After myriad failed attempts, last night I caught a splendid performance from Brooklyn based duo, KaiserCartel. Their gentle yet intriguing indie poppin’ debut LP, March Forth, has held a warm place in my heart for the better part of the last six months. With a certain charm and an undeniable flair, their set was everything I was hoping for it to be plus more. Enjoy their recent TV guide performances of ‘Okay’ & ‘Season Song’ here. Visit KC on MySpace.
MP3: KaiserCartel – Oh No
I’ve been meaning to catch Wye Oak ever since the first time I gushed about them (back in January). For one reason or another, I’ve failed on many attempts but was fortunate enough to catch the Baltimore based duo last night. Over the course of their 45 minute set, the genre crossing act focused primarily on their debut LP, If Children. While Wye Oak’s recorded material brings to mind Rilo Kiley, Beach House and even (at times) Yo La Tengo, their live show reminds me a lot more of Chan Marshall fronting a futuristic interpretation of The Secret Machines. The amalgamation of Jenn Wasner’s alarming vocals and Andy Stack’s mesmerizing mutli instrumentation (simultaneous keys & drums) is not only engaging but also awe inspiring. The band will embark on a trek with Dr. Dog this fall. View all of those dates & learn more about Wye Oak at their MySpace page. MP3 at bottom.
MP3: Wye Oak – Warning
Over the last eighteen months, I’ve made it a habit to catch The Lisps at least once every few weeks. You could imagine my initial dismay at the band’s spring announcement declaring a brief pause while they began work on new material. Fast forward four months later and The Lisps have returned to Brooklyn’s intimate hot spot to debut some of these aforementioned tracks (interspersed with selections from their brilliant debut LP, Country Doctor Museum). One particular highlight amongst the four new ditties performed last night was ‘Try’. ‘Try’ is as quirky, kitschy & endearing as nearly everything in The Lisps’ catalog. Another fantastic moment of the evening came in the closing chaos that was ‘The Familiar Drunk’, complete with Wye Oak joining in on the dazzling mayhem. Lastly, their mid-set take on fan fave, ‘Heaven’, was playful, luminous & downright joyous. Keep up with The Lisps at their official MySpace page. View the full setlist & download an MP3 below.
(Setlist) Movies. Creek. Documents. Typewriter. Heaven. Try. Ann Marie. Familiar Drunk.
Sometimes an electro gig can be mystifying (see The Presets). Sometimes an electro gig can be phantasmagorical (see Simian Mobile Disco). Yet, sometimes an electro gig can be sheer fun. Such was the case with last night’s performance from spry British trio, Metronomy. Fronted by Joseph Mount, the threesome was energetic, amusing & downright triumphant all evening long. Donning all black with matching tap lights on their shirt fronts, the act’s shtick (which could’ve easily come off as ridiculous) was tremendously charming.
Visit Metronomy at the band’s official site. Download an MP3 at bottom of post.
Last night’s secret guest opener for Metronomy was none other than New York (via Cleveland)’s synth prince, White Williams. For roughly a half hour, WW debuted a handful of laptop centric tracks likely to be featured on his forthcoming sophomore effort due out in early 2009. The demo selections sound a bit fiercer & more schizophrenic than anything on his debut LP (Smoke). However, the performance was ultimately a divisive one. It was painfully obvious to see that half the crowd was loving every last beat of the fresh tunes while the other half was seemingly unimpressed. I happened to fall into the former group.
Visit White Williams at his MySpace page. Download a WW MP3 at bottom of post.
There’s something about Jeremy Jay that I just can’t get enough of. I’m not sure if it’s his Mozzer esque swagger, his remarkably vintage melodies or his prowess at constructing perfect pop songs. Perhaps it’s a combination of all of those factors. Last night’s forty minute set showcased new tunes, a host of B-sides and a few selections from his debut LP, A Place Where We Could Go (review). Throughout the gig, the towering crooner flailed about the stage and serenaded the venue’s attendees as if he were reciting lines straight out of a Shakespeare sonnet. Magnificent, indeed. Enjoy his latest video here.
Visit Jeremy Jay at his official MySpace page. Download a JJ MP3 at bottom of post.
Thursday evening marked the final and smallest (venue capacity: 125) gig on Foals’ North American spring tour. The 50-minute set included a majority of tunes from their debut LP, Antidotes, alongside non-album favorites such as ‘Hummer’ & the majestic show closer, ‘Mathletics’. Excessively loud, rowdy and feral, the entire production was easily the most intense experience I’ve ever had at Brooklyn’s hotspot, Union Hall. If their first-ever US gig was electrifying & their Bowery premiere was brilliant, then my third episode with Foals could simply be described as tremendous. Watch Sup Mag’s videos from the show here.
Visit Foals at their official MySpace page. Enjoy ‘Balloons’ + another photo below.
MP3: Foals – Balloons
Last night marked South’s first stop on their 2008 North American trek. The British trio is touring in support of their forthcoming senior release, You Are Here. While the evening focused on the aforementioned LP, South found time to integrate a slew of favorites from earlier efforts (most notably ‘Colours In Waves’ & ‘Shallow’) throughout their 60 minute set.
It’s rather daunting to realize that I’ve been adoring South for close to a decade. While similar artists that emerged around the same time frame (Coldplay, Doves, Travis) have experimented greatly with their core sound, South has managed to stay true to their original framework. Each album since South’s debut record, From Here On In, has been more captivating & gripping than its preceding release. Visit South at the band’s official MySpace page. Enjoy a handful of photos, the setlist & an MP3 of ‘Better Things’ below.
Setlist: Up Close & Personal. The Pain. Tell Me. Paint The Silence. Opened Up. Loosen Your Hold. Wasted. Better Things. Colours In Waves. Motiveless Crime. You Are One. Shallow.
Encore: Dolphins.
Last night The Music Slut was treated to all of the following: a rousing homecoming set from our beloved Lisps, an official album release party for Spanish Prisoners & a proper introduction to the outrageously talented troupe known as Drink Up Buttercup. The Pennsylvania natives completely floored us with their Man Man meets Beatles meets O’Death meets Pink Floyd soundscapes. Drink Up Buttercup’s live show incorporates ample shouting, rich harmonies, chaotic skedaddling and garbage pale demolition into one hypnotic and otherworldly conglomerate. Witnessing the collective’s engaging performance was more than just a breath of fresh air. It somehow managed to lift all jadedness from our respective souls (a truly difficult feat, indeed). Visit Drink Up Buttercup at their MySpace page. All photos courtesy of Maryanne Ventrice. Enjoy a DUB tune at bottom.
The duo performed ‘This Will Be Our Year’ at a recent tour stop in Brooklyn.
