Tashaki Miyaki at Pianos

Tashaki Miyaki are on BandCamp and Facebook and probably LSD. Check out their videos for proof of this last conjecture.

Posted: 8/22/2013 at 8:17pm     Tags: Pianos  Tashaki Miyaki  The Wild Honey Pie 

Butter The Children at 285 Kent

First of all I want to go on record stating that I like the band's name. It is unique and memorable without making any particular claims about the band's sound. At least any I can think of.

So what do they sound like? Well, they have some of that 80s New Wave-y sound which is so in these days in Brooklyn (a la DIIV) but with a bit less airiness and a bit more punk. They don't stray far enough from pop to be actual punks (like, say, EULA) but they have some of that grit and energy. Their guitarist has it in spades.

Posted: 8/21/2013 at 3:55pm     Tags: 285 Kent  Butter The Children 

Chrome Cranks at Mercury Lounge

The Chrome Cranks sound like the meanest, hardest blues group ever. Their intensity level varies from menacing ramble (on the mellow end!) to audience-crushing aggression. These particular photos may give you the impression that lead singer Peter Aaron is demonically possessed. I'm not gonna argue with that. It would explain a lot.

Posted: 8/17/2013 at 4:19pm     Tags: Chrome Cranks  Mercury Lounge 

Nothing at Saint Vitus

I suppose I should write something about Nothing (yes, the lineup of this particular show had a "Who's On First" quality).

Nothing are not as mellow as I had expected. You know how some bands, especially some psych/shoegaze bands, rock harder on their albums (because it sells) but are relaxed or almost sleepy on stage? Nothing are the opposite of that, closer to A Place To Bury Strangers or Nightmare Air without being consistently as loud. Unlike those bands Nothing's songs do have dreamy parts, but when they get to the rock parts these guys get aggressive. I think one of their guitarists did some real damage to his equipment, and he lost his shoe too. I like that level of intensity.

Posted: 8/14/2013 at 3:54pm     Tags: black and white  Nothing  Saint Vitus 

The Skins at Brooklyn Bowl

Someday people will stop introducing The Skins by pointing out how young they are buuuuut... not just yet. When the band formed they were all teenagers, and even now nobody in the band is over 21. So yeah, they're a young rock band, specifically hard rock with hints of funk and metal. But that's not such a rare thing as of late, is it? It seems to me that I keep hearing about really young rock bands. Wasn't there a 11-year old metal band in the news recently?

Instead, let's talk staying power. When I saw The Skins a year ago (at the Brooklyn Bowl in fact) they sounded good but were awkward on stage. Some of 'em just stood there and played. Since that time they have gone from opening to support spots with the occasional headlining gig. They toured Europe and the U.S. with The Heavy. They have spent another year on stage and it really shows. Now they know how to grab the audience's attention. Now they know how to show off during a solo. Plus they sound even tighter than before.

For some reason The Skins haven't released a full album. Getting your finances together is not one of the advantages of being young. But I get the feeling it'll happen right around the time they schedule their first solo tour. Most likely next Summer because, you know, classes and all that.

Posted: 8/13/2013 at 4:16pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  The Skins