Bad Cop at Glasslands Gallery

Some lead singers stand in one place the whole time and just sing. To these people, Adam Moult of Bad Cop is Satan. This guy was everywhere, on the amps, out in the audience, just pretty much being a one-man show (aside from the music of course, which was a five-man show).  I get the feeling that back in Nashville they're known as something of a party band despite getting pretty heavy at times.

Posted: 6/27/2013 at 7:10pm     Tags: Bad Cop  Glasslands Gallery 

Man or Astro-Man? at Brooklyn Bowl

Is it just me or has surf-rock turned into performance art? Bands like Man or Astro-Man? and Daikaiju seem to put as much effort into their look and stage show as the music. Fortunately that's lots of effort. You can probably imagine what Man or Astro-Man? sound like. Their music is nothing new. They just do it in the most entertaining way possible. Check out the Moogatron vs. Theremin battle. Silly and awesome.

Posted: 6/22/2013 at 4:33pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Man or Astro-Man? 

Jacuzzi Boys at Brooklyn Bowl

I'm not sure whether to call the Jacuzzi Boys' music a slightly cleaned up take on garage rock or a more furious take on indie pop. They do have a bit of that modern indie sound a la DIIV but wilder, less predictable. Either way I definitely see the appeal.

As for their stage presence, well, I get the feeling they're used to smaller stages. These guys just sort of do their thing, which in the case of singer/guitarist Gabriel Alcala involves whipping his hair around a lot. Catch them for the music, perhaps at a smaller, darker venue where the crowd won't be afraid to follow Mr. Alcala's lead.

Posted: 6/22/2013 at 1:18pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Jacuzzi Boys 

Nightmare Air at The Bell House

You know how in NYC we have this trio which they call the loudest band in town and who bring their own lighting to shows? Well, it turns out that LA has one too, and their name is Nightmare Air. Not that I'm saying that LA is copying us (*ahem*). I'm just saying that we've already got one. But if they're as awesome as these guys we'll happily take two. They'll make a nice set, say for when guests come over for supper.

Posted: 6/21/2013 at 6:38am     Tags: Frontier Room  Nightmare Air  The Bell House 

Heliotropes at Glasslands Gallery

Some of these shots are much better than I expected for Glasslands. I guess when they turn on more than one color of LED the lighting is actually okay.  It still wasn't enough to really capture all of lead singer Jessica Numsuwankijkul's thrashing during her guitar solos. That hair is a weapon I tells 'ya.

Posted: 6/19/2013 at 6:10pm     Tags: Glasslands Gallery  Heliotropes