Mutant Genes at Tommy's Tavern

These guys had to change their name the day of the show. It turns out another, lamer band also used their old name. Sometimes it sucks to be a new band. You come up with a good name and someone steal it, you get to play hole-in-the-wall venues, and the only press you get is from some crappy wannabe photographer who doesn't even use a photo of the band as the lead-off shot. Pathetic! But at least the music is awesome.

Posted: 1/31/2012 at 8:48pm     Tags: black and white  Mutant Genes  Tommy's Tavern 

CJ Ramone at The Continental

Wait, The Continental? Do they still have music there? Well, no, but I guess some friends of theirs stopped by for a little show. I missed most of it due to an excellent football game (go Big Blue!) but I'm always happy to hear CJ Ramone blast his way through (19 songs in 45 minutes) the Ramones classics. Especially at one of the first music venues I ever checked out in New York, way back when...

Posted: 1/16/2012 at 5:37pm     Tags: CJ Ramone  The Continental 

Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra at Brooklyn Bowl

BACK from vacation with something more than a little different. The Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra plays the smooth and sultry dance numbers you'd expect... but about half of them are salsa arrangements of indie rock "hits". Among others they cover Arcade Fire, Fucked Up, and TV on the Radio. Yep their Salsa is in our Willamsburg (bi-monthly at the Bowl) and apparently our Williamsburg is in their Salsa. Of course the result was great fun.

Posted: 1/9/2012 at 7:40pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Williamsburg Salsa Orchestra 

Parquet Courts at Brooklyn Bowl

Technically this is just three-fourths of Parquet Courts (pronounced like "parquet floors"). Although I do like their music, especially "Stoned and Starving", I think their rhythm-centric songs would probably have benefited from the presence of a bass. Apparently it was a last-minute gig and their bassist couldn't make it.

Posted: 12/10/2011 at 7:18pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Parquet Courts 

Habibi at Brooklyn Bowl

The lights behind the stage were unusually intense at this show. I assume that is why the crowd stood ten feet back -- to avoid being blinded! It certainly wasn't the volume. Habibi have a rather clean sound with no show-offy solos or any of that. All of the parts just flow together beautifully to form catchy pop songs. Great for singing or humming or whistling along to. Now they just need to write more of them. Having to decline an encore because you ran out of songs is kind of sad!

Posted: 12/7/2011 at 2:18pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Habibi