mp3: Real Woods "No Rain" (Blind Melon Cover)

"All I Can Do"
(Photo by Frankie Pancakes)

After announcing that they would tour together, it was pretty apparent that a Real Estate/Woods tour would birth some serious cross-polination. Birds had been chirping of Real Woods in the weeks leading up to their first show at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Rumors of "bongo flying" practices flooded town, and when it came time, during the encore portion of Friday night's show, the bands did not disappoint. Bleeker took to the lead vocal, while the rest of Real Woods got jubilant, as hippie moshpits took over the front rows and tambourine dancing ensued on stage. And then they were called out for another encore, in which they played Graham Nash's "Military Madness". Great show. Of course, NYC Taper was there to capture it all. In other show/cover news, NYC Taper also has Real Estate's cover of "My Molly," which you should definitely snag.

Real Woods- No Rain (Blind Mellon cover)

live: Phoenix / Lightspeed Champion

"They'll be nothing to keep me away"
(photo by johnny leather)
Phoenix played Music Hall of Williamsburg last night. Going into the show I couldn't help but dread that my first Phoenix show--something I've been waiting four years for--would be plagued with the far too familiar stoic hipster crowd (also infected: Silver Jews, Jens Lekman singing DJ, Deerhunter). Praise the God(s) this didn't happen. The "Of Montreal" crowd showed up instead, bringing the most energy I've ever seen at a Music Hall show.

Lightspeed Champion started off the late night (Phoenix played Letterman earlier that day, which might explain the late start). They slowly warmed up the crowd, who responded affectionately to a more-rock/less-80's cover of Tears For Fears' "Head Over Heels". It was an above average set that seemed to leave a generous impression on the few hundred anxious Phoenix fans. Unfortunately for Lightspeed Champion, any memorable moments were soon forgotten in the wake of one of the best rock shows I've seen in a while.

Phoenix took the stage shortly after midnight. They came out blazing--opening the night with "Liztomania" before jumping into a handful of singles from It's Never Been Like That ("Long Distance Call", "Consolation Prizes", "Rally"). The "sold-out" crowd (which seemed a little thin thankfully) was fully engaged at this point with all eyes on Thomas Mars and the gang. A handful of new songs got fantastic treatment, and the audience seemed to know all the words.

They encored with an awesome (and slightly re-worked) version of "If I Ever Feel Better" and a nearly ear-damaging rendition of "1901" which included an impromptu refrain in which Thomas Mars sung from the audience. Other standouts included "Sometimes in the Fall" and a killer "Love Like a Sunset".

Phoenix plays Terminal 5 tonight, and if I didn't have an unavoidable engagement, I would seriously consider going back for more.

Phoenix - Sometimes in the Fall (LIVE) [from 2006's It's Never Been Like That (Bonus Disc)]

bootleg: Mogwai @ MHoW 4/29/09

"Mogwai Fear Satan"
(photo by georgia.kral)
Last Wednesday I hit up the final show of Mogwai's sold-out three night run at Music Hall of Williamsburg. While I was prepared for a full on sonic explosion, I was absolutely dumbfounded by how devastating the Scottish post-rock acts live show was. A full on sensory experience, I left having to completely regroup, as if I'd been skiing Tuckerman's Ravine, hit a boulder, fell 300 yards and had to climb back up to reclaim my gear. I literally felt like I lost my shit. Luckily, NYC Taper was there to capture Mogwai in all its glory. And if that wasn't enough, for fans truly looking to experience the set again, the band was filming the show for a future DVD release.

NYC Taper Mogwai 4/29/09

live: Comet Gain @ MHoW

"I'm Feeling Groovy"
Admittedly I'd never heard of Comet Gain until Bill wrote this post on BV two months ago. It literally took one listen ("When I Try To Look So Bad") to fall head over heels for the UK veterans, who have been releasing 7-inches and LP's for more than half my life. (Comet Gain formed in 1992.) Like any vinyl fetishist, I immediately headed to Permanent Records and snagged a copy of the "Love Without Lies b/w Books of Californa" 7-inch, which Marjorie, Permanent's super friendly proprietor, thought was a a very good idea. Basically what this post boils down to is that if you like Belle & Sebastian, Camera Obscura, The Buzzcocks, Shop Assistants, The Close Lobsters or any of the others acts on the C86 mixtape, and subsequently, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, then you should be spending your Easter Sunday evening with Comet Gain at Music Hall of Williamsburg. If that's not enough, Brooklyn's best noir-pop act Crystal Stilts will be opening, as well as Cold Cave. So yeah, it's worth the $13.

Comet Gain- Why I Try To Look So Bad

Comet Gain "Love Without Lies"

live: Here We Go Magic @ Music Hall

"Everything's Clean"

Trying to recreate the subtle nuances of their debut record in a live setting could be nearly impossible for a band like Here We Go Magic, yet, for the most part, Luke Temple's crew of singing instrumentalists pulled it off. Riding a fine line between blissful ambiance and relatively straight forward, yet completely abstract pop, the group, fleshed out in full for theatrical performances, ran through most of Here We Go Magic, with standouts like "Fangela", "Only Pieces" and "Tunnelvision" receiving the most enigmatic response from the audience. "Tunnelvision", specifically, is a prime example of how Luke Temple's group is able to convey dense, bottom of the ocean ambiance capable of being lapped up by a mass audience, who actually danced to the slow-burner. While other acts attempting such a balance could easily get stuck on the droning side of the hill, Temple's knack for pop arrangements elevates mesmerizing atmospherics and drives them home. Dancing to "Tunelvision" is a compliment of the highest regard as most groups attempting to pull this off would get nothing but blank DMT stares from the crowd. While "Tunnelvision" was an undeniable highlight, the band really hit its stride on "I Just Want To See You Run Through Water", a song that could've easily been birthed on a marathon jaunt through the deepest, darkest parts of the sea, where electric eels and pulsating dragon fish are the only signs of light and life.

Here We Go Magic- Surprise (Live on WOXY) (via GvB)

cover: Comet Gain do The Clean

"He's a Rabbi and He's a Guru and He's a Beatnik"
Comet Gain turn up the fuzz box on this classic cover of The Clean's pogo foot stomper "Beatnik." Infectious, snarky and in yr face, "Beatnik" is prototypical art-punk, bridging the gap between the rebels, the absurdists and the kids who can barely play instruments but don't care because they just want to have fun in their basement. A few chords, some two-finger keyboard playing and an alienated college kid attitude are all you need to cover "Beatnik", which would be right at home on a karaoke machine at the Market Hotel. In fact, maybe it should be some sort of indicator as to whether or not your loft pop band is allowed to exist, based on your cover of "Beatnik." Just throwing it out there. Comet Gain will make an increasingly rare appearence in the states this spring and will play Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 12th, Easter Sunday.

Comet Gain- Beatnik
The Clean- Beatnik

we saw: Alela Diane @ MHoW

"Your Hands Bring Me Sweet Lavender"
(photo by Dan and Happy)
If the traditional "She'll be coming around the mountain when she comes" were a rugged theatrical drama in the vein of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, Alela Diane's canyon folk would be an obvious choice for the soundtrack. The Nevada City native and friends (and family) took Music Hall by storm on Saturday night, making the Brookyln venue feel more like an early evening at a Summer folk festival in a lush California valley than a club on the edge of an industrial waterfront. Alela's wondrous voice was in full command of the audience, and the band, as she delivered To Be Still gems like "Every Path" and "The Alder Tree's", as well as a fitting cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Gold Dust Women", with an effortless ease that can only come from singing your entire life. While her band channeled the spirit of the Canyon, lending Alela's songs the rhythms of a steam-powered freight train, it would have been nice to have heard some material from The Pirate's Gospel, or simply a solo tune. That said, I am still in awe of her and her voice, and you can be too courtesy of the (in)famous NYC Taper, who captured her nearly identical show from the previous night at the Bowery Ballroom.

Download Alela Diane's 2/27/09 performance from the Bowery Ballroom. (NYC Taper)

cover: Tallest Man on Earth "These Days"

"I've Stopped My Rambling"

(Photo by Karl Gunnarsson)
We've discussed "These Days" before and probably don't need to go into details about a song that is adored by nearly everyone whose ears are lucky enough to hear it. However, last week, The Tallest Man on Earth helped revive a song that, while still very much adored, has sort of become ubiquitous in the post-Royal Tenenbaums world. The Tallest Man on Earth's version is true to the original. To be honest, I can't really note any real difference between his cover and the many that have been recorded over the past 30+ years. Regardless, his version was quite moving, and a lovely segue into a magical set from Bon Iver. I enjoyed it so much that I picked up The Tallest Man on Earth's Shallow Grave after the show and it's proving to be a great mid-December album, perfect for the looming transition into Winter. Plus, it really compliments the smell of Nova Scotian pine (ie. the Canadian Christmas tree in my living room). Peep Hooves on the Turf's video of his performance below.

Tallest Man on Earth: These Days (cover) from hoovesontheturf.

we saw: of Montreal at MHoW

"Escape From Patterns Your Parents Designed"

(photo by Diana Wong)
After the freak-show that was the Roseland, we couldn't wait to catch Elephant 6-turned-neuvo Funk sexpots Of Montreal at the more intimate, and way closer to home, Music Hall of Williamsburg. While theatrics were certainly in toe, as they have been for the entire Skeletal Lampings tour, last nights show was incredibly toned down compared to its October counterpart. Sure, I would've been ecstatic to watch Kevin Barnes hang himself on stage again only to be re-born as a centaur and I sort of missed all the freaky Gold John McCain orgies, but what they left out in terms of theatrics, they multiplied with music. Last night's show was roughly 2+ hours of sweaty FNK, complete with Lampings gems like "Gallery Piece" and Hissing Fauna jams "A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger", "She's A Rejector" and, of course, "Gronlandic Edit." Flalling limbs, booty grinding, head banging, singing from the bottom of your heart, all the signs of a band/crowd with soul power. The haters, well, they ain't got no soul power. My only revelation last night, besides deciding that in my next life I'd like to be a gold painted Buddha, is that Kevin Barnes must run the stairs of High School Football stadiums for hours in order to dictate/direct/keep up with the massive Jazzercize on Acid disco carnival he's created. It's truly a beautiful thing.

UPDATE: NYCTAPER has the show up for download, with complete setlist, et all. Continuously crushing it. God bless. Of Montreal 12/16/08 Music Hall of Williamsburg



(photo by Diana Wong)

(photo by Diana Wong)

(photo by Diana Wong)

Of Montreal "Plastic Wafers" 10/10/08

we saw: Bon Iver @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

"What Might Have Been Lost"

Bon Iver: Wolves I & II from hoovesontheturf on Vimeo.

Stunning.

video: Bon Iver

"Love is for Fools"

This just made me very excited for Friday night at Music Hall.

we saw: Beach House

"If Not Now, Not Ever"

Beach House's performance on a humid Tuesday night in December felt like a warm winter's night at the shore. Victoria Legrand's dream inducing vocals were whistful and haunting, playing the romantic counterpart to Alex Scally's sorrowful fret work. To be honest, I was surprised at how much energy the Baltimore duo brought on stage, as songs from both Beach House and Devotion felt more "alive" than on record, managing to transform the ethereal haze that envelopes their studio records into something that felt akin to a leisurely jaunt through Purgatory during a blizzard. Unquestionable highlights were Devotion standout "Heart of Chambers", which show'd off Scally's understated axe work and exquisite tone, as well as "Used To Be", the phenomenal new single the band released a few weeks back. Contemplative, romantic, dreamy and warm, all the things you'd expect to get from Beach House in the middle of December.

Beach House- Holy Dances (Live from Juan's Basement)

Beach House "Gila"

we saw: Deerhunter @ Music Hall

"Light of My Focus, Light of My Bed"
(Photo by t-fal)
Friday night we saw Deerhunter for the third time since Microcastle leaked in June. While their LPR show was outstanding, the show at Music Hall had all the trappings of a classic rock show, minus all the cliches. The band jumped right into killer material ("Cryptograms", "Never Stops"), building momentum through kraut-rock rhythms and an absolutely bombastic wall of sound. As per usual, MHOW sounded impeccable, as you can tell from NYC Tapers recording (equally as impeccable, as expected. Dude srsly's got it going on.) After "Never Stops", Bradford and Co. dropped it down a knotch for Flourescent Grey's "Dr. Glass" which seamlessly segued into Cryptogram's "Hazel Street." Reverb and Delay pedals were in full effect. Things were getting epic. At this point there had been maybe two lines of banter, pre-show at that, making this show inherently different than LPR's Bradford story-teller show. They were on fire. The crowd knew it. And I think they did as well.

If that wasn't enough, they segued "Hazel Street" into "Nothing Ever Happened", arguably the most in your face (and poppiest) of the Microcastle material, and easily one of the best Deerhunter jams for highway rocking. 5 songs in and they were absolutely murdering it. The first part of their set took the ole North 6 to the astral plane, where they brought out parts of the Microcastle suite and "Flourescent Grey." The only thing missing was "Strange Lights", but no complaints on our end.

Get the show from NYC Taper asap.

Setlist
Cryptograms
Never Stops
Dr. Glass
Hazel St.
Nothing Ever Happened
Microcastle
Vox Celeste
Saved By Old Times
Fluorescent Grey
Calvary Scars II > Aux Out
encore break
Microcastle Intro
Agoraphobia
Twilight At Carbon Lake
Heatherwood
Operation

CMJ day 1: Ponytail/ Passion Pit/ Jens Lekman

"People Like Me Are Fond of People Like You"
Jens Lekman (and Hunter) @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 10/21 (photo by pixelateit)
Our night ended with a DJ set by one of our all time favorites, a certain Mister Jens Lekman. Billed as "Singing DJ Jens Lekman", we weren't quite sure what to think, but were obviously intrigued, I mean, its Jens, right. So basically, Jens fooled around with a CD-DJ, played some choice European house and sang a few bars over a few songs. Didn't know much of what he spun but Lykke Li's "Dance, Dance, Dance", Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" (unfortunately not the ODB remix), The Hood Internet's remix of his "If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)" were all fun and whatnot. Nothing spectacular, but it's Jens, so who cares.

Passion Pit @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 10/21
(photo by Jalapeno)
(photo by pixelateit)
The last time we saw Passion Pit was their second NYC appearance at Pianos in August. Things have certainly changed since then. Besides the universal love they've received from every blog, webzine and independent radio station, not to mention releasing the kick ass Chunk of Change EP, it's safe to say that, like before, Passion Pit is blowing the fuck up. Not only that, but makes sense considering their live show is about 200x better than it was at the significantly smaller Pianos. Go see them before you have to catch them at the Garden.

Ponytail @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, 10/21
(photo by Jalapeno)
(photo by Georgia Kral)
Spastic, jubilant, ecstatic, Adderall. That's basically Ponytail in a nutshell. Personally, I dig their brand of euphoric spaz punk. Granted it's certainly not for everyone, but if the idea of Bjork yelping over two frenetic guitars, which rage with MC5 "Kick Out The Jams" intensity, then definitely give them a try. Their always playing and, presumably, their always fun.

we saw: Franz Ferdinand

"Come and Dance With Me Michael"

(Photo by Bill)
I have to admit I haven't listened to, nor even really thought about, Franz Ferdinand in years. That said, when a friend offered me a ticket yesterday afternoon to their "secret show" at Music Hall, I couldn't pass it by. In retrospect I can't believe I inadvertantly fell out of lust with Franz Ferdinand for no real reason except that there has just been way too much good music released over the past few years.

I've been digging their new single "Lucid Dreams" on Sirius for a bit, so when we got to Music Hall and they were playing Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell" (12" version?) and Prince, I knew things were going to get funky. And they did, real funky. Franz, which includes at least one Greenpoint resident, brought the neck slicing guitar funk last night and once they went into "Michael", Franz's gay disco "will you dance with me?" jam, I was instantly reminded why their debut was so killer, and sort of pissed at myself for neglecting You Could Have It So Much Better, which Charles constantly reminds me is criminally underrated. The band played a hefty load of new songs, most of which were straight jams, as well as a smattering of crowd pleasing hits of old. "Dark of the Matinee" was a pleasant trip down memory lane, but, for me, nothing was better than their closer, "This Fire", my absolute favorite Franz Ferdinand song, with the exception of their own remix of the song, "This FFFire." Unfortunately, I may have taken the "we're gonna burn this city" a bit literally, as I most definitely scorched the top of my mouth while gorging myself on Pizza after the show. Oh, the perils of Brooklyn life.

*Actual Setlist (via SoundBites)
Bite Hard*
Michael
Tell Her Tonight
Turn it On*
Dark of the Matinee
Send Him Away*
The Fallen
Kathryn Kiss Me*
Take Me Out
ULysses* |
40 Ft.
What She Came For*

Encore:
A New Thrill*
Outsiders
This Fire
(*New songs)

Short Clip of "Turn It On" from Last Night (shot by We All Want Someone To Shout For)

We saw: Titus Andronic, Yo La Tengo...Last Pool Party

"And The Summer Comes Undone"
(Photo by Forklift)
(Photo by Fakebook)

(Photo by Dese'Rae L. Stage)

Yesterday couldn't have been a better Pool Party. Not only was the weather absolutely impeccable but NJ All Stars (veterans) Yo La Tengo and (rookies) Titus Andronicus brought the sonic heat. Titus was on second, after the horrible Ebony Bones, and tore threw a set of distortion driven, reverb drenched songs that felt more like a call to arms than a rock concert. No surprise considering The Airing Of Grievances is delivered with a sense of urgency that feels more like a desperate plea for life than cry for help. The songs are immediate, biting, caustic and catchy. I really haven't mentioned them on here, although I probably should be considering I own all of their recorded material on vinyl and have spent a good portion of 2K8 freaking out on subways whilst listening to The Airing of Grievances. Head over to Troubleman Unlimited to grab their limited edition vinyl LP before its sold out forever.


(Photo by BitNoots)



(Photo by StevMacs)

If Titus Andronicus didn't blow out your ear drums, then Yo La Tengo were determined to. The NJ vets played an extremely feedback driven set (even for them) that was full of sonic excursions powerful enough to send waves of electricity down your spine. Ira was on. James held down some of the grooviest bass lines I've ever heard (Period.) Georgia coo'd and looked sweet with a guitar. Like Wilco at the Pool a week ago, Yo La rock like serious veterans, a well oiled machine of a band who know each other inside and out, so that seemingly free-form sonic freakouts don't sound as much like experiments in improvisation, but highly constructed fits of noize capable of existing inside the song structure. If the pairing of Yo La and Titus wasn't good enough, the two joined each other on NJ punk pioneers The Misfits "Where Eagles Dare", a great way to end one of the best shows of the summer. Farewell Pool, maybe we'll visit you when you're filled with water. Or, maybe not.

(Photo by AmyeDav)


Yo La Tengo "Pass The Hatchet, I Think I'm Good Kind"

we saw: Amazing Baby

"I Can't Seem To Understand"

Hit up Music Hall of Williamsburg last night for the free post-Breeders Pool Party After Show featuring Amazing Baby and the Mobius Band. While the Mobius Band is a long time Bobka like, Amazing Baby only recently appeared on our radar after Bill at Sound Bites sung their praise a few months ago. Still in their infancy (played their first show 5/10/08), Amazing Baby have a sound that is way epic in a Bowie meets Pantera way. The bands psychedelic prog is fueled by schizophrenic sound manipulations, over indulgent/sex'd up lyrics and absolutely monstrous guitar riffs. Seriously, you gotta see these guys just to watch their lead guitar player, who is the quintessential Metal axe slayer, coax a violently angelic wall of rhythmic noise from his Gibson. We only caught the last few songs from Amazing Baby but the head bursting "Pump Your Brakes" was ill and set closer "The Narw hal" was definitely a climactic, hedonistic way to end (from what I saw) a damn good rock show. Cathartic in all the right ways. "Supreme Being" and "Head Dress" are also pretty unstoppable, and available for free download on their MySpace. You can also snag "Pump Your Brakes" courtesy of the Fader.

Amazing Baby- The Narw Hal
Amazing Baby- Pump Your Breaks

we saw: Snake and Jet's Amazing Bullit Band

"I'm Listening To Your Favorite Records"
Saturday afternoon is a great time to check out live music, especially when its free. As excited as I was about the free After The Jump Fest, I was really juiced at the notion of catching Danish synth boogie outfit Snake and Jet's Amazing Bullit Band for the first time. I've written about Snake and Jet before, and we even gave away some amazing picture vinyls, but I'd yet to see them live. Why? Because I don't think they'd ever come to the States before. Yes, Saturday afternoon at Music Hall was S&J's NYC debut and frankly, they killed it. Which says alot considering the room at MHWW was so vacant after the programmed drums, metal duo left the crowd, well....OK, there was no crowd. But, right after S&J hit the stage with their schizo Green Onions-esque raveups, the crowd arrived (Did I mention it was 3:30?) Well lubricated the increasingly full audience did their damndest to keep up with the rhythm overload. Not easy. Utilizing a host of samplers, drum machines and other kooky electronics, Snake and Jet managed to pull off the epic over-the-top sound that makes up X-Ray Spirit. Snake and Jet will be around NYC, sorta kinda, until July 2nd, although they don't seem to be playing at all except that night at the Mercury Lounge. Fans of Junior Senior, Booker T and the MG's and The Stooges should check them out. And yeah, their press photo is supremely badass.

Snake and Jet "Favourite"

we saw: Evangelicals

"Strange things keep happening..."

Something very strange went down at the Music Hall of Williamsburg the other night... the opening band upstaged the headliner. Or at least I thought so. The opening band was Evangelicals, an indie band from Oklahoma who looked like they just walked off a B-Movie set (or are just really into watching them, as you can see above). They're songs are something along the lines of the Cure melodies meets the Flaming Lips massive sounds, with more than a nod toward the latter's insanely energetic live shows and a penchant for celebrating the macabre; see "Skeleton Man" below, about a jilted lover who's insides burn up and all he can do is laugh. As a bonus, their new(ish) album, The Evening Descends, more than lives up to the live show (and they gave it to me on vinyl for free for working the merch table for a while!). Highly recommended for late night drives on the way to random parties in the middle of nowhere where you don't know a soul.

Evangelicals - Skeleton Man

Ed Note: If you don't believe the B-movie description, peep this video the band released a while back for single "Midnight Vignettes." Hunter's right on.

we saw: Bishop Allen

"I met a kid in Brooklyn and he pointed at the sky / he had liquor on his breath and he had fire in his eye"
From the first day I listened to Bishop Allen I decided I HAD to see them live. Problem was I was living in Charleston, SC and was very very poor. Another problem was that Bishop Allen tours are infrequent at best. So when they announced in January they'd be playing the Music Hall of Williamsburg, I saved the date and hit up Ticketbastard at 10:00am (you would have thought I was trying to get tickets to Phish or The Boss). The show did eventually sell out, although not until the last minute.

With my expectations teetering on psychopathic I decided to settle my nerves with booze. Luckily, Bishop Allen took the stage before my "settling" got out of hand. After the first guitar notes I had relaxed. I was there. Finally seeing Bishop Allen. My only complaint was they didn't play long enough.

Empire City
The Monitor
Like Castanets
The Light of the Lost
Quarter to Three
Middle Management
Rain
Choose Again
The News from Your Bed
Click Click Click Click
Busted Heart
Flight 180
The Same Fire

ENCORE:
Butterfly Nets
Friday Out of My Mind [new song; tentative title]
Things Are What You Make of Them

To listen to a simulated setlist from the show click HERE

To listen to a Muxtape made up of the best of the EP Project click HERE
("Central Booking" goes out to JRGiles)