Finally, I'm sort of back on track for concert reviews since I've got some time.
The Kills, composed of a British guy and an expat from Florida that make garagy-type music if you want to file it under a title. Their latest, Midnight Boom, is a bit more polished than their earlier records, but that sheen has provoked some good rhythmic beats and sing-song that translate well live at the Black Cat.
They opened with "U.R.A Fever," not exactly being totally original by opening with the first song off their new record, but surprisingly appropriate to introduce themselves to an audience. With Jamie clad in a leather and Alison in her becoming signature leopard-print coat, they interacted with each other providing musicality from his guitar, her voice overs, and a drum machine. Very sparse, yet muscular in tone and presence.
Mainly sticking to their latest to provide musical foliage for the evening, some standouts included "Alphabet," "Cheap + Cheerful," "What NY Used to Be," and the highlight for me being "Last Days of Magic." That guitar that maintains through the song, and Alison's voice, man, one of the best songs of '08.
Opening for them was Telepathe, a four-piece from Brooklyn with some weird abstract, dance beats and three front women interacting with each other on vocal duties. There was a guitarist, but I rarely heard any sound from him, weird. But nice people to talk to after the show and discuss non-sensical tour routes with.
The week after, the Cure, what can you say about these guys except they are legends. Opening with "Plainsong," with the sparkly backdrop matching the sounds of the song in the beginning, awesome. And they've been around for so long that there was not a bad song in the set list. "Lullably," "Fascination Street," "Love Song", "Just Like Heaven," and even "Pornography;" which is my favorite Cure song. After nearly three hours of wall-to-wall music, I had to throw in the towel due to fatigue and leave, first time I have ever left a concert before the encore. I swear they had at least another hour or two in them, they don't make bands like that anymore. So, if you have not yet seen the Cure live, do it. And wear comfortable shoes because some amount of droning, or dancing, will occur. You can't fight the Cure.
Showing posts with label Black Cat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black Cat. Show all posts
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Les Savy Fav and Rhett Miller
No, Les Savy Fav and Rhett Miller did not tour together to meld Alt-Country and the Brooklyn sound, but it would've been cool if they did.
Les Savy Fav happened on a Friday night at the Black Cat. First up were the Dodos, two guys with guitars and another with a drum, but they had a lot of soul. I picked up their new album, Visiter, yeah, the hype is real and it is good. You need to buy this album now to occupy your Saturday night to Sunday morning transition. And live, they are every bit as good as you would expect after listening to the album.
Up next were the Big Sleep. Truly a Brooklyn band that reminded me of a jam-band based Sonic Youth, I know, that reference was too easy to pull off. A groovy sound with a bass, drum kit, and guitar. There are sparingly little vocals, they just want to create a sonic environment to allow the listener to bang their head and wrap their minds around the seemingly complex, yet truly simple sound. They are a perfect headphone band, something to provide a soundtrack for your life.
Example, "Slow Race" is perfect to listen to while walking down the street. And live, it's even better to allow you to warm up. A chugging beat and riff that aburbtly stops and segues into another song like the snap of the finger. "Murder" is one of their songs that actually has lyrics, but the vocal is simply another layer of the song that melds into the instrumentation, rather than be the focal point.
And I loved their minimalistic stage setup, just them around a light blub to create an errie, yet inviting rock show. Get into them now.
Now, Les Savy Fav. Wow, OMG, what the hell did I just witness, I want to see it again and again. Seriously, this band is good live, plain and simple. It's the only show I've been that had a subplot with the President, his daughter, and a cybernetic bear suit, and it was awesome. I mean, the lead singer even wore a cape, how cool is that!?
The obsession and reverence begin with "Yawn, Yawn, Yawn." A guitar riff, that was it. Simple, enticing, and merged into the chorus with energy that could power a country. This song was just amazing live. "Reprobate's Resume." A crowd favorite that induced craziness and movement that coupled the band and audience together. I am still shaking my head at the actions of the singer, simply walking into the audience and inviting the crowd to get in on the fun. There is no secrets with this band, they live for music and people. Of all the bands I've seen, these are still the ones to beat, and I don't think that will ever happen.
Sadly, the next night Rhett Miller had to follow the madness of Les Savy Fav. He did good, but not good enough. Don't get me wrong, with just Rhett Miller, the weekend of music would have still been great, but Les Savy Fav is another beast entirely. But letting my memory go of Les Savy Fav. Rhett Miller was personable, providing great fodder, and generating great music from only him and his guitar. A simple show to ground myself back into reality and come to terms with Sunday morning.
I know, I am not doing the Rhett Miller show justice, but Les Savy Fav was just a juggernaut.
Les Savy Fav happened on a Friday night at the Black Cat. First up were the Dodos, two guys with guitars and another with a drum, but they had a lot of soul. I picked up their new album, Visiter, yeah, the hype is real and it is good. You need to buy this album now to occupy your Saturday night to Sunday morning transition. And live, they are every bit as good as you would expect after listening to the album.
Up next were the Big Sleep. Truly a Brooklyn band that reminded me of a jam-band based Sonic Youth, I know, that reference was too easy to pull off. A groovy sound with a bass, drum kit, and guitar. There are sparingly little vocals, they just want to create a sonic environment to allow the listener to bang their head and wrap their minds around the seemingly complex, yet truly simple sound. They are a perfect headphone band, something to provide a soundtrack for your life.
Example, "Slow Race" is perfect to listen to while walking down the street. And live, it's even better to allow you to warm up. A chugging beat and riff that aburbtly stops and segues into another song like the snap of the finger. "Murder" is one of their songs that actually has lyrics, but the vocal is simply another layer of the song that melds into the instrumentation, rather than be the focal point.
And I loved their minimalistic stage setup, just them around a light blub to create an errie, yet inviting rock show. Get into them now.
Now, Les Savy Fav. Wow, OMG, what the hell did I just witness, I want to see it again and again. Seriously, this band is good live, plain and simple. It's the only show I've been that had a subplot with the President, his daughter, and a cybernetic bear suit, and it was awesome. I mean, the lead singer even wore a cape, how cool is that!?
The obsession and reverence begin with "Yawn, Yawn, Yawn." A guitar riff, that was it. Simple, enticing, and merged into the chorus with energy that could power a country. This song was just amazing live. "Reprobate's Resume." A crowd favorite that induced craziness and movement that coupled the band and audience together. I am still shaking my head at the actions of the singer, simply walking into the audience and inviting the crowd to get in on the fun. There is no secrets with this band, they live for music and people. Of all the bands I've seen, these are still the ones to beat, and I don't think that will ever happen.
Sadly, the next night Rhett Miller had to follow the madness of Les Savy Fav. He did good, but not good enough. Don't get me wrong, with just Rhett Miller, the weekend of music would have still been great, but Les Savy Fav is another beast entirely. But letting my memory go of Les Savy Fav. Rhett Miller was personable, providing great fodder, and generating great music from only him and his guitar. A simple show to ground myself back into reality and come to terms with Sunday morning.
I know, I am not doing the Rhett Miller show justice, but Les Savy Fav was just a juggernaut.
The Raveonettes and Lust, Lust, Lust
Another night of wonderful music to cap off the month of March.
Although I did miss the openers of this show, which I really hate to do because I believe that is the best way to find new bands, music, and sounds. I did enjoy my time spent with The Raveonettes.
A Danish band rooted in the sounds of back in the day on their previous albums, Lust, Lust, Lust seems to be finding a better way to marry the sounds of yesteryear with the contemporary stylings of today, and I like it.
It has been a while since the show happened, I do remember hearing "Hallucinations" as the first song that captured my eyes and attention live. With Sune and Sharon occupying their sides of the stage with a pair of microphones and guitars, they took their time to build this soundstage that consisted of a simple guitar riff that gave way to sharp distortion with a nice beat to tie it all together in one, big bow of musical goodness.
Next up for me was "You Want the Candy" that I do believe made me dance a little; much to the horror of all the sober people in my vicinity. But I was unaware of that as this song provided a nice escape with seemingly happy sounds that sugar-coated the dark environment of the Black Cat. Truly a saccharin-induced moment in my life.
"Love In A Trashcan" was another highlight that provided wonderful hip-swinging beats to accompany a clean-sounding guitar riff that melted into a rhythm that everyone had to succumb to and had to move no matter what.
An evening full of dancing, distortion, paired vocals, what more could you ask for on a DC Saturday night.
Although I did miss the openers of this show, which I really hate to do because I believe that is the best way to find new bands, music, and sounds. I did enjoy my time spent with The Raveonettes.
A Danish band rooted in the sounds of back in the day on their previous albums, Lust, Lust, Lust seems to be finding a better way to marry the sounds of yesteryear with the contemporary stylings of today, and I like it.
It has been a while since the show happened, I do remember hearing "Hallucinations" as the first song that captured my eyes and attention live. With Sune and Sharon occupying their sides of the stage with a pair of microphones and guitars, they took their time to build this soundstage that consisted of a simple guitar riff that gave way to sharp distortion with a nice beat to tie it all together in one, big bow of musical goodness.
Next up for me was "You Want the Candy" that I do believe made me dance a little; much to the horror of all the sober people in my vicinity. But I was unaware of that as this song provided a nice escape with seemingly happy sounds that sugar-coated the dark environment of the Black Cat. Truly a saccharin-induced moment in my life.
"Love In A Trashcan" was another highlight that provided wonderful hip-swinging beats to accompany a clean-sounding guitar riff that melted into a rhythm that everyone had to succumb to and had to move no matter what.
An evening full of dancing, distortion, paired vocals, what more could you ask for on a DC Saturday night.
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