Titus Andronicus at Brooklyn Bowl

Titus Andronicus is not exactly a traditional punk band. They do quite a few songs about relationships (not exactly a major punk topic) and also a few about real ships, mostly on their Civil War themed album called "The Monitor". Their mosh pit, however, is exactly like a traditional punk mosh pit. Either a bunch of exactly 21-year-old kids tried to murder me or there were dozens of people there who really didn't understand how to bowl. Apparently I look way to much like a bowling pin (this is true, sadly).

For a better writeup of the show may I recommend Speak Into My Good Eye. They have a great write-up of the show and ran a few of my pictures.

Posted: 2/9/2013 at 5:35pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Titus Andronicus 

The Everymen at Brooklyn Bowl

Most of the audience at this show seemed to be punk kids who were waiting restlessly for the headliners, a well known local punk band. The Everymen aren't a punk band. Uh oh, this could end badly...

The Everymen are a rock band who range from heavy-ish, Smithereens-like rock to bluesy stuff more reminiscent of Morphine, though most of their songs are upbeat, anthemic rock-n-roll. Oh, and they are from New Jersey. They really want you to know that they're from New Jersey. They covered a Springsteen song for chrissakes! An obscure song at that. Springsteen with the E Street Band is also obviously among their influences.

That punk crowd was a bit tepid at first but warmed up to them over the course of the set. These guys (and gal) are so enthusiastic it's hard not to! And I have to say, they may have the single wildest keyboardist I've ever seen in a band. How did this guy manange to be all over the stage while playing keyboards? Anyway, they finished off the set with some of their louder rock-n-roll numbers, the big finale. By then they were getting plenty of applause.

Posted: 2/9/2013 at 12:08pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  The Everymen 

White Hills at Bowery Ballroom

If you look at the pictures of this band and immediately think "Metal" then well... actually you're not ridiculously far off. White Hills may be part of the world of psych rock but they are the heaviest band there. It's like they're psych rockers from a planet which is more massive so all the music there is Super-heavy. Then after escaping from the Negative Zone they came to the Bowery Ballroom to blow us all away.

That is not to suggest that these guys are actual aliens or some kind of... threat to humanity (aside from its hearing). To the contrary, drummer Nick Name is also in The Black Hollies and I have it on a reliable source that the members of that band are all "perfectly normal humanoids". Now isn't that comforting?

So let's see, While Hills's music is played loud and hard and is filled with distorted power chords and crushing bass lines. On stage they wear leather and eyeliner and fling their long hair around. How is this not metal? The answer is that sometimes they go in a spacier direction. Something like noodling or chanting over a guitar loop. It's all pretty intense, but occasionally they dial it down from stunningly intense to something more like hypnotically intense.

These guys are pretty awesome and I do recommend checking them out. Just be sure to bring good earplugs to weaken their powerful volume (earplugs are like kryptonite to loud noise).

Posted: 2/8/2013 at 11:39pm     Tags: Bowery Ballroom  White Hills 

Prince Rupert's Drops at Bowery Ballroom

It is about time I saw this band. About five years ago I helped out with a local music site called NYCSeen. One of its more positive reviews was of a local band called The Woods. Unfortunately another local band formed at the same time using the same name. These guys politely changed their name to The Frams, then almost immediately changed it again to Prince Rupert's Drops. Maybe there was another band called The Frams. Picking band names is hard.

As I recall they used to be a trio too. Now there are five of 'em.

So anyway after years of changes Prince Rupert's Drops have developed into a band whose songs change. Most of their songs start out cloyingly mellow or even folky, then build into psychedelic grooves. Three band members take turns singing lead and they all sound quite different. One thing every song has in common is some seriously kick-ass guitar. Unlike the singing it is not the least bit trippy but urgent, questing, half-mad. Really, some brilliant work which lights up their catchy tunes with some serious energy.

Posted: 2/8/2013 at 9:59pm     Tags: Bowery Ballroom  Prince Rupert's Drops 

Parquet Courts at 285 Kent

Is it just me or are Parquet Courts louder than they used to be? Their shows are wilder too, their audiences more crazy. I think they've become one of those bands where people know their shows will get nuts and that's half the reason they go. That's a good reputation for a band to have, 'cause bands like that are fun!

This is not to say that Parquet Courts are all about getting crazy. Granted, they did play one song which was is so chaotic I was reminded of "Drug Me" by the Dead Kennedys, but most of their songs are full of hooks and rhythm and most importantly, craft. There are tempo changes and whole-band pauses. The guitars trade solos and then the song goes off in a different direction entirely. These guys have style, not just loudness.

Pay attention to those lyrics too. Their best songs are serious poetry. You'll recognize those songs by the not quite natural rhythm of the vocals. Most of the rest of their songwriting has more of a stream of consciouness style which personally I find less distinctive. But of course it is hard to hear the lyrics when they are playing live. Perhaps it is actually the cadence of those more poetic songs is what makes them work so well, not the words themselves?

Posted: 2/3/2013 at 8:49pm     Tags: 285 Kent  Parquet Courts