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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Photos by G.

The Kissaway Trail

On August 11, 2010, Denmark’s indie pop band The Kissaway Trail opened for UK’s Wild Beasts at a sold out show at the Highline Ballroom in New York.  I met most of the band immediately upon entering the venue and as the guys were super nice, I knew they were going to rock my world in a few short hours.  And they did!  Their music reminds me a bit of The Beach Boys mixed with Arcade Fire and according2g, that’s awesome!  Co-lead singers Thomas Fagerlund and Soren Corneliussen (pictured above) harmonize at the same time and they thanked the crowd many times for such a warm reception.  The last time The Kissaway Trail played in New York, they covered Neil Young and this time, they covered a track by The Pixies (Where is The Mind).  Soren Coneliussen gave me 4 free download codes for 2 songs (SDP, Beat Your Heartbeat), 1 remix (SDP – White Lies Remix) and one video (SDP), so send an email to gpoet7 at gmail dot com with the subject line “Kissaway Trail” between now and August 31, 2010 and I’ll provide you with the download code.  The tracks are great, so hurry while supplies last.  More on my encounter with the band coming soon, so stay tuned.

See some more pictures and the set list after the jump.

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Photos by G.

Hayden Thorpe of Wild Beasts

England’s Wild Beasts played a sold out show at the Highline Ballroom in New York on August 11, 2010 and I was there to catch all the action.  After wonderful opening sets from Lone Wolf and The Kissaway Trail (more to come on both bands, so stay tuned), Wild Beasts showed the crowd why they are nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize for best album for “Two Dancers.”  The awards ceremony takes place on September 7, 2010 in England, so keep your fingers crossed! If you don’t know their music, the band is a little bit of indie rock mixed with ethereal dream pop.  Co-Lead Singer Hayden Thorpe has a countertenor voice and he sounds like a cross between Antony from Antony and the Johnsons mixed with Bono! They played fan favorites such as “We Still Got The Taste Dancin’ On Our Tongues,” “Hooting and Howling,” and “Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants.”  Every song sounds ready made to be a stadium sing-a-long and I certainly look forward to hearing more great things to come from Wild Beasts.  I met the band after the show and they were extremely nice.  More to come on that encounter.  One quick note, when I spoke with Ben Little of Wild Beasts, he had mentioned that at the beginning of the show, he took off his shoes and left them at the edge of the stage.  Someone stole them!  Not cool.  Worst of all, the band is catching a flight out of New York at 6:30 in the morning, so please return Ben’s shoes ASAP!

For now, see some more pictures as well as the set list, after the jump.

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Photos by G.

Nancy and Ann Wilson - Heart!

The Wilson sisters, Ann and Nancy, better known as Heart, played a sold out show at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom on August 3, 2010.  Even though they’ve been around since 1973, they sounded and looked as great as they did when they first hit the scene 37 years ago!  In my dream scenario, I really wanted to hear “Magic Man,” “Crazy on You” and “Barracuda.”  They must have read my mind because they played all three songs in a row!  I naturally lost my mind.  They also did covers of Led Zeppelin’s “What is and What Should Never Be” (and rocked the HELL out of it, I might add); The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” and played a snippet of “Gimmie Shelter” by the Rolling Stones.  Ann Wilson’s voice is a powerhouse and she sounds as good, if not better than she does on record.  It’s no wonder that Heart are commonly referred to as the “female Led Zeppelin.”  They rocked hard for the entire show.  They dipped into every decade of their back catalog and played 80′s smash hits such as “Never,” “Alone” and ”These Dreams.”   The new songs from their upcoming album “Red Velvet Car,” which is released at the end of August 2010, were pretty good as well.  They played the title track, a track called “Hey You,” which is not the Pink Floyd song, as well as a song called “WTF” which is about looking in the mirror and pondering “what the f–k was I thinking?!”  It’s a crime that Heart are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because they were and are still amazing nearly 40 years later.  A video of “What is and What Should Never Be” will be coming soon, so stay tuned.  If they come to your town, you’d be a fool not to see these legends!

See some more pictures of Heart plus the set list, after the jump.

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Photos by G.

Wavves!

It’s a little disconcerting when you read reviews of shows from the band Wavves and they liken lead singer Nathan Williams to Kurt Cobain for two reasons:  1 – because he just might be the voice of a new generation and 2 – because the likelihood of him dying way too young is almost a given.  I hope the second statement is not true because when I saw Wavves at the Bowery Ballroom on August 2, 2010, I loved it!  Of course, I had to immediately retreat from my spot in the front row because those who know me well know that one of the things I do not put up with at concerts are people pushing and shoving.  Since every song Wavves played is upbeat and rockin’, the crowd went buck wild for the full hour plus set.  Once I was out of the way of the mosh pit, I had a great time.  I would compare the band to a young Green Day, so if that’s your thing, you will love this band.  The band took generous swigs of whisky and beer after every song and by the end of the show, the in between song banter got harder and harder to make out.  Still, I loved what I saw and I really think the band has a bright future, but only if they don’t screw it all up from the excesses of rock and roll. 

Nathan Williams of Wavves

See the set list after the jump.

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Photos by G.

Keith Murray of We Are Scientists

On July 17, 2010, I got a triple dose of New York rockers We Are Scientists.  First, they performed a very intimate and acoustic 4 song set at Sound Fix in Brooklyn.  I met the band at Sound Fix and they were all extremely nice.  More on that coming soon – stay tuned.  Hours later, We Are Scientists played a sold out show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn.  Going into Sound Fix was the first time I’ve been at a proper CD store in a really long time and it felt wonderful to be in a room full of music (that was not my living room).  I took videos of 3 out of the 4 song performance at Sound Fix and I’ll post those videos here in the not too distant future.  The band joked in between songs, and I’ve heard from some of their fans that their comedic interludes define their live performances.  At Sound Fix, guitarist Chris Cain announced that if they won us over during their acoustic set, they’d be playing a full blown show just hours away down the street if we were interested.  It turns out that the crowd was interested as I saw a lot of the same people at the Music Hall of Williamsburg (which is about 6 blocks away from Sound Fix).

At the main show, we were treated to opening sets by the female rockers Bad Girlfriend, the electric Lightspeed Champion and then, of course, the main attraction – We Are Scientists.  More on the opening acts coming soon!  (I am only one person with tons of adventures, so your patience is appreciated).  Once again, they rocked the crowd with songs from their latest album “Barbara,” as well as fan favorites from their past 3 albums.  Highlights for me were “Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt,” “Nice Guys,” and “Chick Lit.”  I enjoyed watching the crowd react to each song as the opening bars of each song made the audience erupt with applause. Lead singer Keith Murray sang upside down at one point and it was pretty incredible.  You can see a picture of that moment after the jump as well as the set list.

We Are Scientists (live and acoustic) at Sound Fix

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