Show Reviews

Citizen Cope/Alice Smith: Marquee Theater, Tempe, AZ 06.6.07

Liana Heitin June 20, 2007 No Comments

Clarence Greenwood, a.k.a. Citizen Cope, did not seem to mind, or perhaps notice, that the Marquee Theater was only about half full for his June 6 performance in Tempe, AZ. Only the tallest people in the crowd, who could turn around and see the definitive line where the audience stopped and the empty portion of the room began, really had a sense of the sparse attendance

Dinosaur Jr.: Fillmore New York At Irving Plaza, 6.7.07

Shawn Donohue June 15, 2007 No Comments

Simply stated, this was the loudest-fucking-concert I have ever been too.

The Sea and Cake: Webster Hall, New York, NY 06/07/07

Eric Liebetrau June 14, 2007 No Comments

“It’s a rock album,” says guitarist and lead vocalist Sam Prekop of Everybody, the first new release from The Sea and Cake in more than four years. The band’s recent show at Webster Hall in New York was a testament to that statement, as the indie-pop heavyweights demonstrated an active presence with a room-filling sound that listeners may not collect from their studio recordings.

The Hold Steady: The Brickhouse, Phoenix, AZ 6/2/07

Shane Handler June 5, 2007 No Comments

f there’s one thing you can’t knock the Hold Steady for – it’s being sloppy. Booking arguably the “best bar band in America” on a Saturday night in a small rock club, things are bound to get rowdy. The Paste Magazine cover boys were in the midst of the fifth night of their spring/summer tour, having made the six-hour voyage east from San Diego to Phoenix’s sweaty Brickhouse.

Apollo Sunshine: Rocks Off Cruise, NY, NY 5.24.07

Scott Bernstein May 31, 2007 No Comments

Apollo Sunshine once again proved that rock and/or roll is alive and kicking on last night’s Rocks Off boat cruise. Warm weather, blue skies and, well, sunshine offered a perfect environment for a three-hour floating rock show around lower Manhattan, and Apollo Sunshine provided a high-energy blast of power pop, heavy on the power.

The Greencards: The Lucas School House, St. Louis, MO

Jason Gonulsen May 30, 2007 No Comments

A few years ago when The Greencards were asked to spend their summer touring with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan, Kym Warner figured that he would at least get the chance to pick the great American songwriter’s brain for a few minutes. Instead, all he got was a brief moment at the end of the tour when a hurried and mumbling Dylan told the young trio, “You’ll be fine from now on.”

Antje Duvekot & Lucy Kaplansky: Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA 5/10/07

Gabriel Scheer May 25, 2007 No Comments

Boston-based Antje Duvekot recently opened a well-attended show headlined by Lucy Kaplansky at Seattle’s Tractor Tavern, and the two put on a wonderful show. The main complaint, particularly as related to Duvekot’s part of the show, was that Duvekot arrived late, having been on a later-than-expected flight, and was able to play only a few songs.

Arctic Monkeys: Hammerstein Ballroom, New York, NY 5/10/07

Shawn Donohue May 24, 2007 No Comments

Now touring behind their second offering Favourite Worst Nightmare, the Monkeys from a Sheffield England suburb, made their way onto the Hammerstein stage for their cask tight hour and fifteen minute set which begun with pre-recorded violin strings before being replaced by scratching guitars and Yorkshire accents.

The Arcade Fire: Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA 5/10/07

Andrew Bruss May 24, 2007 No Comments

With the theatrical flavor of Pink Floyd and the emotive tendencies of The Cure, The Arcade Fire mesmerized a sold out crowd at Boston’s Orpheum Theater.

Stars of Track and Field: Neumo’s, Seattle, WA 5/02/07

Gabriel Scheer May 23, 2007 No Comments

Few bands in recent memory have caught the ears of this reviewer like Stars of Track and Field. This Portland-based trio has sprung into indie musical consciousness, with but one full-length to their credit, creating a repertoire of gorgeous, riff-laden, perfectly-crafted pop songs.