Posts by Shawn Donohue

Bassist Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead brought his rotating cast of characters to New York City this past week for a slew of highly anticipated outings.

The band seemed to have a decent stage presence and the tracks on their debut album are played in a punchy Franz Ferdinand style that should translate live, but I guess we will have to wait for another show to find out for sure.

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.