Photos by G.

Brandon Flowers

The Killers are on a break.  Brandon Flowers is sowing his wild oats by releasing a solo record called “Flamingo.”  The songs from the album made their New York debut on August 26, 2010 as he performed them live at a sold out show at the Highline Ballroom.  For those hoping for a radical departure from the sound of the Killers in the way that Gwen Stefani of No Doubt and Kele from Bloc Party did on their solo records, you might be disappointed.  I personally thought that any of the tracks performed could fit in on a Killers record, so perhaps that will please the legion of fans who are eagerly awaiting the release of “Flamingo.”  He played 8 new songs, a cover of Kim Carnes’ “Bette Davis Eyes,” and 2 tracks by The Killers – “Losing Touch,” and an acoustic version of “When You Were Young.”  Aside from the fact that “When You Were Young” was the encore and final number, the audience just about lost their minds when he started singing the song.  A video of “When You Were Young,” “Bette Davis Eyes,” and “On The Floor” are all coming soon, but please be patient.  I am only one person with many amazing experiences to write about.  He took the stage at 9 pm and played for 45 minutes.  There was no opening act.  The screaming girls around me obviously loved every note, but I did overhear some audience members saying “his solo stuff sucks shit.”  You can decide for yourself when “Flamingo” is released next month.  One thing that is indisputable, Brandon Flowers is a total hottie!

See some more pictures of Brandon Flowers as well as the set list after the jump.

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Photos by G.

Ana Matronic and Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters

Did you really think I’d only post 5 pictures of my beloved Scissor Sisters from their sold out show at Terminal 5 in New York on August 24, 2010?  I didn’t think so either!  You can see even more Scissory goodness here.

"Show your nipples if According2g is your favorite website" - Jake Shears

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Photos by G.

Casey Spooner

Casey Spooner, half of the electronic duo Fischerspooner, received a call from Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters a few days ago. Jake asked if Casey would like to open for the band on their North American Tour.  Casey was up to the challenge even though he had no rehearsal time.  He had just finished recording a batch of songs for an upcoming solo CD called “Adult Contemporary” and decided to treat these shows as a rehearsal.  Well, he could have fooled the sold out crowd at New York’s Terminal 5 on August 24, 2010.  His songs were great and they sounded well polished.  Hitting the stage at 8 pm, he performed in front of a white sheer curtain with a spotlight on him and he wore a suit that made him look extra gorgeous.  Some of the songs he sang included “Cinnamon Toast,” where he professed that everything is ok as long as he has it.  He also sang a track called “RSVP,” that basically dealt with the fact that he wants to be included on every guest list – just in case – but he’d prefer to stay in, with his cats, eating Thai food and watching “True Blood.”  Sometimes, you can’t argue with that logic.  He also sang a song that Jake Shears will be singing on for the studio version, but we were treated to Casey’s solo version tonight.  I met Casey prior to the show and he was extremely nice.  More on my encounter with Casey Spooner coming soon.  His solo album should be released in the fall and based on the live renditions, it’s going to be great!

"How much do I love According2g? This much!"

Before and after Casey Spooner rocked the crowd, we were treated to DJ sets by the one and only Sammy Jo.

DJ Sammy Jo

Photos by G.

Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters

2010 is the year of the Scissor Sisters.  The band released an amazing album called “Night Work” earlier this year and it has already secured a spot on my best albums of the year list.  They previewed the as yet unreleased tracks earlier this year at 2 very intimate shows in their native New York and I was there to catch all the action.  The songs sounded great then when nobody had ever heard them and now that they are available for all to hear and sing along to, each track has turned into an anthem.  I’ve seen Scissor Sisters live at least ten times and I don’t know how they do it, but every show is better than the last one and I find it impossible not to have the time of your life at one of their shows.  After Casey Spooner and DJ Sammy Jo played great sets, the band hit the stage at 9 pm at New York’s Terminal 5 on August 24, 2010.

Ana Matronic

From the second the band hit the stage until the closing notes of the last song, Terminal 5 was a non-stop dance party and it was so much fun!  Jake Shears has more energy than almost every performer around and he sings, he dances and he’s an absolute pleasure to stare at for 2 hours!  The band played every track off their new album “Night Work” except for “Sex and Violence,” my favorite song off the album, but it makes no difference because hearing the new songs mixed with classics such as “Paul McCartney,” “Take Your Mama,” and “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing,” will leave me with a great feeling for days to come.  I met the band before the show and aside from making great music, putting on a hell of an entertaining show time after time, the band is one of the nicest in all of Rock and Roll.  They’ll be happy to pose for pictures, sign autographs and answer any questions you might have.  What did Ana Matronic tell me about working with Duran Duran?  What did Jake Shears say about the original version of Night Work and if the songs will ever be released?  Find out soon.

See pictures of the filthy and gorgeous Del Marquis and Baby Daddy as well as the set list after the jump.

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Photos by G.

Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears

When you go to as many shows as I do (search the archives for proof), and when you have so many great experiences as I am lucky enough to have, the bad ones stand out like sore thumbs.  Tears For Fears is one of my favorite bands of all time, so naturally, I’ll see them every chance I get.  My latest chance was August 19, 2010, where the duo played a sold out show at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom.  I arrived at the venue to be greeted by “the head of security” from Tears for Fears who was a total dick!  He advised me and one other person who cared about meeting the band that “autographed merchandise is ‘reasonably priced’ for sale inside the venue and they are not interested to meet fans on the streets of New York.” I’ve met the band before and they were both nice.  In line talking to other fans, I heard some horrible stories about what a prick their head of security is, and it sounds like he might have the best interests of himself ahead of those of the band he is supposed to be protecting.

Tears for Fears performing on the "We Just Want Your Cash" Tour.

Then the disorganization of the venue reared its ugly head.  Once inside the Hammerstein Ballroom, we were advised that our general admission floor tickets were halfway back on the floor, which is unheard of at a concert!  Standing room at concerts is always in front of the seats and not the other way around – except at this backwards venue!  This basically means that the people who have stood for hours to be close to the stage could have just turned up 5 minutes before the show started because the crappy vantage point would be just the same!  To make matters worse, the venue had not prepared all the seats to be ready before they opened the doors, so there were a few near riot like situations with absolutely rude (and moronic) security guards trying to push people back to allow for the delivery of more seats.  I will definitely be sending a copy of this blog to the people in charge of the venue and I am seriously considering boycotting future events at the Hammerstein Ballroom.  The way we were treated due to their lack of competence is unforgivable and I am asking that at the very least, we are offered refunds.  I’ll definitely keep you posted as to their answer, and in the meanwhile, please spread the message to all your friends on all of your various social networks.  We are in a great depression and if we are going to spend our hard earned money for a service, we should not have to put up with this lack of professionalism!  The people have the power, but only if we use it.

Curt Smith of Tears For Fears

With all of that drama aside, Tears For Fears hit the stage around 9 o’clock and played hit after hit.  In fact, the set list was not much different than when I saw them last in 2004, which is a bit disappointing since they are not even touring to support a record.  As much as I love them, and I do love nearly every song off every album, I have to call this the “We Just Want Your Cash” Tour.  Only for about 30 seconds of the entire show did Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith stand anywhere near each other (a’la Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham), but they clearly know they can sell more tickets together than they can as solo acts, so they grin and bear it.  Tears for Fears couldn’t even manage to play at least one song from each of their 5 albums (the album “Raoul and the Kings of Spain” was not represented at all), and key hits such as “Mother’s Talk” and “Change” were omitted, but the parts of the show that were good were great.

From “The Hurting” they played “Memories Fade,” “Mad World” (both the orchestral and album version), and “Pale Shelter.”  From “Songs From the Big Chair” they played “Shout,” “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” and “Head Over Heels.”  From “The Seeds of Love” they played “Sowing the Seeds of Love,” “Woman In Chains” and “Advice for the Young At Heart.”  “Elemental” was represented with “Break it Down Again.”  Off their most recent album, 2004′s “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending,” they performed the title track, “Secret World,” “Call Me Mellow,” ”Quiet Ones” and the B-side “Floating Down The River.”  Roland Orzabal did a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and Curt Smith played his solo song “Seven of Sundays.”  I definitely had a great time, but there were a few black marks on an otherwise beautiful night.  I’m pretty sure this will be the last time I will ever pay to see Tears For Fears in concert, but I’ll always support their music if they decide to make more.

If you don’t know the albums I have referenced above, get them!  They are masterpieces from a highly underrated band!  Roland Orzabal’s solo album “Tomcats Screaming Outside” is really great as well.

See a few more pictures of Tears for Fears as well as the set list and the merch, after the jump.

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Photo courtesy of Future Relative.

Future Relative

New York-based electropop band Future Relative is poised to be the next big thing.  They recently played their first live gig and it was a triumphant sold out show at the Canal Room in NYC.  The brains behind the band is Armand Aviram, who writes, sings and produces the tracks.  The songs will make you throw yourself a silent rave as you listen to their delectable dance grooves.  I recently chatted with Armand we professed our love for electro bands Dragonette and Young Empires.  That conversation lead to some extremely exciting news.  For a limited time, Armand is offering According2g readers a link to download a FREE 5-track EP from Future Relative called “Fantasies.”  The tracks included are “X-Ray Vision,” “All Kinds of Love,” “Coming Alive,” “Eye Contact,” and “Monday Morning.”  I think after you hear these tracks you’ll share my enthusiasm for Future Relative and like me, you’ll be looking for their name at the top of the charts.  The link to download “Fantasies” by Future Relative is available for a limited time when you click here.  Enjoy!  Future Relative will be doing a brief club tour in the fall, so be on the lookout for that.  As of this writing, one of the shows will be at Fontana’s on the Lower East Side on September 10, 2010.  It will sell out quick, so don’t miss out!  Thanks again to Armand Aviram for the grooves and we wish the best of success to Future Relative!

Photos by G.

MGMT

MGMT is a great case study for a time when the music industry is seconds away from crashing and burning completely.  They made an extremely radio friendly debut record, which pretty much made every top 10 album list that year and soon after pictures of the band from Brooklyn became affixed to the walls of every teenage girl in the land.  The record companies found their new golden boys.  Then they jumped the shark by making a nearly hook-free sophomore record which features surf inspired psychedelic tracks, one of which clocks in at 12 minutes, thus sending hipsters and label executives who know nothing about music but only about the bottom line into a panic!  Their live premiere at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York on August 18, 2010 continued their trend of challenging their listeners and freaking out the record company.  It was very clear the band wanted the 4,500 person crowd to pay attention to the music and not the individual players as MGMT performed a dream set list – almost entirely in the dark!  They were lit from behind with a backdrop that resembles their latest album cover. Since it was nearly impossible to see them, the visuals projected on the screens behind the band were as trippy as MGMT’s latest album.  All ticket prices were the same, no matter what section, so for once, having good versus crappy seats didn’t make one bit of difference.  That actually lucked out for me, because I was not pleased with my seat location. 

When “Congratulations,” came out earlier this year, I think I was so shocked by the dramatic diversion in the band’s musical direction that I didn’t comprehend it at first, but as I continued to listen to it, it quickly became my favorite album of 2010.  It was so amusing to me watching the audience not know how to react to songs, such as their epic “Siberian Breaks” a track that goes through multiple genre changes in its 12 minute length.  At first people were standing, and looking around the crowd for direction, the people decided to sit.  The crowd clapped as the song went into its next part, but they were obviously not clapping for the complexity of the music, they just thought a new song was about to begin.  So people stood again.  MGMT played nearly every song off both of their albums (except ”4th Dimensional Transition” off “Oracular Spectacular” and the instrumental “Lady Dada’s Nightmare” off “Congratulations.”)  The band even dug deep and played, “Destrokk,” a song off their hard to find first EP.  The flow of the show was also great as they mixed in hits with their spacey new tracks.  Aside from the lack of stage lighting, I thought the band sounded great and performed the best set list you could possibly dream of.  I’ve seen the band twice before and the extremely drunken crowds both times pushed, shoved and body slammed to the music.  Not exactly needed for this type of music, and perhaps MGMT is trying to shake those people from their fan base so they can continue making some of the most interesting music that is around today, without feeling compelled to make the sequel to their debut album. I met the band prior to the show and I’d like to thank them again for keeping music alive by keeping it real. Videos of “Congratulations” and “I Found a Whistle” are coming soon, so stay tuned!

Nothing to see here. MGMT.

View the set list after the jump.

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