This Ain't No (Mudd Club or) CBGB - Hilly's Boutique On St Marks

As I was walking down St. Marks Place last week on my way to an always-killer falafal at Mamoun's, I stumbled across what looked like a Playskool version of the old CBGB awnings on the North side of the street. Turns out, it's the new CBGB Boutique.

Intrigued, I walked down the steps and into what looked like the Juniors section of Nordstrom at the Short Hills Mall. Under klieglight-bright lighting there were neatly hangered circular racks of dozens of styles of clothing, all of which bared the CBGB logo, little of which looked wearable by anyone who'd ever stepped foot in the club. Near the checkout was a rack and counter full of logoed crap and nonsense that wouldn't be out of place at a souvenir shop in Branson or Niagara Falls.

As I (possibly audibly) asked myself "Who would buy this junk?", I nearly bumped in to two big blonde middle-aged tourist ladies, one of whom was sporting an obviously-purchased-yesterday "The Big Apple" sequined sweatshirt, as they asked each other out loud "Have you heard of this brand?"...as if they'd stumbled across the next DKNY or FCUK. Yikes.

Hey, I know the club was pretty much nowheresville the last handful of years, but I had some incredibly fun and memorable times there. The thought of these yentas flying back to Des Moines wearing CBGB trucker hats (or worse)kind of creeps me out.

God bless Hilly for sticking it out and being able to cash in after all those years...but God help those women who think a too-tight pink and black striped CBGB tank top is a good look.

Talking Heads - "Life During Wartime" mp3 buy

New Stooges Album Info and Download

Notorious punk-rock website Spinner posted a download and tracklisting from the soon-to-be-released Stooges album tonight...

The Albini produced set The Weirdness is due out April 20, and features Iggy, the Asheton brothers, and Minutemen/fIREHOSE/Kelly Clarkson bass-master Mike Watt.

The download track, "My Idea Of Fun" rips like vintage Stooges, belying these cats' advanced age, but Iggy's voice doesn't seem to have that bite that it once had. Whatever, it rocks harder than most of the Stooge-a-like bands that seem to have record deals these days.

The Stooges - "My Idea Of Fun" mp3 buy

The Good, The Bad, & The Queen - Review & Webster Hall Ticket Info

The Good, The Bad, & The Queen - The Good, The Bad, & The Queen

After several plays all the way through, I have to agree with the pre-release buzz about this album's likeable uniqueness and eclectic nature. As you'd expect from a band made up of members of Blur, The Verve, and The Clash, and especially on an album admittedly made as "a tribute to West London", the disc oozes Britishness. Not Brit-pop per se, nor tunes tailor-made for Radio One, but songs that could have come from no other spot on a global map.

Produced by Danger Mouse, the dozen songs in this set feature some echo-y strings here, a few Beatlesy hooks there, touches of dub, doo-wop, Morricone-Western, jazz, psychedelia, and Paul Simonon's throbbing basslines high in the mix throughout.

Not as immediate as a Blur album, and not as free-wheeling as a Gorillaz record, The Good, The Bad, & The Queen is more of an arty pastiche, but one of those rare enjoyable arty pastiches that are all too uncommon in music. This disc proves (at least to me) that , love him or hate him, Damon Albarn is not only a musical daredevil, but probably one of pop music's few true visionaries.

The Good, The Bad, & The Queen Tour Dates:

March 11th Toronto - Kool Haus

March 12th New York - Webster Hall
(tickets on sale Wednesday, February 7 at Noon here)

March 14th Washington DC - 930

March 16th Austin - Stubbs(SXSW)

March 18th New Orleans - Republic

April 28rd Coachella


The Good, The Bad, & The Queen - Green Fields (Live):

Kinks Bio DVD out in UK, but we've got Kinks as LEGOs.

Reason Number 487 it's cooler to be British: The new Kinks bio-doc is available on Region 2 DVD today! "The Kinks - In Their Own Words," published by Edgehill, promises an admittedly-short (<1 hour) but sweet collection of band interviews and archive footage, delivering a firsthand account of The Kinks' rise to fame in the mid-60s (and to every rock-snob's "Top 5 Most Influential" band list today).

Tracklist includes 'Muswell Hillbilly', 'You Really Got Me', 'Lola', 'Waterloo Sunset', 'Set Me Free', 'Long Tall Sally', 'All Day And All Of The Night', and more.

The US version hits stores March 13. But don't despair - we've got the work of enterprising YouTubers to keep us content: Click below to see the Kinks as LEGOs performing "All Day and All of the Night":

The Kinks - "Everybody's Gonna Be Happy" mp3

Back to Blonde Releases 2 Sample Tracks from Upcoming Album

So check it: NYC's own Back to Blonde has returned to the studio with Adam Lasus for their upcoming follow-up to 2005's "Swim West." I don't know about you, but I can't wait. The lyrical and emotive indie trio rocked a hectic tour schedule last year, and I'm thrilled to bits these jetsetters found the time to cut a few new tracks, two of which were recently sampled to their website. They're catchy and delicious, in that Eddie-Vedder-meets-Pavement-or-is-it-Radiohead way I've grown addicted to.

Catch their upcoming gig with Takka Takka at Mercury Lounge this Saturday, Feb 3rd at 11:30 PM.

Back to Blonde - "Jack the Giant Killer" mp3
Back to Blonde - "Creeks Beneath Your Feet" mp3

album review: Robert Gomez - Brand New Towns

Robert Gomez - Brand New Towns

From the seemingly out-of-nowhere red hot Denton, Texas scene (Midlake, Centro-Matic, etc.) comes this brilliant album of mostly mid-tempo atmospheric songs of love, love-gone-wrong, lost love, and...you get the picture. Gomez' hushed crooning style over moody acoustic guitar immediately reminds the listener of Elliot Smith and José González, but the addition of interesting but minimal electronic flair here, and tasteful strings there, make for a sound that is familiar but original all at once.

This is not a "play-it-while-you-do-something-else" album, but rather a collection of songs that deserve to be listened to, as the forthright and heartfelt lyrics are every bit as important as the beautiful music they are coupled with. And I have the feeling this disc is only going to sound better with repeated listening. (Out now in the UK, to be released here on Bella Union in late March.)

Robert Gomez - "Closer Still" mp3 buy

The Shins Debut at #2 Next Week

From industry sheet Hits Daily Double:

"Sub Pop alternative darlings The Shins, who Natalie Portman promised would change our life in Garden State, return with Wincing the Night Away. Thanks to an impressive pre-order at iTunes and a Saturday Night Live appearance a couple of weeks back, the album could sell as much as 90k, giving it a #2 debut, the highest for the pioneering indie label in its history. "

They'll hit the charts between Pretty Ricky at #1 and John Cougar Mellencamp Truck Seller Guy at #3.

How the hell did that happen? Mugging in every single band photo pays off, I guess. Cool.

The Shins - "Phantom Limb" mp3 buy

Contest: Name doublethink's New Album!

Awesome news for all you budding titleists out there: doublethink is running an online contest with WNHU to find a name for their upcoming full-length debut. The band will pick from the top 5 entries on the air later this spring. If your title makes the finals you'll receive a cool pack o' swag from WNHU and another from doublethink, and you'll even get a credit in the record's liner notes.

Contest's open until the air date so get in on the action, send in your ideas and who knows? Maybe you'll finally get to name something without having to pop out a kid.

doublethink's been one of my favorites since I caught them at Trash Bar last year on one of their exhausting New England tours. Batman decals, a guitar named Lover and some of the best scream-crooning since Kurt Cobain. What's not to love?

Catch their next NYC gig at Club Siberia: Feb 2nd, 8 PM.

doublethink - "Gotta Get Thru the Mud" mp3

Hale & Hearty Fortune Spent on Cup of Soup

Now, I know Rockefeller Center is no place to score a bargain. But thanks to my office-drone lifestyle, I'm forced to forage around there for lunch, and it's where I today met my $6.99 cup of soup:

Color me bumpkin, but isn't $7.58 (with tax) a bit much for what's essentially 4 spoons bigger than the [free] taster cups they offer? I don't care if it is a "medium," hell, throw some half & half in there and call it "bisque." It's still a dang cup of soup at approximately $1.80 a slurp.*

(Debit card pictured for size comparison. I wouldn't take my number unless you're interested in paying my overdraft fees.)

Anyway, guess it's back to scrimping and saving for the new Revolting Cocks album. And in the wise, surely-underquoted words of that guy from Seinfeld, no [more] soup for me.

*Thanks to Bob F. for the math.

Revolting Cocks - "Pole Grinder" mp3
Soup Dragons - "I'm Free" mp3 buy

Kaiser Chiefs Roseland Presale Info, DJ Night @ Lotus, New Single

Comp guest list & other info click here

The Kaiser Chiefs' new Stephen Street produced album, Yours Truly, Angry Mob, hits stores in Europe on February 26, and the US a month later.

Pre-sale tickets for their NME-sponsored USA dates (including April 12 @ Roseland in NYC) go on sale tomorrow (1/24) at 11am EST here.

I know it's only a couple weeks into the Oh-Seven...but this is my single of the year so far:

Kaiser Chiefs - "Ruby" mp3 buy

album review: America - Here & Now

America - Here & Now
Out of the onslaught of new releases recently, one of the best surprises is this new double set from America, their first major label effort in twenty years.

Produced by long-time fans Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, Here & Now features a boatload of guest players not exactly known for any affiliation with the kind of laidback acoustic-y songs America has based their career on, including Ira Elliott and Matthew Caws of Nada Surf and Ryan Adams.

The album includes a great batch of newly written songs and a few covers, including a beautiful collaboration between the band, Ben Kweller, and My Morning Jacket's Jim James and Patrick Hallahan on MMJ's haunting "Golden".

Thankfully, the inclusion of these indie-rock musicians does not radically change the band's trademark sound, but updates it just enough to stave-off any sort of nostalgic vibe. Fans of any of those artists, who are by default fans of well-written rock music, will undoubtedly enjoy this album which is exactly that...well-written rock.

A second disc is included in this set which includes a complete live "greatest-hits" concert America performed for XM Radio last year, making a nice primer for new fans and a great addition to any old-schooler's collection.

America on MySpace

America - "Ride On" featuring Ryan Adams, Ben Kweller and Adam Schlesinger wma real

America - "Sister Golden Hair" wma real

album review: Audionom - Retrospektiv

Audionom - Retrospektiv

Let's say you are a big fan of Krautrock, Punk, Prog-rock, Garage, and New Wave. And let's also say that you want to hear all of those genres, but you've only got room for one album in your collection. This is the CD for you.

A collection of this Swedish supergroup/collective's best tracks over the years, Retrospektiv showcases Audionom's unique style of hypnotic and driving riffs and grooves. The album's totally compelling sound is a cool sounding middle ground of Kraftwerk, Polyrock, Joy Division, Au Pairs, Neu!, early Psychedelic Furs, Monster Magnet, Gang Of Four, and The Monks. Seriously.

I spent an hour walking around the city at dusk last weekend with this disc playing in my headphones, and about a half-hour in, the hypnotizing repetitive drive of the album actually had me feeling like I was levitating as I cruised the sidewalks. I've not ever had such a physical reaction to music before. It could have been the cocktails, but I think it had way more to do with the tunes.

Out on Kemado late next month.

Audionom - "Kein Bock" mp3 buy

David Caruso...Corniest Actor On TV?

Check this montage of Caruso's CSI: Miami opening segment one-liners:



He very well may have perfected the art of the "sunglass-slide-on-speak-and-smirk".


Nelly McKay - "David" mp3 buy

MC Serch Gives "The Ghetto Revival" The Gas Face...The White Rapper Show Is Pretty Great.

Yeah, the first two nights of 24 were pretty hot, but for my money the best TV recently has been VH1's The White Rapper Show.

Hosted by 3rd Bass' MC Serch and assisted by Prince Paul, the show features a gang of vaguely talented white kids vying for a hundred grand and a shot at being the next Eminem (or Vanilla Ice). The kids are living together in a place dubbed "The White House" in the South Bronx, where they are trotted around and taught local rap & hip-hop history by legends like Kurtis Blow, and Grandmasters Flash and Kaz. Like every good reality game show, somebody is tossed off the show each week.

Here's where this show beats anything Mark Burnett can conjure up:

When you are chucked from the house, Serch yells "Step off and gimme your shoes!", at which point the loser hands the host his or her hi-top Pro-Keds, which are promply thrown up onto the telephone line. Proper.

Most of these kids are from the suburbs, and have only cursory knowledge of the history of the music they profess to be expert at. In fact, one knucklehead contestant proudly calls himself the "King Of The Burbs", and yammers about his quest for the "Ghetto Revival", whatever that is.

The most recent episode had the wannabees competing against each other in a contest to identify snippets of rap classics. Out of 9 players, only one could recognize Run-DMC's "Run's House". Extra wack, indeed.

Totally worth a TiVo season pass.

See John Brown, "King Of The Burbs" make minimal sense here:


Run-DMC - "It's Like That" mp3 buy

Get Yer Glam On...Bowie Ball Tonight @ Don Hill's.

Celebrate Ziggy/The Thin White Duke/Iman's Husband's 60th birthday with DJ John Cameron Mitchell...Click the graphic to enlarge.

David Bowie - "John, I'm Only Dancing (Again)" mp3 buy

Cold War Kids...4 More NYC Gigs and a Couple Downloads

The free download on iTunes this week is Cold War Kids' "Hang Me Up To Dry", which can be had here.

They've got a couple Wednesday night shows left in their NYC residency, then they are back in April for a pair of gigs at the Bowery:

01/17/07 New York, NY @ Union Hall
01/24/07 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
04/06/07 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
04/07/07 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

Here's how CWK looked when I caught their set at the Apple Store in Soho late last year:


and here's their cover of an Elvis Costello chestnut:

Cold War Kids - "Indoor Fireworks" mp3

album review: The Early Years

"Stairway to Heaven" as a prom theme never made sense. One minute you’re gently caressed by acoustic picking and dreamy vocals, the next you’re wrestled into submission by thundering drumming and high-pitched wails. How’s that supposed to work as the soundtrack for a tight-clutch and tongue-fight with that special someone (as special as someone can be when you’re 17)?

Like the Zeppelin epic, many songs on the self-titled debut album from London trio The Early Years have two faces. The tunes don’t rock as hard, but the time changes and the soft/loud dynamic are there in abundance. The Early Years released two singles prior to their debut, yet neither A-side ("All Ones and Zeroes", "So Far Gone") gave much indication of what else would be on the album.

The booklet accompanying the disc features a two page photo of effects pedals and it’s clear these guys like twisting and shaping guitar sounds as they see fit. Besides the aforementioned singles, songs like "Simple Solution" and "High Times and Low Lives" employ effects well and without a 'look what we can do' angle. But it’s the slower songs that provide a better idea of who these guys are. Songs like "Things", "Brown Hearts" and "High Times and Low Lives" feature vocals eerily similar to David Gilmour’s on "On The Turning Away". There’s reverb washed vocals coupled with plenty of space and quiet to hear the lyrics. But don’t get lulled into thinking they’re tiptoeing around because at some point, and there’s little advance warning, the pace picks up. Are they prog? In spirit, maybe, but that’s it. Sometimes a song gets faster and louder and stays there, other times it gears up only to come crashing down and finish at a crawl, out of breath. Even the last song, "This Ain’t Happiness", as close as they come to a true "slow" song, builds in intensity and threatens to break loose but never does.

The album’s one flaw occurs in the middle. Track five, "Song for Elizabeth", dissolves from slow burner into spastic instrumental after 3+ minutes, leaving nearly six minutes of hovering vocals and instrument noodling. It’s followed by "Musik Der Fruhen Jaire" (is that German for 'Hit The Skip Button?') - an instrumental that stretches five minutes. With different sequencing, each might be more bearable, but taken together, it’s too much and for some, might derail the album. For me, it’s a minor flaw and I give The Early Years credit for being ambitious with the songs and their structures, but I wonder if things will continue to work if they follow the path they’re on. This album is wide open, busy and unpredictable, but an easy and enjoyable listen. I’m anxious to hear what’s next from them, but I worry they might not be able to again accomplish what they've done here. Many songs by other bands have aspired to the heights of "Stairway to Heaven," only to end up in the basement with "American Pie". Still, based solely on this first full-length effort, The Early Years bear watching and the debut album is worth getting. (John Byrne)

The Early Years' debut album is released in the US on 20 January with 4 bonus tracks not on the European version. They will be playing 3 shows in the NYC area to promote the release:

25.01.07
Mercury Lounge, Manhattan
26.01.07
Union Hall, Brooklyn
27.01.07
Union Pool, Brooklyn

The Early Years on MySpace

The Early Years - "All Ones And Zeros" mp3 buy

extrawack! Baker's Dozen downloads VI: Deerhoof, The Rapture, Pela, Panthers, Malajube, and more.

Here's the first extrawack! Baker's Dozen Downloads of the new year...as usual, these are thirteen tracks we think you need to have on the personal listening device of your choice, and to maybe even hold up said device with the backlight on so that the people around you on the train or in the pizza joint can see how au courant you really are.

The Icicles - "Sugar Sweet" mp3

Buildings Breeding - "Stacking Up Reasons" mp3

The Rapture - "Woo Alright, Yeah Uh-Huh" mp3

Plan B - "Sick 2 Def (Featuring The Earlies)" mp3

Read Yellow - "Pia Zadora" mp3

Richard Swift - "Kisses For The Misses" mp3

Pela - "Lost to the Lonesome (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix)" mp3

Panther - "How Well Can You Swim?" mp3

Panthers - "Uncertainly" mp3

Somme - "Massless" mp3

Postscripts - "Untitled #2" mp3

Deerhoof - "+81" mp3

Malajube - "Pate Filo" mp3

stellastarr* Playing Gramercy Theatre in February

from the press release:

stellastarr*
ANNOUNCE FEBRUARY 2007 U.S. TOURDATES

stellastarr* will take a break in February from writing their next album to play some intimate shows for their fans along the east and west coasts. The band has been demoing their new songs to tape in Philadelphia and have begun to post them on their myspace page. In line with how and why they originally formed, the new songs are raw, full of conviction and epitomize a project created by inspired art schoolers.

February 5th * San Diego * Casbah
February 7th * Los Angeles * Troubadour
February 10th * San Francisco * Bottom of The Hill
February 13th * Washington, DC * Rock N Roll Hotel
February 15th * Philadelphia * North Star Bar
February 16th * Boston * Middle East
February 22nd * New York City * Gramercy Theatre

Monsters Are Waiting will be main support for the tour.
Tickets have just gone on sale for every show except New York. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, January 12th for the New York show at the brand new Gramercy Theatre (located at 127 East 23rd St, NYC).

A demo version of the new track "Warchild" can be heard at stellastarr*'s MySpace.

stellastarr* - "A Million Reasons (WFNX-Boston Session)" mp3

Bloc Party NYC Pre-Sale Password

It's "WEEKEND".

Buy tix for the March 30 & 31 dates at United Center, 175th & Broadway, NYC here.

Thank us in the comments section!

album review: The Black Angels - Passover

With this review, extrawack! welcomes new contributor John Byrne.

In the liner notes for their new album, Passover, The Black Angels thank Anton Newcombe and Brian Jonestown Massacre. This gave me pause, as I’m not a fan of BJM (though I was sure I was after watching Dig! ...went out, bought me one of their albums... but outside the confines of the film the music fell flat). Going into my initial listening, I hoped for something heavy on good songs and light on sitar, you dig? Sorry, couldn’t resist.

What do they sound like? Stephanie Bailey’s drumming is primal and heavy, like it was recorded at the bottom of a well. Alex Maas’ voice is sinister, snarling and suggestive; he sings like he knows something and he’s pissed you don’t know it too. Jennifer Raines plays something identified as a "drone machine", which when I saw them live seemed to be a glorified keyboard, but it definitely contributes to the mix. The guitars are fuzzy, thick and dominating. There isn’t a bad song on Passover, but the highlights are the opener, "Young Men Dead" (it just POUNDS), second track "The First Vietnamese War" (featuring a ripping guitar), "The Sniper At The Gates of Heaven" (Maas’ grunts and huffs are killer), "Manipulation" (with cool trade-off vocals between Maas and robotic-sounding guitarist Christian Bland) and "Bloodhounds on My Trail"..

The Black Angels earn points for not making an album of 17 songs and 78 minutes. Passover runs 58 minutes, but the run time is extended because of a gap between the end of the closer, "Call To Arms", and a hidden track (the only negative...I don’t mind hidden tracks, but why do I have to endure multiple minutes of silence to hear it?). Instead, there are ten proper songs and everything works.

Do they sound like they’re from another decade, like the 60s? Yes. Do they sound like other bands you’ve heard? Probably...don’t most bands remind you of other bands? The sludge and murky sound of some songs remind me of early Black Sabbath, while the ability of The Black Angels to make cool songs and still sound, with varying degrees, pissed, blissed-out and mysterious, reminded me of the Verve songs I like the most. I’ve spent hours and days listening to Passover on repeat and I’m still not sick of it, which is the highest praise I can give any album. On my first listen, when one song ended, I kind of dreaded the next, for I was sure the "bad songs" that dog most albums were upcoming. They never showed. Ten songs with no junk to be found? These guys need to be heard, because Passover just may be the best record of 2006. (John Byrne)

The Black Angels - "The First Vietnamese War" mp3 buy

Original Lineup Sebadoh to Tour In Feb/March/April

Between the Dino Jr. reunion/tour and this, Barlow's been a busy dude...

From the press release:

Classic Sebadoh line-up announces first tour in 14 years

The classic Sebadoh line-up of Lou Barlow, Eric Gaffney, and Jason Loewenstein has re-united and will tour the US for the first time in 14 years in the spring of 2007. Sebadoh began in 1987 as the solo project of Dinosaur Jr. bassist Lou Barlow, who quickly teamed up with kindred spirit Eric Gaffney. Jason Loewenstein joined the band in 1989. The band's line-up changed quite frequently over the years, but the trio of Barlow / Gaffney / Loewenstein was responsible for the classic 90s albums III, Bubble and Scrape and Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock. All three members contributed their own unique songwriting styles and also switched instruments frequently, which they will also do on this tour. III, which is considered by many to be the band's definitive album, got the deluxe re-issue treatment courtesy of the Domino label last year. Domino has also announced plans to re-issue the Barlow / Gaffney-penned album The Freed Man later in 2007. Expect a set list drawing from all eras of Sebadoh's existence.

Sebadoh tour dates

02/26 San Diego, CA Casbah
02/27 Costa Mesa, CA Detroit Bar
02/28 San Francisco, CA GAMH / Noise Pop
03/02 Portland, OR Berbati's Pan
03/03 Vancouver, BC Richards
03/04 Seattle, WA Neumos
03/05 Eugene, OR WOW Hall
03/07 Santa Cruz, CA The Attic
03/09 Los Angeles, CA The Troubadour
03/10 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland
03/15 Phoenix, AZ Clubhouse
03/16 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
03/17 Boulder, CO Fox Theater
03/19 Minneapolis, MN 400 Bar
03/20 Milwaukee, WI Shank Hall
03/21 Chicago, IL Metro
03/22 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
03/23 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
03/24 Montreal, QC La Sala Rossa
03/29 Northampton, MA Pearl St.
03/30 Boston, MA Paradise
03/31 New York, NY Webster Hall
04/02 Philadelphia, PA Northstar
04/03 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
04/04 Carrboro, NC Cat's Cradle
04/06 Louisville, KY Headliners
04/07 Nashville, TN Exit In
04/08 Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
04/09 Tallahassee, FL Beta Bar
04/10 Orlando, FL The Social
04/12 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
04/13 Houston, TX Walters on Washington
04/14 Austin, TX Emo's
04/16 Tucson, AZ Club Congress


Check out the "official" Sebadoh bootleg download page.

Sebadoh - The Freed Pig mp3 buy

Sebadoh - Gimme Indie Rock mp3 buy

Peter Hook @ Hiro Tonight.

Hooky on the decks AND complimentary Coke Zero drinks? I can dance AND watch my figure? Nice.

New Order - "Temptation (Secret Machines Remix)" mp3 buy

The View @ Mercury Lounge, 2 Jan 06

Caught a short but excellent set last night from Dundee's The View at Mercury Lounge...
Probably the youngest looking band I've ever seen play a NYC club (besides Smoosh), these kids play a kind of sloppy but heartfelt pop, much like a cross between The La's and The Libertines, with a little Wonder Stuff thrown in for good measure. Despite half the band fighting pneumonia and everyone jet-lagged, the set was loud, spirited, and totally enjoyable.

Their Owen Morris (Oasis, The Verve) produced debut Hats Off To The Buskers is released here in March, and with the stamp-of-approval of Bobby Gillespie, Pete Doherty-Moss, and seemingly every staff member of the NME, these kids should make a big splash quickly. Even The Sun is touting their success.



They play again tonight at Mercury Lounge, but advance tickets are sold out. It may be worth your while to get there early for a door ticket, because these guys won't be playing a club that size in NYC again.




The View - "Same Jeans" mp3 buy

The View on MySpace

This is The View doing "Wasteland" at that show, courtesy of my buzzy little digital cam:

Neckbeard Telecaster @ Mercury Lounge Tonight.

From Neckbeard Telecaster's MySpace:

Influences:

When a horse drinks from a stream, it's like when a man drinks from a stream. When a horse plays a telecaster, it's like when a man plays a telecaster.

Sounds Like:

Gordon Lightfoot, but more gay.

What's not to like about that?

Tonight at Mercury Lounge @ 9pm, featuring members of:
Dirty On Purpose
Adam Green
The Shorebirds
The World Without Magic
Grand Mal
Friend's Band
and more.