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 

Dead Exs at John Varvatos Gallery

The lighting at the John Varvatos Gallery is actually better than it was at CBGBs (which used to stand in the same spot). It ain't good but it's better. They made some other changes too, such as moving the stage to the left and, oh yeah, only having music there once a month. Some of these changes were better than others. As for the Dead Exs, their boogie-blues is pretty sweet. Go see 'em.

Posted: 12/2/2011 at 8:21pm     Tags: Dead Exs  formerly CBGBs  John Varvatos Gallery 

Exitmusic at Brooklyn Bowl

After all that low-light shooting taking photos at the Brooklyn Bowl is a snap. Yes they do turn the lights down a bit for your more introspective bands such as Exitmusic, but it is amazing how much better even that is compared to most bars. Somebody remind me to send the lighting guy at Brooklyn Bowl a Christmas card this year.

Posted: 11/28/2011 at 7:57pm     Tags: Brooklyn Bowl  Exitmusic