The Dust Rays at Brooklyn Bowl

I took a lot of photos of singer/guitarist Kirk Douglas playing guitar. There is a reason for that. The Dust Rays play bluesy roots rock (no pun intended) with scorching guitar solos but mellower vocals. Guess which one is more exciting to look at? This band is so new that it has no media presence whatsoever, not even a Facebook page. Sure enough they do sound like a new band, a bit off sometimes, a bit out of sync sometimes, but I think they're gonna be real good real soon.

Posted: 10/9/2012 at 7:43pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  The Dust Rays 

Bob Log III at Glasslands Gallery

This is a crash course in showmanship, people! I don't just mean the costume, the unique crowd surfing, the walking out of the building while still playing guitar. Flashy stunts are great, but Bob Log III does one thing which sets him apart. He does not stop talking. Yeah okay, during the songs he lets his guitar do the talking, but in between songs there are no pauses, no downtime, just his slightly rough humor and charm which hold the audience's attention until the next kick-ass song.

Posted: 10/2/2012 at 10:37pm     Tags: Bob Log III  Glasslands Gallery 

Vensaire at Brooklyn Bowl

Brooklyn Bowl has a a big sound system. Vensaire have five instruments plus electronics. I was expecting something louder, but it turns out they are indie rockers with a folky, introspective bent. All that equipment just makes their musical palette more varied than most. For example when they do use their electronics they use them subtly. The digital sounds don't stand out or seem like a gimmick. The result is catchy, perhaps a bit mellower than I prefer but certainly intriguing.

Posted: 9/27/2012 at 8:25pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Vensaire 

Bad Sports at Living Bread

I overheard someone saying that it was "like CBGBs out there" towards the end of this show. In terms of the energy of the audience and the bands and the piss-poor lighting, yes it was. And seriously, a show on a plywood stage after hours at a deli is about as punk as it gets. However I do seem to recall that CBGB had a reliable sound system (ahem!) Bad Sports sounded awesome but only when you could hear them.

Posted: 9/22/2012 at 12:50pm     Tags: Bad Sports  Living Bread 

Total Slacker at 285 Kent

I hadn't seen Total Slacker before. They were awesome. What, you want me to write more?

EDIT: Well I guess there is something more to add. The fellow playing drums in these photos is named Terence Connor. He was killed in a hit-and-run two weeks after these photos were taken.

Posted: 9/8/2012 at 1:55pm     Tags: 285 Kent  Total Slacker