(And p.s.: To all you so-called rock fans who didn't go to The Sexy Magazines show last night...you missed a good one. Look for the review in the coming weeks. That is all).
The Rosebuds: Big Heartbreak. The band just came out with a new 11-song record called Birds Make Good Neighbors. Definitely worth picking up.
The Hold Steady: Your Little Hoodrat Friend.
You know, I never really liked The Hold Steady. They’ve been on the NYC scene for a while now, but recently they’ve enjoyed a slightly higher echelon of notoriety. It’s still a hung jury in my book. Yeah, their songs are catchy. But they’re by no means revolutionary. Or even remotely new. Not that you have to be new, per se. But you do have to do something fairly original. And I’m not really feeling this version of Del Amici/Blues Traveler/Louis XIV. But don’t take my word for it: go see them tonight with one band that I do feel deserves the praise and the glory, The Rosebuds.
(BIG BILL OF THE NIGHT):
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: In This Home On Ice.
The NYC band who can never receive enough praise are playing with the ambient maestros of the Big Apple, Ambulance LTD. A fine pairing at a fine establishment (Mercury Lounge). Go forth and mellow.
Ambulance LTD: Heavy Lifting Video
Robbers On High Street: Japanese Girls
You, dear sirs and madams, must check out this awesome band that’s playing with CYHSY/Ambulance LTD/Robbers On High Street: They’re called People In Planes, and without delving into too much detail (I’m going to do a wrap-up of the new favorites at the end of CMJ), I will say that they have a great sound and an even better sense of self (check out their video). Watch for these boys.
People In Planes: If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)
People In Planes: For Miles Around (Scratch To Void)
People In Planes: Falling By The Wayside
Say Hi To Your Mom: The Forest Scares The Hell Out Of Me
By far one of the best emotionally unstable bands out there, The Robot Ate Me has the ability to make the ordinary into the melancholy and, ultimately, the depressing. Truly gifted.
Check out two innovative and ethereally sad videos:
TRAM: On Vacation Video
TRAM: Crispy Christian Tea Time Video
The Head Set: Late For The Show
The Gossip Myspace Page
The Everyothers Website
Slumber Party: I Don't Mind.
Slumber Party are super good. Think The iOs dancing around a Maypole with Belle & Sebastian. There seems to be a lot of Belle & Sebastian influence nowadays, isn’t there?
Slumber Party: Soldier
And then of course, there’s my favorite, my pick of the night: THE HARLEM SHAKES playing Tonic.
Download the new Harlem Shakes demo
Magenta Lane Myspace Page
Magenta Lane sound like The Hong Kong, but despite the lack of niche-making, the songs are catchy and well-crafted pop nonetheless.
Dead Meadow: At Her Open Door
And of course, the one that you’re not going to see: !!! are playing S.O.B.s. If I had to kill someone’s Grandma to get to this one, I totally would. Those who were fortunate enough to get tickets: I applaud you and wish you a very funktastic evening…..wait….is this thing even on? Does anybody here even speak English?! Cause everybody’s acting like I’m fucking CRAZY or something!
!!!: Hello Is This Thing On? Video
Coco Rosie: Noah's Ark
Rock Photo:
Henry Rollins.
Taken by Tibor Bozi for CORBIS. 1999.
But the key to the city/Is in the sun that pins the branches to the sky-S.
