I love love LOVE the Futureheads. They remind me of bands that I would’ve discovered while going through my older brother’s vinyl collection, sandwiched between his Jam and Clash records. Their new single, “The Beginning of the Twist” can be downloaded for free (and legally) here. Their live show is filled with a ton of spastic energy and coordinated dance moves that makes you wish watching them would never end.

Opening band, Chief, are one of my new favorite bands. They all live in NYC for college I think, but they’re from LA. When I watch them I feel transcended and stoned (even when not smoking the reefer)… they just have that nice sunny LA-vibe that is such a delight to hear in NYC. Their sound is a mix of Kings of Leon and Tom Petty. You can hear their songs, and download their songs on their myspace.

THE FUTUREHEADS:

CHIEF:

tons of more photos after the jump:
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Nearly 10 years ago I went to the TisWas party at Don Hill’s with my friend Mikey Way and we saw this band called Cactus Patch from DC. The thing that surprised us the most about Cactus Patch was that they were one of the only bands we’d ever seen at this party by this point (1999) that was actually really good. So I joined their mailing list and a year or two later they changed their name to Army of Me, and I remain on their mailing list to this day.

So last night it was such a joy to go to see them at Bowery Ballroom, which is one of my favorite venues in NYC. I took a bunch of photos and so here they are:
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Almack’s correspondent Danielle Reicherter was luckier than I to be in NYC when the Long Blondes played NYC. Below is her coverage of the show and photos of the most beautiful girls in indie:

“Zis map iz so small, I can’t figure it owt!” The German man to my right looked at me for help, but unfortunately I wasn’t of much assistance. A Philly girl such as myself should be used to deciphering subway systems, but I was having trouble figuring where I needed to switch from the J Train to the line I needed.
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Well, not a review per se, but a photographic chronicle, courtesy of our friend Katherine Lafata:

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Lauren Mooney took a moment to stop munching on Cinqo De Mayo BBQ in order to check out Paris’ very own Teenagers. Zoot
alors!

(by the way, you can click that image of them above to be higher res since that girl in the white has a God given ass that needs to be appreciated by all - Ultragrrrl)

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When our friend Amy Schuster told us that she couldn’t make it to our DJ gig we were gutted… but that’s only until she told us why: She was seeing Piebald’s last ever NYC gig. I guess the band is breaking up and Travis Shettell is playing in the Duke Spirit part time. Anyway, the ‘baldies weren’t about to go without a bang, it seems:

Photos from the show and more after jump
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A couple weeks ago, my brother Lawrence wrote a review of the Raveonette’s show which read more like a love letter than a review. It inspired me to write my review of the Duke Spirit show in the same way, because readers, I am in love, and I think they could be the next Verve. No joke.

The above image is courtesy of Nora Walker and Mahsa Hojjat.

Read the love letter after the jump:
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Aaah!!!! I’m in complete bliss! Tonight is probably one of the most musically amazing packed nights that NYC has ever seen on a non-CMJ evening in YEARS. God, it was just fucking incredible. I am so fucking happy to be alive.

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The thing I love about this blog is that it makes me go out to see bands I probably wouldnt normally think to see. Your Vegas is one of them, and Ludo is another. I probably never would’ve left my cozy apartment on a freezing night to see a rock show. God, another band playing apathetically for a bunch of bored scenesters… not how I want to spend my night.

So when I arrived at the venue and my name wasn’t on the list, I took it as kismet. But being the dedicated blogger that I am, I stood outside in the cold with my ear to the door (literally, i stood at outside with my ear to the door keeping notes). I heard the singer (i think, i couldnt see him) of Ludo say “If you’re existing and in this room, clap your hands!” and what sounded like a stadium started clapping enthusiastically, before a member shouted “I cant wait to make that my avatar.”

As I stood in the cold, one of my favorite security guards came out saying to a friend “Yo, this is a hot show tonight, yo I don’t think I can hear anymore!”

How I got inside and videos after the jump
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So, tonight is pretty crazy in NYC. Here’s what’s going on:

Duffy at the Hiro Ballroom at 9pm.

Ash, Nightmare of You, and Levy at the Williamsburg Music Hall.

The Vines at Bowery Ballroom.

The Wombats at Annex.

Cut Copy, Holy Ghost, El Guincho, The Fashion at Mercury Lounge
AND Cut Copy afterparty at The Randolph (349 Broome Street). RSVP Here.

I’m going to the Duffy show and then jumping on the L and heading to see Nightmare of You and Ash!

Yay St. Patrick’s Day

Sometimes I feel lucky that I have to leave my house every once in a while to head out to shows, I feel lucky that I have to write about the shows the next day, and I feel lucky that I have to take photos of these things because if I didn’t I would’ve been one of those million people that are kind of sure they were at some show, but don’t know for sure. They don’t know if it’s legend, a memory created from a story, or their own experience. And without photos and this blog documenting my nights in NYC, I would be fucked. I have the worst memory in the world.

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“They accused me of stealing $10. I told them that if I wanted $10… Well… (laugh)… I’d steal it…”
- Matt Costa

Regardless of race, religion, creed or whatever, there are 2 things that everyone working in the music industry has in common: the love of music / discovering “new” music AND the love of the unexpected and the adrenalin that accompanies it. Whether it’s the intern who’s fortunate enough to go to an Alicia Keys performance, the new-hire who randomly gets to meet Pete Wentz or the regular, cubicle-working coordinator who gets invited to go to shows, it’s all the same – we’re all motivated by the same things.

Read why I don’t ever sleep after the jump.
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