Category: Reviews

Alex Band @ Highline – June 6, 2010

If you were at Highline Ballroom last night, then you know that there were a lot of things that made the night special. First of all, there was a good mix of the new solo material and some of his hits with The Calling (including Adrienne, Stigmatized, and the #1 song of the decade – Wherever You Will Go). I’ll admit, Stigmatized was never one of my favorite songs off that record (I never hated it, simply liked others a lot more). Having said that, I also have to admit the song sounded very good live. He even did a special extended live edition with some good guitar riffs in the opening. Since I have always respected an artist more for their ability to play live over their recordings, I have to give kudos where they are due. This kind of connects to my next point – the most important factor to what amounted to a successful night.

The biggest thing that made the evening special was Alex himself. He is is a special guy, pure and simply (and I mean that in the best connotation of that word). This was shown from little things like an attempt to make eye contact with his audience (well, as best as he could with all the lights), to the sheer amount of energy he put into his performance. He has a good personality both onstage and off. He doesn’t talk too much during the performance – that is a time reserved for the music and pleasing the fans. He even asks how he’s doing about midway through the set, showing he cares how his fans are enjoying themselves so far. He saves most of the talking for after the set is over, which brings me to my favorite part of the evening.

After every show on his tour, Alex has enjoyed going to the merch table and talking to any of the fans who want to meet with him. A willingness to mingle with the fans is a common factor in all of my favorite musicians, but I especially loved the way Alex managed this. After the set was over and he made his announcement, everyone who was interested lined up at the merch table to buy things (more money for Alex = more music for us later on). Alex signed our CDs and posters without us even having to ask, talking to each person as he did so (and even taking pictures with whomever wanted them). This level of fan interaction is what will place him on my list of favorite artists. Alex has shown his dedication to his music and his fans trumps whatever money he could potentially make from this career path, which makes him an example of what more musicians should be like. Too often an artist will get a taste of success and let it take over for them. I hope Alex continues down his chosen path for years to come and is rewarded for it in the end.

Arcade Fire – The Suburbs (A Review)

Arcade Fire’s new album, “The Suburbs” is an experience that is powerful both musically and lyrically. The songs are upbeat and energetic at times, mellow and thoughtful at others. “Half Life” has pounding music that feels ready to burst any minute. It resolves to “Half Life II”, which starts slow and builds back up again.

Another word to describe the album is “eclectic”. “Suburban War” has war-like drum beats followed by the next track “Month of May” which is more of a dance number. The whole album goes through waves with different levels and emotional tones to them. With such a variety of flavors to experience, I’m sure you will find a song for you.

Arcade Fire are currently on tour, and will be in NYC August 4th & 5th. The Aug 4th date is sold out, but tickets are still available for Aug 5th, according to Bowery’s website.Full list of dates can be found on the Arcade Fire MySpace. If you can’t make it to any of the shows, fear not! The Madison Square Garden show will be broadcast on the Internets (see Bowery site for details). The event will be an historic one, so you’re not going to want to miss out.

Alex Band – We’ve All Been There: A Review

Hearing the lead singer from a rock band make the change to solo artist, some might fear this will just be a watered down version of the former band. Rest assured, this is not the case with “We’ve All Been There”. Right from the start, Band shows his fans that he still has some rocker left in him. That’s not to say that this is just like The Calling but with a different band. Alex’ voice is recognizable from his days as frontman, but the sound is all his own. The album actually achieves a perfect balance that should keep fans of The Calling happy while also adding to that fan base and making it stronger. The album grabs the listener right away with the title track, letting them know that Band is giving it all he’s got with this one. Good to know, for those who have been waiting since he first announced his solo career back in 2005. These loyal follows have stayed with him through label issues and several delays. Five years later and they now have a new album to hold (which has been signed by the artist if they jumped on that promotion). And what an album it is, too. With each song you can hear the passion Band has for his craft. You would have to love something that much to go through the rollercoaster ride it has been and even creating a label, in essence building a home for the newborn child to live and feel comfortable in.

The album is entirely worth it (IMO) but a few songs especially stand out for me. One is the single “Tonight”, partly because I have had more time to fall in love with it and partly because it is just a truly powerful song. When the video was finally made available, I shared it with everyone I thought might be interested and played it a dozen times in the first day. In case you missed it, here it is again:

Another song is “Only One” because the chorus reminds us we only have one life to live, which I take a step further to mean we shouldn’t waste the time we’ve got left. This is a lesson we all learn at some point, but sometimes we need repeated reminders.

“Holding On” refers to “holding on to a dream and staying strong” – which could be the theme song for the overall process of recording the album and making it accessible to the public, the whole time fighting the urge to lose faith and not give up. Keeping with that theme, there is also the track “Love”, which proclaims “I’m not giving up… I’m blessed with love”. This is the sort of positive, uplifting message we need in difficult times like we have seen lately. The final song “Start Over Again” is about life bringing you down and being able to pick right up and start again. Or maybe Alex just subliminally is trying to tell us to start the record over again…. Hey, you don’t have to tell me twice!

After listening to the new album a few times on repeat, it’s time to enjoy them in a live setting. Now that the album is finally out, there are a series of tour dates to look forward to. The tour began on the West Coast on July 14th and will end on the East Coast on August 8th. The New York date is August 6th at Highline Ballroom. The complete list of dates can be found on his website, as well as the latest news the artist has to share and a bunch of other extras. You can also follow Alex on Facebook and Twitter as well. The album can be purchased on iTunes and his website, as well as certain local retailers. You’ve waited long enough for this one, folks – go buy your copy today!

Jukebox Rocks 92Y Tribeca

Jukebox the Ghost held a preview show for their upcoming album “Everything Under the Sun on July 13th at 92Y Tribeca. The band is no stranger to the city, and it showed in another enthusiastic crowd. The night was filled with mostly songs from the new album, but there were a few fan favorites selected for the second half of the show. First the crowd got to hear the new album in its entirety. The band thanked it’s audience for sitting through songs they were not familiar with, but there was really no need. Many of the songs had been played at previous shows (to the point where many in the audience knew some of the words), and the whole album sounds like it will be well worth the wait fans have had to endure. The album will be available to the general public on September 7th, but the single “Empire” is available for download now on their website (linked to above) or the widget at the top of the main page of this blog.

Jukebox the Ghost Light Themselves On Fire At Bowery Ballroom

Last night Miniature Tigers, Jukebox the Ghost, and Free Energy played to an incredibly packed Bowery Ballroom. Miniature Tigers were the opener, and they succeeded in warming up the crowd for the main event with their unique beats. Next was Jukebox the Ghost, who played the best set I have ever seen from them since my first performance of theirs at Knitting Factory (back when it was still on Leonard St). They played a good mix of old and new tunes, with a cover thrown in the middle. They began with Static and ended with Good Day (which seems to be their classic final piece). The cover I mentioned was Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever”, which they gave a fresh feeling to that made the song their own. They also played the classics “Hold It In” and “Victoria” (among others) and some new stuff as well. It was announced that the band has signed with Yep Rock Records and the new album will be released early September. For all the latest news be sure to follow the band on their Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter. I also recently discovered their last.fm page, which elicited possibly a little too much excitement. For me, it showed how big these guys are getting and the bright future they have ahead. After the show, I told Ben about that possibly being the best set ever and how I wasn’t just saying that because of a bias I have for the band. One of the other things I love about them (besides their music) is ever since that day we talked after the Union Square show I have been able to talk to some of the members (and those surrounding them) at every show I have been to. (Note: I have been to almost every show they have played in NYC since that first time I heard them). This isn’t about being crowned #1 Fan though. This is to try to share something special I found out there in the music world. Don’t want to take my word for it? Then find out for yourself. The next date in the area is July 13th at 92Y (which would make it a smaller show than the Bowery one). Although this date has not been posted on the website, it was announced at the show last night. (Anyone affiliated with the band can feel free to correct me if I heard this wrong).

Going back to last night’s show, the final act for the night was Free Energy. This was the only band I had never heard before, but they definitely lived up to their name. There was plenty of energy from both the stage and the audience. It was a great end to what I would describe as a lively and energetic night. I’ve never walked away from a show feeling both energized and exhausted before, but that was what happened last night. I wonder if that’s how the bands who perform feel as well? Anyone who wants to provide an answer to that one can either leave a comment or email me at munchkin275@hotmail.com.

Jukebox the Ghost @ Bowery Ballroom

I’m not sure whether it was here or Twitter that I mentioned having a surprise in regards to my trip to see Jukebox the Ghost at Bowery Ballroom earlier this month. It took longer than expected, but my surprise is finally ready for the masses. See, I was asked to write a review for Beyond Race Magazine, and I thought it was only fair to wait until it was posted on their website before I did the same here. So here is my part of the review. The other section on the headliner (Tally Hall) was written by my friend who works at the magazine. (He also edited some of my bits, because I am, to be perfectly honest, not that good a writer). The complete review has been linked to above, in case you want to take a look. So, without further ado, I present: Jukebox the Ghost.

The following is my review as written by your humble blogger. There are a few edits on the BRM post, but that was probably for the best. Consider this the “deleted scenes” at the end of the movie, if it so pleases you.

Fresh from a month in Europe, Jukebox the Ghost played to a packed house at Bowery Ballroom. The band always has something special to offer their audience, and this was no exception. Whether it be ghosts for Halloween or Christmas lights strung everywhere, the stage is always an element of the experience. The staging this time was set with bubbles blown from members in the audience, turning the room almost into a playground. The comparison seems appropriate, for if Jukebox could be described with one word it would be “fun.” Not only does it fit the audience’s experience, but what the band seems to feel as they perform. Ben (their keyboardist) tells stories of their tour or some other tale as if he’s sharing this with a group of friends who have stopped by for a friendly visit. Two other members (Tommy and Jessie) shared that they caught a bug while in Europe. “Jessie is actually too sick to do this next song – but he’s going to play it anyway,” Tommy comments before starting his favorite dance tune from their new album (release of which is unknown at this point). This shows a dedication to their music (and their fans) that is remarkable. You can tell they enjoy performing just as much as the audience enjoys watching them. The crowd dances and sings along throughout the set. There is even participation during a few of the songs. This is especially evident with the fan-favorite “Hold It In”, which they concluded their set with. Not only does the audience sing along, but there is also clapping which not only adds to the rhythm of the song, but also brings a wave of joy as the song progresses. It’s as if you have become part of the experience, part of the fun. And that is just one more way Jukebox the Ghost becomes not just another band, but something truly special.

Fooling April @ Rockwood Music Hall

Fooling April played an intimate show at Rockwood Music Hall tonight at 6pm. Even though the band is from Philly, this was not their first time in NYC (although it was their first time playing at this venue). Normally they play the Bitter End on Bleaker St., but the change in venue suited them nicely. Their set ran for just under an hour and included songs both old and new (well, newish). Next time they come to the area I will be sure to promote it so more people can experience the positive vibes this band has to offer. Or, if you’re in the Philly area, you can go see them play their Beatles charity tribute on April 1st. It promises to be a night to remember.

Muse On Tour: Boston Edition

Picture it: Fall, 2009. Muse headlines for arguably one of the greatest bands of all time: U2. “Who are these guys?” the crowd wonders. They’re really good.

Flash forward to now. Muse is on a tour of its own, and you can be sure everyone in the crowd knows who they are. They sit through a fun yet otherwise uneventful set from Silversun Pickups. Many are only familiar with one song, the hit “Panic Switch” It is played near the end of the set. Everyone dances and sings along. They know it means they will soon be getting what they came here to see.

Break. Set change. Waiting.

The lights go down. Everyone cheers. Our time is now.

The stage shines with intense light displays and video. Portions of the stage rise and fall to reveal the band. What follows is over an hour of one of the most impressive displays of musical ability I have seen in a band. It was truly inspirational.

The main set ended with a few songs missing, so I started my predictions of what the encore would be. It was a long shot, I knew, but I was hoping for Exogenesis Symphony. To me, it showcases their talent as musicians. I was pleasantly surprised to see I had gotten my wish. It was followed by Stockholm Syndrome and then concluded with Knights of Cydonia. A great finish, although I was disappointed they didn’t play Invincible. It is the best song on the live album, and I was hoping to experience it for myself.

Overall the show was fantastic. If you get a choice to see them live DO IT. They are one of the best live bands you will possibly ever see.

2009: The Live Album

RXP asked its listeners to report their top 9 concerts of 2009, and I thought I would share them here as well.

1) Snow Patrol @ Beacon Theatre- This was without a doubt my favorite live experience with a band this year. The funny thing about this is that it was the only one on this list that I didn’t go with anyone else. Normally it is the whole experience of going to see your favorite band perform live with a friend singing by your side that makes a concert special, but that just goes to show how great a performance they gave. I hardly noticed I couldn’t find anyone who loved them enough to say “money is no object” and trek out to see them on a Tuesday night. I also really loved the venue they were at. It was a really nice place with a good atmosphere. I would definitely go back there if the right band was playing. One of my favorite moments from that night was this:

2) Green Day @ MSG- This was another great experience for me. “21st Century Breakdown” was the soundtrack of my summer, and it came to a climax getting to see these guys live (finally) at Madison Square Garden. What made it extra special was getting to see it with one of my best friends. Words still can’t describe the utter joy this night brought to my life, but this video shares my favorite moment of that night:

3) Mates of State @ Webster Hall – The word “experience” pretty much sums up every story I have to share here. I had a mild obsession with Mates of State, and was extremely agitated that I was unable to see them live. That was until my favorite concert partner surprised me by announcing that he had been guest listed for the show and had a +1 if I wanted to come with. Of course I said yes, and thus memories were born, including this one:

4) Switchfoot @ Irving Plaza – I have been meaning to see these guys perform for about two years now, but it was only recently that I was able to make this happen. I happened to mention the show offhand to one of my friends and he became so incredibly excited that I knew we had to go together. It was a great night, and they are fantastic live. It’s hard to say what was my favorite song that night, but this definitely is on the list:

5) Amanda Palmer @ Highline Ballroom – It is ironic that one of my favorite moments came during one of the hardest times of my life (and the low point of my year). Despite that, I still had one of the best nights of my life. It was such an uplifting experience that it was hard to stay down for long. The night was an emotional rollercoaster. The most fun was had when the opening act got back on stage to help sing a cover of Yakity Yak:

6) Kevin Devine @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg – Kevin played for two hours in this epically good night. If there was a song he didn’t play, I don’t think anyone noticed. Not only is Kevin a great singer, he is overall a great performer. Even the banter during his shows becomes part of the performance, as seen here:

7) Amanda Palmer @ Music Hall of Williamsburg – I know, I already mentioned how great AFP is, but she is so epically AMAZING that she deserves a separate entry for both times I saw her this year. This one was a surprise birthday present from one of my best friends. That alone made it special. It was also great getting to experience Amanda on a night where I was in a much better place emotionally. Highlight of the night? Right here:

8) Handsome Furs @ Bowery Ballroom – Love this band, and it’s always great to see them live. The first time was just me tagging along with a friend who needed someone to go with. Now I love them just as much as she does. Here’s one reason why:

9) Jukebox the Ghost @ Bowery Ballroom (CMJ) – This was one of the only bands I actually saw during CMJ this year, but they were all I really needed. Every band that night was good, but I was really here to see these guys work their magic. The stage was decorated in a holiday motif, the fans were packed in and beaming with excitement. I met two really cool people at this show who I still talk to online and plan to (hopefully) see again at some point. Unfortunately the only video I can find is from CMJ last year, but it’s still pretty good.

*all videos found on YouTube and were not taken by yours truly. have to give credit where credit is due*