Postcards from the Pit: Black Veil Brides / William Control / Wildstreet, 1/25/2013
This was not my first show of the new year, but it was the one I looked forward to for days in a state of nervous, fluttery happiness. It was also my second Black Veil Brides event in one week; the first one was a viewing of Legion of the Black, the movie that accompanies … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: The Felice Brothers / Yellowbirds / Mail the Horse, Mercury Lounge, 12/31/12
And now, at long last, the promised pictures from the Felice Brothers’ New Years Eve show. Starting from the beginning, with Mail the Horse: Yellowbirds were up next; they’re also from Brooklyn, and were an odd little burst of power-pop in the middle of a twangy, fuzzed-out evening: … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: Ceremony, Webster Hall, 12.02.12
Ceremony were not the headliners for this show – that was Titus Andronicus – but they were the band I liked best. The first opener was Lemuria, who were pleasant but didn’t really turn my crank, and as for Titus Andronicas, I just wasn’t feeling it this time. Everyone else was having the best possible … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: Father John Misty / La Sera / Jeffertitti’s Nile, Bowery Ballroom, 10/24/12
My post-show summary of Jeffertitti’s Nile was that they were loud and swirly, but pretty, and on reflection I think that sums them up pretty well. Their songs were almost entirely instrumental, and, were, well, psychadelic kaledeiscopes of notes. And yes, that is Father John Misty you see perched behind their drums; he was sitting … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: The Darkness / The Dirty Pearls / Sweatheart, 10/22/12
This show fell into the time period I refer to as “Halloween or Tuesday?”, in which, due to New York’s ah, vibrant populace, it is sometimes hard to tell if the person / group of people wearing what appear to be costumes are on their way to/from a Halloween party, or if they customarily rig … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: JJAMZ and Beast Patrol, the Studio at Webster Hall, 10/19/12
One of these years I will get myself together and actually acquire a CMJ pass. This year was not that year. That said, while I only saw two CMJ sets, they were very good sets. The event I attended was the CAA Showcase in the Studio at Webster Hall, and the first band was Beast … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: Fiona Apple / Blake Mills, T5, 10/16/12
This show was part pilgrimage, because I had never seen Fiona Apple play live before, and part penance, for largely the same reason. The show started with music from her band, led by Blake Mills, who sang some of his delicately lovely pop songs and put on something of a master class in the fine … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: Johnny Hallyday, Beacon Theater, 10/7/12
The last time Johnny Hallyday played a show in New York was in 1962. He was on a cruise ship (!) and Jackie Kennedy (!!) was in the audience. This time around he was on dry land and I don’t know if there were any luminaries lurking in the Beacon or not. Probably, I guess; … Read more
Postcards from the Pit: Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls / Larry and his Flask / Jenny Owen Youngs, Webster Hall, 9/29/12
Once again I went to a show having not heard a note of anyone’s music beforehand. What can I say, sometimes I like to live dangerously. Plus the show was part of my friend’s birthday party, and since she has generally excellent taste in music I was willing to bet it would be a good … Read more
Johnny and the Applestompers/The Misery Jackals/The Dad Horse Experience at Now That’s Class, Cleveland, OH, 9.6.12
Johnny and the Applestompers Many fledgling bands find that audiences respond better to their cover songs than their originals. While, sure, part of the reason for that is that people are creatures of habit who love what is familiar, another part of it is that bands in their early stages are also more … Read more