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Alec Ounsworth & The Pelican Picnic @ Mercury Lounge, NYC | pics

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Last night’s (Aug 30, 2005) Alec Ounsworth & The Pelican Picnic show at Mercury Lounge turned out NOT to be a secret Clap Your Hands Say Yeah gig. It wasn’t his solo singer-songwriter act either. It was what appeared to be a brand new band, though it’s unclear if Alec wrote all the songs himself. It’s also unclear whether the band, that featured members of NYC’s IDA, are keeping the “Pelican Picnic” name. Alec said something like “I’m Alec Ounsworth, and tonight this is the Pelican Picnic,” as he pointed to the band who he never introduced otherwise.

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

I anticipated a mob scene at Mercury Lounge, afterall the rumor that it might be a secret CYHSY show even reached the daily amNewYork newspaper. The chalkboard outside the club made it pretty clear that Pelican Picnic was not Clap Your Hands. Perhaps people turned away when they saw that. The venue was about half-full (100 people?) for their set. Half-full is still pretty impressive considering Pelican Picnic only exists on the Mercury Lounge calendar. Obviously people were there because of Alec’s Clap Your Hands fame (or to see Clap Your Hands), and the band’s lack of communication about the show anywhere (including Alec’s personal site) gave me the impression they were fine with that.

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Imagine a country-western Clap Your Hands. Imagine a female voice accompanying Alec’s (the drummer also sang). Imagine more Bob Dylan than Talking Heads. That was Pelican Picnic. It was good.

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

Alec Ounsworth and the Pelican Picnic

More on this show at Yeti Don’t Dance

Other recent reviews of Alec Ounsworth at The BM Rant and BlogCritics

Clap Your Hands Tour Dates.

Previously
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, meet David Byrne | Seaport, NYC pics
Alec Ounswoth, Harlem Shakes, Head Set, Cool Calm Pete, Prince Paul
Scissor Sisters & CYHSY at Mercury Lounge last night
2 More CYHSY Interviews