Over the past six months Billbones has gradually evolved into one of the most consistently fun & hard rockin' acts in NYC. The band mixes together their own blend of New York via London underground rock with hard chargin' cover tunes & a take no prisoners stage show. Most shows you go see in the city people in the crowd just kinda scratch their chins and slowly nod along. But at a Billbones show you might see a 40 year old wino holding a flask while doing the twist in the front row or a couple of barely legals hooting along as they dance on a couch - it’s come as you are anything goes. There’s no posing here, just a band playing "get up, have a beer, and shake your ass!" music and the crowds seem to get larger & more energetic with every show. The band definitely vibes off their energy on stage steadily gaining momentum song by song. Tonight the usually relatively stoic & reserved bass player Mike Bones stole the show emerging from the wings to mix it up with the crowd a bit and then without warning trashing the drum kit during the finale in true Rockstar style. If you like to party & listen to Rock N' Roll this may be the band for you.
I heard some good buzz about the CWKs while I was in Austin for South by Southwest, and their catchy ballad "Hospital Beds" on their mySpace won me over so I was looking forward to seeing them live. Turns out they were even better live than I had ever imagined. The band delivered with high energy, great interaction with the crowd, excellent rootsy soul vocals, catchy rhythms and there's a great chemistry between the band members that you can't help but vibe off of in the crowd.
Most of the crowd came to see Two Gallants but everyone was buzzing about the Cold War Kids after this show.
The last thing I expected was to see crowd surfing at a Two Gallants show, but it happened. The band's sound is mostly Americana with moments of harder rocking lo-fi indie. I've been hooked on their debut "the Throes" for a while now, an album packed with impassioned vocals and excellent songwriting. Live it all combines for a moving experience and the crowd really got into it, singing along, dancing, and waving their arms in the air. This band is definitely worth checking out for any fans of mid-west indie like the Hold Steady or alt-rootsy stuff Saddle Creek, or the Fiery Furnaces.
**** I've been keepin' an eye on the Blue Van ever since I caught them delivering a crunching blast of old school hard rock at Southpaw in Brooklyn a while back. The Danish band is heavily influenced by 60's Brit-rock classics (i.e. any band Clapton was in) and in less capable hands it might come off as played out retro Boomer-Candy (like so many other bands), but these guys can really tear it up live. This is the third time I've caught the Blue Van and I've noticed that each time the crowds normally have started off seeming somewhat apathetic, scattered around the room, sipping their drinks. But as the band plays they slowly inch in closer and closer towards the stage with each song until by the end it's just a swirling mass of heads rocking out to the sweet Voxy grooves.
Seems like the Duke Spirit like to rock the magazine parties. Tonight's blowout was sponsored by Filter and the last time I caught them was at a party sponsored by Bust magazine. Who knows, maybe they're avid readers? Well, they're definitely avid rockers and tonight they set off the party in style with a fun set that got everybody feeling good. This band is definitely one of my new favorites.
Chuck D once said that the Rap is like the NBA - once you make it you the highest level you're the best. There's no point in arguing whether Jordan or Chamberlain was better - they were both the best. They were each the best at what they do. So for example there's really no point in arguing wheather Tupac or Biggie was better - each was the best at doing what they did when they did it.
There are lots of great bands indie rock bands out who are great at doing what they do, but none are better at doing what the Walkmen do than the Walkmen. They've got a totally unique sound and style and when they hit you with it they hit you hard. If you've never heard them before imagine the sound of an even more epic, intense U2 and you'd be pretty close.
I've seen the Walkmen live before but never focused as they were tonight. This is a band possessed - rulers of their sonic zone. If you've ever heard their classic single "the Rat", take the raw, visceral impact of that song and multiply it times five and you'd be at about the intensity level the band achieved during this set. If you factor in the fact that they were playing mainly new material that most of the crowd hadn't heard before and still managed to completely blow peoples minds - it's just amazing. If the new album comes anywhere near this level - look out!
(btw, Props to Filter for booking two awesome bands…. and for the free booze)
I mentioned the Five O’clock Heroes to a friend of mine recently and she huffed and said dismissively "Whateva, those guys are just like a mix of the Strokes and the Libertines". Ok, if that sounds like a bad thing to you, then this is definitely not the band for you. If that sounds really fucking cool to you, then I'll see you at the next show.
I've been lucky enough to catch the Head Set playing a bunch of times in the city over the past few years. The band's got an immediate, radio-friendly sound that definitely reaches out and grabs you without being overly poppy. Singer /guitarist Jordan B. has some great pipes - a loungey croon somewhere in the Casablancas-Morrison range and the band writes solid songs filled with catchy hooks. They’re especially strong live & tonight they were in full Rock mode rolling through a tight set filled high-energy tunes & catchy hooks. For the finale, they closed with one of their best songs "Enemies" a tune that sounds destined for the radio and judging by the shrieks & hoots of approval from the crowd the Head Set might just make it there.
*** I caught the Libertines at Trash back in the old days when it was Club Luxx and ever since I try to make a point of stopping by whenever I'm hanging out in Williamsburg. Good crowd, the staff's friendly, there's a cheap open bar & the back room is a great place to catch up & coming rockers. Tonight Milwaukee's Red Knife Lottery made a few new fans with an explosion of raging punk.
After a slowly building opening where frontwoman Ashley C. declared "She's not your Jezebel!" things slammed immediately into high gear with a handful of tunes that reminded me of a faster, borderline screamo YYYs or Royal Trux. RKL's set was a burst of non-stop energy, and they're definitely worth checking out if you like your punk young, fast & sexy.
Judging by this show it seems that one of the best Soul-Garage Rock bands in the country is just getting better. The touring the band's been doing is paying off because all three members are visibly more confident at their instruments and it comes through in their sound. Ericka’s sultry vocals are rawer filled with a deep sense of longing & determination while the rhythm section just crushes - especially the drums. Tonight's set focused mostly on the band's unreleased new material with a few from their shamefully slept-on classic debut "Stairs & Elevators" mixed in. The new songs are just incredible - I don't know the names but there's one in particular where Erika starts of on the electric piano then switches to guitar that just blew the crowd away.
BTW, At this point isn't it time for some kind "Fat Possum" tour? I mean look at all the amazing rock bands this label has (the Black Keys, Heartless Bastards, We Are Wolves, Deadboy and the Elephantmen, Fiery Furnaces, etc.) plus add in the classic Delta Blues artists & you could have a festival. Why not?
**** Foreign Islands is definitely hustlin' hard these days. It seems like every weekend they're freakin' a packed room somewhere in the city with their magic blend of electro/robo-funk/b-boy/spazz rock. Their wild set ended with the bass player doing a full speed nosedive right into the front row!
BTW, Word on the street is Rothko's closing for a bit (something to do with wobbly floors). Sux, hopefully they'll be back open soon, I've hada lot of fun times & seen some excellent bands at this place (Futureheads, the Occasion, the Subways, Franz Ferdinand DJing, etc.)
**** I'd heard some good things about Rahim at South by Southwest so I was curious to check 'em out for myself. Unfortunately I missed most of their set (long story) but I was diggin’ what I did get to hear. The band’s live sound is really impressive - the rhythm section fills the songs with a sense of immediacy and urgency & this is balanced with smooth vocals on subtle harmonies on top. Rahim’s definitely worth checking out for anyone into more rhythmic rock like the Constantines or Radio 4.
Post a Comment