Posts tagged "performance"

Charles Spearin’s Happiness Project @ Le Poisson Rouge, Sunday, March 15th

One of many highlights of Broken Social Scene’s performance at CMJ last fall was the presentation of “Mrs. Morris,” the first song from Charles Spearin’s The Happiness Project. Spearin, fascinated by the musical qualities of speech, interviewed his neighbors, friends and family members about happiness, then set those interviews to song. Though Spearin says he...

Cursive @ Music Hall of Williamsburg, Monday, March 9th

Appearances, as they say, can be deceiving. Looking at Cursive frontman Tim Kasher’s slim stature on stage at the Music Hall of Williamsburg last Monday night, one unfamiliar with his songwriting might have never guessed the hostilities that lurk within. Shaking his head and his fist, Kasher pointed his rage at lovers, religion and critics,...

Les Savy Fav @ The Mezzanine, Sunday, March 1st

By now, most people who’ve heard (of) Les Savy Fav know their live show is more spectacle than concert. This is due in large part to front-man Tim Harrington, whose no-holds-barred antics could probably attract the same crowd sizes on their own. This isn’t to knock Les Savy Fav’s music, or their ability to play...

Frightened Rabbit @ Le Poisson Rouge, Monday, Feb. 2nd

Frightened Rabbit could not have been more different from the setting for their acoustic, all-request set at Le Poisson Rouge on Monday night. Le Poisson Rouge’s pricey beverages and bottle service attracted an audience more interested in being seen there than being there, as the sound of chatter rose above both openers, Joe Pug and...

T-Sides’ 2008 in Review: Concerts

As with last year, when it comes to listing amazing concerts, T-Sides refuses to be bound by the number 10. Also, for the sake of fairness, I’ve compounded bands I saw multiple times. 12. The Notwist @ Webster Hall, October 13th Full review here. Excerpt: In their recordings, the Notwist might give off the impression...

Tallest Man On Earth & Marissa Nadler @ Mercury Lounge, Tuesday, Dec. 9th

Image courtesy flickr user Karl Gunnarsson (note: not from Mercury Lounge show) Though Kristian Matsson’s stature does not meet the expectations set forth by his stage moniker, Tallest Man on Earth, he was plenty intimidating in presence during his recent show at the Mercury Lounge. Pacing about the stage and having staring contests with the...

Dan Deacon & Dirty Projectors @ The Brooklyn Masonic Temple, Thursday, Dec. 11th

Image courtesy flickr user thepiratehat Looking down on the audience at Dan Deacon’s show at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple on Thursday night was akin to watching a strange orgy or mating ritual of some kind. People in their teens and twenties swayed as a group, not moshing so much as just moving, touching each other...

Pattern Is Movement @ The Knitting Factory, Tuesday, Nov. 18th

Left wanting more after seeing one of their many CMJ sets, Pattern is Movement conveniently came back to NYC to open for Subtle. As it stands, though, this pair should be headlining their own shows already. Pattern is Movement is the kind of band one can pull whatever one likes from, whether it be focusing...

Nine Inch Nails @ DCU Center, Sunday, Nov. 9th

Image courtesy flickr user kernelslacker It would go against the trail-blazing spirit of Trent Reznor to use him as any sort of guideline, but it must be said that any arena rock band should turn to Reznor’s live show for inspiration. Every aspect of Sunday night’s show at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA was...

Smashing Pumpkins @ United Palace, Thursday, Nov. 6th

Anyone who was unsure as to what to expect from the Smashing Pumpkins’ performance at United Palace last Thursday surely had that question answered within the first few minutes. They started on time, and opened “Roctopus” with a Jimmy Chamberlin drum solo, after which erratic frontman Billy Corgan took the stage – in a dress....

Dispatches from CMJ, Day Five: Drink Up, Buttercup, Little Jackie, Pattern Is Movement

The first half of the last day of CMJ was something of a random draw, with there only being one band I was determined to see that day (Pattern Is Movement, seen above). I ended up at Cake Shop for a repeat performance of Drink Up, Buttercup, the only band I saw more than once...

Dispatches from CMJ, Day Four: Land of Talk, Broken Social Scene

By day four, this CMJ hound needed a bit of a rest – which, in CMJ terms, means I went to one show instead of five. Truthfully, the one show was likely better than any combination of five, as it featured everyone’s favorite obscenely huge Canadian collective, Broken Social Scene. Broken Social Scene kept it...