WaterCoolerGossip

I saw Fuck Buttons at Mercury Monday, although I am not sure if Merc was the right venue. These two guys make some awesome noise with laptops, synth keyboards, and toy instruments. Their music drones, twinkles, and clicks along sometimes to weird tribal beats or screaming in the background, which would be more fitting if we were all outside, around a campfire, with robots flying overhead and blowing things up, marking the end of human civilization. True those environs are not really possible but maybe they could have played on the floor.

Also in regards to their stupid name one would think the would at least have buttons at their merch table either that say "fuck" or have one letter per button. You could collect them all.

(image credit)

Posted by 3xWes at 11:39 AM | Permalink

Lykke Li and El Perro del Mar played Bowery Ballroom last night. Before the show I was a little bitter for missing out on their Joe's Pub show one night earlier because both girls make dark, sad music that is probably more enjoyable sitting down. But once Lykke Li and her band took the stage, the room felt more like a party. She has a sexy hip-hop luster that is hard not to watch — the girl has stage dancing down to capital T. There is star power in her performance and her music is really catchy, Lykke Li seems poised to really break out.

El Perro del Mar put some extra energy into her show and really tried to get the crowd going but did not get quite the same response, maybe because the back of the room had cleared out. She is very talented musically but this show was overshadowed by her opener. Towards the end of the show, Lykke Li came back out to sing backup. The two of them sounded really great together, especially in they encore when the covered "After the Laughter (Comes Tears)." Their tour together has just started and I wonder if this dynamic will keep up.



EL PERRO DEL MAR AND LYKKE LI TOUR DATES
May 06 :: Johnny Brendas – Philadelphia
May 07 :: Joe's Pub – New York
May 08 :: Bowery Ballroom – New York
May 09 :: Middle East – Boston
May 10 :: Lambi – Montreal
May 11 :: Mod Club – Toronto
May 12 :: Schubas – Chicago
May 14 :: The Red Room – Vancouver
May 15 :: Triple Door – Seattle
May 16 :: Doug Fir – Portland
May 18 :: Bimbos – San Fransisco
May 19 :: El Ray – Los Angeles

Posted by 3xWes at 11:30 AM | Permalink

Cake Shop is have a turbo-awesome party tomorrow (May 3rd) celebrating three years in the Lower East Side from 3pm to 3am and it only cost $3. I have not been there in a while but I guess they are clearing out the record store to make room for a second stage upstairs at the party. If only there were three stages they might have a theme.

Also there is an article in the new Time Out (their website is terrible and could really use a redesign) about the three owners. Here is an excerpt:

The two stages should enhance the venue’s laissez-faire atmosphere, which Curley likens to that of a house party. Ironically, much of this ambience stems from the club’s biggest handicap: the abominable sight lines, which cause spectators to push toward the performers. “There’s a more participatory vibe than someplace where there’s a strict separation between the audience and bands,” says Cause Co-Motion’s Liam, whose surname-deprived band plays Saturday and has recorded for the club’s seven-inch label, Cape Shok. “There’s not as much pretension of it being a rock show full of rock stars.”

Naturally, Cake Shop is no gold mine; naturally, this does not seem to matter. “Not to sound like a hippie, but I just wanted to open a place that felt right,” Bodor says. “I love the fact that we’re completely not what people are looking for on Ludlow. It’s kind of a respite—a little bit of humanity in the worst possible place.”

I don't know if the LES is "the worst possible place" you would want to find yourself, especially considering other places in the world like Baghdad or Murray Hill (zing!), but it has become pretty bad south of Houston on the weekends these days. Thankfully there are places like Cake Shop.

Come party tomorrow. It is a pretty nice bill for $3 so check out the full line-up after the jump.

Cake Shop Third Anniversary Party
3pm - 3am. $3. May 3rd.

Downstairs Classic

1st: (3:15 Sharp) Astrid Pierce

2nd: Sharp Garbage

3rd: Famous Amos

4th: Paper Fleet

*Mini Set By Making Friendz

5th: Crystal Stilts

*Mini Set By Beach Toys

6th: Vivian Girls

7th: New Bloods (Sf)

8th: Soiled Mattress & The Springs

*Mini Set By: Moon Men On The Moon,Man (Cakeshop Staff)

9th: The Cause Co-Motion!

10th: Oakley Hall

11th: Lal

12th: Holy Hail

13th: Barghest

Upstairs On New Cape Shok Stage

1st: Electric Tickle Machine

2nd: Dizzy Spells Martian

3rd: Soft Black

4th: Pepi Ginsberg

5th: Land Of Tomorrow

6th: Air Waves

7th: Woods

8th: White Hinterland

9th: Jana Hunter

10th: Virgin Forest

!Plus!
Djing By Mike Wolf (Timeout), Harris Smith of Evr, Ceci Moss (Radio Heart, Evr), Your Friend Matthew (Pogo In Togo), Cakeshop Friends, Band Members & And Family

$3, 3pm-3am, May 3, 3 Years, 3,000,000 Lives

Posted by 3xWes at 10:46 AM | Permalink

Over two years ago I saw Langhorne Slim at the now defunkt Rothko in the Lower East Side, in fact, that show was the first post on this blog. Since then, Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles have seen two record labels (V2 who have since folded and Kemado who picked up the band), acquired a small army of loyal NYC fans, and recorded a new album.

Langhorne still sings twangy love songs and wears funny hats. Their new album, a few tracks withstanding (like the one below), gets bogged down in muddled production. The heart of this band is in the energy of their live show and the earnest grit of Langhorne's lyrics. All that said, I still think he is a great performer and song writer.

On Wednesday everyone at Mercury Lounge was in high spirits for their long over-due self-titled album release party. Striped down to just an acoustic guitar, stand-up bass, drums, and an occasional harmonica, the band really delivered.

You can see for yourself when Langhorne Slim and the War Eagles play Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 31st.

DOWNLOAD
Langhorne Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven (MP3)

Also at the show, there was much talk of Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson or MBAR as some of the kids call him. Look out for this guy but he will probably come to you considering folks from Grizzly Bear and TV on the Radio are helping him along. He plays Cake Shop on May 11th.

The good folks at The Fader have an MP3 here.

Posted by 3xWes at 09:57 AM | Permalink