Ketchup (Catsup?) on Shows
Water Cooler Gossip is back in action. Last week we were really busy trying to finalize the details on our unofficial CMJ party, which we will announce later this week. Here are some thoughts on shows that happened in the past few days (ice ages in blogger years). Travel with me backwards in time.
9/25 :: Bowery Ballroom
Sunset Rubdown tried to create an intimate show at Bowery with the lamps. Spencer modestly talked about how they had never played the club, which he probably said for Wolf Parade too. I was too far back to really see him sweat profusely maybe that was the reason for the low lighting. No covers this time but a very similar set list to Mercury Lounge.
9/22 :: Mercury Lounge
Favourite Sons was pretty good live. Apparently the lead singer Ken Griffin was in the 90's band Rollerskate Skinny. Since then he has be bartending but some fans approached him to come out of retirement and form a new band. Thus you have new band that sounds like they have been around the block. Ken is quite the crooner.
9/21 :: Mercury Lounge
The Big Sleep had their record release party at Mercury Lounge. I like the huge name sign they hung in the back but I wish it also flashed with the floodlights. That is not even really a complaint but something to work on for the future. You can really get lost in the drone of their songs. I also saw The Science of Sleep the day before that and this Sleep was much better.
9/21 :: The Annex
Ra-Ra Riot was full of strings. The crowd loved them too. I did not get to see the whole set but the crowd thankfully cheer and encore out of them. Sam Champion was also good per usual. Yay ASCAP, whatever they do.
9/18 :: Cake Shop
A Place To Bury Strangers was loud. At the end of the show they killed the Christmas lights in Cake Shop and cut on a strobe. This thing flashed for so long I had to close me eyes and watched weird light patterns for like five minutes. During the applause somebody from the crowd said "Great. Now I'm deaf and blind." Ha. The strangers are buried behind thick walls of sound. My Best Fiend played as well. Similar wall but they made better use of electronic drums.
9/17 :: Cake Shop
This side project was just bad. No names shall be mentioned.
9/16 :: East River Amphitheater
The East River Music Project is a really nice idea. I am all for free shows in that neighborhood then $2 dumplings. Too bad not many people showed up on that Saturday. There were people there but not enough to fill the stands. Professor Murder had a weird vocal effect problem on one of their songs that made Mike's voice sound like he was on helium. Good show for them despite nobody was dancing–broad daylight may have had something to do with this. Love as Laughter also had some catchy songs and their band took up the entire stage.
9/15 :: Maxwell's
Man Man brought the fake lady voices, pots and pan style percussion, double saxophones, and lots of face paint. There was not a dull moment in the show and when Man Man chanting was in order, the entire crowd joined in.
9/14 :: Sin-é
The FRICTION party hosted by Crackers United is always fun. Hearing Gabe of Takka Takka play that harmonica makes me feel good. Annuals have a million people in the band and two drummers. They made some jokes about Brooklyn even though they live in North Carolina. The lead singer was really wearing a robe.
9/13 :: Piano's
At The Grates show I learned that Patience likes to talk, John should grow a mustache, and Alana has puppy dog eyes. Patience is into both bouncing around on stage and twirling a 20ft ribbon on stick (magic wand?) in the crowd. Can you spot the Scientist?