Food Stamps at Spike Hill

Food Stamps could easily be mistaken for a goth band at first glance. Aside from the outfits and the unusual lighting, the correct spelling of their name includes freaky characters which are beyond my ability to type. However, while they do have a melancholic sound, the style is clearly pop, often quite catchy pop.

Posted: 6/20/2011 at 9:24pm     Tags: Food Stamps  Northside Festival  Spike Hill 

Fergus and Geronimo at Union Pool

Ah, here we go, an "alternative" rock band which doesn't sound like the alternative (namely every other band). They sound like three or four other bands mashed together. They have a couple of excellent straight-up rockers and catchy pop songs, but they also do soul-inflected ballads. Then there are the thoughtful and vaguely morose numbers which remind me of Talking Heads and absolutely nothing else. Go check out "Where the Walls Are Made of Grass" and you'll see what I mean.

Posted: 6/19/2011 at 1:29pm     Tags: Fergus and Geronimo  Northside Festival  Union Pool 

Japanther at Music Hall of Williamsburg

There is something odd about going to a "ten year anniversary" show and seeing that the average audience member is 19 or so. This no doubt explains the exceedingly sloppy moshing which knocked me down several times. Those kids sure to know how to have fun though, don't they? Agony aside, it was a kick-ass show. I just wish it wasn't my ass getting kicked so frequently.

Posted: 6/16/2011 at 10:08pm     Tags: Japanther  Music Hall of Williamsburg 

Shellshag at Music Hall of Williamsburg

I think Shellshag are trying to invent a new sport which involves jumping off stools. They certainly gave us a nice demonstration. They also showed off their musical dalek which doubles as a small table (for beer and such). All oddness aside, they have a great high-energy sound with more attitude than some other guitar-and-drum teams you may have heard of. Gotta love that, although there is something a little weird about shouting "Fuck Sobriety!" at an 18+ show where noone was drinking.

Posted: 6/15/2011 at 7:47pm     Tags: dalek  jumping  Music Hall of Williamsburg  Shellshag 

Ume at The Rock Shop

I'm sure that I have heard "indie" bands which sound something like Ume. Breathy female lead vocals over a growling rhythm are nothing new. But Ume does bring something a little different to the table, namely metal-like thrashing. On most songs lead singer Lauren Larson bangs her head and tears into her guitar like it's 1982. And to think, before the show I was wondering why she had four guitars prepped (she used all four).

Posted: 6/12/2011 at 2:15pm     Tags: The Rock Shop  Ume