Spoon

Ok. So I am taking so much time in between posts that they are beginning to seem irrelevant. However, I've seen so many terrific shows over the last few months that I am determined to write about every last one of them, even if it takes me until next April. So here goes.

I saw Spoon at Mercury Lounge back on January 21st at their semi-unannounced show to promote the, at the time, soon to be released new record . Some advanced tickets were sold the day before but a friend tipped me that same day -- he picked it up on Twitter of course -- that they were going to release a number of tickets the night of the show. So I headed down to the Merc and got in line at around 4 (it was well worth the wait) and I managed to sneak a couple of late comers in line with me. They really wreaked the place. I've been a big fan of the band since they jumped to Merge Records back in 2000 and have seen them live a couple of times. Getting the chance to see them in such an intimate space was electrifying. The energy was intense and the performance even more so. Indie rock, if sounding cliched as a label, never sounded more alive and original. Britt Daniel crafts songs that move, groove and sooth you, sometimes all at once. I can't praise this band enough and urge everyone to try to seem them live. The night was made even more special by the fact that Alexander Even of The White Rabbits joined in for a few numbers (Britt produced the new TWR record) and I got to say hello to pop punk impresario Ted Leo who was in the audience.
http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2010/01/spoon_played_me.html

In contrast, but no less entertaining, I also saw Spoon's March 26th show at Radio City Music Hall. The band further fined tuned the lo-res rock off the new record Transference while also tossing in a number of their past rock ready tunes. Though one might think a band of such "quiet" aspirations might not be able to fill such a big room, au contraire mon frere (in fact, the show was sold out.) The room was built to Spoon. The acoustics are tailor-made for a musician, and band, that bounces sound and ideas off every corner of a space whether it be the Mercury Lounge or the Showplace of the Nation. Like the Mercury Lounge show, special guests were in the house; Eleanor Friedberger (The Fiery Furnaces), Dan Boeckner (Handsome Furs) and Alexander Even (White Rabbits) all joined in on the fun.
http://www.myspace.com/spoon

Freelance Whales & The Uglysuit

On January 20th at the Mercury Lounge I got to check out Freelance Whales, a hot new act out of Queens and soon to be out on the Frenchkiss label. With a name that defies category (wouldn't Pod of Whales make more sense?), their sound further defies description. However, bands like Ra Ra Riot and Broken Social Scene do come to mind. If not for shared sounds for shared spirit. Freelance Whales melodic harmonizing and bold instrumentation is incredibly warm and fuzzy and daring and delicate. Primarily an acoustic act, the band produces textured music with powerful rhythms and a keen sense of melody. The orchestrating of banjos and guitars, harmoniums and laptops, tambourines and keyboards further illustrates the musical menagerie. If Doctor Parnassus and his imaginarium traveled with a house band, Freelance Whales would be it. There are no fewer than five people on stage at anytime and they are constantly swapping instruments making the experience feel more spontaneous and energized than calculated. But don't be fooled, these Whales know exactly what they're doing crafting soundscapes of sentimentality and memorable baroque-pop arrangements that will get under the skin of the most hardened hipsters. Judah Dadone leads the group chanting and is the groups' spiritual and vocal center. His high range perfectly complements the kaleidoscope. It's amazing to think all this once occupied the platforms of the NYC subway system, and sometimes still does, further adding to their myth and allure. But not to worry, these Whales are playing more traditional venues around town in anticipation of their debut release. They've opened for Mumford and Sons recently and will be headlining again at The Music Hall of Williamsburg in March. Swim with them as soon as you can.
http://www.myspace.com/freelancewhales

Just hours before the Freelance Whales show at the Mercury Lounge, I was able to catch a free set by the Oklahoma City sextet The Uglysuit and their name too seems a misnomer. Though the longhair hides most their faces, the beautiful sounds are front and center. "As frontman Israel Hindman's soft voice soars over cascading guitars and keys, the band can jump from dream pop to Southern rock or Beach Boys-like psychedelia-in one song." I liked these guys a lot. The songs are at the same time wistful and wonderous. They've just released their debut on Touch and Go and will be swinging through NYC again soon. Try them on.

The Fiery Furnaces

I'm afraid I am not doing a very good job of staying current with my concert going posts. I must and will try to be more diligent.

Regardless, I didn't want to blog about any more recent concerts until I wrote about my last show of 2009; The Fiery Furnaces on December 11th at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. I've been a fan of the band's since their 2003 debut, Gallowsbird's Bark and have seen them a half dozen times. The band is lead by the brother/sister team Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger. Because of the garage blues elements of their sound, they have often been compared to The White Stripes. They remind me more of an artier version of The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion or Boss Hog; two bands that TWS may draw some comparisons as well. Though their records lean toward the conceptual, their live performance was an edgy rocking affair that teetered on the brink of experimentation. They displayed the incredible musical interplay that has become their trademark with Eleanor, Matthew and bassist Jason Loewenstein prodding and cajoling one another. Their live shows, and this was no different, each seem to take on a life of their own with the band improvising and expanding songs continually, adding to the experimental feel of the performance. Every live show you feel like your discovering something, or someone, new. Add to the mix Eleanor's channeling of Patti Smith (down to the tweed overcoat she wore when she enter the stage) and the songs take on an even edgier feel. She even seems to be sometimes reciting the lyrics. All of this builds a Fiery mood and groovy tempo that is challenging and rocking at the same time. N.B. Eleanor is married to Franz Ferdinand lead singer Alex Kapranos. Could there be a Future Fiery Franz Furnace Ferdinand collaboration? We could only Fantasize.
http://www.myspace.com/thefieryfurnaces
http://www.nyctaper.com/?p=2142

It's worth mentioning the opening act who I enjoyed a lot, Shilpa Ray and the Happy Hookers. Formerly of Beat The Devil, Shilpa hits you with her harmonium (and vocals) like a first punch in the face. Don't duck, it's pretty awesome.
http://www.myspace.com/shilparay