Tag Archives: Music Hall of Williamsburg
Veronica Falls in Williamsburg
February 8th, 2012
Roxanne Clifford (vocals and guitar) and Patrick Doyle (drums and vocals) had already been in Sexy Kids together by the time they met James Hoare (vocals and guitar), of Your Twenties, at a Comet Gain show. But they struck up a conversation, and with the addition of Marion Herbain (bass), the London-based Veronica Falls were born. The band put out several singles in 2010, but late last summer a self-titled debut album, filled with ’80s-influenced pop, dark themes and reverb, proved this quartet is so much more than just a few songs. But to really experience Veronica Falls (above, doing “The Fountain” for Topman CTRL), you should see them live, and they just happen to play Music Hall of Williamsburg tomorrow night.
Be Smart, See Dum Dum Girls Tonight
February 7th, 2012
Singer-songwriter Kristen Gundred’s varied musical tastes (think: the Ronettes and the Ramones) became obvious when she took the stage name Dee-Dee and founded the band Dum Dum Girls. The quartet—Dee-Dee (vocals and guitar), Jules (guitar and vocals), Sandy (drums and vocals) and Malia James (bass and vocals)—really arrived on the scene when the debut LP I Will Be came out about two years ago. Since then the foursome has released more well-received lo-fi music with an EP, He Gets Me High, and a second LP, Only in Dreams, coming out last year. And with so much new music, Dum Dum Girls (above, doing “Bedroom Eyes” for KEXP FM at last year’s CMJ Music Marathon) are on the road. Do yourself a favor and see them play Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight.
Tycho Closes Out First American Tour in Brooklyn
February 6th, 2012Tycho – Music Hall of Williamsburg – February 4, 2012
(Photo: Dan Rickershauser)
Are we living in the golden age of electronic music? If we’re not, one could make a strong argument that we’re fast approaching it. With so much innovation in all directions of the genre, it’s sometimes hard to keep up with emerging frontiers. But somewhere out there deep into the abyss of sonic creativity you’ll find Tycho. Finishing their first-ever U.S. tour with a sold-out show on Saturday night at Music Hall of Williamsburg before heading overseas, Tycho brought a set to Brooklyn that was equal parts dance music and ethereal bliss.
While Tycho is typically a one-man operation led by producer and graphic designer Scott Hansen, bassist Zac Brown and drummer Rory O’Connor joined him onstage. Not only did O’Connor’s live drums add additional punchiness to the set, but they also pushed a driving rhythm to the forefront—leaving Hansen’s space-out inducing symphony of swirling synth arpeggios, somewhat reminiscent of Boards of Canada, sitting just behind these almost trip-hop rhythms.
This aural bliss was all topped with the aesthetic backdrop projections of deserts, ocean waves, icebergs and other assorted colorful designs similar in style to Hansen’s graphic-design work. Tycho finished the set with a bass-heavy rendition of “Coastal Brake,” with low pitches so loud and drone heavy they were more felt than heard. A graphic designer who’s also a musician, ambient music you can dance to, visuals that add to the overall ambiance, bass that’s more felt than heard, electronic music that’s played with organic drums and bass guitars. Does this all sound somewhat contradictory? Such is the emerging face of electronica. —Dan Rickershauser
Aimee Mann Satisfies
January 30th, 2012Aimee Mann – Music Hall of Williamsburg – January 27, 2012
“For some reason, most of my friends are comedians,” Aimee Mann told the audience halfway through her sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg show on Friday night. Although the songwriter is best known for singing melancholy tales about the “dysfunctional, broken and crazy” (her exact words), she is also quite the comedienne, and for each dismal story in her songs, Mann counteracted the gloom with a wry anecdote, a pointed comment or some spontaneous banter with the crowd (see also: playing herself on Portlandia). Given her natural penchant for hilarity, she probably shouldn’t be too stumped at her circle of comical friends.
Before playing a block of songs from her soon-to-be released album (probably called Charmer, though she admitted to some last-minute reservations about the title), Mann, in saying, “I won’t be offended at all,” gave everyone permission to use the bathroom in case the new material wasn’t their thing. Of course the pieces were met with a warm welcome, and songs like “Labrador” fit in nicely with Mann’s repertoire of catchy tales of the downtrodden. Perhaps as a reward for our patience with the new material, Mann followed with a selection of songs from her popular soundtrack to Magnolia, prefacing her spot-on renditions of “Save Me,” “Wise Up” and “One” by dryly commenting, “It’s hard to believe it’s been so long … since I lost that fucking Oscar.”
During the night’s encore, after performing “4th of July,” from her very first solo album, 1993’s Whatever, Mann was joined by opening act John Roderick, another humorous musician (offering hugs for five dollars at the merch table after the show), for a cheery cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Keep the Customer Satisfied.” The choice of song may have been a final wink to the crowd, for Mann certainly knows how to put on a satisfying show, no jokes about it. —Alena Kastin
Grow a Pair: Win Free Tickets to See Aimee Mann on 1/27
January 24th, 2012
Aimee Mann comes to town to play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday. As you can imagine, the show is sold out. But fear not, you’ve still got a chance to go because The House List is giving away two tickets. So try to Grow a Pair. It’s easy. Just fill out the form below, making sure to include your full name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Aimee Mann, 1/27) and a brief message explaining what the upcoming end of the football season means to you. Eddie Bruiser, who doesn’t want to see it go, will notify the winner by Friday. Good luck.
Portlandia the Tour – Music Hall of Williamsburg – January 20, 2012
January 23rd, 2012
A Highly Influential Band Returns
January 20th, 2012Mission of Burma – Music Hall of Williamsburg – January 19, 2012
It’s sometimes interesting to imagine how today’s musical scene would be different if you removed just a few hugely influential bands from the equation. What would music look like today without Mission of Burma? From a short-lived stint in the early ’80s, Mission of Burma found a way to contort punk rock beyond the limitations of the genre, creating an entirely new one that became known as post-punk. Much like that of the Velvet Underground and the Stooges before them, Mission of Burma’s unique sound went on to forever alter the trajectory of rock. Without them, there likely would be no Sonic Youth, Pixies or Fugazi. Put simply, music would probably suck a lot more.
But to state that Mission of Burma’s best days are in the past couldn’t be further from the truth. After reuniting in 2002 the band has put out three critically acclaimed albums (with another one on the way), and they still put on one hell of a live show, bringing their relentless cerebral art-punk to wildly enthusiastic Music Hall of Williamsburg crowd last night. The post-punk veterans featured songs both old and new, powering through the noise-heavy guitar jams of “Fun World,” the punk rock sing-along friendly “This Is Not a Photograph” and the distorted wall of sound of “2wice.”
They returned for a three-song encore ending with a cover of the Dils’ “Class War” before coming back to the stage once more at the request of the hungry-for-more audience. They finished off things with “Red” and the wildly popular “Academy Fight Song.” As energetic, loud, dynamic, innovative and still (likely) as influential as ever, perhaps in 30 years we’ll be trying to imagine a world when Mission of Burma never reunited. We’re fortunate we don’t have to live in such a place. —Dan Rickershauser
Spend Sunday Night with Pissed Jeans
January 20th, 2012
Allentown, Pa., sludge-noisemakers Pissed Jeans have been making anti-authority music, while channeling ’80s punk, ’90s hardcore and their hardscrabble hometown, for more than six years. The foursome—Bradley Fry, Randy Huth, Matt Kosloff and Sean McGuinness—has put out three LPs and three EPs, and while the recorded music is somewhat slowed down, in concert it comes frenziedly alive. Because these guys put all they have into each performance, which you can experience when they play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday.
A DJ Takes the Stage
January 19th, 2012Madlib – Music Hall of Williamsburg – January 18, 2012
(Photo: Jared Levy)
“Brooklyn, wake the fuck up,” the man repeated. He moved from the middle of the pack to the front of the stage. The demand seemed out of place. The crowd, mostly still, focused on each selection. Some brought out their iPhones to identify foreign songs. Madlib, for his part, barely noticed. The “DJ first, producer second and MC last,” literally danced to his own beat. With only a few interspersed comments and saluting gestures, Madlib created a thoughtful and eclectic mix.
Pulled from his Madlib Medicine Show imprint, the set highlighted his expansive grasp of music history. “Who knew rock was black?” he asked after a string of esoteric Nigerian tracks. The selections seemed designed for education as much as enjoyment. For perspective, “Crying” by the Edgar Broughton Band played after a muffled Busta Rhymes track. And there were at least a dozen more examples of juxtapositions.
But in the middle of his set, Madlib invited recent collaborator Freddie Gibbs to the stage. And, with his time, the Gary, Ind., rapper left an unshakable impression. Opening with the Madlib-produced track “Thuggin’,” Gibbs went on to steal a blunt from the audience and the room’s collective attention. He frequently rapped, skillfully, without a beat, and he reminded the audience of his gangster past (present?). All appeared to revere or at least respect his effort. For this show, he proved worthy of Madlib’s beats and time. —Jared Levy
Don’t Miss Mission of Burma Tonight
January 19th, 2012
Mission of Burma began in Boston in 1979 when a group Clint Conley (bass) and Roger Miller (guitar) had been in disbanded. So they started practicing together, and soon after adding Peter Prescott (drums) the trio played its first show. Weeks later Martin Swope (tape manipulations and sound engineer), who had previously worked with Miller, filled out the band’s roster. Mission of Burma became known for solid songwriting, a unique punk-tinged sound and extremely loud live shows. The quartet’s first album, Vs., came out in 1982, and with the positive reviews it seemed like nothing could stop the band. But alas those loud shows paid a toll: Miller developed tinnitus, and after one more tour, Mission of Burma broke up in 1983. Despite only lasting four years, the band went on to deeply influence others for decades. And that would have been where this story ends, but, seemingly out of nowhere, Mission of Burma reunited in 2002—with Bob Weston replacing Swope—and went on to release several more albums (including 2009’s well-received The Sound the Speed the Light). Find out for yourself why this band has been so influential tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg.
Santigold Triumphantly Returns
January 18th, 2012Santigold – Music Hall of Williamsburg – January 17, 2012
“It’s been a long, long time, and we’re so ready,” said Santigold to a sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg on Tuesday night. While it had indeed been a good chunk of time since the world last saw Santigold, the singer-songwriter-producer’s performance last night made for one powerful tale of her reemergence. Complete with three different sets of sparkly, glammed-out clothes, mesmerizing choreography and notable guest appearances, it was almost as if Santi’s spent the past few years off preparing for this elaborate reintroduction to the stage.
Opening with the energetic and forceful “Go,” Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer Karen O joined Santi, making for a charismatic power duo. Santigold then delivered old favorites “L.E.S. Artistes” and “Lights Out” before playing the powerful yet restrained new song “God from the Machine,” off the soon-to-be-released Master of My Make-Believe. With the help of elaborate costumes and liberal use of props, including golden pom-poms, sledgehammers, ropes and twirling umbrellas, Santi’s mesmerizing backing dancers’ moves would have upstaged anyone who lacked her overpowering stage presence.
Closing the first third of her set with “Get It Up,” Santi left the stage to her dancers before returning in a black-and-silver striped outfit to sing “Hold the Line” alongside a giant white horse. She then welcomed a big chunk of the crowd onstage to dance along with her to “The Creator.” But it wasn’t just onstage revelers getting loose—David Byrne, the legendary leader of the Talking Heads, who knows a thing or two about over-the-top, well-choreographed performances, danced along in the balcony. Opener Spank Rock later joined Santi to rap through a verse of “Shove It” before returning once more to finish the two-song encore with “B.O.O.T.A.Y.” —Dan Rickershauser
Grow a Pair: Win Free Tickets to See Portlandia the Tour on 1/21
January 17th, 2012
Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein are bringing their show, Portlandia, on the road. It’s just a six-city tour and the two dates here, on Friday at Music Hall of Williamsburg and on Saturday at The Bowery Ballroom, sold out quickly. But The House List is giving away two tickets to Saturday’s show. So if you don’t have tickets but would still like to go, try to Grow a Pair. Just fill out the form below, making sure to include your full name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Portlandia, 1/21) and a brief message explaining why Portlandia reminds you of Brooklyn. Eddie Bruiser, who thought the show took place in Maine, will notify the winner by Friday.
Great Music for a Great Cause
January 11th, 2012
While sleeping in a Portland, Ore., hotel room, Jonathan Toubin, the DJ and proprietor of New York Night Train, was struck by a car, leaving him in critical condition. He’s receiving outstanding care and his wounds have begun to heal. But medical bills are mounting. (For updates on his condition, go to www.facebook.com/IheartJT.) In the meantime, some of his talented friends are holding a fund-raiser tomorrow night at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Proceeds will benefit Jonathan and you’ll be able to see the likes of Chain and the Gang, Five Dollar Priest, Eleanor Friedberger, Nicole Atkins, Dorit Chrysler, Shilpa Ray, An American Dream and Two Tears. Plus there will be DJs, raffles and prizes. So come out to have fun and support a great cause.
Grow a Pair: Win Free Tickets to See Givers on 1/5
January 3rd, 2012
Givers, the five-piece out of Lafayette, La., come our way this week to play Music Hall of Williamsburg on Thursday. And if that weren’t enough good news, The House List is giving away two tickets. Want to go? Try to Grow a Pair. Just fill out the form below, making sure to include your full name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Givers, 1/5) and a brief message explaining why you want to go. Eddie Bruiser, who also wants to go, will notify the winner by Thursday. Good luck.
