Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers at The Grand Victory

I'm not sure who decided that Sunday night should be honkytonk night at The Grand Victory but they sure know which bands to book. These guys play a whole range of musical styles, from Country to Western, from fun dance music to more serious stuff. Okay, I'm not sure exactly how seriously to take a song called "Coney Island Cowboy". But it sounded serious, as if to say that Sean Kershaw knows a little something about being an outsider and not caring.

Posted: 6/18/2012 at 7:24pm     Tags: Sean Kershaw and the New Jack Ramblers  The Grand Victory 

Dustin Wong at Public Assembly

You know those guys who use a guitar and some delay pedals to build songs out of layers? Somehow they always make it work and I am always amazed. Dustin Wong creates layers which sound very clean, as though they came from a synthesizer. The resulting songs are particularly pretty and closer to electronic music than rock-n-roll. Perhaps that is why at the end where he finally stood up and rocked out with that guitar. I mean, he was a guy on stage with a guitar. Wouldn't you?

Posted: 6/17/2012 at 5:52pm     Tags: Dustin Wong  Northside Fest  Public Assembly 

M.A.K.U. SoundSystem at Public Assembly

As you can see from the photos above M.A.K.U. SoundSystem not only have three drummers, but three different types of drummers. That's shorthand for Latin dance music. That certainly is the core of their style. The surprising thing is how widely they manage to wander with that core. One song will be funky, the next more punky, and then another more Caribbean with an emphasis on the horns. That quirky mix also inspired plenty of dancing both times I've seen them.

Posted: 6/16/2012 at 11:21am     Tags: M.A.K.U. SoundSystem  Northside Fest  Public Assembly 

Nihilistics at Bowery Electric

Here we have a example of a rare beast: an 80s punk band which never hit it big but never quite went away either. They just sort of get together every now and then to fuck around on stage, expose the audience to intentional "wardrobe malfunctions" (no photos), and grind out some nasty punk rock songs. Sure, why not?

Posted: 6/10/2012 at 12:48pm     Tags: Bowery Electric  Nihilistics 

Man Man at Brooklyn Bowl

My first reaction to seeing Man Man was "Wow, these guys have a lot of junk." They sure do. The amazing thing is how much of it doubles as musical instruments. Silverware, water bottles, keys, I think their plasma globe might do something. Their show is quite a spectacle. Lead singer Honus Honus leaps about, changes clothes on stage, and pelts the audience with feathers and glitter. Most bands who just pelt the audience with spit. Glitter is much more pleasant.

Posted: 6/6/2012 at 3:53pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Man Man