Kieran Rocks

Pete Doherty: Ghost of the Drugged Present

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Fri, 26 May 2006 22:17:00 +0000

The last person I expected to see in London on early Friday evening was Babyshambles' frontman Pete Doherty.

Around 6 p.m., I am waiting for my friends outside of their law school in Bloomsbury, on Store Street, when I hear somebody say that Pete was seen in the area around lunch time. About 30 seconds later, Pete emerges from the Olivelli's Hotel with an entourage of four people. They proceed to pack guitar cases into the grey Mercedes which is parked directly across the street. Most of the hotel's staff stood in the doorway as Doherty and company attempted to accomplish this feat.

Pete goes into the nearby shops, comes back with a small plastic bag and attempts to get back to the car. It seems impossible for him as he swerving towards his friends while walking in the middle the street. I guess he has a death wish for himself. He is a shrunken version of his formal self and the dark circles beneath his eyes are visible from several feet away. He seems even more incoherent when he shuffles around the car. He removes the worn Union Jack flag from the car, goes over to the passenger side and walks back to the driver's side. I stopped looking at one point and the group finally drove away.

Given the proximity of the hotel to the drug district of Tottenham Court and the daily rate of the hotel, I wonder how much "recording" the group accomplished.

Matt Bellamy is my Muse

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Fri, 26 May 2006 16:11:00 +0000

If you don't love The Muse's Matt Bellamy already, here are several more reasons:

1) Matt Bellamy flies with British Airways. He also doesn't travel with an entourage.

2) The lead singer actually reads. At the moment, it is The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman.

3) He uses a wheelie suitcase. Did you imagine this rock star with anything less?

3.5) I tend to run into him when I am going to London AND he shares news about the band. This time it was at JFK's Terminal 7 during a delayed flight. According to Matt, The Muse play Hammerstein Ballroom on August 4th. I also met him last November when the band was in NYC to wrap up the forthcoming album (right before I crossed the pond for Thanksgiving break).

P.S. You have to love the Apple Store in London! I did not have to pay a pound (or about $1.88) to add a posting!

Target Music: Except Less

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Mon, 22 May 2006 21:49:00 +0000

I wonder if Julian and the boys know that there is another band out there with a very similar name AND a CD called First Impressions of Earth.

This post appears courtsey of the Target on Atlantic Avenue in downtown Brooklyn.

I Went to the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash and All I Got was a Swollen Lip

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Sat, 20 May 2006 13:20:00 +0000

Rock and roll fans don't go to Game One of the Subway Series or queue for a peak at the new Apple store.

I'm getting back on the blog wagon; enclosed is a recap of Friday night.

One ticket to the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash at Irving Plaza: $30
Three vodka tonics: $33

Priceless Moments:
1) Tyler Fyre's Lucky Devil Circus Sideshow. Sword swallowing, straight jackets, a female contortionist. Need I say more?

2) Threads. The Bklyn boys ROCK. They also throw CDs into the crowd and talk to fans outside of the men's room.

3) Matt Pinfield as co-M.C. Come on. Don't you remember 120 Minutes?

4) Waiting for The Strokes. They came on stage around 12:08 A.M. The audience pushed to the front, cameras were pulled out and the guy standing directly behind me thought Fabrizio could hear him from behind the kit.

5) Booing The Strokes. They played two songs (the first being "Life's a Gas"). Julian said "Good night!" We thought they would come back but they are big rock stars and didn't have to. I'm still booing. Can you hear me, Julian?

6) Getting hit in the face by Richie Ramone's drumstick. At the end of the guest collaboration, I was looking up at the balcony when I something hit my upper lip. There was not any blood but it really hurt! I wonder if I had similar odds for winning a new laptop that night.

Merci, Phoenix

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Thu, 11 May 2006 07:53:00 +0000

The four-man French band Phoenix played an all-English set, with its heavy electronic sound, at the Bowery Ballroom on Wednesday night.

When he wasn't smiling or standing at the very edge of the stage, lead singer Thomas Mars (a.k.a. Sofia Coppola's baby's daddy) snuck in some words from his native tongue to thank the NYC audience.

The highlight of the evening was the first encore song, an acoustic cover of Air's "Playground Love." Mars was accompanied by guitarist Christian Mazzalai, who happens to be the mirror image of his brother/guitarist Laurent Brancowitz.

I guess Mars feels compelled to play the second encore song, "Too Young," as it is featured on the soundtrack for Sofia's movie, Lost in Translation.

Setlist:
Napoleon Says
Run Run Run
Consolation Prizes
Long Distance Call
Rally
Everything is Everything
Lost & Found
One Time Too Many
I'm an Actor
If I Ever Feel Better
Funky Squaredance
Sometimes in the Fall
Encore:
Playground Love
Too Young
Second to None

Jamming in My Jammies

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Wed, 03 May 2006 02:44:00 +0000

I must be getting old. Or becoming responsible. Perhaps the World Wide Web is taking the fanatic out of me.

My favorite band for the past 14 years, Pearl Jam, will be performing at two shows for the dedicated in NYC this week: a fan club gig after The Late Show with David Letterman taping on Thursday night and another show at Irving Plaza the following night.

Up until the group's 2003 tour, the 10 Club used snail mail to distribute tickets. These days, sales are held over the Internet. While I was able to add tickets for the Letterman performance to my cart, they were sold out before I could complete the purchase.

Some people may hang around outside the Ed Sullivan Theater to catch a glimpse of the Seattle rockers. I will be sitting behind a laptop several blocks away, streaming video of the live performance.

I did not line up outside Tower Records for over 24 hours to earn a ticket to the Friday show. Instead, I read the blog.

I guess Eddie had a point when he wrote, "All that is sacred, comes from youth."

Sisters on the Bowery

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 02:34:00 +0000

What happens when an English radio station introduces you to an American band?

You can sing along to approximately two songs and figure it's worth the while to check out the Scissor Sisters at the Bowery Ballroom on a Sunday night.

You end up providing vocals on "Laura" and "Mary," try to get a decent shot of Karl Lagerfeld in the VIP balcony area (it didn't happen) and make an effort to not drool over the hot guys in the audience.

Jake Shears' (Gradual) Strip Tease

Setlist:
Take Your Mama
I Can't Decide
Tits on the Radio
She's My Man
Laura
Paul McCartney
Everybody Wants the Same Thing
Kiss You Off
Mary
The Other Side
I Don't Feel Like Dancing
Comfortably Numb
Music is the Victim
Land of a Thousand Words
Encore:
Filthy Gorgeous

Falling in Love (with Elbow) Every Second Song

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 21:56:00 +0000

The Mancuians rocked the Hall of Webster by delivering perhaps the second best show of the year on Thursday night.

The number one spot is held by the Editors' gig at Rothko.

While the Elbow set list on Thursday night was almost identical to the one from the band's show at Hiro Ballroom in November, the larger venue actually had a more intimate feel and lead singer Guy Garvey showed his hospitality by thanking the crowd between almost every song.

I am still not sure why the concert did not sell out but the "real" fans provided a floor-shaking experience which did not go unnoticed by the band.

When an audience member in the front row yelled "It's my birthday," Guy joked around by commenting that it was a great introduction to a song about political corruption ("Leaders of the Free World").

A haunting version of "Newborn," which closed out the evening, left everybody's jaws on the sticky Webster Hall floor.

Drummer Boy: Guy on the kit during "McGregor."

Setlist:
Station Approach
Red
Leaders of the Free World
Great Expectations
Fugitive Hotel
Mexican Stand-Off
The Good Day
Switching Off
McGregor
Forget Myself
Scatter Between
Encore:
Puncture Repair
The Stops
Newborn

Dublin Bud Rising: The Music Needs You

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 10:17:00 +0000

I managed to pick the best weekend to visit Dublin. Besides the celebrations for the Samuel Beckett Centennial and the Easter Rising commemoration ceremony, Ireland's capital was also hosting the Bud Rising Music Festival.

I left Dublin on Monday afternoon and didn't have the chance to catch We Are Scientists or Razorlight; I did manage to attend gigs by White Rose Movement, The Young Knives and Isobel Campbell.

There were many billboards promoting the festival around town. Too bad they didn't mention that the bars were only allowed to serve Bud! This one was located on the same street as two of the hosting venues, Whelans and The Village, who are located right next door to each other.

Note: If you are can't find a music venue in Dublin, you can always count on the guys with long hair for help!

White Rose Movement

The lads and lady from London's White Rose Movement don't make their NYC appearance until mid-May; you should definitely check them out when they headline at the Bowery Ballroom. They delivered a short but sweet set at Whelans, a venue which can be compared to the Mercury Lounge.
Lead singer Finn Vine enjoyed climbing on the speakers, especially during his attempts to maneuver the drum kit which was hanging from the ceiling. They bring the electronic/rock element from their debut album, "Kick," to the stage with perfection.

Setlist: Pighel Jam, Cruella, Girls in the Back, Love is a Number, Idiot Drugs, London Mine, Alsatian

The Young Knives

I missed the London trio The Young Knives when they played at the Annex during the Live from London festivies. The sound was a bit too loud at Whelans but the boys managed to rock out the audience, which carried the NYC "too cool for school" attitude. Although the lead singer kept on going about how they might be the fattest band in the business, he did get some style points for performing in his socks. I wonder if he has been spending time with Art Brut's Eddie Argos.

Isobel Campbell

Scottish lassie Isobel Campbell's performance at The Village on Easter Sunday proved she can make it on her own! She sings, she dances, she plays a little ball and the cello. Oh, and she gives away Cadbury Easter eggs also!

It's Always Better on Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 15:34:00 +0000

I am in Dublin until Monday, April 17th.

To do:
1) Literary Pub Crawl
2) TopShop shopping spree
3) The Beckett Trilogy: Molloy, Malone Dies & The Unnamable
4) The Guinness Brewery
5) White Rose Movement at Temple Bar Music Centre
6) Easter Rising: 90th Anniversary Commemoration
7) Drinking Hennessy with Morrissey.

Marc Jacobs: Where's the Outrage?

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 04:12:00 +0000

Designer Marc Jacobs' latest campaign brings a piece of the United Kingdom to the West Village.

The anti-war protest outside the Houses of Parliament introduced the British to the figure on the left.

Currently, a replica is on display on Bleecker Street. It's on view for all, including the tourist buses that make pit stops at the neighboring Magnolia Bakery.

The other window for the men's store has the underwear and T-shirts mannequins questioning "Where's the Outrage?"

You can also purchase a T-shirt with the petrol gun man at the store. They are about $20 each.

Moment of reflection: My attempt at not getting hit by a cab outside the Marc Jacobs store.

Arab Strap Shook Me All Night Long

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 19:23:00 +0000

Saturday marked the end of Tartan Week, a celebration of Scottish heritage in the U.S. I opted to grade papers on the final day, instead of
chasing men in kilts in the pouring rain.

A fair number of the guys were still dressed in the proper attire when they showed up at the Knitting Factory to support their fellow countrymen, Arab Strap.

At the band's second NYC show, singer/keyboardist Aidan Moffat apologized to people who attended the gig at Southpaw on the previous night. He apparently didn't even remember doing the show!

When Aidan wasn't nursing a bottle of Red Stripe, he was clinging to the microphone, holding the audience captive with his spoken word songs, as told through a thick Scottish accent.

When he whispered the final lyrics for "Dream Sequence," I wanted press the rewind button to loop back to the beginning of the song.

After "Don't Ask Me to Dance," Aidan told the audience he only danced when he did drugs. He also shared his old dieting secret as he blamed the current beer belly on the lack of narcotics in his body.

The band didn't play "Amante de Una Noche," but I was happy to hear "Confessions of A Big Brother." It was one of the few songs where I could sing along by keeping up with Aidan's speed.

It was a genuine Arab Strap gig as the Scotsmen in the audience tried to strike conversation with the group. A guy shouted out the football score for the Falkirk-Dundee match (Aidan shared the information with the guest guitarist, who exclaimed, "Oh fuck!").

When the audience was asked if there were any requests, somebody screamed the name of song which they don't sing (Aidan found it hard to control his laughter). I don't think the band heard the request for "Scotland the Brave" but that made me laugh. I wanted to scream "Glasgow hottie," in honor of the guy from the November show in Edinburgh.

The evening ended with "Packs of Threes." As soon as Aidan whispered the lyrics "It's far too easy to blame it on the drinking," he picked up the last full Red Stripe before heading off stage. A fitting conclusion to a night filled with stories about sex and alcohol.

Scot's Honour: The handsome young men from Scotland spend some quality time in Loch Leven. You can find more pictures of Aidan and Malcolm with exposed knees here.

Adventures in the South

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 14:41:00 +0000

It was a true Brit night during the South show at the Bowery Ballroom on Friday night.

The guys from the U.K. capital played "London Calling" for its entirety to let the audience warm up for the gig. Perhaps it was a tribute to The Clash fan who was taken off an airplane as a suspected terrorist because he sang the tune in a cab on his way to Heathrow Airport.

South played the same set as the March 31st show at Maxwell's; it included older material as well as tracks off the latest release, Adventures In the Underground Journey to the Stars. On the fifth album, the group sounds very similar to New Order, which is not necessarily a bad comparison.

Singer/guitarist Joel Cadbury rocked out during the entire show and often contorts his body, with the knees bent, to give the photographers a perfect shot.

Even though he was full of energy for most of the night, pacing the Bowery stage as though he performs there every night, Joel positioned himself on a stool for "Slidetune." He played the slide guitar and drummer Brett Shaw, still stationed behind the kit, also played the guitar.

For the encore, Brett walked over to the drum machine and started playing the beat for "Bizarre Love Triangle." He was eventually joined by the other members of the band while Joel remained on the opposite side of the stage. Once the crowd started singing along, Joel finally picked up a guitar and made his way over to the microphone.

Just when everybody in the audience thought they had seen it all that night, Something for Rockets' keyboardist Josh Eichenbaum (who looks a bit like a young James Hetfield) and Casey Tennis, the drummer from Margo and the Nuclear So and Sos, joined the members of South onstage. Josh provided back-up vocal and Casey played the tambourine, turning into an All-Star finale.

Setlist:
You Are One
Up Close and Personal
Same Old Story
Place in Displacement
Loosen Your Hold
Safety in Numbers
Keep Close
Habit of a Lifetime
Slidetune
Paint the Silence
Colour in Waves
Motiveless Crimes
Shallow
Encore:
Flesh and Bone/ Sight of Me/Bizarre Love Triangle

Men of South in white (shoes)

West Indian Girl: Manhattan Beach Represent

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Fri, 07 Apr 2006 05:04:00 +0000

Have you ever been to Coda? Chances are that the person who booked the Thursday night show for West Indian Girl hadn't either.

Who plays a rock show in the middle of Midtown? A band from L.A., of course!

WIG is a mixture of psychedelic rock and My Chemical Romance. It's not my typical style of music but the CD didn't sound so bad.

The group had a lot of technical problems last night and I just kept thinking, she sounds like the girl from My Chemical Romance. Perhaps the singer was wearing a rainbow dress to enchance everybody's acid trip.

There was a guy in the audience with a Dodgers hat who kept shouting out things between songs. I'm sure he was from Manhattan Beach and when the band came back out for the encore, he reminded its members that it was only 9 p.m. in the City of Angels.

Did I mention the band sounds like My Chemical Romance?

Setlist: Hollywood, All My Friends, Flat, Miles from Monterey, Solar Eyes, Still Lost, Indian Ocean, Northern Sky, Way. Encore: Dream (Acoustic), Trip.

Channeling Gary Lightbody & Co.

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 02:46:00 +0000

If you are one of my neighbors, you are aware that Eyes Open, the forthcoming release from Snow Patrol, is getting plenty of air play in the West Village.

It is also my soundtrack for all current urban treks, especially the track-to-track goodness of "Make This Go on Forever" and "Set the Fire To the Third Bar."

I saw the boys in concert at Bowery Ballroom last week but today's events remind me of an episode of The Twilight Zone, Kieran Rocks style.

1) When I opened my eyes this morning, I could still hear "Make This Go on Forever," one of their most beautiful songs. Gary Lightbody wasn't in my bed or on the iTunes but his voice was whispering in my ear.

2) My inbox, during the routine morning email check, contained a subject line which read: New Website, New U.S. Single and North American Tour. The sender, of course, was Snow Patrol.

3) It's almost 11:30 a.m., I step out of the New York Public Library on 42nd Street. And what do I see? It's SNOWING. In NYC. On April 5th.

What does this all mean? Should I give up my Pearl Jam ticket for June 3rd and attend a Snow Patrol concert at Roseland, my least favorite venue in NYC? Should I make the journey from Dublin to Belfast on Easter Sunday with the hope of running into Gary Lightbody in his hometown? Or, do I just need to check into a musical mental institute?

Art Brut Formed a Band

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Somebody call the Home Office--this bird finally made it to an Art Brut gig.

I started listening to the Brut last summer but was out of town (or out of commission) when the Brits visited NYC. I had to redeem my U.K. connection and made sure I was in the front row at the Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday night.

On the first night of Art Brut's two sold-out shows, the band started off the evening by launching into the intro for "Enter the Sandman." It sounds nothing like Metallica but the Brut certainly knows how to put on a show.

Lead singer Eddie Argos was taking some fashion lessons from Richard Ashcroft and skipped out on the footwear. He only had on a pair of white socks, which probably worked wonders for his feet when he eventually jumped down to the floor during "Modern Art."

All the dads (who were also cheering loudly for The Ponys, one of the openers) went wild and the kiddies sparked one of the biggest mosh pits I have ever seen at Bowery. If you weren't hugging the speakers in the front row, you were being pushed into them, along with any bodies which stood in the way.

Eddie insisted the band wasn't using a prepared setlist that night but the pieces of paper were safely hidden behind the speakers. When a fan tried to peel one off during the break, the roadie in white shoes appeared within seconds and actually stepped on the setlist to keep it in place!

The band alternated between the anthems ("My Little Brother," "Rusted Guns of Milan," "Emily Kane") and also introduced some new numbers. After "Formed a Band," Eddie instructed the audience to go home and start a band.

I will admit that I am the person who shouted out "Bang Bang You're Dead" during the introduction to "Bang Bang Rock and Roll." Blame it on my love for Dirty Pretty Things!

When Art Brut introduced "Good Weekend," the final song of the evening, the band praised some of the "Top of Pops" acts from NYC, including Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Strokes. When Argos mentioned We Are Scientists, there was some booing from the audience. Poor Keith Murray.

Two reasons never to miss another Art Brut performance: guitarist Jasper Future (below) and bassist Freddy Feedback (above). At times, they will stand in their allocated places. Within seconds, Jasper will be on the other side of the stage, jamming with guitarist Ian Catskilkin or drummer Mikey B. The only girl in the group, Freddy magically drops to her knees, bass intact in her hands.

Setlist:
Enter Sandman
Formed a Band
My Little Brother
These Animal Menswear
Bang Bang Rock and Roll
Blame It on the Trains
Moving to LA
Rusted Guns of Milan
Modern Art
St. Pauli
Post Soothing Out
Emily Kane
Bad Weekend
Encore:
18,000 Lira
Good Weekend

Kieran (Hebden and Steve Reid) Rocks

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 05:08:00 +0000

Kieran Hebden + Steve Reid = a night of great music.

That's the end result when you combine a jazz drummer (Steve Reid) and a kid making folk music with a machine (Kieran Hebden).

Mercury Lounge was THE place to spend a rainy Monday night, especially since I missed the duo's performance on Saturday night. I think James Iha, who also happened to be in the audience, would agree.

When Steve wasn't in a drumming stance, his gaze was fixed on Kieran. Each time the musicians locked eyes, Kieran displayed his Chesire cat smile. Kieran is also part of a one-man project known as Four Tet. When he hunched over his laptop, he reminded me of just another computer geek. Perhaps somebody should introduce the boy to Steve Jobs and get him a PowerBook.

Centro-matic's Sunday School of Rock

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Mon, 03 Apr 2006 05:16:00 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, there are some good things that come out of the Lone Star state.

Centro-Matic's performance at Mercury Lounge on Sunday night proved that there is a reason not to mess with Texas.

Singer/guitarist Will Johnson's voice sends shivers down your back and has you begging for more. He can even silence the drunk groupies in the front row. When he wasn't at the mic, singing with his eyes closed, Will was mastering the guitar while hoping around the stage on one leg.

Will picked up pink eye in Georgia, Opening Day was hours away and the group took photos of the crowd during intermission. The four men from Denton stopped off in NYC, between performances in Boston and Philadelphia.

The pictures and links will show you all you need to know.

Stream: Fort Recovery, the late release, and make sure to listen to "I See Through You."

Join: Centro-Matic at Myspace.

The Undertow Orchestra: Will's side project.

Setlist: Love You, Fountains of Fire, Flashes and Cables, Triggers and Trash, Strahan Has Corralled the Freaks, Mighty Midshipman, Covered Up Thermatico, Patience For, I See Through You, Huge in Every City, Call the Legion in Tonight, The Blisters May Come, Fidgeting Wildly, Without You

Fly Away with Me

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Sun, 02 Apr 2006 15:58:00 +0000

When I go to the U.K., I only fly with British Airways. I may be biased but the company had one of the best advertising campaigns in 2005. They introduced British English words and phrases to American audiences, including bell (phone call), snog (kiss) and flats (as displayed on Sixth Avenue).

The latest ads from Delta have been showing up all over the City. The one announcing daily flights to Sao Paulo, outside the Bowery Ballrooom, will probably make you laugh. Perhaps you will just tell everybody that you're Brazilian!

My Dirty Pretty Things

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 22:51:00 +0000

British bad-boy Peter Doherty may make headlines but it's his bandmates from The Libertines who should grab a hold of your ears.

Guitarist/singer Carl Barat has joined forces with drummer Gary Powell, guitarist Anthony Rossomano and Cooper Temple Clause's bassist/vocalist Didz Hammond to form Dirty Pretty Things.

The NME cover boys sound good, look healthy and have not been arrested multiple times in one day. They're not getting a lot of American hype but I'm sure the media masses will catch on, sooner or later. The debut album, Waterloo to Anywhere, will be released on May 8th.

The band made its American debut at SXSW; at the moment, there are no other planned U.S. tour dates. The guys are heavily touring the U.K. and the Continent until the early summer. Perhaps we'll be fortunate enough to see them in the fall.

Download: Dirty Pretty Things' show from Glasgow's ABC on March 3, 2006.

View: The video for the first single, "Bang Bang You're Dead."

Join: Myspace Dirty Pretty Things.

Editors' Love Will Mess You Around

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 14:09:00 +0000

I was near death for most of Thursday, battling a stomach bug on the date when Editors were to take the stage at Webster Hall. Despite missing work (I did not run away to the U.K. with Richard Ashcroft) and a friend's birthday dinner, I did not think twice about skipping out--I'm an Editors' addict and can never get enough.

I started raving about the band last year but never had the chance to see Editors at any of the sold out U.K. gigs. When the guys made their NYC debut in January, I attended both the Mercury Lounge and Rothko shows.

At 9:55 p.m., I was fighting exhaustion and illness and sitting on the step in the front row. Ten minutes later, the lights dimmed and I was on my feet, healed by a musical cure.

The band flawlessly performed tracks off of The Back Room, its debut album. I have always considered the live performances a notch above the recorded material as singer/guitarist Tom Smith takes his vocal skills to a new level. He tends to change the octaves; you can try to sing along but good luck keeping up!

Tom often closes his eyes and clasps his hands while singing, especially during "Fall" and "Camera," but the momentum of the actions was lost on the larger crowd. When he roamed the Webster Hall stage, it appeared as though he needed to ask directions to find the microphone. Bassist Russell Leetch and guitarist Chris Urbanowicz remained on their respective sides of the stage. I'm a bit notsalgic and wish Editors had played the Bowery Ballroom before jumping to Webster Hall.

I anticipated that "Fingers in the Factories" would be the only song for their encore, an energetic conclusion for the night. They proved me wrong! When the band emerged after a brief hiatus, Tom resumed his seat at the keyboard for "Weight of the World." I was feeling unwell during "Bones," and have little recollection of it except for the fact that Tom was standing in front of the mic.

When the band performed "Factories" as the finale of the night, the folks in the front rows pumped their first and joined in with Tom on the chorus: "Keep with me."

Fans of the night:
1) The American who screamed "Yeah Manchester" when Tom walked onstage. I had to be a true Anglophile and say "Wrong town." Too bad I didn't have a U.K. map to set him straight.

2) The couple discussing the Editors' setlist. While walking out of Webster Hall, he insisted that the band played for an hour because there is only one disc; she said the songs were selected from an extensive music collection to keep the audience entertained.

Walking in front of them, I counted my blessings. I was still alive and didn't have to attend another Webster Hall show for a long time.

Look at us through the lens: Tom at the keyboard for "Camera." He closed his eyes but we didn't walk out.

Setlist:
Lights
Blood
All Sparks
Fall
Bullets
Camera
You Are Fading
Munich
Open Your Arms

Encore:
Weight of the World
Bones
Fingers in the Factories

The band also performed "Munich" on Conan O'Brien on Thursday night.

Sir Richard Ashcroft: Barefoot at Webster Hall

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 22:43:00 +0000

My Brit rock week continued on Wednesday night with Richard Ashcroft at Webster Hall. It was his only headlining appearance in North America and it was also great knowing that I could walk home after the show. Who wants to travel to New Jersey or Long Island to see him as an opening act for Coldplay?

I went in expecting a night of great music as I have loved RA's solo material as much as his work with The Verve. It was a very personal experience as he was singing, dancing and chatting to the audience for almost two hours. At one point in the show, RA even said that he knew the crowd wanted more music but he wanted to talk for a while.

RA started the show with "Keys to the World," which is also the name of his third album. He climbed into The Verve's vault for "Sonnet" and "History." The crowd went wild for "New York;" RA later commented that while some people may have religious experiences in Jerusalem, where they rip off bed sheets and are adamant about moving to Israel, only NYC has the same impact on him.

Other topics during the open mic sessions with RA included his baby son getting a pat-down from security in Ohio, autograph hounds (but he did sign a setlist for the guy in front of me), redeeming his last name in the U.S. and not wanting to be anything like James Blunt.

For the encore portion of the evening, RA took a fan request for "Space and Time," which has been a rarity on his set list over the past several years. Another treat for the night was "Lonely Soul," which included DJ Shadow. After "Break the Night with Colour," one of my favorites from the new album, he closed the performance with a floor-shaking "Bittersweet Symphony." RA dedicated the song to Naz, Biggie and some other rappers since it is the only song from his catalog which is appreciated by the hip-hop community.

The one thing I didn't anticipate was the large number of drunken frat boys who would be looking to pick fights. One guy in a blazer, who kept pushing and screaming for "This Is Music," got in a heated argument with a guy in the front row. He was pretty incoherent because he later thanked the same person for requesting "Space and Time." During "Words Just Get in the Way," an Abercrombie & Fitchish guy, who didn't have enough money to buy a Bud, proceeded to scream almost every anti-homosexual slur at the guys standing next to me. It's pretty sad that it's 2006 and some people still don't have a clue.

I heart guys in white shoes: RA's Adidas trainers rested on the speakers for most of the night. It was a good thing that he didn't venture down to the Webster Hall floor.
Reach out, touch faith: The man of the people shakes hands with the an audience member. I didn't get a shot of the person but it turns out Chris was the chosen one.

Snow Patrol's Celtic Pride

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 05:16:00 +0000

Snow Patrol's fourth CD, Eyes Open, won't be released in the U.S. until May 9th but the Glaswegians (by way of Belfast, who met at uni in Dundee) gave the Bowery Ballroom a sneak preview on Tuesday night.

The band's last performance in NYC was at Roseland Ballroom in June 2005; Bowery's smaller size served as the perfect environment to showcase the new material. The band alternated between songs from 2004's Final Straw and the upcoming project. Lead singer Gary Lightbody requested that the audience give the new music a chance.

All four members were dressed in somber black tops. Gary's shirt had a hole under the right arm and he jokingly blamed it on playing with fire. He also wore his Glasgow Celtic team spirit on his guitar; it had a Celt sticker and the strap was taped in green and white.

Gary's performance style hifted between songs. When he wasn't cradling the mike and singing with his eyes closed, he was moving about the stage with his guitar or jumping off of the drum kit. Of course, you couldn't help but to notice that he and bassist Kevin Wilson may just be the happiest musicians to hit NYC. The mile-wide smiles stayed on their faces for most of the night, especially when the guys in the crowd, who could have been rugby players, raised themselves on each other's shoulders.

The crowd favorites included "Chocolate, "Grazed Knees" and "Run," the songs which propelled the band to the top in the U.S. This girl can only dream of hearing "Fifteen Minutes Old" (from Songs for Polarbears) or "Make Love to Me Forever" (from When It's All Over We Still Have to Clear Up).

The new album doesn't disappoint as Gary continues to provide a flow of his enchanting lyrics to the new album. Some of the gems include "Shut Your Eyes," and "Chasing Cars." The record ed version of "You're All I Have" is a bit popish but when performed live, its pure rock and roll.

Gary invited Martha Wainwright on stage for a riveting performance of "Set the Fire to the 3rd Bar," which was written for her. You can watch the video for "You're All I Have," the first single for Eyes Wide Open.

Setlist: Wow, Chocolate, Beginning to Get to Know Me, Spitting Games, Hands On, Headlights, Grazed Knees, Chasing Cars, Shut Your Eyes, How To be Dead, Make This Go on Forever, Ways and Means, Set The Fire to the 3rd Bar (with Martha Wainwright), Run, You're All I Have. Encore: Open Your Eyes, Tiny Fractures.

Rock Stars Can Read

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 06:59:00 +0000

Pearl Jam's self-titled CD will be released on May 2nd and its first single, "World Wide Suicide," had the highest modern rock debut ever. The band visits Continental Airlines Arena a month later, on June 1st and 3rd. I know they'll never play CBGBs again but a show at MSG would have been nice. It's not like the Knicks are going to be in the playoffs this year.

I love guys with books (not to mention the guys from The Books). In no particular order, here's a list of Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard's eight favorites (as published in Deep, the fan club magazine):

Jesus and Yahweh by Harold Bloom
Blood and Oil by Michael Klare
The Man Who Knew Too Much by David Levitt
The Ruin of J Robert Oppenheimer: and the Birth of the Modern Arms Race by Priscilla J. McMillan
Moby Dick by Herman Melville **
Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism by Cornell West **
Henry Luce, Time, and the American Crusade in Asia by Robert Herzstein
Straw Dogs -- Thoughts on Humans and other Animals by John Gray

** It's on my shelf

Gomez at Hiro Ballroom

noreply@blogger.com (Kieran) — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 06:53:00 +0000

Hours later, I still can't seem to find the words to describe my first live Gomez experience. Guitarists and vocalists Ben Ottwell, Ian Ball and Tom Blackburn shared duties on stage as they played a sold out show at the Hiro Ballroom on Monday night.

The main percussionist for the evening was their 12-inch Powerbook G4. Drummer Olly Peacock ventured away from the bar when he was required to play the bongos. The other band members had to remind him the beat for "Hamoa Beach," a track off of How We Operate, their sixth studio album. It will be released on May 2nd in the U.S. and Australia and on May 29th in the U.K.

The former Mercury Prize winners finished the first set with a stomping version of "Whippin' Piccadilly." With an extended round of applause, the crowd was treated to a three song encore.

After Tom finished his solo performance of "Sweet Virginia," Ian emerged with a cake for Dave, their tour manager. He carried it through the crowd, to the other end of the room, as the audience helped Tom and Ben sing "Happy Birthday."

The fellas can teach a thing or two to The Killers, Interpol, etc. because they actually realize it's ALL about the people in the audience. A fan at the side of the stage requested that Ian close his eyes for a picture and he posed, eyes tightly closed, for an extended period of time.

During "Get Yourself Arrested," Ian extended the mic to audience members. The back up singers ended up being the group's drunkest and biggest fans of the night. One guy did a Gomez soccer chant/dance before the band emerged for the encore; the other guy, wearing an orange Gomez shirt, kept bouncing on his chair and waving his fist in the air.

Gomez plays the Housing Works Used Book Cafe tonight. Sorry kiddies! The show is sold out.