At the Zombieville VIII party at the Knitting Factory, a variety of styles and acts were on display, but the talented up and coming musicians owned the spotlight. Hymns, were a delicious throwback to 70’s country-rock and blues. Shimmying and shaking they started their hour long set with “NYC Nervous Breakdown” incorporating glimpses of solo John Lennon into the sound. Boogying and grooving, the Tiger Horns joined next for the melodic winner, “I Can’t Be What U Want”. The jangling loose rocker contains a glorious horn line that makes it the best new song I have heard this young year reminiscent of The Band, yet all the Hymns own.
Harmonizing and stylizing songs like “Streets Alone” rang true, but the next big highlight came with the return of the horns and a set closing “St. Sebastian”. Name dropping California locales and constructing a killer brass part that gives the middle of the road rocker a Rolling Stones feel somewhere between “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and “Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)”, infectious brass, dynamic group.
Playing in-between each act, literally in the crowd, was Bottle Up and Go a guitar/drum two piece with a third wandering Sax player showing up occasionally. Mention must be made of their screeching blues and maniacal playing, giving the feeling of the Black Keys jacked on speed while being kicked in the junk by the MC-5. Sounding at home covering Nick Cave or Leadbelly these guys are worth catching as well
