Wild Beasts – Music Hall of Williamsburg – September 23, 2011
September 26th, 2011
Tag Archives: Wild Beasts
Wild Beasts’ Warm The Bowery Ballroom on a Cold, Cold Night
March 1st, 2010Wild Beasts – The Bowery Ballroom – February 25, 2010
“The snow had piled up knee high in the street,” is a line from Wild Beasts’ song “Two Dancers.” And as multi-instrumentalist Tom Fleming sang these words with wintry mounds surrounding The Bowery Ballroom, the music and band seemed to connect deeper with each moment. A sold-out crowd braved the elements to attend the show and Wild Beasts recognized this, abundantly thanking their minions. However, dedication alone did not draw a capacity crowd. On Friday night, Wild Beasts demonstrated that their performance is worthy of passionate devotion.
Since the release of their sophomore album, Two Dancers, Wild Beasts have been busy garnering accolades and touring extensively. Critics deservedly praise the British band’s recent record for its accessibly unique sound and varied vocal stylings. Frontman Hayden Thorpe employs an impressive falsetto and medieval-sounding countertenor, while Fleming croons with a strong baritone. The combination of their incredible voices with support from a tight rhythm section and spellbinding guitar work continues to attract fans across the globe.
Following a spirited performance from Canadian indie rockers Still Life Still, Wild Beasts took the stage with romantic poetry announcing their arrival. Thorpe built upon the theatrics already set in place by serenading the audience with Two Dancers’ opening track, “Fun Powder Plot.” During the show, Thorpe and Fleming continuously traded guitar, bass and keyboard duties, though Thorpe’s guitar seemed to malfunction toward the middle of the set. However, the band rebounded seamlessly, and the crowd erupted at the first snare hit of Two Dancers’ triumph, “All the King’s Men.” For an encore, Fleming chillingly belted out “The Devil’s Crayon” from their debut album, Limbo, Panto, and Two Dancers’ album closer, “The Empty Nest.” Although those in attendance had to trek back into the cold once the show ended, fans could look forward to the warmth of home and Wild Beasts repeated on headphones. —Jared Levy
Grow a Pair: Win Free Tickets to See Wild Beasts on 2/26 or 2/28
February 23rd, 2010
The English rockers Wild Beasts are coming to town this weekend for a sold-out show on Friday at The Bowery Ballroom and a Sunday appearance at Music Hall of Williamsburg (tickets are still available for that one). The House List wants you to see these guys so much that we’re offering two tickets to the show of the winner’s choice. Want to Grow a Pair? It’s easy. Just fill out the form below, listing your name, e-mail address, which show you’re trying to win tickets to (Wild Beasts, 2/26 or Wild Beasts, 2/28) and a brief message explaining why you are no longer afraid of wild beasts. Eddie Bruiser, who’s not afraid of dogs but doesn’t care for cats, will notify the winner on Friday.
Still Life Still Takes Residency at Mercury Lounge This Month
January 5th, 2010
After making their NYC debut at this past October’s CMJ Music Marathon, Still Life Still is returning with a residency at Mercury Lounge, playing four nights in January, beginning tomorrow, when they open for Des Roar—plus headlining the early show on the 13th, opening for Freelance Whales on the 20th and opening the late show for Blip Blip Bleep on the 29th. The Toronto quintet, musically reminiscent of Arts and Crafts labelmate Broken Social Scene, put out both their first EP, Pastel, and LP, Girls Come Too, last summer. And now they’re bringing that music here this month before heading out on a U.S. tour with Wild Beasts (including a show at The Bowery Ballroom on February 26th). Check out Still Life Still playing “Pastel,” above, and then do your best to see then in person this month.
See Wild Beasts Tomorrow Night at Mercury Lounge
September 9th, 2009
Classmates Hayden Thorpe and Ben Little formed the guitar duo Fauve (French for wild beast)—with Thorpe singing—in 2002. In pursuit of a bigger sound, they eventually added Chris Talbot on drums and Tom Fleming on bass, took on the new name Wild Beasts (English for wild beasts) and moved the band from Kendal, England, to Leeds, where they quickly earned a loyal local following. After putting out three EPs, anchored by Thorpe’s soaring falsetto, Wild Beasts finally released their first full-length album, Limbo, Panto, in 2008. The follow-up album, Two Dancers, came out just last month. See them tomorrow night at Mercury Lounge (along with Roman Candle) before they cross the Atlantic for a European tour.
(Check out Wild Beasts, above, performing “The Dead’s Crayon,” off Limbo, Panto, at the BBC festival Electric Proms.)
