Posts by Shawn Donohue

2 feet of snow? Check. 50 Mile an Hour wind guests? Affirmative. Sounds like a perfect night for rawking on out on the Lower Eastside of Manhattan Isle. The blizzard conditions did nothing to keep the crowd away though as a variety of fans infiltrated the Mercury Lounge to hear an eclectic offering of sound.

The 80’s. It’s a state of mind, from big hair and leg warmers to Atari football. You know the one where you could run through the screen and come out the other side, thus running around the entire world to sack the quarterback, good times. With the retro flair of John Hughes films and Lacoste polo's, the rock and roll was sure to follow and it has in a big way. From the Bravery to Bloc Party to the Killers the “Me” decade is alive and selling in the music world. Enter a new contender for the retro title, the Lolita Bras.

ooking like Mike Nesmith’s fan club, this five piece hit the stage just before midnight in silly wool hats, but the sweltering club had already served to warm them up. They collided into the music sans introduction, if there was any doubt about the energy and excitement in the room, it was obliterated under the first notes of the majestic show opener “Say Something.” The band who goes by their coded names are: TAXI: guitar, vocals, TABLES: bass, vocals, TEXT: keyboards, guitar and vocals, TURBO: trapset, vocals, THANKS: guitars, vocals.

Laid out in theatre format and playing like the soundtrack to a mid century German film on existentialism produced by a floundering grad student, Book of Sand’s music bores from start to finish. The three main movements titled “The Century Trilogy: Conquest, Empire and The Fall” are grandiose in title only. The album is fundamentally instrumental with random chanting; some of it from guest Devendra Banhart, however the ghostly wails do nothing to further the music in any direction.

Toubab Krewe truly breakdown all genre barriers and have created their own sound, as they call it, “Afro-Cowboy-Ninja-Surf-Music”. When you catch them live you will call it a blast.

Morningwood is a little wild and still gelling as a band, but certainly ready to bust out of their jeans.

Dinosaur Jr,’s performance was one big pile driver leaving the audience with ears ringing and hearts singing. More then one person was looking for any extras to Saturday

Playing a stand alone club date, a benefit for the Red Cross, the Machines aired some new material and a few old favorites to a receptive, if tame, crowd. The Secret Machines have been steadily gaining respect with their form of vibrant musicianship and mind blowing live shows.

The many levels contained within Toubab Krewe’s self-titled album, surround and reward the ear upon multiple listens. The polyrhythmic spider webs entangle; meshing scurrying string romps with the pulsing of low end, the result is sense of community formed with the musical world as a whole, and a great rookie release from the Krewe.

World Leader Pretend creates a sound that is hard to pin down, and I am sure that is just the way they like it. It

The tunes can stir something deep, but that passion comes from a dirty section of your mind.

Nothing seems to get the Mr. Slamka that worked up or that depressed, he simply floats along a Prozac river, like Self Help Serenade as a whole, like the space between waking and dreaming.

Baby runs short and swift, bringing back a simpler sound from a simpler era, yet the rollicking good times on “Everybody’s Going Wild” can’t be ignored. The Cobras want to swing their favorite songs around and around like long flapper pearls, while they keep the bar open past last call.

The Moistboys latest release is simply titled IV. While the title calls to mind another album that has the IV label, the Zeppelin comparisons should end right there.

As the flooding continues across the eastern seaboard, so does the music. On Wednesday night at the Mercury Lounge in Manhattan a twin bill of bare bones rock and rollers took the stage. The Detroit Cobras with openers Reigning Sound hit the Big Apple only a few shows into their national tour. While the rains fell outside, the brew and tunes swam inside.

Reason #1,459 why New York City is great. A Monday night benefit for the Red Cross, that manages to showcase two NYC Hardcore Metal crowd pleasers, while raising $2,000 at the same time. Yes sir, I think that is a winning combo for a Monday.

New York and New Orleans share a special bond and the least the Big Apple could do was play doctor to a friend in need.

I have read reviews of critics claiming that the Stones create a rock and roll environment in which an arena feels like a club, Horseshit. They take a 75,000 seat football stadium and make it feel like 300,000 people are rocking along to “Jumping Jack Flash.”

On the Eastern rim of the Adirondacks, the scenic gem of Saratoga Performing Arts Center was sold out and loaded with the dedicated fans of two nationally respected touring acts; neither of which has released an album of new material in over 3 years.

David Byrne, with some musical friends in tow, camped themselves on the Summer Stage in Ramsey Playfield to deliver a concert to the soaking yet faithful crowd.