Williamsburg Totally Wire'd!

Colin Newman charming Williamsburg. Picture by Edwina Hay

Proof is here: It is possible to make sharp, edgy, intelligent, relevant rock music even when you're older than fifty. British punk pioneers Wire were all that and harmonious, original and graceful on top of that at the Williamsburg Hall of Music on Tuesday night. While they played almost all the songs from their new album, the exquisite Red Barked Tree, there were few highlights from other periods of the band, most notably 'Map Ref' and 'Two People' from 154 and 'Kidney Bingos' and 'Drill' from their 80's incarnation, back when Bruce Gilbert was in the band. He is now replaced by a quite younger, but talented and decent left-handed guitar player.
General Graham Lewis attacking the bass. Pic. E. Hay.

Follow me, no explanation, as Graham Lewis sings on "Bad Worn Things"? Seems to me, these gentlemen well deserve the "over-crowded nature of things" at their fan base at the moment. Their new material is as strong as anything they put out over their influential career of almost 35 years, their songwriting rivaled by nobody. Well maybe by Weller, Cornwell, Kilbey and a few select others.

Robert Gotobed looking exactly like that's where he wants to go. Pic by E. Hay
I attach the setlist (with thanx for the picture below to the Brooklyn Vegan) below, so people in Europe can compare if they play the same songs over here. I would expect so. Many thanks to Edwina Hay, whose concert photography I recommend: www.thisisnotaphotograph.com.

Of Dorit, Robot, Falcon & Young Julian Cope

Dorit Chrysler dueling Bob Kitlyar on the theremin

Yes, the live scene in New York is still humming all across the boros. A recent weekend brought acts from all generations and genres in most different places. Kick off was the 100th birthday commemoration for the world's foremost theremin player Clara Rockmore at a gallery in the high hallways of Soho, most notably with a rare performance by Dorit Chrysler, who in collaboration with young russian Bob Kitlyar brought the theremin into a fresh, techno-y place.

Lady Robot and the Lust Brigade take it up a notch

We then traveled to the trodden shores of Williamsburg to Glasslands Gallery, a good place for the crazy soul rockers from Lady Robot and the Lust Brigade to go overboard, we hoped, but then truly where blown away by the young, brutal, angular energy of NT, whose music you can hear here. This is what Julian Cope and the Teardrop Explodes must have been like back in the days.

NT - Raw power, angelic looks and Julian Cope haircut

The next day brought Falcon in East Williamsburg and we were pleasantly surprised not only by the proximity of this new hotspot for the youngblooded, but also by the casual coolness that Falcon after a long break showed onstage, leaving the music air to breathe and the players room for endearing little adventures. Upclose and personal.

Falcon are back!

Tender Small Beast, Great Sounds and Songs

Last Monday at the Delancey showcased a beautifully tame beast, let's call it a pet beast. E. Ryan Goodman opened the evning with delicate sounds from his acoustic guitar, a modern version of the old blues, haunting and wonderful at the same time. He had the audience completely on his side, when he announced a next song as "very quiet": The listeners already didn't make a sound, you could have heard a pin drop. All the mightier was the applause Goodman garnered.


Next up were Jessica and Ben, or Pinky Swearz with their contemporary folk tunes about the hood in Williamsburg and life in Brooklyn. Ben and Jess manage to conjure a unique atmosphere with only one guitar and two voices - plus a lot of honest passion and love for the music.


Dina Rudeen and her trusty axemen Tim Bright and Christian Bongers were the highlight of the night, the guitars gelling, supporting the strong, yet warm voice of Dina, who in songs and lyrics comes close to a female, black Bob Dylan. A five star job, lady Dina!


Mike Lawson's music takes you to other places... wild flights through echoey valleys and steep abysses of sounds, sometimes he himself gets Lost in Sound and transported to dark places - as a grim Michael pounded his guitar, the soundscape grew and grew...


Room played their debut without Burnt Finger and Quentin Jennings, and especially Jean-Cosme on bass did an admirable job. A memorable gig for the ever changing landscape in the growing conglomerate of musicians in the Room. Since I was on stage, I couldn't take a photo and instead attach one from the show we played at the Delancey this Saturday, for the first time with new roomie Jesko Stahl on bass and the amazing Kristin Mueller sitting in on drums without even knowing some of the songs. Dave Spinley on genius sax, as always. Before us, Kristin also played a solo set on guitar, then really rocked with the newly improved Anton Sword, with Gina on bass and Julian on a beautifully T-Rex-sounding 70s guitar. Always a pleasure to see and hear our favorite New York Elvis, Nathan Halpern and the Lusty Men.

Saturday Night, er, Live at the Delancey

Anton Sword put together this great bill for Saturday night. Here's what he writes:
First, let me mention there will be free whiskey shots from 12:15-12:45. Ok, moving on: This Saturday night, the Anton Sword band (Anton, Kristin Mueller on drums and Julian Maile on guitar) are being joined by the bright & shiny new Gina Rodriguez on bass. We feel lucky, punk. No excuses for you this time. The basement at the Delancey will start filling with sound at 8:30 sharp and we need you to come lick it up with your ear-tongues to keep us from drowning.

1. Fulton Lights * "Imagine if Modest Mouse's Isaac Brock produced a few songs on Beck’s Sea Change and then Tom Waits and Brian Eno stepped in to add some texture—and it all worked." -- The Onion AV Club
8:30 sharp
http://www.fultonlights.com/

2. Kristin Mueller * is known around NYC as the Most Excellent Drummer for several great bands, including (but not limited to) Anton Sword, Lucinda Black Bear, and Clare Burson. In addition to her fantastic drumming, Mueller is a unique singer-songwriter and guitarist, with a fascinating fingerpicking style and a mesmerizing voice. Those of you who’ve seen her know what she’s about, and those of you who haven’t should check out her beautiful, intimate, and original tunes and presentation. 9:15 sharp
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kristinmueller

3. Nathan Halpern & The Lusty Men * 'Halpern sings in the rough, urgent, powerful baritone of a 1950s crooner, a voice at once vulnerable and masculine…his hooks and melodies and climaxes evoke the popular songs of forty and fifty years ago and yet amount to something unmistakably new.' (MTV.com). He's also the splendidly dark sonic signature of Ghostwise, the Kerry Kennedy-led band (that Anton also plays piano with). 9:45 sharp
http://www.myspace.com/nathanhalpern

4. Anton Sword * is still doing something that people like to compare to Brits like Lennon, Bowie, & Morrissey, or NYCers like Lou Reed & LCD Soundsystem, depending on the song, but he's not always sure what it is. Anyway, never mind him: with Kristin Mueller on drums, Julian Maile on guitar, and Gina Rodriguez on bass, it's an actual band you don't want to miss. And they'll be playing some new songs from the upcoming new EP - rough mixes are audible here: www.myspace.com/antonsword and the older stuff is still here: www.antonsword.com 10:45 sharp

5. Roman Games * is perhaps known to you all as a gadfly, a bard of special occasions, a master of the night ceremonies, or a punk rocker from another continent. We don't need to know what form he'll take to know it will be very stimulating, and probably involve a good mixture of whiskey and bardic poetry in a cute swiss accent. 11:45 sharp
http://www.myspace.com/theromangames

12:30 djs - AND
free whisky shots from 12:15- 12:45 am
and a $4.00 beer special all night

Tubular Bells by the Brooklyn Organ Synth Orchestra

Another little project produced by the ever busy Joe McGinty - a beautiful short movie in its own right and great musical performances by these ladies. Enjoy!

Room to take on the Beast Monday March 7th

Another exciting roster to take on the Small Beast! Come down to the fancy Delancey to enjoy the cozy, intimate performances that distinguish this institution founded by Paul Wallfisch and continued during his extended stay in Europe. These performers will entertain you:


E. Ryan Goodman 8.30 PM

"Using nothing but a guitar, his imagination and his fingertips, Goodman embarks on a journey towards the heart of the blues, the essence of folk and the gold of the moment... Much like photography, his music brings back a very particular moment in all of its tactile sensations rather than describing a storyline, delineating a narrative or devising a plot. This, of course, is exactly what lends to his music the unmistakable air of intrigue: You can literally loose yourself in these short but never miniaturist pieces...It may be dealing with nostalgia, but the heartbeat of New York City is always pulsing through his oeuvre, too, imbuing it with an uplifting, life-affirming energy. The worlds of E. Ryan Goodman may be suspended in time – but they are always suspended in the here and now, not in some faraway dreamland."

http://www.eryangoodman.com


9.15 PM Pinky Swearz

Pinky Swearz plucks your heartstrings with duet covers and originals mostly dealing with the Williamsburg area, and the dreadful beauty of life.
One such track, Bedford Avenue, can be found at their site on Bandcamp:

http://pinkyswearz.bandcamp.com


10.00 PM Room

The multicultural euro trash combination that makes up the combo Room takes its toll: One left for Amsterdam, one is in Berlin, another one now lives in Puerto Rico. But keeping up the five corners of their punk jazz jam, this is Room's first show without Burnt Finger. The perfomances of this band are never boring, sometimes resulting in singer Roman Game jumping into drums or breaking antique lamps, drummer Martial Vivot breaking sticks and fingers, and bass player Jean-Cosme Delaloye breaking hearts. Dave Spinley messes with your mind on the Sax. Quentin Jennings on keyboards behaves. He's British.

http://www.myspace.com/roomtheband


10.45 PM Dina Rudeen

Dina Rudeen was overcome with an all consuming obsession with music at a very early age, declaring one day in 8th grade while skipping school, “this IS the devil’s music - it’s totally ruining my grades!”. Still, she honed her chops and has over the years grown into a fine songwriter using her witty way with words and her warm, fresh voice. Her new record "The Common Splendor" is out now and shows the wide range of Dina's musical and lyrical talent. Her band is simply excellent, including guitar expert Tim Bright and bass wonder Christian Bongers.

http://www.myspace.com/dinarudean


11.30 PM Lost in Sound

Come with Mike Lawson on this trip into soundland, twangy echo guitars, walls of sound and rivers, stunning fields of notes and melodies. With just a guitar and an assortment of wild effects, Lost in Sound creates a unique, dense atmosphere that opens ways to the core of music itself. Mike is working on a brand new set of tunes, never before performed live.

http://www.myspace.com/incatstate

The Hardest Working Band in the Universe: The Church live in New York

The Church performing their new record Untitled #23, Priest=Aura and Starfish (from top to bottom).
More than impressive, monumental, a Byzantin mass, a feast for all senses: The Church played their THREE albums Unitled 23, Priest=Aura and Starfish in one evening, taking short breaks between sets, to come back in new outfits and with even grander verve and melodies, with stunning stamina and everlasting power. As if they would have to prove that they are not just the best, but also the hardest working band in the world. Now guys, go back to Australia and relax a little in the studio... a new record before Christmas, please?

We Loyal Royally Received in New York

Only a handful Swiss bands have the guts to pack their instruments and cross the ocean to come and play in New York. We Loyal from Basel are one of the brave exceptions. They traded the mostly posh swiss concert spaces, where rock music is still often limited to weekends, with the dingy back rooms and cellars of bars in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and found an attentive audience in a vibrant new wave scene. We went to their show at Cameo, the lovely space behind the Lovin Cup Cafe in Williamsburg. We Loyal fitted the white, spheric sculpture of the decoration with their mystic pop, reminiscent of New Order, sad Depeche Mode, Gary Numan. Titillating synthesizers and pulsating bass lines embrace the cooly understated vocals. Great sound to cruise under the lights of an urban landscape at night, played with verve and passion. The three boys are back in Basel now, but promise to return soon for a longer period. Bitten by the Big Apple Bug, i guess.

Monday, Jan 24th: The 100th Small Beast!

Come out and celebrate the 100th Small Beast and Two Year Anniversary with our SB favorites and guests, special drinks and surprises! And let's raise our cups to Paul Wallfisch's great invention...

8:30pm Thomas Simon
9:15pm The Roman Games
10:00pm Pierre de Gaillande and Bad Reputation play Brassens
10:45pm Fuckintosh
11:30pm Bit-Tuner


8:30PM THOMAS SIMON
"Haunting and hypnotic, Thomas Simon performs a suite of eerie soundscapes evoking both Syd Barrett and David Gilmour-era Pink Floyd as well as Bauhaus and, when the ghostly melody begins to take a recognizable shape, Australian psychedelic legends the Church. Incorporating elements of minimalism, sci-fi and horror film scores as well as goth music and oldschool art-rock, it's an ominous treat for the ears." -Lucid Culture
http://www.myspace.com/thomasfilmscore
http://www.endorphinrecords.com

9:15PM THE ROMAN GAMES
Swiss punk poet Roman is back from winter in Europe and brings a bunch of new songs and rumors from the underground. This time in a jazzy setting with Dave Spinley on sax, Martial Vivot on drums and Quentin Jennings on the rest.
"Very, very good. Nice mix of styles, no testosterone metal crap. I hope they go far!" - Captain Sensible, The Damned
"Fantastic songs...I really enjoy listening to their music!" - Karl Wallinger, World Party

http://romangame.blogspot.com
http://youtube.com/romangame

10.00 PM PIERRE DE GAILLANDE AND BAD REPUTATION PLAY BRASSENS
Composer Pierre de Gaillande grew up listening to his father's recordings of renowned singer-songwriter Georges Brassens. He took on the challenge of translating his hero's songs and brings the message to American shores now: "It's so warm and so human," de Gaillande says of Brassens' music. "It's not about money, it's not that God told me to do this, it's not about 'I'm stronger than you.' We're all in it together; let's eat a great meal and have a bottle of wine."

http://www.barbesrecords.com/brassens.html


10:45PM FUCKINTOSH
The first Beast appearance by the elusive mash up artist last year was hilarious and highly enjoyable. Now the pressure is on... What will the artist who has paired exotic couples like Nirvana with Elvis, the Beatles with Kraftwerk and Edith Piaf with Dolly Parton, come up with this time? Special guests? You bet, cause you're one.
"Stealing things is a glorious occupation, particularly in the art world." -Malcom McLaren

http://www.killingmusicathome.com/

11:30PM BIT-TUNER
Producing low-speed detonations from Switzerland since he got to New York, Bit has been a regular player on many dance floors with overwhelming repsonse. Experience his fine-tuned 'in your face' electronic approach with acid sounds and melodies to let this night ring out sweet and loud.

http://bit-tuner.net

Small Beast Finds Itself Lost In Sound

Lost in Sound Mike (right) and Carl.
One Year After in the dark
The highlights at last Mondays Small Beast at the Delancey were many, but foremost the long awaited return to stage of Mike Lawson and his Lost In Sound Project. His short set took the listeners on an all encompassing trip through the depths and heights of guitar rock and ambient beats. Can't wait to see him back soon with more, and next time, Carl, turn up that bass!

Anton Sword Solo in Red

The One Year After band opened up the evening with a very classy mix of jazzy, yet dark and mysterious sounds, getting the night into a good gear. Anton Sword paraded birthday child Dana solo and did it in style and with passion. The new songs rock. Dave and I enjoyed our duo set, the combination of sax and acoustic guitar mostly worked, even if my playing at times was a little, erm, fragile. Mike joined us on "Macabre Danse".

Roman Game, with Dave in the shadows

Tony G closed out the night with a tasty short set of interesting beats and sounds. Thank for coming out on this snowy cold night - especially to Gina and Caroline, all the way from Amsterdam!

This Small Beast Is For Dana!

Our last show this year is the 96th installment of The Small Beast at the Delancey, and it's a very special birthday show for Dana Austin who will be celebrating her big 4-0 this coming Monday, December 13th. I'm very excited with the line-up for this show, don't miss Karen Geyer and her One Year Band, she's only in town for a couple of weeks! Also, Mike, who is behind Lost in Sound, hasn't been playing live for ages - we've heard a rehearsal, and it sounds magnificent. As usual, 2 for 1 drinks, and the show is free... can't get much better for a Monday, no?

Small Beast #96 at the Delancey


8:30PM THE ONE YEAR BAND (ONE YEARS AFTER)

The One Year Band started when German-Swiss artist/musician Karen Geyer crossed the Atlantic with her double bass in summer 2008 for a yearlong artist residency, during which she planned to bring together a band for one year. „My intention was to getting to know musicians, getting to know each other through playing the instruments, America and Europe, pure improvisation.“ It worked, and every time Karen visits New York again, the One Year Band is one year older. Now in it’s third installment, the band consists of Karen on double bass, the unique, Indian-American guitar player Kunal Prakash (Maury and Moosh Moosh), the Japanese trumpet player Eiju Kawasaki (Walkfunk), also tap dancer extraordinaire, Cindy Lou Gooden (Very Fresh) on electric bass, and drummer Nick Ray (Viva l American Death Ray Music, Golden Triangles). According to Karen, the pieces are based on mental states. “Is That All I Can Do” and “Makes Me Nervous” are losely structured through rules. “We know the changing mood of each piece but the improvisational parts give us freedom, so that every concert is unique and every “song” is a new experience, also for the musicians. You never know what will happen.”
http://www.myspace.com/theoneyearband

9:15PM ANTON SWORD

“Interesting, musically subtle, tasteful, original, witty
music...infectiously rhythmic and impossibly memorable. “

One day when he was a child in New York City, Anton put his ear against a speaker in a dark apartment on the Upper West Side and went into a trance. He had a long dream. When he woke up twenty years later, his heart was permanently broken, but in a good way. Trying to make a movie out of the turbulence in his mind, he found himself writing songs at the piano instead, blending melancholy romance, psychedelic art-prog, soul, and sing-in-the-shower 70s pop.

10:00PM THE ROMAN GAMES

Roman Game is a songwriter and storyteller from Switzerland, who moved to New York 15 years ago. Worshipping at the church of Rock'n'Roll, he creates punk ballads about unusual and outrageous professions with a touch of jazz. Roman Games perform an intimate live show that will remind you of why you love live rock and roll. The prolific songwriter has been influenced by British bands such as the Jam and the Clash and, of course, John Lennon was his favorite Beatle. For this special Beast show, Roman teams up with Saxophone artist Dave Spinley, presenting the songs as a duo, giving the stories room to breathe.

Very, very good. Nice mix of styles, no testosterone metal crap. I hope they go far!" -Captain Sensible, The Damned
"Fantastic songs...I really enjoy listening to their music!" - Karl Wallinger, World Party


10:45PM LOST IN SOUND

Imagine driving through the desert with Nick Cave on acid and Massive Attack blasting from the stereo, the golden sunlight fading into the black abyss of night, twangy echo guitars rising like shiny stars and pulsating beats carrying you through the trip. Six years after his last show with the intriguing In Cat State, the uniquely talented, Mike Lawson presents his new music to a live audience for the first time, exclusively at the Small Beast.

11:30PM DJ TONY G OF ECHOSTREAM

Tony Grund is an American musician, a singer-songwriter, who plays keyboards in the successful electronic band Echostream. While Echostream is working on new music, Tony spins and plays with music that will get you dancing into Tuesday morning.
“Echostream is undoubtedly distinct, but the big name influences are definitely there: Just imagine Nine Inch Nails, Björk, Radiohead and Miho Hatori had a child, the product would be something like this post-goth phenomenon.” – perpetualtoxins.com

168 Delancey Street (between Clinton and Attorney), F train to Delancey Stop
Call 212-254-9920 for information.

Three Hours and Plenty of Wishes with TVP

Soundcheck for The Roman Games at Palace

It is the day after thanxgiving, and I have many thanks to give indeed. Had an intense and most gratifying trip in Europe, saw the shores of Portugal, an admirable collection of animated short movies at the Cinanima Festival in Espinhp and, oh, Miramare!

Frank on monster bass

Back in Switzerland after two nights of rehearsal, The Roman Games version 5.1. with
Charles Wallace on guitar, Frank Heer on bass and Jan Haux on drums were ready to take stage before the Television Personalities at Palace in St. Gallen. After soundcheck, we had dinner at Baratela and shortly met Dan Treacy and his band, Texas Bob, Mike and Arnau, they were looking forward to the show and Daniel explained to his mates that St. Gallen is the rock city of Switzerland. There you go.

Charles Wallace, authentic rocker

We played a reasonably tight 40 minute set and enjoyed ourselves, although we all felt we were better the night before at rehearsal... it was just amazing to walk in to Vinnie's little cellar in Zurich's red light district, plug in, and rock away with these great musicians, who had the ten songs down in no time, plus brought them to life like never before.

Straight from Berlin, Jan Haux
Thanks, guys, foremost to Michi Gallusser for the sound, also to Dani Stieger for photography and video. To Marcel and Damian from Palace for making it happen and Hampi Schlumpf for the Times!

Pics by Dani Stieger

They got rewarded by Television Personalities with a performance of well over three hours which is termed by the local media already as "legendary". The Palace Newsletter writes: "What made the concert stand out was that it worked far from any product logic. Maybe that's exactly why it turned out a piece of art."

Daniel Treacy playing Wü's '62 Hoefner guitar

Through the often bombastic sound, there shimmered a few gems, long echo trips to hell were followed by shining little highlights, nobody ever knew where Dan would turn to next, all were lost in sound or the crowd of familiar faces, in the hands of Mr. Treacy. They managed to blow out Franks solid little bass amp, but it was almost worth it. Or as they say over there: Certain losses have to be accepted. We had a nice talk after the mammoth show with Texas Bob, who is always everywhere and always amicable. Mike and Arnau are most modest and friendly and very level-headed. The band arrived Friday afternoon and had to catch a train back to the airport at 7am... We said goodbye at 5.30...

The view from behind the drums

Supporting Television Personalities!

...And don't the kids just love it! I remember their first LP, the black and white cover with the cut-outs and the two-minute pop gems, one more original than the rest, the fine cast of characters... Geoffrey Ingram, Dorian Grey, Pauline Lewis, Syd Barrett... IT made me want to play guitar, too, and write songs just like Dan Treacy... We called our band after a song by TVP, The Perfumed Garden. We covered Silly Girl and If I Could Write Poetry. We bought the black floppy hat. We wore Paisely Shirts. Then the 90s came and then the 00s... and now TVP are back and The Roman Games are opening for the tomrrow, Friday, November 19th at Palace in St. Gallen, Switzerland... a young boy's dream come true 25 years later. Honored to play with a cast of great friends and musicians: 'Former' Frank Heer on bass, Charles 'HeadQuarters' Wallace on guitar and bvox, Jan 'Room' Haux on drums and percussion. Looking very much forward to playing and meeting a lot of friends from back in the days!

Doing the Jam at the Monster Mash

It was Monster Mash number 5 this year on Sunday night and we got our act together and played The Jam, with Heather "Rick" Wagner on drums, Jesko "Bruce" Stahl on bass and me doin Paulie, Start!, That's Entertainment and Down in the Tube, of course.



Minor Threat, who played before us, were a though act to follow and definite winner of the battle of bands. The Only Ones featured one of the best guitar players i've seen in a long time, Ana B. The Clash were supercute young boys who did an honorable job. Gary Glitter's vocals were lost in sound.


A highlight were the white Bad Brains, who made no attempt at hiding their white skin and did without long afro wigs, instead chose to play in boring white men business suits...but then proceeded to rock the house as if they were the real thing. Kudos to Alana 'Suzie Q" Amram, who not only played in three of the bands but also held the whole evening together despite repeated ugly cat fights and pizza throwing contests.

Just what you expect from a Halloween party. Search monster "Monster Mash" on this blog to hear from earlier years of this best NYC Halloween party. We can't wait for the next one and are aiming to be the Stranglers. All together now: No More Heroes Anymore!

Pics by Thilo Hoffmann

New Lucinda Black Bear Album Out: Knives

Uh...should have told you about this some time ago: There is a new Lucinda Black Bear album out, the long-anticipated follow-up to 2006's "Capo My Heart", and it was worth every day of waiting: 11 Songs, intricate melodies, catchy lines and a voice that embraces, seduces and tempts you, while keeping you safe and sound. Get your mind off of politics and the drab of everyday living and take an hour long walk in the sound universe of Christian Gibbs - still in pain, but definitely seeing the light. They are rocking the 92YTribeca downtown, at 200 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, Telephone: 212.601.1000, this Friday. Here's what Christian says about the new album and the upcoming show: "It sounds epic. Babies were born. People got engaged. There were mild flirtations with musical theater. All life's changes for a spell delayed but enhanced the completion of this record. Now it is here to be celebrated and we invite you to take part in this evening of catharsis and reverie. Our drummer Kristin Mueller unfortunately is on tour in Europe and we will miss her. Our friend and co-conspirator Russell Simins from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion will guest on drums."
Tickets are few so buy them now below. Go to itunes and buy the record on Nov. 2nd or buy it at the show. Listen to the exclusive preview song "Percival" on the podcast in the right sidebar on this blog!