Shuggie Otis @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

When: April 19th, 2013

Shuggie Otis is a singer, songwriter, and guitar player who has been making music for decades.  The son of Johnny Otis, Shuggie was playing bars & clubs with his dad by the time he was in middle school.  A dark pair of shades and a drawn on mustache helped him hide his age.  B.B. King once called him his favorite young guitar player.  Frank Zappa jammed with him and had him lay down the bass on "Peaches En Regalia".  He released three critically acclaimed albums in the early 70s.  They showcased his ability to write and perform just about any genre.  His tracks blended elements of blues, psychedelic rock, funk, soul, R&B, and jazz.  The albums didn't achieve mainstream success, but his talent was obvious.  Big names in the game took notice.  The Stones asked him to join them.  He turned them down.  Quincy Jones took an interest in producing his next album.  He turned him down.  Shuggie wanted full control to do things his own way.  Sadly, he was dropped from his label and didn't have a deal for decades.  Now, with some new material and a reissue of "Inspiration Information" in stores, Shuggie is back out on the road.  No need to draw on a mustache these days. 

The Music Hall was packed to the gills when I arrived.  With a belly full of cheeseburger from Sweetwater and an aching back from helping a friend move, I grabbed a cold pale ale and settled in near the soundboard. 

From the get go, Shuggie and his band were tight as hell.  Every musician on stage was of the utmost quality.  I'm talking world class, top shelf talent.  It's no wonder the ticket was pricey.  This wasn't a young band of guys hammering out a few chords.  At any moment, anyone on stage could take a solo and blow your mind.  And Shuggie is still keeping it in the family.  He traded licks with his son Eric who acted as the 2nd guitarist.  His brother Nick sat in on drums.  Clearly, music is in the Otis blood.  

Once they got warmed up they kept it cooking for over two hours.  Shuggie and his band played a slew of his classics, as well as some of his newer material.  While his voice may have aged a bit, his hands haven't lost a lick.  He's one of the best guitarists I've ever seen live.  His solo on "Ice Cold Daydream" during the encore had my temporal lobe twitching.  

I highly recommend getting into Shuggie's catalog if you aren't familiar with his stuff.  It's aged really well.  You'll hear why he's had a big influence on Prince, D'Angelo, and countless others.  And if you get the chance to see him live, don't hesitate. 

Metz @ Bowery Ballroom

w/ Odonis Odonis

When: April 17th, 2013

Alex Edkins, the lead guitarist and singer of Metz from Toronto (Canada again!), told Pitchfork in an interview that they try to make everything they do redline.  I'd say they're succeeding.  Their self titled debut album which came out in October of 2012 is a truly epic record.  They scream and thrash the whole way without letting up.  It's a barrage of heavyweight haymakers that smacks you out of your digital stupor and may incite you to start smashing stuff, and I mean that in the best way.  Their no holds barred attack is truly a breath of foul air in an overly subdued musical landscape.  If you're into punk, hardcore, or anything with a racing pulse, Metz is out to give you a fix.  After a numbingly dull week of work, I couldn't wait to see these guys.

The opener was another small group of loud Canadians named Odonis Odonis.  Their brand of melded shoegaze, industrial, and garage rock was surprisingly good.  Halfway through the first song Erik and I were nudging one another and exchanging approving nods.  Check out their video for "Ledged Up" to get a taste.  Their set was consistently strong and worked the packed house into a good lather.  Gotta love when an opening act kicks ass.  Definitely going to keep an eye on these kids. 

Odonis Odonis were great.  Metz was mindblowing.  This is not overstating it.  It is a fact.  They assaulted the audience with breakneck riffs and thundering drums.  They whipped the crowd into a frenzy the likes of which I haven't seen in ages.  The entire center of the Ballroom was moshing.  Beer and water were being tossed in the air so frequently it looked like the sprinklers were on.  Crowdsurfers and stagedivers were tossed like rag dolls.   

Even with their album in heavy rotation for a while, I underestimated their power.  I'm telling you, these guys were no joke.  Their sound was absolutely gargantuan in the flesh and incited stress releasing mayhem.  The bassist was bleeding profusely by the third song from something tossed on stage that put the show briefly on hold.  He stepped off stage to address it.  Moments later he reemerged and strapped in again with a blood streaked shirt and duct tape holding his nose together.  He and the guys launched into the next song and didn't lose a step.  For a solid hour they pummeled all of those lucky enough to be there.

Metz @ Bowery Ballroom is not a show I will soon forget.  The memory is preserved in the sweet ring of tinnutis I'm sure I'll never shake.  My only regret is not seeing them at this show in my neck of the woods the night before.  If you like, or have ever liked, indulging in music that shakes the walls and irritates the neighbors, do yourself a favor and check out the Metz.  These guys deliver the goods like no one I've heard in years. If, however, you can't handle your liquor without a mixer, move along.  Nothing to hear here. 

William Tyler @ Mercury Lounge

When: April 16th, 2013

I don't know much about solo instrumentalists.  I do know there aren't many that get much attention.  So when I heard about a guy who is generating buzz and does nothing more than pick his guitar, it caught my attention.  William Tyler was born, raised and still resides in Nashville.  No surprise there.  That city consistently churns out guys who can play clean as country water.  I gave his debut, "Behold The Spirit", a spin after seeing Pitchfork gave it an 8.6.  Figured if even the jaded writers over there were impressed, he must have something.  I put on my fancy home headphones and settled in.  Within minutes I was whisked away and mesmerized.  The picking was world class.  The songs built gorgeously.  At times I could swear he was playing a sitar from the layers of sound and bending notes.  These moments put me in a kind of meditative trance.  Others triggered deep parts of my psyche and made me nostalgic for people and places I haven't seen in ages and probably won't set eyes on again.  Needless to say, I became a fan of Mr. Tyler. 

Mercury Lounge is a great venue for small acts, and they don't get any smaller than a man and a couple guitars.  There was a good crowd of fans when I arrived, but plenty of room to move.  I snaked my way up front to watch him work his magic.  The fingernails on his right hand were something to behold.  They're impressive in length and allow him to work the strings with an organic precision that is borderline godly.  I actually wondered for awhile if Willy might have traded his soul at the crossroads and the devil threw in his right hand as part of the deal.  It's pretty scary up close.  His banter between songs, however, removed that thought from my mind.  From the stories he shared it became obvious the music comes from a vast emotional reservoir he has the ability to tap, as well as a love for traveling with open eyes and ears.  "The Geography of Nowhere" came from a long train ride alone through Istanbul and a song that played repeatedly on crappy speakers in the dining car.  "Hotel Catatonia" is a song to make peace with the time he was locked in the freezer of a TCBY and thought he might die.  "Hotel California" playing in the manager's office was all he could hear as he shivered and prepared to be solidified like Han in carbonite.  "Missionary Ridge" was inspired by a sun filled country picnic he had with a female companion.  These are just some of the tales he told through the course of his hour long set.  Overall, he struck me as a warm soul with a restless curiosity. 

Willy's yarns about the inspiration for certain tunes were engaging and fun to hear, providing a peek in his head, but his songs transcend the roots from which they sprouted.  Each one invites you to drift off with them and make them your own.  For a good part of his set my eyes were closed as my spirit wandered.  Looking around, I wasn't the only one spellbound.  Great artists are conduits, not creators.  William Tyler fits the bill.  He has the ability to channel music from some place special.  Spend some time with his debut, or his latest album "Impossible Truth" and see if you don't agree. 

Muse @ Madison Square Garden

When: April 15th, 2013

Big shows don't have the appeal they once had for me.  When I was younger and went to a show, more people = more excitement.  As I've gotten older, I prefer the intimacy and better sound quality of smaller venues.  However, some bands are just too good to miss because they have what it takes to take over an arena and play music large enough to fill it.  Muse is one of those bands.  Their sound is huge, their stage sets are consistently stunning, and their catalog has enough range to make for a well rounded spectacle.  It's no surprise the Brits back home have named them best live act multiple times.  These guys belong in the big leagues. 

Jenny and I had lady luck shine on us early.  The picture above shows how we felt about it.  We arrived and took our seats.  They were 8 rows from the back wall in the nosebleeds.  Not exactly prime seating.  Moments after the lights went out and the drone of the opening sequence started, a woman in a green MSG jacket tapped our shoulders from behind.  "Want to sit lower? Close to the stage?"  "Um.....yes?"  "Here.  Have fun."  With that, we were suddenly holding tix for the 12th row, stage left.  What?!  No clue what we did to earn the good fortune, but we were beyond happy to accept it as a gift from the music gods.  After some escalator riding and a short jog, we were suddenly sitting pretty in seats close enough to toss Matt Bellamy a football. 

The show started with a giant LCD pyramid that slowly rose to reveal the band within.  The screens were hoisted up into a variety of configurations throughout the show and provided a colorful canopy of recorded and live footage.  There were also lasers, giant screens ringing the stage, smoke cannons, and a catwalk to a platform in the crowd.  Like I said, Muse knows how to put on a big show.  

Under all the theatrics and grandeur, Muse actually address serious contemporary issues.  Most of today's popular music is either cryptic or centered on the individual (love, loss, desires, etc.)  Matt and the boys write about income inequality, global warming, overpopulation, the end of mankind, political propaganda, and the need of the repressed to fight back.  Their feelings are then laced into soaring anthems that cushion the message and make it go down easy.  That's how songs of theirs encouraging rebellion end up on Primetime TV. 

The show was a perfect blend of songs from throughout their long career.  Jen and I were happy they didn't go too heavy on the new album, which is definitely not their best.  They even played "Stockholm Syndrome" from 2003.  Love that song.  Before the first encore, the crowd spontaneously began holding up their glowing phones.  I'm a sucker for that sort of thing.  Looked beautiful.  Muse clearly dug it too when they returned to the stage, acknowledging the lights and professing their love of NYC.  Their love of the Big Apple showed in the performance they gave from the opening song to the last.  Matt seemed especially into it.  He jumped down in the front of the barriers, shaking hands and taking pictures with fans for an extended period of time.  He also slid on his knees across the stage during a couple of the solos.  The crowd ate it up and responded by consistently singing along, bouncing up and down, and pumping their fists in unison. 

This was our third time seeing Muse and once again we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  The picture above says it all.  Still can't believe the seating upgrade we got.  Thank you gods of the Garden! 

King Khan & BBQ Show @ Glasslands

w/ Bloodshot Bill

When: April 13th, 2013

Straight forward rock n roll with fuzzy guitars and a stripped down, DIY aesthetic has always worked for me.  From The Troggs and MC5 back in the day to more recent groups like The White Stripes and The Black Lips, good garage rock strips away the glossy bullshit and leaves just the raw materials of a good time.  It's like a great steak you can sink your teeth into and taste the cow, not the zing of a fancy marinade or distracting sauce.  Sometimes you want some worcestershire.  Shit, sometimes you need it.  But if the ingredients are quality, simplicity can be your ticket to ecstasy.  This show had two acts that both have a recipe for serving up steaming piles of tasty noise, all killer, no filler. 

First up was Bloodshot Bill, a one man music making daddy-o who snorts like a pig and kicks like a mule.  BB's sound can best be described as rockabilly boiled down to its essence.  Think psychobilly Buddy Holly.  Barely a word is understood, but the delivery is brimming with personality and power.  He belts like the Big Bopper and rasps like Robert Gordon, all while playing guitar just like a ringing a bell. Decked out in pajamas with a slick pomp to rival Danny Zuko, BB splashes the hi hat with his left foot, thumps the kick with his right, and tears it up on the archtop.  I couldn't believe what a force of nature he was in the flesh.  In between songs he'd comb back his tousled hairdo and wink at the girls in front.  My buddy Matt, who joined me for the night's festivities, told me BB is his favorite live performer right now.  He definitely brought the ruckus with his Saturday night set and made a believer out of me.  I highly recommend seeing him if he tramps through your neck of the woods.

Next up were the headliners, and fellow Canadians, The King Khan & BBQ Show.  Our friends north of the border seem to be churning out a lot of great acts lately.  This hard charging duo took the stage and rocked the place from top to bottom with their loud mix of garage punk, served with a big slice of silliness.  Mark Sultan (BBQ), dressed like a happy to be out genie, banged away on snare & kick with his feet while playing guitar.  King Khan was sporting his donkey-teeth necklace and vest.  His chunky brown body provided eye candy for the ladies, but his guitar work was all man.  I'd imagine the hyper self aware Brooklynites I run into at other shows avoided this show because it wasn't "serious" enough.  I mean, King Khan did stick his bare ass in Lindsay Lohan's face a while back.  But what dullards deem juvenile is really just a good time asking to sit on their face.  This show was a blast.  Near the end of the night, Bloodshot Bill joined them on stage.  They tore through a couple numbers and the place went berserk. 

Overall, this show was so solid, so energizing, that Matt and I ended up bouncing around until the sunlight started creeping over Queens.  We went from Sportsmen Specials in the backyard of the Levee to the King Khan afterparty at Passenger to drinking picklebacks at Lady Jay's where Loretta Lynn's "Fist City" piped out of the juke. We finished things up with a finger licking stewed chicken torta at an all night Mexican joint on Grand.  I took a crowded train home to Ridgewood, wishing the whole way I was topless in a T-Bucket with some Santo & Johnny playing me home.

Talk Normal @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

When: April 11th, 2013

 

My buddy Erik and I are certified super fans of a Brooklyn duo named Talk Normal.  Sarah Register & Andrya Ambro are two strong women who make no nonsense music that is primitive and loud.  We've seen them a slew of times and they always deliver.  Personally, I rarely listen to their recorded music.  Their intensity works best for me when I'm watching them perform, not piped into my ears through headphones.  For two people, they can make quite an exhilarating commotion. 

Andrya is a sweet person.  I've spoken to her before and if I didn't know her, I'd never guess she does what she does.  On the drums, she is nothing short of a powerhouse.  Some songs she sits.  Others she stands.  What is consistent is her ability to bash out beats with a primal ferocity that Thor would find impressive.  Her small kit takes a serious beating whenever they take the stage.  My favorite moments are when she gains speed like a runaway freight train and drops the jaws of those in attendance.  When I first saw them a while back, Erik had told me to be prepared.  However, until you see her get going, you have no idea.  She also takes the lead on most of the vocals.  Her singing is as primal as her drumming.  

While Andrya pounds out the structure of the songs, Sarah paints with her guitar work, adding color and sonic textures that pair beautifully with Andrya.  Sarah also sings, her voice giving more meat to the vocals and making them sound like some sort of chanting sorceresses.  When these two met at NYU they felt an instant connection.  It's not surprising.  They were clearly made to make music together.  

During the show they played a couple of new songs.  Both were highlights of their set that got the loudest applause of the night.  If they're an indication of what's to come, the future is only getting brighter for this powerful pair.  Can't wait to hear where they go next. 

The 2 Bears @ Le Poisson Rouge

When: April 8th, 2013

The 2 Bears are Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell.  They are an electronic duo from the UK who craft songs that make you want to move.  They incorporate a variety of styles, but most of it is rooted in house music. At home they host a radio show on Ministry of Sound Radio, DJ at a slew of London clubs and provide remixes for artists like Santigold.  Joe is also a member of Hot Chip.  These two got the place jumping on Monday night with a strong set that had everyone, including yours truly, shaking their rumps and snapping their necks.  

Years ago, in what seems like a past life, I rocked my dancing shoes on a nightly basis.  Back in the mid 90s, I lived in a giant filthy warehouse in Ybor City and threw all night parties for a living with a group of like minded lunatics.  Clubs and parties were literally an everyday lifestyle for me.  The friends who were with me for the ride could tell you, we had a criminal amount of good times.  Back then, I would cut it up til the sun rose.  Now, I rarely do more than goof around at home to make my wife laugh.  Well, The 2 Bears brought back a bit of the old Cam Man. 

The longer they worked the knobs & pads, the deeper and heavier the beats got.  The thump of the kick drum loosened the spines of the crowd and by about 15 minutes in, no one in the place was standing still.  I mean, folks were going for it.  There was a dude near me with a wife beater on starting the lawnmower.  Two beautiful dark skinned ladies were toasting to something and bumping hips.  A girl up front was spinning around like a hippie at a Phish show.  There was even the guy with the baseball cap twirling his arms while he gyrated.  All he needed was a pair of glow sticks.  And then there was me.  Bearded like the 3rd bear and busting out moves I forgot I had.  My big regret is that I hadn't gotten anyone to join me for the show, especially Jenny, who loves to dance.  Had I known how fun they'd be, I would have rounded up a crew.  Old enough to not give a shit, I just went for it.  By the time I walked out I was smiling ear to ear and forgot it was a Monday.  The 2 Bears turned out to be just right. 

"Bear Hug"

"Be Strong"

"I Feel Better" - Hot Chip

*Great Video*

Sigur Ros @ Madison Square Garden

When: March 25th, 2013

 

I'm a bit late writing up this show.  Life swept me up in various pursuits and I just couldn't get myself to sit down when I had some free time.  Finally I'm ready to share my thoughts on the great Sigur Ros.  Seeing them at the Garden turned out to be a memorable experience.  It was by far the best show I've seen all year.  From start to finish, beginning to end, they were nothing short of astounding. 

My buddy Erik joined me for the show.  He's been a big fan for years, which made me even more confident the show would be serious.  Erik's got good taste and I always love seeing shows with people who are really into the band.  We grabbed some beer and walked through the tunnel toward our section.  We were supposed to be in the 3rd section, the last grouping of seats furthest from the stage and still on the floor.  Instead of finding our row, we just kept walking, wanting to see how far we'd get.  Before we knew it we were in the first section of the floor, maybe 30 feet from the stage.  Needless to say, our excitement quadrupled.  Erik turned to me with bugged out eyes, "Are you kidding me? Section 1 of the floor?!"  We toasted our good fortune.  Not long after, the lights went down. 

The show opened with sheer fabric hanging around the stage.  Abstract projections lit it up while the band played inside the square.  It looked like they were playing inside of a television with an art film playing.  At times the projections went dark and the lighting came from behind and beneath the band, sending large shadows against the fabric with stunning effect.  Then, as one of the songs swelled to an epic crescendo, the fabric dropped revealing the band for the first time.  The place went nuts.  

Sigur Ros came to blow minds and they succeeded.  For over two hours they never let up.  Song after song washed over the sold out crowd, inspiring many to close their eyes and raise their hands to the heavens.  Their music has an epic quality that feels almost like a religious experience when experienced live with others.  They transformed the Garden to a massive cathedral and their fans into a mesmerized mass.  At one point, Erik yelled, "I need an intermission.  They don't let you come down.  They're relentless!" 

In a daze, I made my way through the crowd toward the exit for our area.  My mouth was dry from hanging open in awe.  I figured a bathroom break and beer run were in order.  As I left our section, I made a point to ask the security guard which way to go.  Figured, "He'll remember me and won't ask to see my ticket."  He pointed me in the direction of a tunnel.  I thanked him and kept it moving.  When I turned the corner I realized how the other half lives at these big shows.  The bar was called the "Backstage Bar".  There was barely anyone there.  The bathroom was spacious and clean.  I thought, "Yup. I'm where I belong."  Feeling great, I scooped up a couple beers, throwing in a substantial tip (wanting to feel like a big deal), and strolled back the way I came.  "Where's your wristband?" the guard asked.  "Wristband", I said, "what are you talking about?"  He informed me I needed a wristband to enter that section.  "You just saw me leave!" I said.  He agreed he'd seen me and talked to me, but told me I still needed a wristband.  I could feel the perfect night about to turn sour.  For a moment I figured I was shit out of luck.  Suddenly, something in me snapped.  Instead of hesitating in fear, I channeled the confident asshole inside me and unleashed him on the guard.  "No one gave me a f*cking wristband!  What are you talking about? My friend has my ticket.  He got them for us through his job.  I just went to grab a couple beers for the encore.  I'm not gonna wander around out here like an idiot.  I'm in this section pal. This is ridiculous."  With that I walked by him and didn't look back.  I'm not normally an asshole, but sometimes you've just got to play the role.

When I say this show was incredible, I mean it.  Don't believe me?  Google it and read the reviews.  I find it mind blowing that an ambient/post rock band from Iceland, whose lyrics are a mystery to most Americans, can fill the Garden and make such a deep impression.  And after almost 20 years of playing together, I can't imagine their feelings about finally growing a fan base big enough to play NYC's biggest venue.  They'd been saying for weeks leading up to the show that they were going to do everything in their power to play the show of their lives.  I'd never seen them live before this show, but I can't fathom them sounding better.