In My Mind, I Take You with Me...

It's been a great couple of weeks with nice shows, great music, lovely people during an NYC spring that finally made it - you just can't help falling in love with New York City all over again, right when you're about to go on vacation...It's like that every year, isn't it. Anyway, before I touch Swiss ground tomorrow, let me take you through a quick photographical tour of what happened in the musical life of the Gamester recently...Good quality pics by Tobias Klutke.

Jan came to town and Room played two nice shows, starting to earn themselves a reputation as the Madness of New York...

...thanks largely, of course, to the glorious contributions of Quentin Jennings and Dave Spinely. What a fine room now!

I then had the chance to sing my song Beaches Apart with the wonderful Kerry Kennedy and her Ghostwise band. Leane shot great video of KK and Ghostwise, which I will post here as soon as I get the chance!

Also, the American Troubadour Charles Wallace was in town, dishing out his folk and protest songs in dark New York clubs instead of Switzerland's neat stages. Aided masterfully by Mollie Kings and - yes, it's him again - Quentin Jennings.

And not enough of the fine Dave Spine, here with his band The Snow who played a great set of fine chamber pop at Union Hall before Room.

More of the brave Dave, here in C. Gibbs newest outfit at their splendid performance at the Small Beast at Delancey, Paul Wallfischs ever growing Thursday event.

I leave you with a picture of Anton Fine and the We Ours, whom I have the pleasure to see live again in Switzerland, where they are currently touring. Also haunting Swiss clubs will be above mentioned Christian Gibbs with the esteemed Mr. Privateman Frank. Looking forward to breathe swiss air!

More Room at Union Hall ...Now!

Couldn't make it on Thursday, but want to see and hear Brooklyn's new power outfit Room? Or been there Thursday but just didn't have enough Room? We are playing live again tonight, Saturday May 9th at Union Hall, Corner of 5th Avenue and Union Street, Brooklyn. It is a beautiful big bar with indoors boccia and a nice concert space downstairs.We are playing after the magic The Snow, who play modern pop music with great stories. Lucid Culture writes about the band: “The Snow’s name is somewhat ironic: this is very warm, accessible, emotionally vivid music.”. Captain Sensible of The Damned says of Room: "Nice mix of styles, no testosterone metal crap - I hope these guys go far!"

ROOM & KERRY KENNEDY & CHARLES WALLACE

This Thursday, May 7th, come see one of the rare Room performances, enhanced by Jan Haux from Berlin on vocals and shenanigans, Quentin Jennings of Melomane and Dylans fame and Dave Spinely of The Snow who brings the legendary roar of a Psychedelic Furs sax. We play at 10.30m.

Then Kerry Kennedy will take the stage with her Ghostwise band - again including Jan, the original drummer for Ghostwise - and you will all be stunned by how soft and touching and smooth music can be.


Last but not least, Charles Wallace of the infamous American Mod band HeadQuarters is in town and presents new acoustic songs from the new folky CD "Amerikanischer Troubadour" that he produced in Switzerland. He first plays Public Assembly in Williamsburg (fromer Galapagos), then comes down to Fontanas. Last chance before he returns to Europe!

Singer/Songwriter vs. Rockstar

Not so Small Beast: Paul Wallfisch and Kerry Kennedy.
Walking into the Delancey on Thursday night I was pleasantly surprised: Paul Wallfisch's "Small Beast" night had rarely seen such a big crowd, among them celebrities like Peter Buck of R.E.M and Steve Wynn, formerly of Dream Syndicate. This promised to be a great night, Sally Norvell had just finished an inspired show, and a lot of friends of Kerry Kennedy's turned up to support her.

Then it turned out Ken Stringfellow of the Posies wanted to play before Kerry, breaking the common rule that the more famous act play last, so younger, lesser known artists get a chance to play in front of a larger audience. Not very gentlemanly, Mr. Stringfellow. Then he turned out to be a hyper sensitive diva who couldn't even handle a couple of loud college kids.

Peter Buck left during the first song. Then he turned out to be playing really boring, whimsical songs of heartache and pain. Steve Wynn left after the second song. Still there were some girls who seemed to love it and ate every word. Fair enough. I didn't even bother taking a photo of the former Posies singer, despite the fact that I really, really dig their first three LPs. I am more interested in good songwriting than in rockstars.

When Kerry finally took the stage it was way past midnight and the vibrant urgency of earlier in the night gone. Still Kerry and her band - Nathan on guitar, Jason on Bass, no drummer, but a creative Paul Wallfisch on piano - played a wonderful set of indie folk pop that fits the unique, fragile yet confident voice of the singer just perfect. It's a pity Buck and Wynn didn't get to hear it. But there will be other opportunities and no pos(i)er in the house.

Punk For A Sunday Night - Pretendo

Sunday nights my legs are heavy from Soccer and as long as HBOs Flight of the Conchords is on, there's a good chance, I won't leave the house. But, alas, the Conchord's season is over and Heather called and asked if i wanted to come out see Pretendo, Devon's band Room played with live a couple of years ago... It turned out to be well worth going out: This is pure punk rock energy, high level power, combined with great singing and good lyrics. Watch out you hipsters and wanna-be A&Rs: Here's New York's best kept secret music trio. Dont miss them next time!

The Navel of Switzerland in New York

Here's a bit of Swiss culture you don't want to miss if you like Sonic Youth, Queens of the Stone Age or The Young Gods (whom they all supported): Navel from Basel is coming to town with their unique punk folk, tonight at the Annex on the Lower East Side at 9pm, Wednesday at Vanishing Point in Williamsburg. As you can see in the NME quote on the poster, modest, they are not. Energetic, driven and punching, yes. The band just comes from SXSW in Austin - probably the first Swiss band ever to play that festival. Come hear their music and stories from the South and the East. Who knows, maybe Pete Doherty is in town, too.

Lucinda Black Bear & Botanica Team Up

A packed and enthusiastic audience witnessed some of New York's finest rock music Saturday evening when Christian Gibbs and Paul Wallfisch got the best out of their bands Lucinda Black Bear and Botanica. Gibbs sounded richer than ever and included some fine new songs which the band are currently recording, before Christian is touring Switzerland again in May. Paul joined Lucinda for one track on piano, the delicate keys of Quentin Jennings were heard on two others, Anton Fine guested on one piece. After the almost traditional little starting problems with his equipment, Wallfisch and Botanica took the audience on a increasingly intensive trip through the darker soundscapes of rock, a wild play between the hauntingly beautiful morricone-guitars of John Andrews and Pauls mighty voice. How strange to watch the show not with one, but two ex-Botanica bass players: Dana Schechter and Christian Bongers enjoyed observing their mates!

The Soundtrack Of Our Lives In All Its Glory

There are fabled super studios somewhere in Sweden, legendary places with the best gear in the world, all hand made quality work from neutral European countries, where million sellers as Abba, Roxette and the ghastly songwriter trio Stock Aitken Waterman recorded...it's the big Sweden sound, and nobody does with such ease. Latest example: The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, a band that's been around for some 15 years and has seen and done about everything by now. The six Swedes at the Bowery Ballroom dish out all kinds of styles, ideas, genres, soli: There's a bit of Oasis, a dose of Hüsker Dü, a cover of Nick Drake, all the while being a spinal tapish mix between 70's Stones and the Sir Douglas Quintet. Even the strong swedish vodka singer Lundberg must have enjoyed were no challenge to the band's seemingly effortless precision. A pleasure to enjoy the show with Kenny from Kreisor who's also a fan and knows what to say during shows and when to shut up!

Room/The We Ours: A Cold Night Turned Hot

Room live again, Fontana's NYC, Photos by Tobias Klutke

Despite a freezing cold Tuesday night, a friendly 70 people showed up to see the first live show of Room without Jan (who sends his regards from Berlin and was there in spirit), but with the gracious help of Quentin Jennings, who is also working on the new record by Roman and Room, an EP that should come out with the Easter bunny. The audience seemed to appreciate the new, redecorated and more orderly room and their new songs about jobs. Someone said Room sounded like the Buzzcocks, another compared it to the Jam, the third heard the Cure shining through. All very well with me. Denise shot these videos, Leane shot more footage, the combined edited version here soon.





Antons band - Kristofer on guitar and back voc, Jessica on bass and voc and Kristin covering their backs have grown into a tight combo. There are smiles onstage and a general feeling of everybody being at ease is transported to the audience, the melodies abducting us into a land of soothing, sunny weekend afternoons.

Fontana's has a nice sound system, friendly people working, the live area downstairs is a great space for a crowd of about 100+ people - Room as well as The We Ours will be back there soon!

Anton and the We Ours live at Fontanas

After a year of retreat, regrouping and - yes! - rehearsing, we give you the new ROOM. Live for the first time as a four-piece at Fontana's NYC (www.fontanasnyc.com), with the help of Mr. Quentin Jennings (of The Dylans, Melomane and C. Gibbs Review fame) on keyboards for a couple of songs. We have a lot of new songs we'd love to play to you and are not as loud and obnoxious as we used to be (Old age set in? - You'll be the judge.)

ROOM (www.myspace.com/roomtheband) take the stage at 10pm and are followed immediately by ANTON SWORD & THE WE OURS (www.antonsword.com). With the help of his band, Anton has "rocked up" his set and they've become a tight group with - dare i say it? - catchy melodies.

Come on down - Tuesdays are the new Thursdays since Paul Wallfisch made Thursdays the new Saturdays with his Small Beast!

Map of Fontana's Location

First the Sword, then the Beast

Take it easy on Thursday cause you will have a busy evening - there are two shows you should not miss. First go to Rehab to see the refortified Mr. Anton Sword. Not only is he married now to the lovely Yael Marmon, his band has got a name, and a good one, too: the We Ours. Moreover, Jessica traded the cello for a rocking bass, Kristofer's addition get sharper and more daring with every show and drums are helmed by New York's female Ringo Starr, Kristin Mueller. We hope that spells 'goodbye flowery poetry and hello sardonic edge". It is eight bucks, but we hear that Rehab is in the process of being sold and who knows what will become of that place then. Anton and the We Ours are going on an extened European tour in May. The show starts at 9pm, followed by the Interpol-esque Get Help.


Then - it's the new Thursday thing to do - head down to the Delancey where Paul Wallfisch is letting loose his Small Beast, this time with a habitué on this blog, Pierre De Gaillande. The Paris-born singer/songwriter has translated the chansons of the great Georges Brassens into English - painstakingly precise - and will present the witty words and tunes with Christian Bongers on bass and Dave Spinley on Clarinet. Pierre has grown a mustache for this occasion while Christian has shaved off his Father Christmas beard. They will start at 11.15pm, preceeded by Cherie Lily, former lead singer and songwriter for New York City bands SPANK and FLuRT, who recently sang on Lee Scratch Perry's Grammy nominated new album and Barma Ljova who has been arranging music for the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, the Kronos Quartet, Matmos and Jay-Z.

I'll Be Damned...it's C. Gibbs Again!

So, reading up on the Damned while listening to their great new record "So, who's paranoid?" (see review in the right sidebar below) I followed up on singer Dave Vanian's side project "The Phantom Chords" and came across this little live video of the band performing at Hootenanny 2003 - and guess who is playing bass? Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Christian Gibbs here, on stage with Vampire Dave! Meanwhile, do check out the new Damned CD, it shows both Vanian and the good ole Captain in top form, with a bunch of proper, finished and vital songs.

Small Beast Quite Big, Kennedy taking off

Paul Wallfisch's new music event "Small Beast", is taking off nicely and the songsmith and piano player is all smiles and seems to have found the right ambiance on the main floor at the Delancey for his eclectic mix. Paul has the show solidly booked for every Thrusday night till the end of March and we're in for some treats like Pierre De Gaillande's excellent translations of Georges Brassens songs and Posies Frontman Ken Stringfellow and, of course, C. Gibbs when he's back from touring. Pictured above is the spirited Abby Travis which tamed the Small Beast last Thursday with witty songs on piano and bass. Might the fine lady be a secret daughter of Paul McCartney, we wondered?

Meanwhile Kerry Kennedy got an amazing review of her show at Rose. "I'm still pinching myself," says Kerry of the raving article. "I have no idea who this guy is, but I am going to bake him cookies." More than cookies also deserves her guitar player Nathan Halpern, who played an amazing set of souled Americana with his band at a packed Zebulon on Friday. We'd have included a picture, but it's just too damn dark to photograph in there. I'm not complaining.

Rose in Bloom: Kerry Kennedy and Anton Sword

Kerry Kennedy is back in town and will be performing a short set with the new version of her Ghostwise band, this coming Wednesday, January 21, at Rose Live Music in Williamsburg. If you are in town and miss this, this blog can't help you anymore. We told you about Kerry's excellence years ago, and we hear that they will be trying out some new material after spending the time in the studio. They'll be on at 9pm sharp. The Ghostwise band this time round - missing Jan - is:
Jason Binnick-bass
Nathan Halpern- guitar
Kerry Kennedy- vocals, guitar
Brain Wolfe- drum
We don't need to tell you anything more about favorite our poet laureate, Anton Sword and his all-star band who play at 10pm. If you haven't seen Anton, you probably think Williamsburg is in Virginia. So wrong. He's getting married, too. Not enuff? well, this is a recession special! The show is FREE! They will, however, pass the hat around for the folks who can afford to donate a few bucks to support the, erm, biz.

No Small Beast For A Wallfisch!

Do fishes sleep? The Wallfisch doesn't: Botanica-Leader and Little Annie collaborator Paul Wallfisch is curating a new music event, Small Beast. Premiering this Thursday in the intimate and elegant environment of the Delancey's main-floor back room, Small Beast will present an eclectic mix of creative performers and songwriters. The Beast aims to become the New York vortex of an ephemeral, international scene where artists and listeners alike can come together for a song, an evening, a residency, and all forms of creative experimentation. The Beast is not a jam night but does encourage spontaneous performance and artistic co-operation. Small Beast will be a place where artists accustomed to doing one thing might try another; where a small space becomes a welcome antidote to a bigger club or hall. The host of this minimalist, hard cabaret, Paul Wallfisch, erstwhile co-conspirator with Firewater, Congo Norvell, Love and Rockets and many others, currently leads the band Botanica and functions as Alt/Dub/CabaDiva Little Annie’s sidekick. Paul will do a short set of his own each week--solo and with different collaborators-- followed by at least one guest artist's set. (And whoever else might show up...) Good luck - we'll be there.