The rousing, rootsy These United States have toured steadily since forming in 2006. Of course it’s easy to do so when you’ve just about always got new music. And one thing’s for sure, these guys are prolific: In 2008, the band released two albums just six months apart, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden and the more rousing Crimes, to much acclaim even though the discs cover somewhat different musical territory. Last year they put out Everything Touches Everything, and in July they released What Lasts. Led by Jesse Elliott, These United States (above, playing “I Want You to Keep Everything” for hearya.com) sometimes sound psychedelic and at other times endearingly rambling and twangy, but, regardless, they’re always fun. Find out for yourself on Saturday at Mercury Lounge.
Posts Tagged ‘These United States’
Get to Know These United States
Thursday, August 26th, 2010 Northside Festival Starts Today
Thursday, June 24th, 2010
Get ready for a flurry of indie rock in Brooklyn this weekend because The L Magazine’s second annual Northside Festival, today through Sunday, brings more than 100 bands to Greenpoint and Williamsburg. Of course you know The Bowery Presents is gonna get in on that, beginning tonight at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Thao and Mira with the Most of All and These United States. Tomorrow brings the Woodsist Records Showcase featuring Real Estate and Woods to Music Hall of Williamsburg while Brooklyn Bowl hosts the Fiery Furnaces (below, playing “Keep Me in the Dark” for Seattle’s KEXP), who will also be at Mercury Lounge the next night. On Saturday, Music Hall plays host to a Brooklyn Vegan showcase, with Memory Tapes, Twin Sister, Dom and ZAZA on hand. And, finally, close out this festival in style on Sunday when Islands hits Music Hall of Williamsburg.
See Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson This Friday
Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
With the recent release of Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson’s second album, Summer of Fear, on Saddle Creek Records, the Brooklyn-based artist fits in nicely among the label’s other acts, especially alongside the raw, emotional back catalog of Bright Eyes and the twangy confessionals performed by Neva Dinova’s Jake Bellows. Though Summer of Fear was recorded during a particularly rough time in Robinson’s life, and stories of heartbreak and hard times are woven throughout the music, when he takes the stage (following musical-melting-pot These United States) at Mercury Lounge on Friday, don’t expect a pity party. Summer of Fear finds Robinson expressing his ennui through righteous, roots-y songs in the tradition of artists like Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, full of cathartic choruses and foot-stomping beats. So please leave your tissues at home, for on Friday, as Robinson tells his tales of woe, we can work through some of our own troubles by singing along as loud as we can. It should be a bit like group therapy (but with the added bonus of a full bar). —Alena Kastin
(See Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, above, playing “Trap Door”—last month during CMJ—broadcast on Seattle’s KEXP radio.)
See These United States Tomorrow
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
These United States, whose members hail from Lexington, Ky., and Washington, D.C., have steadily toured since forming in 2006. Last year, the band released two albums just six months apart, A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden and the more rousing Crimes, to much acclaim even though the discs cover somewhat different musical territory. Led by Jesse Elliott, These United States can sound at times a little bit out there and at other times endearingly rambling and twangy, but, regardless, they’re always fun. Check out the band, above, playing “Honor Amongst Thieves,” and then see them live at Mercury Lounge tomorrow night.
Deer Tick Ends Tour at The Bowery Ballroom
Monday, July 27th, 2009Deer Tick - The Bowery Ballroom - July 24, 2009
Deer Tick
Deer Tick had been on the road steadily since early June—including more than 20 dates with Dawes—before closing their tour in rowdy style at a sold-out Bowery Ballroom on Friday night. Playing tracks from their debut album, War Elephant, and their follow-up disc, Born on Flag Day, released about a month ago, Deer Tick began the show with a brief drums interlude and then firmly took hold of the audience with two hours of gritty, sweaty rock and roll.
Drummer Dennis Ryan, whose tour beard compared favorably to the Geico Caveman’s, his bassist brother, Chris, and guitarist Andy Tobiassen are talented musicians, but Deer Tick’s heart and soul is clearly John McCauley’s raspy, evocative voice. The frontman was chatty and affable throughout. (And possibly drunk. Although he’s not a haphazard drinker: He kept his beers cool in a koozie all night.) Before going into “Baltimore Blues No. 1,” McCauley said, “I wrote these fucking songs in my bedroom when I was 17 or 18 years old. And there were never this many people there. But if there were, we would’ve had a great time.” Those in the audience happily agreed as they stomped, clapped and sang along to songs like “These Old Shoes” and “Little White Lies,” plus a terrific cover of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ “Breakdown.”
As the show—and tour—wound down, members of both opening bands, Dawes and These United States, who had been singing along from the side of the stage, joined Deer Tick onstage. The mood was loud and rambunctious, like rolling thunder, as they drank, hugged, danced and took turns trading solos on a ripping version of “La Bamba.” Many young bands’ live performances sound remarkably similar to their recorded work, but Deer Tick’s live show breathed new life into their already-heady stuff, turning earnest music into something dirtier (in a good way). Like the recorded takes were just the beginning, a blueprint to build on. Hopefully they will. They’re off to an awfully good start. —R. Zizmor
© 2010
