No, Wow? -- The Kills @ Webster Hall

Here are a few shots of The Kills at Webster Hall on May 1st. Exciting night it was—about a quarter through their set, the fire department showed up on stage to investigate some kind of fire. (Unsure of what it was exactly, but their set was delayed for 10 minutes. I didn’t see any fire, but I suspect it was behind all the equipment I was in front of.)

The Kills looked confused after finishing No Wow-- Like what's with the all the firemen? But the firemen and security looked like they enjoyed the attention. Rock on FDNY.

And as you may already know, Kate Moss is accompanying Jamie on this tour. She was hanging out by the backstage door, singing along and looking like she was enjoying herself. Not sure Alison is so happy with her continual presence however…

THE KILLS, WEBSTER HALL, 5.1.08 SETLIST

URA FEVER
PULL A U
SOUR CHERRY
TAPE SONG
NO WOW
ALPHABET PONY
WAIT
LAST DAY OF MAGIC
KISSY KISSY
GOOD ONES
WHAT NEW YORK USED TO BE
CHEAP AND CHEERFUL
FRIED MY LITTLE BRAINS
GOOD NIGHT BAD MORNING

LOVE IS A DESERTER/ SEARCH FOR CHERRY RED
DROPOUT BOOGIE

The Stills, Bowery Ballroom, 3.8.08

The Stills played Bowery Ballroom March 8th and today is March 26th. So yes… this post is a just a tad overdue.

My favorite French Canadians played a lot of material from their upcoming album, which might be viewed as redemption for their last album. Without Feathers received mixed reviews with most fans scratching their heads confused about their musical direction. Me too... but it grows on you eventually. Tim Fletcher and Dave Hamlin write songs that bleed into each other-- that's probably what makes them so darn good, although most people seem to favor Tim’s dark romanticism, poetry slam-ness. It's what we fell in love with on Logic, and it sounds like it’s going to be all over this third album. Excited! Can't wait for it.

I recall Tim was sick but obliged the crowd by ripping through a soon to be crowd favorite- "Eastern Europe"- a song that's about "being sick and fucked up in Bulgaria."

The openers were pretty great too. I especially liked this one band called Wintersleep. They hail from Halifax. Their keyboardist worked it on their song "Oblivion." It was this very cute aerobic dance/jog/excercise infomercial thing. Wintersleep aerobics tape in the works? One can only hope.

Setlist, The Stills at Bowery Ballroom- 3.8.08

Shoplifter

Still In Love

Gender Bombs

Of Montreal

Destroyer

Eastern Europe*

Being Here*

Lola Stars and Stripes

Don't Talk Down*

Snake-Charming*

Killer Bees

Rooibus*

In The Beginning

Retour A Vega

Love & Death

*= new song

Wintersleep- Oblivion

Buy Welcome To The Night Sky

The Stills- Snake Charming

Watch the video here

Life drones on and we all go up in flames.

Here Comes The Wave: Richard Hawley at Bowery Ballroom

The crowd chants for Richard Hawley as his stagehand switches on the singer’s little portable reading light and tapes spare guitar picks to his microphone. Hawley and his band take the stage and they open with “Valentine.” The set rolls on and eventually he gets to “Darlin’ Wait”, which he had this to say: “Me and Shez [Sheffield—his guitarist] wrote this song for our wives. We’re as soft as a bag of shit.”

Oh, love is in the air.

The live Richard Hawley experience is a thing to admire. There was never a more down to earth guy who says what he thinks and sticks to his guns. Even after he chided a fan for a flippant remark, there was still nothing but good humor.

Let me tell you, I haven’t gone to that many gigs in my lifetime, but still, this was a first, when Hawley and crew came back for the encore, a hush fell over the crowd. All was quiet except for the sea of soft shushes in the audience. The mirrorball began to spin a blur of light. Husbands and wives, lovers, singles stood and swayed. It was kind of magical.

Really, I need to go to more shows where the band utilizes the power of the mirrorball.

Catch Richard Hawley on tour in your town:

December 2nd- Philadelphia, PA @ World Café Live
December 3rd- New York, NY @ Other Music (in-store live show)
December 4th- Cambridge, MA @ TT the Bear’s
December 5th- Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
December 6th- Chicago, IL @ The Abbey
December 7th- Minneapolis, MN @ 400 Bar
December 10th- Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café
December 12th- San Francisco, CA @ Café du Nord
December 13th- Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

Richard Hawley @ Bowery Ballroom 12.1.07 Setlist

Valentine
Roll River Roll
Just like the Rain
Dark Road
Coles Corner
Tonight the Streets are ours
Lady's Bridge
Hotel Room
Serious
Darlin' Wait
Our Darkness
The Sea Calls
Born Under a Bad Sign

Something is
I'm Lookin' for Someone

Encore
Tonight
The Ocean

Richard Hawley- Valentine
(Buy Lady’s Bridge)

Richard Hawley- The Ocean
(Buy Cole’s Corner)

Wallflowers Are For Lovers

*And we're back!*

The Wallflowers sprung into town Monday night, playing a show at Highline Ballroom, which, funny enough, is situated next to the Western Beef supermarket. Why? Who knows? If you're into rock music and two for one specials on toilet paper, I suppose it's good to know where you can get all your errands done.



I attempted to outmanouever a double whammy at the show: standing behind a tall man, with extremely poofy hair (his hair, is in a great many of my photos sadly, like a poodle on its hind legs looking for a photo op), BUT, I fulfilled one of my goals in life-- to see The Wallflowers, so I can't complain too much.





Jakob Dylan fans showed up in throngs, drawn to the center stage by the man's signature raspy vocals. After Rami Jafee left the group indefinitely, the band shuffled the line up with Stuart Mathis on lead guitar. He played extensively with The Wallflowers on their Rebel Sweetheart tour, so he might be familar to people. Because this is my first Wallflowers show, it was all new to me, but Mathis was especially good on How Far You've Come- the the fingering, the pull offs and bending-- t'was quite cool. It's probably my favorite song off the last album, and it was a treat to hear it live. Jakob Dylan is such a brilliant songwriter too-- finding middle ground between sadness, and silver-linings. I find myself listening to this track any time I'm ready to leave the pity party.

Sometimes a high wall, is just a wall
Sometimes it's only there to make sure you feel small
Or maybe there to save you, from the depths, of a much deeper fall

The Wallflowers will be in town for a few more days, as they are booked for a birthday party. It's a sweet reminder of the shows musicians played in their early days, but in this particular case, it's not just any ice cream cake balloon-animals affair. The festivities are for Hillary Clinton. She's turning the big 6-0. If you can shell out the $100+ for a ticket, the show is at Beacon Theatre on October 25th.

Closer To You is one of the songs they played for the encore. It's a goosebump inducing lullaby, which Jakob Dylan acknowedged, "is for the ladies." Judging by the number of wooed women (and men) in the crowd wanting to get "closer to you," Jakob, we'll say your music is for lovers.

Set List for The Wallflowers at Highline Ball Room, 10.22.07

Shy of the Moon
I Am a Building
Here He Comes
6th Avenue Heartache
The Passenger
Up From Under
Empire of My Mind
When You're On Top
How Far You've Come
God Says Nothing Back
Letters from the Wasteland
If You Never Got Sick
3 Marlenas
God Don't Make Lonely Girls
Nearly Beloved
Everybody Out of The Water

Encore

I've Been Delivered
Babybird
Closer To You
Everything I Need


The Wallflowers- How Far You've Come
(Buy Rebel Sweetheart)

The Wallflowers- Closer To You
(Buy Red Letter Days)

Rave On! Part Deux...

I had such a great time at The Raveonettes show last night at Bowery Ballroom. This is the second time I've seen them perform this week. After looking at the pictures I took at Southpaw, I realized that I always veer for the left of the stage (usually in front of a bassist). Perhaps it’s some subconscious attraction to the bass. But it was nice to see the view from the right.

Gliss, as usual, was amazing. Martin was a bit chattier with the crowd yesterday evening, but unlike Southpaw, there wasn’t a crop circle of empty space in front of the band. They played this one song that I really liked that isn’t on their album, so I asked Victoria about it after the set. It’s called “Kick In Your Heart” and I recommend it because David is a total badass on that guitar riff. You can download it from their website. Just sign up for their mailing list. One other interesting note- in addition to swapping gear with each other between songs, the band makes up the set list as they play. Three cheers for spontaneity.


(Martin and David, each taking their turn at the guitar)



So Nicole Atkins has my vote for coolest wardrobe. It would be fun to raid her closet. She was wearing this vest that her friend made for her out of old bicycle tires. I love recycling, don’t you? (Al Gore would be proud) She said she smelled like a giant condom. This girl can sing, and she's got a sense of humor to boot.



When the crowd was applauding, Nicole mentioned that it was funny “watching people clap for me when I sing about my pathetic life.” Aww… you’re not pathetic, Nicole! Would a pathetic person wear these darling gold cowboy boots? No way. I couldn't get a really good shot, but those boots were so cute.



Her band is great also! They have wonderful chemistry when they play together. Watch for them when they perform live on the Late Show with David Letterman on October 30th.



The Raveonettes played a razor sharp set of mostly new songs and appreciated the love coming from the crowd. It was a sold out show :)





I love this photo below of Sharin and their drummer. I really like the contrast. What an unexpected shot-- Sharin just popping up like that!



The Raveonettes Set List 10.12.07 @ Bowery Ballroom

Remember
Noisy Summer
That Great Love Sound
Let’s Rave On
Hallucinations
Blush
Attack of the Ghost Riders
My Tornado
Expelled from Love
Lust
Red Tan
Love In a Trash Can
Dead Sound
French Disko (*They love Stereolab!)
Aly, Walk With Me

The Raveonettes- Lust (demo)
(Listen to more demos at their myspace)

The Raveonettes + Nicole Atkins + Gliss @ Southpaw

Sab and I went to see The Ravonettes on Wednesday and caught two other great shows. We were early in a major way. I get overly excited so I am never fashionably late, but always ridiculously early. Anyway, we were there when Gliss did their sound check. They played what I think was, “Make Believe” or “Kissing The Blvd.” (It was probably the latter). From what we heard, we knew this band was going to be really good, and they did not disappoint.

Martin, Victoria and David, the three members of Gliss, play bass, guitar, and drums like a game of musical chairs, switching gear with each other after the completion of each song. When the instruments are passed around, each bandmate puts a different kind of energy and personality into the performance. There’s also something about this that makes the music exceptionally intimate, not just for the audience, but between the threesome as well. It’s something like a musical make out session and they’re swapping saliva. Or, some other less gross analogy. Straight out of L.A. these guys are rocking sexy bass lines and slick riffs that slink at the beck and call of Martin’s lush lyrics. The album, Love The Virgins, is good, but I feel like the record should support the live show and not the other way around. They really are a fantastic live band.

Gliss- Kissing The Blvd

(Buy Love The Virgins on iTunes)


(Nicole Atkins)

Next up was Nicole Atkins. I don’t know much about her, but she has a lovely voice, and her lyrics resonate well with the lovelorn. I really enjoyed “The Way It Is,” “Love’s Surreal,” and “War Torn.” Plus, she was kickin’ it in these red hot shoes. Hot shoes are cool.

Nicole Atkins- The Way It Is

(Buy Neptune City)

The Raveonettes played many new songs from their upcoming album, which hits Europe in November, but doesn’t swing state-side till January. Lust is my absolute favorite new song, and Sune says that they really enjoy playing it as well. It’s worth singling out—this track is downright hypnotic. Throughout the night, The Raveonettes just wanted everyone to have a good time. Rave On. They also played a cover of Stereolab’s French Disko. FD seems pretty popular (The Editors did a cover of this song as well).

The Raveonettes’ 10.9.07 Setlist @ Southpaw

Remember
Noisy Summer
Let’s Rave On
Hallucinations
Blush
With My Eyes Closed
Black Satin
Attack of the Ghost Riders
My Tornado
Expelled From Love
Lust
Red Tan
Love in a Trash Can
Dead Sound
French Disko (Stereolab cover)
Aly, Walk With Me

Encore

Twilight
That Great Love Sound

The Raveonettes- Love in A Trashcan

(Buy Pretty in Black)

Doing it all again on Friday at Bowery Ballroom!

Iron and Cocktails

Sad news, my homegirl Sofiblu is moving. She unloaded her house wares and gave me her iron. (If only we had wine last night, this post heading would work out perfectly.)



As a going-away present, we went to the Kaiser Chiefs/White Rabbits/Datarock show at Beacon Theatre last night. Data Rock only played three songs, urging a non-obliging crowd to sing and dance with them. People… just sat, and clapped politely. We were really there to see White Rabbits one more time because we’re all about the White Rabbits. We’ve seen them support The Cribs, and front and center at Soundfix. They’re amazing. Unfortunately, the majority of the crowd at Beacon was not showing any love. It was rather dismal and we took it upon ourselves to be the cheering section. Greg rocked the boat shoes, and Matt showed off his ankles with the rolled up pants. Whatever, we love them. Too bad they only played six songs—and no cover of Bob Dylan’s Maggie’s Farm.


(Datarock)




(White Rabbits)








White Rabbits Setlist

Take A Walk Around The Table
Kid on My Shoulder
Tourist Trap
While We Go Dancing
I Used to Complain & Now I Don’t
Plot

Just as we concluded that the Upper West Side does not get down, the Kaiser Chiefs set was riotous. Beacon Theatre is not my cup of tea however (not a fan of seated venues), but they made it work. Ricky Wilson did his own take on crowd surfing by walking into the audience along the back of the seats, which was pretty cool.


(Kaiser Chiefs)










Kaiser Chiefs 9.29.07 Setlist

Everyday I Love You Less and Less
Everything is Average Nowadays
Heat Dies Down
Born to Be Your Dancer
Na Na Na Na Naa
I Can Do it Without You
Modern Way
Ruby
Learned My Lesson Well
I Predict A Riot
Thank You Very Much
Angry Mob
Take My Temperature

Encore
High Royds
Oh My God

Hope we’ll hear more from Sofiblu on the music front down south. Thanks for making this a memorable summer Sof. I’ll miss you lots!


White Rabbits- Kid On My Shoulder
(Buy Fort Nightly)

Kaiser Chiefs- Oh My God
(Buy Employment)

Surprise, sometimes you'll come around

This has been the summer of many firsts. For example, even though I am a native New Yorker, I have never been to Madison Square Garden. And now that I’ve seen what all the hoopla’s about, I don’t really care if I go again. Overpriced concession snacks, and industrial air conditioning cheapens the concert-going experience (but not the price of the ticket, sadly).

Tonight was the Interpol concert and the night started off poorly. First, it was unbearably cold, and then to top that off, two words: The Liars. Maybe I just don’t get them and their experimental rock. Nothing they played sounded…good. I am fond of their song, “Houseclouds” but between the teeth chattering and making sense of their noise, I just gave up figuring out what the hell they were doing. Knowing Cat Power was coming up kept me going though. She sandwiched her cover songs between “The Greatest” and “Metal Heart,” which is one of my favorites. Still, I was starting to get restless. It’s probably because Soph and I have been spoiled by the beauty of general admission—your proximity to the stage depends solely on your willingness to shove and your resolve to wait patiently in the ticket line for hours. Unaware that there was a general admission ticket for this show, we were stuck with our original seats.

Well, we made the best of it, and when Interpol took the stage, they did not disappoint. Lots of jumping and belting out lyrics warmed us up nicely. The only snafu was when the big screen thing that covered the stage at the beginning of their set got stuck.

“We’re going to take a short break so we can take this fucking screen down and try to see all of you.”- Paul



New York- MSG 9.14.07 Setlist
Pioneer to the Falls
Obstacle 1
C’mere
Narc
Say Hello to The Angels
Pace is the Trick
Mammoth
Hands Away
No I in Threesome
Slow Hands
Rest My Chemistry
Heinrich Maneuver
Evil
Not Even Jail

Encore
NYC
Stella Was a Diver
PDA

Encore #2
Untitled

Another first—2 encores. The fake out was stellar. Despite it all, I could’ve been there all night (Sam Fogarino’s drumming is amazing). Keep those encores coming!

Interpol- Untitled
(Buy Turn On The Bright Lights)