the stereotypical emo, nasaly Blink 182. Overall though, I am glad I had a chance to see them. Their cd, We Are Pilots, is out now and worth a spin if you can get your hand on a copy.

The Sounds were amazing. I haven’t been the biggest fan in past years but seeing them live has made me into a convert. Despite the delay in the middle, the time flew by and I danced throughout the whole show. The one weird thing was the half dozen guys with flat baseball caps who decided to mosh. Matt surmised that the influx of recently pubescent boys was due to The Sounds’ recent stint on the Warp Tour. Regardless, what should have been a relatively small mosh pit with that few people, took up half of the right, front section. This I surmised was due to the scared hipsters fleeing possibly getting hit- myself included. I screamed as one of the bigger guys flung himself at me but Matt pulled me out of the way just as he was about to hit me. My hero.

The Sounds are done touring this year and with December just around the corner and 200+ shows under their belt, who can blame them?

Dancefest. That’s the only word I can use to describe the back-to-back stylings of Shiny Toy Guns and The Sounds last night at Webster Hall. The floor at the venue was shaking just as hard as it was for Arctic Monkeys back at the beginning of the year. The pit was just as nasty as it was for Kasabian, and the singalongs were just as loud as they were for one of the gazillion Art Brut shows this year.

Shiny Toy Guns came on around 7:45 to a thunderous applause. They’ve garnered many new fans since the last time I saw them as a virtually unknown band (outside of LA) opening for The Sounds at Hiro Ballroom (while people were getting drunk off of $13 martinis).

While they didn’t do their cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Stripped’, their set still shook the crowd and brought many a fist in the air. ‘Le Disko’ and ‘You Are The One’ sounded flawless and every little girl in the front two rows surely wished they were frontwoman, Carah. For a great interview with the band, I suggest you click here.

Next up, my beloved Sounds. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they are one of the best live bands around and I would see them every night if they had a residency somewhere in the city. The passion and stamina that they bring to every show is totally unrivaled in my book. Maja and the boys put the show into 5th gear last night and every attendee left in a complete state of ecstasy.

The Sounds are taking a few months off, deservingly, as they’ve played over 300 shows this year! I can’t wait to hear what’s next from the Swedes, but I’ll be patient. As should you. In the meantime, play and repeat the track below. You can start your own party right in the comfort of your own living room!

Setlist:: Night After Night (rock mix)/Dance With Me/Ego/Hit Me!/Tony The Beat/7 Days A Week/24 Hours/Night After Night (piano mix)/Don’t Want To Hurt You/Much Too Long Now/Goodbye Seventies (Yaz cover)/Queen Of Apology/Fire/Painted By Numbers/Mine For Life/Rock N Roll//Living In America/Song With A Mission/Hope You’re Happy Now

MP3: The Sounds – Song With A Mission

Wanna work off that extra serving of mashed potatoes?

Come join Jen and I tonight @ Webster Hall for THE SOUNDS & SHINY TOY GUNS!

The Sounds haven’t played a headlining show in a billion years (or, 6 months) and Shiny Toy Guns always put a little kick in my step.

STG on at 7:30 and The Sounds at 9. Both bands are not to be missed.

MP3: M. Ward – Let’s Dance (yes, a Bowie cover, go figure!)

JUST RELEASED US HEADLINING TOUR DATES!!

Nov 22 – Boston
Nov 24 – NYC
Nov 25 – Philadephia
Nov 26 – Chicago
Nov 28 – Denver
Nov 29 – Salt Lake City
Dec 1 – Los Angeles
Dec 2 – San Diego
Dec 3 – San Francisco

See ya on the 24th!

MP3: The Sounds – Rock N Roll

I worship the Sounds after last night’s show. Worship, I say!

I didn’t think it was possible but this one blew away the last 2 shows they’ve done in NYC.

By the end of the night, I could barely speak from all the singing.. or rather, screaming along. One of the best shows I’ve seen this year, easily.

The set was a perfect combo (8 from each!) of the debut, Living In America and the latest release (which, if you are reading this site and don’t know, slap yourself on the wrist), Dying To Say This To You.

It went:

Queen Of Apology
24 Hours
Hit Me!
Song With A Mission
Much Too Long Now
Night After Night
Living In America
Mine For Life
Tony The Beat
Painted By Numbers
7 Days A Week
Rock N Roll
Hope You’re Happy Now
–
Dance With Me
Fire
Ego

Maja is such a star. Who else could rock out with that dress and a pair of stilettos for virtually, the entire show?

She commented how other bands say that NYC is a tough crowd to play for, but the Sounds have never had any problems; which as you could guess, fueled the already overzealous crowd even more!

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if they came to New York once a month?

I need that rush more often.

If you miss the opportunity to see them, particularly on this tour, you are a grade-A-classified fool!!

This is sort of a combo post, if you will.

So much good stuff coming up, I couldn’t find the time to detangle my brain from all its excitement!

As a HUGE Walkmen fan, I was ecstatic a few weeks ago when it was revealed that the band is releasing their new album in late May!!
Tour dates have been announced as well on their MySpace page See you at the Webster show (first of the tour!) Their live shows are unreal.

(Bonus Track to accompany my love for the Walkmen: “There Goes My Baby”)

Yes, I still want you to obsess over the Sounds. So much so that I’ve decided to post yet another track from the album, out next week, shake your booty to this one, “Queen Of Apology”

If you still haven’t added us as YOUR myspace friend, well, go right ahead RIGHT NOW! Whatcha waiting for?? You can say you knew us way back when.

Lastly, there is a GIGANTIC rumor of a Radiohead US tour right around my birthday (mid-June). We’ll be the first to let you know if/when this happens. Ahh! The thought gives me shivers already.

with the Sounds!!

Here’s the first track off of DYING to say this to you…

“Song With A Mission”

I don’t know what else to say about this album, it is extraordinary.

First off, I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the new SOUNDS album. It’s possibly even better than Living In America, their debut, which I thought was nearly impossible. This is the band that has potential to finally break huge in and out of the States. I hear the first single “Song With A Mission” is being shipped to radio this week.

Secondly, how underrated is South?? What do these boys have to do to get some notice? I’ve been a huge fan of theirs for many years now and I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of their 3rd full-length and their upcoming show at the Bowery!

Thirdly, back in the day, I used to have a slight obsession with Clinic. Ok, it wasn’t slight at all. They are just so outrageous, and their live shows are brilliantly orchestrated. Rarely playing a set longer than 45 minutes (hey, that includes encores!), their energy and originality is incomparable. This is why I was thrilled to hear that they are back (although no tour dates announced yet) with the new single “Tusk”. Hearing this one reminded me of why they were so dear to me and why they will always hold a special place in my heart.

Lastly, as Miss Modern Age has pointed out on numerous occasions, Sondre Lerche is back in action! This can only mean one thing… young girls and 20-something gay guys can start sighing again and plastering their computer wallpaper with his face (hey, don’t look at me! errr…)

i heart the sounds.

so very much.

i just got my hands on their new album, officially out in late march, and it’s brilliant. perfect swedish pop perfection.

here’s track 3, “tony the beat”

DANCE DANCE DANCE