Also Mike Skinner.... was there.

I thought it was an amazing show! I didn't know what to expect crowd wise, but it looked like everyone was quite into it. The band seemed very confident on stage and ripped through a great set! Honestly, I was blown away by their performance! I wasn't expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, it was rad! Can't wait to see them next time around.

Oh, and the lead singer is Harry Potter.

Loved the set, not as busy as I expected though.

Hopefully they'll be shaving by the time they return.

They put on a sick show...David Bowie chilled out on the balcony...Brits get rowdy.

they are the second coming of the police

Was that Police reference sarcasm? Couldn't tell. I chose to see Nels Cline and Jeff Tweedy play an amazing show complete with Nels playing a 25 minute "song" of ambient noise, dozens of loops, and guitar effects, followed by a montage of jazzy/lounge covers which he named afterward but I couldn't make out what he said (did I catch an AIR cover in there? Help anyone?) Tweedy then came out and played songs off of every Wilco album (except the 1st volume of Mermaid Avenue), new tunes (something like 'Jesus is a Junkie' which proved to be the highlight), rare ones (Bob Dylan's 49th Beard), Tupelo tunes, and some stuff I didn't recognize. His guitars and his voice were so great to listen to. Nels joined him for the first of 2 encores and added an Asian-sounding lap steel. Jeff was really funny in between songs as well, responding to the obnoxious audience banter and countless requests (including 'Who Let the Dogs Out'). This auditorium is a great place to see a show. Great acoustics, intimate vibe, not a bad seat in the house. However, leg room is a bit tight and they don't sell beer. I really hope they continue to do shows down here (though it's in the middle of nowhere and you literally enter the building from the West Side Highway.)

For all those who say crowds at Bowery are awful. I give you Exhibit A.

Tweedy was amazing! I got to the Arctic Monkeys show after Tweedy finished. I didn't think I was going to be able to catch both, but I did. Hope I can get into Tweedy tonight in the stand by line.

Jerry-in all fairness the NYC portion of that crowd was still probably what one would expect. That mosh pit was 95% British-I know, I was engulfed in it.

The Monkeys kicked a lot of ass. I definitely went to see if I could see the hype (unlike the last time Bowie and I went to a show together, CYHSY). This time I could see it in spades. Alex was born (not too long ago, I might add) to be up there. They won me over.

I also really liked Ka Pow (sp?), they had a good spin on some Beatles-esque tunes-strong writing indeed.

I did the same thing. Tweedy was incredible and absolutely hilarious up on stage. I loved Nels' set, and Jeff's set goes without saying. What a gorgeous venue as well.

I didnt think the Arctic Monkeys could possibly live up to the hype, but I was really impressed. Great show.

It was a good show. Better than the Mercury Lounge one. The opener last night was great too, Surefire. It was my first time hearing or seeing them for that matter, and they kind of blew me away. Definitely better than Tuesday night's. I'm not sure what you're talking about though, Amrit, Kapow was really boring and average. Didn't hear anything remotely Beatle-esque or impressive songwriting-wise. I guess thats why they picked them to go right before the Monkeys. But good night all in all.

"Surefire. It was my first time hearing or seeing them for that matter, and they kind of blew me away"

sure "Melinda"

Melinda I heard McCartney counterpoint in the basslines, I heard Abbey Road/Revolver era harmonies, I heard some interesting stops and chord changes-but I guess they didn't do it for you. Tis cool, the different strokes they make the world go 'round. :-)

Surefire sounded they were playing the same song over and over again-but it was a good song. They had that whole gulp-of-water-spray/spit-in-the-air thing down, I'll give them that. I thought they sounded like an '80's hair band in hipster clothing-but you probably won't agree with that either ;-)

british people are so awesome, right Jerry?

right you are, nora. they adopted me for the night.

The Arctic Monkeys were great! even when they didn't even miss a beat when Harry Potter accidentally dropped his guitar in the middle of a song! They are gonna be HUGE.

Hmm, I didn't get the 80's hair band vibe at all. That's strange. And by the way whoever you are that didn't post your name, and suggested with quotation marks that my name isn't really Melinda, what basis are you going on? That's pretty rude don't you think? I'm sorry if my positive reaction toward the first band offended you.

I too arrived 30 mins from the end. Some bird fell arse over tit, beer everywhere, at the entrance by the stage. Highlight of the show. Bit overrated, I think.

I thought a lot of the songs had the feel of a Poison song, like "Ain't Lookin for Nothin But a Good Time"...how can I resist? You know that one? Confession: I dug on Bret Michaels and CC Deville in the '80's. Big hooks, big voice, distorted basic chord progressions-in the words of Ron Burgundy: 60% of the time it works everytime :-)

Sorry, I'm an ass, not Ron Burgundy. Brian Fantana. And I think I got the percentage wrong too. C'est la vie...

surefire was horrible, so was kapow, thank god the monkeys blew my fuking mind away!!!

surefire aren't awful...

my pics from the night:
http://www.themodernage.org/2005/11/arctic-monkeys-and-surefire-i-bet-you.html

I'm with Amrit on kapow!-listen to this mp3 courtesy of fluxblog-definitely a '60's feel...click the url or go to fluxblog and scroll down

http://homepage.mac.com/mperpetua/.Public/kapow_makeyoumine.mp3

surefire - awful wannabe rockstars - cliche after cliche.
kapow - good. a bit unfocused, but fun. lots of nice harmonies.
monkeys - tight - a mostly good young band with a lot of confidence.

surefire - awful wannabe rockstars - cliche after cliche.
kapow - good. a bit unfocused, but fun. lots of nice harmonies.
monkeys - tight - a mostly good young band with a lot of confidence.

surefire - awful wannabe rockstars - cliche after cliche.
kapow - good. a bit unfocused, but fun. lots of nice harmonies.
monkeys - tight - a mostly good young band with a lot of confidence.

i agree with dan

the show was a blast. kapow's music was catchy, and the monkeys didn't disappoint, despite the sky-high levels of hype.

I was torn being glad for the Brits in the audience, because then I wasn't one of the only ones singing along and dancing and the band put on a better show, and resenting the fact that they came out here either not caring or expecting us to fall tits over ass at their feet and falling back on the support of countrymen. America is ground zero boys, YOU have to win US over.

Had a great time, though.

Surefire's bassist's outfit was cool...if it had been on a girl.

Totally agree about Surefire's bassist, is it just me or does he look like a lankier Graham Coxon? (apparently it's only been me so far that's thought this)

I was torn about the Brits too...mainly because I was being pushed a bit too much for my liking. I thought their performance was overrated...Alex was looking so bored and just strung out, I mean it's understandable, they must be exhausted...but really boys, like Shani said you do have to win us over, this was the one gig they had to shine in their US tour and they failed.

i loved the show. especially the arctic monkeys. i thought they did a great job. you don't have to jump up and down and say stupid things into the mic to be good. they alreay proved they're good on record. if you like the songs then i thought they played them perfectly. i liked kapow too, and i'm gonna go see them at mercury lounge on saturday if anyone wants to come along.

were from england!! arctic monkeys r the best thing in this country at the moment cant beleive thyv played in nyc!! they havent even relaesed thr album yet! alex turner is amazin n sheffield is class!!!!!!!!!! roll on manchester were goin 2 c them!!!!!!

were from england!! arctic monkeys r the best thing in this country at the moment cant beleive thyv played in nyc!! they havent even relaesed thr album yet! alex turner is amazin n sheffield is class!!!!!!!!!! roll on manchester were goin 2 c them!!!!!!

kwl i love these guys

I LOVE ARCTIC MONKEYS!!

I LOVE THEM!!!

KEWL I DO 2 !!!

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THEM TOOOO(ESPECIALLY ALEX AND COOKIE)!!!!!!!!!!THEY ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!BUT DONT WORRY GIRLS I WONT TAKE THEM.1ST OF ALL THEY WILL NAVER COME TO POLAND AND 2ND OF ALL IM TOO UGLY SO U SEE NOW...