Jonsi

Icelandic singer Jonsi of the band Sigur Ros played his first ever solo show in New York on May 8, 2010 at Terminal 5. Before I start my review, here are 3 fun facts about Jonsi:  His real name is Jon Thor Birgisson, he is openly gay and he is blind in his right eye.  What do these three things have to do with each other, you ask?  Nothing!  As  Jonsi took the stage, you could hear a pin drop as the audience watched the singer perform the first song “Stars In Still Water” acoustically.  Though Jonsi didn’t say much to the sold-out crowd during the show, he more than made up for it with his music and really cool stage set up. Using really cool screen projections, the backdrop looked like war-ravaged window panes that morphed into flooding waters, woodsy scenes and fire!  He took to the stage at 9 pm and played for about 85 minutes.  According2g, as I watched Jonsi, I felt like I was being transported into a movie and the songs he sang were the perfect soundtrack.  His voice has a quality to it that is so beautiful and honest, I was really captivated throught the show.  His debut album “Go” is out now.  There’s one more show at Terminal 5, on May 9, 2010 for those who want to catch this great show.  Stay tuned for a video of “Go Do” coming soon to this website.  Watch out for it.  In the interim, enjoy some more pictures of Jonsi and see the set list after the jump.

Jonsi Birgisson.

Jonsi's Jukebox

The set list was:

Encore:

If you have corrections, please let us know!

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The Editors live at Terminal 5

The good thing about being open-minded is when you have a new experience, you can let yourself be free to witness the unknown and form your opinions later.  When I saw The Editors on February 19, 2010 at New York’s Terminal 5, I didn’t really know what to expect.  They’ve been around since 2002, and while I knew their name, I didn’t really know much of their music.  What little I had heard made me decide to take a chance and see them live.  I walked into the show as a blank slate and from the second The Editors came on stage (at 9:40 pm) until they exited (around 11:00 pm), they colored my slate with love.  They were so awesome live, as I write these words, I wish the show was still going on.  They needed no backdrops and fancy lights to show the crowd that they rock.  Instead, lead singer Tom Smith played guitar, piano and keyboards (sometimes multiple instruments during a song).  His voice sounds scarily like Ian Curtis from Joy Division and musically, if you take the best and funkiest moments The Killers have and meld it all together, you have Funky Joy Division.  I’m keeping this review short because I need to switch over to Amazon.com and buy all of their albums immediately.

Tom Smith of The Editors

View some more pix and the set list for The Editors after the jump.

In This Light and On This Evening by The Editors - Out Now!

Tom Smith channeling Ian Curtis

The Set List for the Editors live at Terminal 5 in New York on 2/19/10 was:

In The Light and On This Evening / Lights / An End Has A Start / You Don’t Know Love / Bullets / The Boxer / The Big Exit / Blood / Eat Raw Meat = Blood Drool / The Racing Rats / Escape The Nest / Like Treasure / Bones / Smokers Outside the Hopsital Doors / Bricks and Mortar

Encore: Munich / Papillion / Fingers in The Factories

You Can Edit Me Anytime!

Tom Smith of The Editors

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Ray LaMontagne - Live at the Beacon Theatre

Wow!  What can be said about Ray LaMontagne’s solo acoustic sold-out opening night show, the first of 3 shows, at New York’s Beacon Theater?  This singer/songwriter has a gravely/raspy voice that will make you weak in the knees.  When he sang, silence filled the legendary theater so the crowd could soak up every single word.  In between songs, the soft-spoken LaMontagne told stories of his idols such as Elvis Costello and Justin Townes Earle.  Those stories gave the audience a chance to shout out their favorite songs and express their love and admiration for Ray LaMontagne.  His embarassment at these cat calls was more than precious.  A fun fact about Ray:  he was working a 65-hour a week shift in a shoe factory when he heard a song on the radio by Stephen Stills (of Crosby Stills and Nash) and decided to quit his job and become a full-time singer.  That’s a quality that I admire tremendously.

He hit the stage at 9 pm and sang for a solid two hours.  He played songs such as “Jolene,” “Loretta,” “Let It Be Me,” “Shelter,” “Trouble,” “Sweet Baby,” a Lucinda Williams cover, “You Are the Best Thing,” and the Bee Gees/Janis Joplin classic “To Love Somebody.”

See some more pictures of Ray LaMontagne after the jump.

Ray Ray Ray!

You don't know what it's like to love somebody.

Ray LaMontagne singing "Jolene"

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Kylie Minogue at her first show ever in New York!

Kylie!  Kylie!  Kylie!

I don’t even know where to begin because Kylie Minogue’s show tonight left me speechless.  Picture it:  October 11, 2009 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.  Pop princess Kylie Minogue has been on the music scene for over 20 years, selling out stadiums all over the world, but never quite making the biggest splash in the US of A.  That all changed tonight.  Hitting the stage at 8:15 PM, every homosexual in Manhattan was on hand to see Kylie Minogue’s first show in New York City.  There are 100 people involved in the production of the show, 7 costume changes, 8 dancers, 9 US tour dates (3 of them are in New York City), 6 cities over 14 days.  Let’s not forget, Kylie has only recovered from a bout with breast cancer less than 5 years ago.

Kylie doing the splits on a bed of men.

Kylie is sexy but not trashy.  Her outfits were fierce.  The lighting was incredible.  She sang hit after hit including “Can’t Get You Out Of My Head,” “Wow,” “Slow,” “Come Into My World,” “Better the Devil You Know,” “Love at First Sight,” a jazzy rendition of her first US hit “The Locomotion,” and she also payed homage to the former queen of the NY gay scene Madonna by doing a little bit of “Vogue.” Towards the beginning of the show, she received an ovation that lasted for close to 5 minutes!  She was so gracious, she announced all of her band and dancers twice plus she even gave a shout out to the crew for putting a stadium show together inside a 2,000 seat venue.

K is for Kylie!

She’s got two more shows left in Manhattan and at least one of them is sold out, so RUN don’t walk to get your tickets. You will not be disappointed.

See the setlist and a bunch more Kylie after the jump!

Kylie taking it slow.

Kylie and the light show

I want those pants!

Come into her world!

I want those boots too!

"Put your arm out if According2G is your favorite website."

Ferosh and faboosh!

The setlist for Kylie Minogue at the Hammerstein Ballroom on October 11, 2009 was:

Light Years
Speakerphone
Come Into My World
In Your Eyes

Shocked/What Do I Have to Do/Step Back in Time/Spinning Around (medley)
Beter Than Today

Like a Drug
Boombox/Can’t Get You Out of My Head (Medley)
Slow
2 Hearts

Red Blooded Woman
Sex/Heartbeat Rock segue/Wow

White Diamond
Confide in Me
I Believe in You

Burning Up/Vogue
Locomotion
Kids
In My Arms

Encore:
Better the Devil You Know
The One
Love at 1st Sight

Can't get her out of my head!

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Karin Dreijer Andersson of Fever Ray.

I had no idea what to expect when I went to the first of 2 sold out shows by Fever Ray at Manhattan’s Webster Hall on September 28, 2009. I know that lead singer Karin Dreijer Andersson was formerly in The Knife and I know that she’s pretty well known for dressing up in strange costumes on stage. As far as the rest of it, I decided to let the band do their job and turn a complete stranger into a fan.  Mission accomplished!

At the stroke of 10 pm when Fever Ray hit the stage, these weird figures in strange costumes appeared on stage and when the thumping tribal electronic music started pulsing, we were treated to a laser lights show that Pink Floyd would tip their hats to.  The smoke and lasers engulfed the room and at times, it felt like I was starring in my own version of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Relax music video.  It’s no wonder that their self titled album is already a shoe in for most best of the year album lists.  Also, Time Out New York has named this show one of the hottest tickets in town this week and it’s easy to see how both nights of this spectacle have sold out.

See some of the amazing lighting after the jump.

Karin Dreijer Andersson gives me Fever!

Fever Ray's light show at Webster Hall.

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