A Double Shot of the Cat Empire
July 29th, 2010
The Australian alternative band the Cat Empire began as a trio back in 1999, with Ollie McGill on keys, Ryan Monro on bass and Felix Riebl on percussion. Over the years, they’ve added Harry James Angus on trumpet, Will Hull-Brown on drums and Jamshid “Jumps” Kahadiwhala on turntables and percussion (plus he’s even been known to bust a move). Although the lineup has changed, the band continues to deftly combine funk, jazz, rock, ska and a little Latin flair to make quality music—three live discs and five studio albums, the most recent of which, Cinema, came out earlier this month. But let’s face it: Australia is far from here. So the Cat Empire (above, performing “The Lost Song”) is bringing the music to you: See them play Webster Hall tomorrow and Music Hall of Williamsburg on Saturday.
The Black Keys Sell Out
July 29th, 2010The Black Keys – Terminal 5 – July 28, 2010
Historically any musical innovation has come from a hybridization of styles. In the case of the Black Keys, they’ve taken their love of the bare-bones sound of drums and an electric guitar and traced its origins all the way back to the Delta blues, then combined it with a variety of influences like Link Wray and Wu-Tang among others, eventually collaborating with Mos Def and Q-Tip on the rap-rock album Blakroc. Longtime friends since high school, guitarist Dan Auerbach and drummer Patrick Carney didn’t necessarily set out to pioneer a unique sound. They took elements from the music they grew up with and added tried-and-true classic-rock screaming distortion.
The Black Keys played three sold-out show in two days, and they headlined Terminal 5 last night, having just left Central Park’s SummerStage a few hours before, not that it showed in their performance. The stage show was as stripped down as the duo—although they played their new material as a foursome, adding keys and bass to the mix—no lasers or elaborate lights, just a huge drum kit stage right, a stack of amps behind Auerbach and a huge banner of two black hands clasped together inside a tire, a reference to their recent album, Brothers, and even Auerbach and Carney’s personal connection, at the back of the stage.
The Keys played their Zeppelin-referenced blues with big crunchy distortion guitar that became another voice alongside Auerbach’s eerie Hendrix-like vocals, which are as equally at home delivering hushed falsetto on “The Lengths” as getting the Led out on “10 A.M. Automatic.” Hardly pausing between songs, they seemed to be taking their Ohio Midwestern work ethic to heart onstage, delivering on the promise of two friends getting to do what they sincerely love: Brothers in riff-heavy blues rock. —Jason Dean
Photos courtesy of Gregg Greenwood | www.gregggreenwood.com
The Postelles Shake the Floor
July 29th, 2010The Postelles – The Bowery Ballroom – July 28, 2010
When the Manhattan-based band Postelles originally booked last night’s headlining date at The Bowery Ballroom, they likely didn’t know that they would be opening a handful of dates on Kings of Leon’s and Interpol’s summer tours before they got to play the show. Still, lead singer Daniel Balk was humbled by the experience, thanking the packed crowd for being there and explaining the feeling of honor to play a venue where he “watched my favorite bands play.” “Now,” he said, “let’s shake this floor.”
For more than an hour, the band spun through material off their White Night EP along with new material set to be released in October as a self-titled, full-length debut (coproduced by the Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr.). Balk’s stage presence oozed Joseph Gordon-Levitt style cool—he could easily be mistaken for him in a crowd, a claim supported by the Beatlemania-style screams coming from the audience all night as girls nearly fought to get closer to the stage.
Lead guitarist David Dargahi pumped out Strokes-like riffs with Hives-like style. He glued his feet in place while thrashing around from the torso up during songs like “123 Stop.” The set had a wonderful rhythm to it, with most songs swelling during their verses until they inevitably burst into dance-and-shout choruses. For now the Postelles go back out with Interpol (they will be at The Wellmont Theatre next Wednesday), but they will hopefully be playing back home soon. Chances are, however, they’ll be headlining something even bigger. —Sean O’Kane
Photos courtesy of Sean O’Kane | seanokanephoto.com
The National Celebrates Brooklyn
July 28th, 2010The National – Prospect Park Bandshell – July 27, 2010
The experience of a live concert is reducible to a limited number of forms. And of those possibilities, bands usually fulfill your expectations of how they will perform and sound. For example, jam bands display virtuosic creativity while pop stars preen and shine for their adoring audience. This isn’t to say that performances don’t vary from night to night, but as the adage goes: You get what you pay for. The exception to this rule is when a band reproduces an album’s sound, but the effect of seeing them live still brings new depth to your understanding. Such is the case with the National. From lead singer Matt Berninger’s bustling baritone to Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s guitar hooks, the National swallow you whole.
On Tuesday night at the Prospect Park Bandshell, the Brooklyn-by-way-of-Ohio natives brought their talents to support free shows as a part of Celebrate Brooklyn! Fellow heralded indie-rock stars Beach House opened with a serene set filled with selections from their 2010 release, Teen Dream. Though lead lady Victoria Legrand joked, “Thank you for standing there and watching us play music,” it’s unclear what other reactions their midtempo, introspective tunes could elicit.
By contrast, the National played through a catalog shifting from the anthemic, like with “Squalor Victoria” and “Mistaken for Strangers,” to the spectral “Conversation 16” and “Anyone’s Ghost.” The group’s effectiveness is apparent in the way they balance their literal no-frills presentation with focus and determination. Silhouetted behind a large black drape, the men of the National looked and sounded like they take their music seriously. Thankfully this approach deeply rewards the band and the audience. —Jared Levy
Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space
July 28th, 2010
The English space-rock band Spiritualized has been making lush, atmospheric music since its debut, Lazer Guided Melodies, came out in 1992. Despite several personnel changes over the years, the group—guided by frontman Jason Pierce (J. Spaceman)—has continued to produce quality albums, including the much acclaimed Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space, which features a gospel choir plus Dr. John on one track. Why bring up a disc that came out in 1997? Great question: Because as part of SPIN25, Spiritualized (above, playing the dreamy “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space”) will perform the LP in its entirety with a choir and orchestra on Friday at Radio City Music Hall. And how can you top that?
Deadmau5 – The Wellmont Theatre – July 27, 2010
July 28th, 2010
The Flaming Lips Light Up SummerStage
July 27th, 2010The Flaming Lips – SummerStage – July 26, 2010
Earlier this year Wayne Coyne, frontman and face of the Flaming Lips, turned 49. For lesser musicians and performers, the late 40s mark artistic decline and looming retirement. However, for Coyne, aging is simply an opportunity to express bold new ideas, bolstered by the credibility of psychedelic rock’s premier band. Last year the Flaming Lips released Embryonic, a double album sprawling with bizarre imagery and extended psychedelic meditations. While the album fit comfortably in the band’s sizable discography, spanning 12 studio albums, it also came as a surprise. Embryonic, ironically, finds the Flaming Lips pushing forward rather than retreating into the comforts of their definitive style. Similarly, on a tepid Monday night at Central Park SummerStage, Coyne and the rest of the band displayed their boundless energy, presenting a live show unlike any other current group.
The entire performance unraveled as a life-affirming experience with “songs about optimistic ways of life.” This mantra began with Coyne descending into the crowd in a giant bubble. OK, maybe that wasn’t original for the Flaming Lips. However, over the course of their two-hour set spanning the group’s choice tracks, Coyne brought out new tricks such as a light-triggered gong, an audience sing-along for Embryonic’s “I Can Be a Frog” and a music visualization that would make iTunes jealous. Additionally, long-time fans gained their rewards from Transmissions from the Satellite Heart’s hit “She Don’t Use Jelly,” while more recent admirers got to sing along with “Do You Realize??” and the politically charged “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song.” So, though Coyne and the rest of the Flaming Lips are quickly aging toward AARP membership, their penchant for engaging live shows progresses and thrives. —Jared Levy
Photos courtesy of Gregg Greenwood | www.gregggreenwood.com
Grow a Pair: Win Free Tickets to See Appalachian Voices on 7/30
July 27th, 2010
This Friday a Kentucky treat (with a side of NOLA brass) comes to Brooklyn when Appalachian Voices, featuring Jim James, Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore, along with New Orleans’ venerable Preservation Hall Jazz Band play Music Hall of Williamsburg. Want to go? Then try to Grow a Pair of tickets from The House List. Fill out the form below, listing your name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Appalachian Voices, 7/30) and a brief message explaining the greatness of Bourbon County, Kentucky. Eddie Bruiser, who could drink his way through that entire county, will notify the winner by Friday. Good luck.
A Smashing Beginning to SPIN25
July 27th, 2010Smashing Pumpkins – Terminal 5 – July 26, 2010
Beginning a weeklong celebration of the anniversary of a premier music magazine is no easy feat. Thankfully for those in attendance at Terminal 5 last night, the Smashing Pumpkins were up to the task. The first in a week of top-flight shows celebrating the 25th anniversary of SPIN magazine went off with a bang as Billy Corgan and his gang roared through a two-hour set.
While he at times cracked jokes with the audience (saying, “Here’s a song you might know,” before playing “Today”), Corgan was mostly business—deafening, cackling business to be precise. He and guitarist Jeff Schroeder (labeled “the Shredder” by Corgan) matched solos all night, performing what was essentially an extended and hellish version of “Dueling Banjos.” The Pumpkins wasted no time getting the hits out there, covering crowd favorite “Ava Adore” and the monstrous “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” fairly early in the show.
Before starting the ear candy that was “Cherub Rock,” Corgan said, “The concert ends when you say so,” met by screams from all three floors of the sold-out venue. He must have figured the audience would want the concert to end with another hit, for a half hour later the band closed the set with its biggest, “Tonight, Tonight.” A two-song encore followed, with Corgan challenging Schroeder for “the Shredder” title as he stretched and squealed his guitar to its highest register during a nearly 10-minute version of “Gossamer.” And then as if by design, the clock struck midnight and the Pumpkins left the stage. —Sean O’Kane
Photos courtesy of Andy Keilen | spartanmarchingband.smugmug.com/Music
Anthony Hamilton – The Wellmont Theatre – July 25, 2010
July 26th, 2010
HardNYC – South Island Field at Governors Island – July 24, 2010
July 26th, 2010
Ferry Information for Tomorrow
July 23rd, 2010
Governors Island Ferry Information Update
There will be no boats to tomorrow’s M.I.A. show at South Island Field at Governors Island departing from the Battery Maritime Building. Dedicated concert ferries will depart from Pier 11, located at the corner of South Street and Wall Street in lower Manhattan, beginning at 4 p.m.
SPIN Turns 25
July 23rd, 2010
Next week SPIN magazine celebrates its 25th anniversary with five great shows: the Smashing Pumpkins at Terminal 5 on Monday, the Flaming Lips at Terminal 5 on Tuesday, the Black Keys at Terminal 5 on Wednesday, the National at Terminal 5 on Thursday and Spiritualized at Radio City Music Hall on Friday. And the even better news is that if you don’t have tickets to these shows, you’ll still be able to see them because Spin.com will be streaming them live. So let the SPIN25 celebration begin.
