Live Review: Obits at the Bell House

Original post on My Social List here: http://mysocialist.com/blog/2013/09/24/live-review-obits-at-the-bell-house/

Obits celebrated the unveiling their third album, Beds & Bugs, with a rocking record release show at The Bell House on the 21st of September. I was excited leading up to the gig since I hadn't seen Obits perform before, despite being a fan since their debut, 2009's I Blame You. I also had yet to visit The Bell House, which I'd kept hearing good things about. Neither disappointed.

Opening the show was a guitar and drum duo called All Nines, who served up a spirited dose of no-nonsense rock and roll. They played facing each other, which made for an interesting dynamic, each taking turns on lead vocals. I could see them being perfectly suited to a smaller DIY venue. Their bandcamp page simply lists Anthony as guitars/vocals with Ted on drums, Anthony bears somewhat of a resemblance to Spinal Tap's Nigel Tuffnell, though Ted did not spontaneously combust, nor did they cover Lick My Love Pump.

I'd seen the next band, Prince Rupert's Drops, before at the Knitting Factory back in May. Their record, Run Slow, is a lovely slab of 60's tinged psychedelic rock which you should definitely check out via Beyond Beyond is Beyond records. Their roster is filled out by a bunch of fine psych bands. As live performers, however, they seem to be playing within themselves somewhat, and I felt a barrier between the band and the audience, though they can iron that out. The songs are there though, so they're one up on most.

Obits entered the fray a little after 11pm and began with the Sohrab Habibion-led Shift Operator from 2011's Moody, Standard and Poor; it's a brilliantly understated opener which leaves you wondering why he doesn't contribute more lead songs. Rick Froberg then took his usual position as frontman, kicking things off with Taste the Diff, which is Obits at their best, with a jerking riff backed by a wirey lead guitar line, while Froberg barks out his distinct voice. A quick-fire double of lead single Spun Out and It's Sick, which could well be the best song on the album, mimics the opening trio of songs from the new release. 

We heard eleven of the record's thirteen songs over the course of the show, with only This Must Be Done and Machines not getting an outing. Alexis Fleisig showed off his drum chops on Operation Bikini, switching from thumping toms to rim hits and keeping a song together that would fall off the rails in lesser hands.

Greg Simpson effortlessly glued the band together on his Rickenbacker bass (always a joy to see and hear.) Much is made of the twin guitars of Froberg and Habibion, but Simpson is critical to the band's sound. Spending most of the gig sporting a wry grin, he doesn't stray too far from his central position but his performance elicits a persona that is just too damn cool.

Habibion, on the other hand, lurches around the stage, obviously having a blast as each staccato attack on his guitar hits you like a jab to the face.

The main set was brought to a close with Receptor, before the band returned for an encore which included some choice cuts from their debut album, including Widow of My Dreams, Talking to the Dog and Light Sweet Crude, whilst also treating us to Refund, their 7" single release from last year. The audience bounced... politely, fists were pumped in the air triumphantly. The night was rounded off with I Want Results, which is exactly what we all got and what they have delivered in the shape of Beds & Bugs. Obits put on a fantastic show and will leave many an audience in their wake. Comparisons can easily be made to their previous bands or contemporaries, but sod that for a game of soldiers, this is four guys picking up their instruments and having a good time, and you will too.

Bed & Bugs is out now on Sub Pop, so buy it.

Setlist:

Live review: Shot! CMJ Showcase at The Flat

Original post on My Social List here: http://mysocialist.com/blog/2013/10/17/live-review-shot-cmj-showcase-at-the-flat/

If you had read our comprehensive CMJ guide then it wouldn't have taken too much to connect the dots and head out to this show at The Flat. No fewer than 4 of the 6 bands featured in our "Artists to Watch" series of recommendations, I hope you had a good excuse if you weren't here.

I arrived midway through Lodro's opening set, who certainly looked and sounded well at home in The Flat's gothic Victorian decor, their Cramps-esque rhythm section delivered a fine start to the evening.

Lodro

I was looking forward to seeing Tweens after being impressed with the songs from their bandcamp page. Their set was much punchier than I was imagining and also included a song that was straight-up 60s bubblegum pop with doo-wop backing vocals, keep an eye on this band, folks.

Tweens

Hunters have quite the packed CMJ schedule and had already played earlier in the day. I've seen them on various bills throughout the year and they get better each time, be sure to check them out at our showcase on Saturday!

Hunters

Next up was my personal highlight, Sisu. I've seen the band play a couple of times before but not since they released the rather excellent, Blood Tears. It is quite noticeable how much more confident Sandra Vu now is as a frontwoman since I last saw them back in May, they were fantastic before but their performance really kicked up a gear. If I see a better set at CMJ this year I will be surprised.

Sisu

Total Slacker are a band that everyone in New York should see live if they get the chance (there are usually plenty), and they cooked up another great set tonight. I always feel like there should be a red mist (not in an angry way, just temperature) engulfing the stage when they play, if lava had a sound it would be Total Slacker.

Total Slacker

Headliners Perfect Pussy absolutely blitzed through their short set as if it was the last thing they were ever going to do. It was like being in a wind tunnel and you could tell the band were excited to be playing here. Go check out their EP on our artist to watch feature, then imagine everything faster, louder and better.

Great credit to The Flat for having everything run on schedule, the bands turned over quickly and there weren't really any technical hitches along the way (which can't be said for the show I was at the previous night at Ran Tea House!). I also got a free shot to go with the first beer, what more could you ask for?

Anna Calvi review - Music Hall of Williamsburg

Original article on My Social List here: http://mysocialist.com/blog/2013/11/14/anna-calvi-played-music-hall-of-williamsburg/

Anna Calvi is one of the great shining lights of modern music, and she brought the crowd at the Music Hall of Williamsburg to their knees on Monday night.

She opened with my favourite track, Suzanne & I, which unfortunately had a bit of a false start as Anna's guitar wasn't working properly, but she quickly got things together and blasted out the rest of the song. Next up was Eliza, the lead single from her new album, One Breath, which features a blistering guitar solo and Calvi's signature vocals; all the ingredients which make her so delectable.

The crowd were enthusiastic and completely under her spell for the duration of the set, myself included, as she made eye contact a few times during the slower songs. It was like being locked in a tractor beam. Phasers were definitely set to stun with her gaze (ok enough of the bad Star Trek puns.) One audience member audibly gasped with delight after Sing to Me. Maybe she gave him the eyes too.

Calvi doesn't speak much between songs; the odd thank you and an introduction to the band, which features Mally Harpaz on harmonium along with a new drummer and an additional keyboard/guitar player for this tour. Despite the introductions, all eyes are on Anna. For the duration of her 80-minute set, she may as well be the centre of the universe.

The crowd's reaction forced her to break out into many a smile between songs. It almost seemed out of character with her stage persona, which is that of an intense, lost-in-the-moment artist. Calvi is soft spoken and almost embarrassingly polite, though as a performer she's completely stark, which makes here all the more interesting to watch.

During the set-ending track Love Won't Be Leaving, we were treated to her customary extended guitar solo, which just blew everyone away. Her guitar skills really come to the fore when she's performing, and they're up there with the best in music.

If I were to score the show I would mark one point down for two reasons:

1) The vocals were a bit lower in the mix than I would have liked

2) One of the things we all dread at shows... the farter. Someone in the audience let rip with vulgar regularity throughout the night. Don't you just hate those who use the cover of a crowd to anonymously release noxious fumes?!

Despite those two gripes, it was a fantastic show, which Calvi rounded off with a deserved encore of Bleed Into Me and finally her cover of Edith Piaf's Jezebel.

Opening act Gems were unfortunately a really poor match for Calvi's strong performance, and a bit of a snoozefest, truth be told. Their set was a bit too nice and lightweight; offensively inoffensive.

Setlist
Suzanne & I
Eliza
Suddenly
Sing to Me
Cry
Blackout
I'll Be Your Man
Piece by Piece
Carry Me Over
Tristan
The Devil
Desire
Love Won't Be Leaving
Encore
Bleed Into Me
Jezebel

Book Review: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

It has been some time since I read fiction (I read The Road sometime last year, but have been mostly reading popular science for a while), but I rather stumbled upon a perfect re-introduction to the art-form. I noticed that Cassie Ramone was scheduled to play a few songs at Studio X in Manhattan, pairing her up with author Robin Sloan for a podcast (I had been to a similar one in January with John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats), so I RSVP'd and went along, and found myself with a copy of the book. 

Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore follows the story of Clay, a bit of a down-and-out graphic designer with not a lot going for him. Whilst looking for a job he ends up working in a strange bookstore (Mr Penumbra's, of course), with strange customers and customs. Before too long we are taken down the rabbit hole of secret societies, coded messages and mystery, and a group on a quest to find more. The book deals with clashes of tradition and modernity, both in terms of ideology and technology and in the case of the latter certainly leaves room for both. 

I was enjoying the book immensely and was thoroughly engaged, but at the back of my mind I was hoping that I wouldn't be disappointed with the ending. Without giving anything away, I wasn't. 

Robin Sloan has delightfully crafted a story that encapsulates the imagination without paying lip service to the fanciful. Something to appeal to the real nerds among us. This is not a laugh-out-loud comedy, an outrageous fantasy, nor a tear-jerking story of relationships, but it is a beautiful blend of many of those things. The characters are quirky and the dialog is clever, with references that are very much of the present (which will date it in years to come, but I don't think that's a bad thing) and I found myself with an almost constant smile whilst reading.

Fiction is often interpreted in many ways but I took great heart at my own reading between the lines, we are the makers of our own life and story. Read Mr Penumbra's 24-hour book store and think about what your codex vitae would look like...

My favourite street in NYC - East 7th

I don't know if everyone in New York has a favourite street, but I certainly do. If I find myself with no plans I will almost certainly partake in the walk I am about to describe.

Now, I will cheat a little bit at the start, because you have to get to East 7th Street from somewhere, so my starting point is Other Music on East 4th Street. Other Music is my favourite record store in the city, it's pretty small and personable and has a great selection, they also put on some free shows during the year which are always fantastic (I've seen Barry Adamson, Lee Ranaldo, Nude Beach, Dum Dum Girls and Chelsea Light Moving). 

From Other Music, we're just a few blocks away from East 7th, which begins at Cooper Square. At 41 E.7th we have our first stop, Burp Castle, "The Temple of Beer Worship", which has a fine selection of beer (kriek or framboise on tap? Yes please) and the quirk of being a "shoosh" bar where the bartenders will shoosh people that are too loud, it means it doesn't get so loud that you have to shout. It's quite refreshing to be in a relaxed, conversation-friendly bar.

The next stop is Abraco, and I can't stress this enough, a cup of drip-coffee from here might just be my favourite thing in the whole world. I will make plans around being able to get here, I wish it had longer opening hours (closes at 6pm) but then again maybe it's a good thing I can usually only go there at weekends.  

Right around the corner on 1st ave is Kim's Video and Music Store, it's much larger than Other Music and while it probably has a similar amount of music it does boast quite the arsenal of DVD/blu-ray. Bonus points for being the only place I've seen a copy of Titicut Follies for sale, I haven't bought it and still haven't seen it but it has been on my wish-list for some time, maybe one day I'll be brave enough to pick it up (as an additional cheat, you could walk up to St Mark's Place and look at 96-98 St Marks Place, the building used for the cover of Led Zepellin's Physical Graffiti). 

The section of East 7th between 1st Ave and Ave A is a food mecca. You have Luke's Lobster and Caracas next door to each other (though I prefer the Caracas in Williamsburg as it's more relaxed and has more room, whilst New Hampshire has spoiled lobster rolls for me a little bit as they are so damn good there, but Luke's does the job here in NYC). 

A spectacular arepa

Alternatively, you can walk along to Porchetta where you can purchase an exquisite pork sandwich. 

Have a sweet craving? Look no further than Big Gay Ice Cream, there's always a line outside at the weekends but you'll soon be slathering away at a salty pimp or other soft-serve wonders. 

Find a bench to enjoy your treat(s) at Tompkins Square Park, whilst also taking note of the Joe Strummer Wall on the corner of E.7th/Avenue A. 

Finally, after walking through the park and hitting Avenue B, take a look to your right and enter the best bar in the city, Manitoba's (recently featured in my No Shit! series). 

My perfect day includes a combination of the above (with a compulsory inclusion of Other Music and Abraco). The total walking distance from Other Music to Manitoba's is less than 1 mile, is there anywhere else in the city that can rival such perfection in so few blocks?

Here's a google map link for directions.

No Shit! An occasional series: No.4 - Smith and Mills

So far we have plundered the depths of depravity within the city, but it's time to go a bit more upmarket in the form of Smith and Mills' offering. A converted elevator shaft, this steampunk-tinged bog offers a delightful decor.

The crown jewel is the flip-down sink, despite the fact the taps are a bit clumsy.

The sliding door is next to the bar so hopefully the chatter outside is loud enough so that your stream isn't heard too much by the other patrons!

As for the bar itself, it's a tiny little restaurant in Tribeca located at 71 North Moore street, and speaking of streams, nerdy readers may well recognise the street name, which is also home to Hook & Ladder 8, the fire station used in the Ghostbusters movies.

Some idiot is ruining the picture...

In all honesty I went to the restaurant because I wanted to check out the toilet (this probably says a lot about me)... but they do make a nice Old Fashioned although it will set you back $14 (I enjoyed the drink then left). The food smelled good but the portions looked a bit on the small side from what I could see, it's not really the kind of place I would come to usually, I don't belong with the suits and yuppies. You'll get better bang for your buck elsewhere but for a quirky detour it's worth checking out.

Score on the floor...
Venue: 5
Character: 9
Functionality: 7
Hygiene: 7

Total: 28

My Social List: Where It's At

I've started writing a series on My Social List, a website dedicated to events in New York. Where It's At aims to review as many concert venues as possible, I go to a lot of shows and while many reviews concentrate on the music, not much takes into account the setting, the quirks of being at a gig, etc. 

If you live in New York, the site is great, it can even sync up with your Facebook, Twitter and Last.FM pages and then alert you when your favourite bands are in town. They are more comprehensive in their coverage than OhMyRockness and Brooklyn Vegan (though both sites are still helpful) as well as putting on events themselves, check it out!

I have so far written 4 pieces (Death By Audio, Cake Shop, Mercury Lounge and Shea Stadium), and you can keep up with them via this link.