The Concert Stranger – March Report
April 15th, 2009 - by John
The Concert Stranger attends shows in NYC and, from time to time, reports on what he saw in the least amount of words possible because when people use too many “they just get in the way.” Here’s what he did in March.
3/4 Manchester Orchestra @ Mercury Lounge
This 5 piece from Atlanta, GA have a new record called Mean Everything to Nothing dropping on April 21st. It is hands down the best record I have heard this year. My only complaint about their set at the Mercury lounge is that it was too short- can’t wait for their gig at Bowery next month. This is the band to watch in 2009.
The Only One
3/11 The Airborne Toxic Event @ Bowery Ballroom
How is “Sometime Around Midnight” a hit song when it doesn’t have a chorus? The answer was illustrated to me live: it starts slow and builds to a massive frenzy. LA’s indie darlings recently signed to Island Records and are headed to Europe- but catch them in May at the Sasquatch Music Festival. Bonus: the band takes their name from a Don DeLillo book- got to like a band that can read.
Sometime Around Midnight
3/20 Richard Buckner @ Mercury Lounge
Buckner needs no stage show- he is mesmerizing solo and seated with only a trusty looping pedal to fill out the accompaniment. But the show started at 12:30 in the morning- I had been drinking since 6. Richard I’m an old man- how do you feel about the early bird special next time around?
Blue and Wonder (live)
3/26 White Lies @ Bowery Ballroom
These fine gentleman are from London and they are hot there. The band’s debut record To Lose My Life was the first (debut) to hit #1 on the UK charts this year. Singer Harry McVeigh claimed his voice was shot this particular evening at the Bowery- but they sounded good to me regardless- set was short and sweet- look forward to seeing them again.
To Lose My Life
3/30 The Hold Steady @ Irving Plaza
The sound was sub-par, the band did a lot of old material which is not my favorite (i know- sacrilegious- screw you hipsters) but still one of the better shows I’ve been to this year. The Hold Steady have a positive energy that is infectious and undeniable. A re-affirming musical experience.
Stay Positive
Up next Bow Wow…
