Peaches – Music Hall of Williamsburg – December 12, 2010
December 13th, 2010
Photo courtesy of Jennifer Macchiarelli | www.jennylow.com
Tag Archives: Photo
Luke Temple Doesn’t Go It Alone
February 1st, 2010Here We Go Magic – Music Hall of Williamsburg – January 29, 2010
(Photo: Jared Levy)
Advances in music recording have undeniably given musicians greater ability to compose their own projects. Artists like Neon Indian and tUnE yArDs have embraced the DIY spirit, creating their own lo-fi bedroom productions to considerable fanfare. But when it comes to delivering a live performance, these artists have shed their solitary identities and built groups around their sound. Similarly, Luke Temple morphed his self-titled solo record, Here We Go Magic, from an individual endeavor into a budding young band. As Temple notes in interviews: The sonic texture of the album necessitated forming a band. And judging from Friday’s show at Music Hall of Williamsburg, he picked a fantastic group of musicians to complete Here We Go Magic’s sound.
The New York City-based Glass Ghosts and Midnight Masses opened the show. The second band clearly draws its strength from group-oriented music. Midnight Masses is a new side project from …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead multi-instrumentalist Jason Reece and Dragons of Zynth bassist Autry Fulbright. Their band includes two guitarists, a bass player, two drummers and a string section. They frequently featured five-part harmonies that at times were reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash.
Here We Go Magic followed with a smattering of songs from their debut album. As frontman Temple noted during the one-song encore, the band’s oldies only extend to a few months ago. Nevertheless, “Only Pieces” and “Fangela” came to life with fleshed-out vocal arrangements and dynamic instrumental interplay. Bassist Jennifer Turner is truly a talent, providing steady rhythm and excellent harmonizing. The band’s genuine connection and love of playing came through in their music, and I am eager to see how they continue to mature as a group. —Jared Levy
The Dead Weather Lives Up to the Hype
July 20th, 2009The Dead Weather – Terminal 5 – July 17, 2009
(Photo: Gregg Greenwood)
With the hype surrounding the Dead Weather’s heavily rock-pedigreed members, it’s easy to see how the band’s second stop in New York City could turn into an event. Attracting Jay-Z and Kanye West is a testament to the attention they’ve received with their only album barely on store shelves. Friday night’s show at Terminal 5 was added after the first night sold out, but the all-star rock group’s performance was no afterthought. They delivered on the buzz that has been building since their formation in March.
With only enough songs in their repertoire to fill a set lasting barely an hour, the Dead Weather relied on sheer performance to please the crowd. Frontwoman Alison Mosshart impressed as Jack White hunkered over his drum set, lurking in the background while the crowd waited for him to take the spotlight. That tension paid off in full as he crept out from behind the kit to finish the set with an all-out rock version of a Johnny-and-June-style duet with Mosshart on “Will There Be Enough Water?” The crowd erupted the moment White slid his guitar strap over his shoulder. And even the singer stepped to the side of the stage to watch as White ripped a guitar solo. She seemed as starry-eyed as those in the audience watching this growing rock legend.
As great as White’s moment in the spotlight was, the Dead Weather proved over the course of the rest of the set just how good they are as a band and not just as a Jack White side project. Upon returning to the stage for an encore, Mosshart stepped up her already electrically captivating performance and carried that energy until the finish of “New Pony,” nearly collapsing as the whole band screamed “How much? How much?”—fitting lyrics for a band with no end in sight. —Sean O’Kane
