Yacht @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

August 30, 2013


Yacht is an electro pop outfit from Los Angeles, by way of Portland, Oregon.  Headed by Jona Bechtolt (the group's founder) and Claire Evans, they don't just make music, they have their own belief system.  Curious?  Swing by their site to read up on it and understand the core values that drive what they do.  As far as I'm concerned, most it reads like the clubhouse journaling of an aspiring teenage artist or the moleskin ramblings of a young Bushwick hipster.  Of course, this is the blog of a cynical old man, so whatever.  While their ethos doesn't reel me in, their music does.  The beats are infectious and provide a grooving backdrop for their songs about the afterlife, destiny and utopia.  When I arrived at the Music Hall I wasn't hoping to see the light, just hear the band.



It appears there is a little magic or higher power behind what they do because for two hours the sold out congregation bounced, crowd surfed, sang along & smiled.  Jona and Claire have an undeniably infectious energy in the flesh.  Trading keyboards and the mic throughout their set, they performed the songs with the vim and vigour of Gilad Janklowicz starting his day.  It was a hell of a show from the opening bass line to the final guitar buzz.  I arrived a skeptic & left a believer.  


For more of my photos, click HERE.



Ty Segall @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

August 29th, 2013


Prolific.  That's what every piece ever written about Ty Segall calls him.  It makes sense.  The label fits.  This young Californian drops albums like most artists drop singles.  What I find so refreshing is what drives him.  He is humbled by the success he's achieved and says he loves waking up every day and creating music.  Refreshing attitude for a rising star in his mid 20s.  It's all about the music.  Maybe the fact he's a lifelong surfer has influenced his way of doing things.  Each album he releases he rides in like a tasty wave.  But once he's ridden a bit, he bails and swims back out, ready to take on another one. 



Ty is currently on tour promoting his latest offering, "Sleeper".  As opposed to the plugged in, fuzzed out garage rock he's developed a reputation for, the new record is almost acoustic.  The raw, analog sound combined with his knack for songwriting and catchy melodies adds up to a timeless record.  If I played it for you and told you it was an obscure folk rocker from England in the late 60s, you'd believe me.  But like all of Ty's catalog, it's not just a copy of a certain sound, it's the creation of something that sounds familiar while being original.  



Arriving at the Music Hall, I made my way to the merch table.  Who should be there but Ty himself.  I always appreciate an artist who doesn't see themselves as above their fans.  He seemed real easy going, chatting with folks and thanking those who voiced their love for his music.  Fast forward a bit and Ty strolled on the stage with his band to the loud approval of the sell out crowd. 



For a solid hour and a half, Ty and his three band mates worked through most of "Sleeper", as well as a bunch of gems spanning the Segall catalog.  The first thing that struck me was how tight a guitarist Ty is.  His playing was fluid and flawless through the entire set.  The next thing that popped out was how good Ty's heavier songs worked when stripped down.  Even with a tiny three piece drum kit and no distortion on the guitars, a good sized mosh pit opened up in front of the stage.  Lastly, it was obvious those in attendance were truly fans, not just there to look cool.  They sang along with most of the songs and stayed til the end.  


Do yourself a favor and check out "Sleeper".  It's already one of my favorite albums of 2013.  Question my opinion?  Google it and check the reviews.  I'm telling ya, it's solid.  As a bonus, you'll feel good supporting an artist who works his tail off and lives for music.  They say not to look down as you climb if you want to reach incredible heights.  Ty's output shows him to be following that advice.  Never stopping to rest and see how far he's come, he continues to surpass his peers.  






EL-P & Killer Mike - Run The Jewels @ Webster Hall

August 14th, 2013



If you're a hip hop fan and haven't heard Run The Jewels, do yourself a favor and immediately get yourself a copy.  It is one of the best albums of 2013.  EL-P and Killer Mike are both gargantuan talents on their own.  Together they form a two headed monster that crushes all in its path.  The more spins you give their latest 10 song release on Fool's Gold, the more in awe you'll be.  Neither man is happy to just deliver an ill flow, which comes as second nature to them.  Lyrically they tread on ground few have the courage to even approach.  They alternate between playing the good guys and the bad guys, the heroes and the villains, like shapeshifting poets who embrace the duality of the human condition.  Laugh inducing wit in one line can quickly shift to a skewering social commentary in the next.  As EL-P says on their track Twin Hype Back, "Run the Jewels is not for your children."


The place was packed wall to wall with an energetic crowd who got what they paid for and more.  First up was the opener, Despot, a Def Jux veteran who rocked the stage all by his lonesome and set the tone with a strong set.  Next up was Killer Mike.  The big man worked his way through his catalog, leaning heavily on his great album "R.A.P. Music", which was produced by El.  A highlight was his stripped down performance of Reagan, a fearless take down of the powers that be.  He even got down on the floor at the end to spit a verse amongst the fans.  The crowd ate it up.  EL-P came out next and gave a scorching performance.  Songs from his 2012 solo record "Cancer for Cure" sounded bigger and more ambitious than the recorded versions, which is quite the feat.  With the crowd worked into a full lather, Killer Mike joined El on stage.  After putting on their 36" chains to raucous applause, they commenced to blow the roof off the place.  I'm sure the fact it was the last show of their summer tour played a part.  It probably helped that both had family in the house, including EL-P's mother cheering him on from the balcony.  At one point he said, "Hey Mom, remember all those high schools I got kicked out of?  Well, this is what I was going to do."  After years of refusing to be anyone's puppet, two artists are finally having their work validated.  No wonder they attack the mic like their life depends on it.  Oh, and don't forget, EL-P produces everything.  Easily one of the best shows I've seen this year.  There's been talk of them teaming up for another album soon.  It needs to happen. 


Run The Jewels will be performing at the Fool's Gold Day Off festival in Williamsburg on Monday, September 2nd.  It's free with an RSVP.  To get yourself on the list, go HERE





Phony PPL @ Brooklyn Bowl

August 12th, 2013


There's more hip hop being cranked out nowadays than ever before.  Unfortunately, as the quantity has increased, the quality has suffered.  The genre is filled with played out production, the same old materialistic nonsense, unbridled sexism, narcissistic ranting and delusions of grandeur.  It's harder than ever to find substance and authenticity.  With some digging, however, you will find that Brooklyn is currently home to some of the most innovative and diverse hip hop to drop since the golden age.  The ironically named Phony PPL, a collective of talented young men from Bed-Stuy, are one of my favorite new groups from Kings County.  I had the pleasure of catching them live at Brooklyn Bowl and they solidified what I'd thought going in.  These cats are the real deal.  



The first distinguishing characteristic of Phony PPL is that they are a band in the truest sense.  Like The Roots, they create and play the music they make.  There's no head producer or DJ.  Decisions are made and songs take shape during extended jam sessions with each member contributing to the sound equally.  Friends from early high school days, they are a tight knit unit with a love for music and each other.  Individually, they are each incredibly talented at their chosen craft.  For their live show, every member gets their time to shine.  There are solos woven into the songs which showcase just how stacked they are as a crew.  From the keyboardist on the left to the sax man on the right, there isn't a dud to be found.  Everything I heard from start to finish sounded seasoned far beyond what you'd expect from guys barely legal to drink.  


The next thing that sets them apart is the diversity of their sound.  Hip hop is at the heart of everything they do, but these guys clearly have love for a variety of styles.  Not only are they skilled lyricists, they can sing as well.  Some of their songs shimmer with Neo-Soul.  Others stretch out into long jazz interludes complete with challenging time signatures and extended improvisation.  A few songs had a rock edge, complete with shredding guitar and fuzzed out bass.  Most impressive were the times that all these influences merged.  It's a sign of real genius when a band can play something your mind can't categorize.  Phony PPL did this throughout their set.  


Lastly, these guys just have a tremendously positive energy.  Before they started their set, I was standing near the stage and the bassist introduced himself to me.  He thanked me for coming out and with a big smile told me he was excited to get started, assuring me it was going to be fun.  His promise was fulfilled.  From bringing fans on stage, to repeatedly thanking the audience, to enjoying themselves as much as the crowd, Phony PPL made everyone forget it was a Monday. 


This was one of my overall favorite shows so far this year.  These guys are the full package.  Talented, sonically curious, and infectiously friendly.  If you get the opportunity to catch a Phony PPL show, don't hesitate. 


To check out their albums, and you should, go HERE!  


Unfortunately, Dyme-A-Duzin, one of the members of Phony PPL, wasn't at the Brooklyn Bowl show.  He's been busy promoting his latest solo mixtape, which is definitely worth checking out too.  Watch his new video for "Memories" below to get a taste. 

Beck @ the Prospect Park Bandshell

August 4th, 2013


It was an absolutely perfect summer night in Brooklyn when Beck took the stage at Prospect Park's Bandshell.   A cool evening breeze filled with the sweet smell of barbecue and sticky icky smoke.  After a snoozer of an opening set by Adam Green & Binki Shapiro, Beck and the boys turned in a treat of a show for all those lucky enough to have scooped a ticket.  Backed by his band mates from "Sea Change", he served up over an hour and a half of golden goodness that was nothing short of hip spanking good.  Here's the set list courtesy of Setlist.FM:


Beck effortlessly switches genres like a chameleon changes color.  It's what stood out most for me at this show.  His albums each tend to have a common thread that holds the tracks together.  However, each time he drops an album, a different side of him is revealed.  Any fan will tell you he's an artist who can do it all.  Seeing him live provides the strongest evidence of his genius, especially when he's plugged in and pulling songs from all over his catalog, which he was at this special show.  Celebrate Brooklyn deserves a tip of the cap for this booking.  And a big thanks to Beck for choosing Prospect Park to be one of only two places this year to catch him with a full band.  It was truly a highlight of the summer concert schedule in the Big Apple.