The Kooks @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC | pics

VIDEO OF EDDIES GUN AT
MYSPACE.COM/DELDJ

debbie harry showed up around the third song.

It's a given that many people posting here will hate The Kooks. After all they were very successful in the UK and when you listen to what they have put out so far, you can tell that they won't be changing the face of music. Arctic Monkeys comparisons are inevitable, and yes Arctic Monkeys are much much better. I'm not British and I liked both their album and their show. They are a new band with good songs that shows promise for the future. Maybe they'll get better, maybe they'll disappear. That's not the point. After their show, I went to Irving Plaza to see Frank Black. I got in 20 mins into his show. He rocked the place as usual. (Sad that the place was not full.) A much better performance than The Kooks of course, but it was f'in' Frank Black. I always like seeing good new bands. They don't have to be Frank Black or even Arctic Monkeys for me to enjoy their show. I leave hatin' to the music professors of which we have too many here. (Not referring to BV who had a reasonable explanation why he was not into them.)

i think the time it took for me to catch a cab heading toward brooklyn almost equaled the length of their set.

i don't think they're nearly as polished as the monkeys. they're young and cute, and enjoyable. that's about it.

so glad you called them out BV

more crap from the UK enough is enough. the problem with that music scene is they hype crappy bands, then abandon them

nobody nutures long lasting musical acts anymore

it's ridiculous

"nobody nutures long lasting musical acts anymore"

that and the overall literacy rate

the show was ten bucks - so i don't think anyone can complain about the short set - wasn't this their first gig in the US? they are fun and i thought they had great stage presence - and the audience was definitely one of the more lively ones i have seen at bowery ballroom - most "too cool" new yorkers just stand around and act uninterested....which never makes sense to me, why you there if you don't like the music?

i thought the show was great - they are fun! and yes it was a short set but the ticket price was super low for a show at bowery - but some people will never be happy. wasn't this their first show in nyc?
i thought the audience was one of the more lively ones i have seen in nyc. most too cool ny-ers stand around and look uninterested - which never makes any sense to me - why go to concerts if you don't like the music - just to say you were there and then comment on how the show sucked?

Comparisons to the Monkeys are inevitable and while the song writing isn't quite as good, I think the Kooks put on a much better show. Monkeys just seem to have that "deer in headlights" look up on stage. The Kooks have a commanding stage presence that's just as much cocky as it is confident. That may turn people off but I left pretty impressed.

I was there last night, and having heard only a couple of songs from their myspace site I can totally agree with the BV comment. Their guitar skills were non existant, and even when their lyrics are fun adn their noise (sound) quite catchy, they did not live up to my expectations. The singer has clear command of stage, but the jim Morrison posse was dated. Probably the best thing they did was Seaside and the last song on their very short set (You don't love me???). Hate to say this, but Small sins were more entertaining, and notice I didn't compare them with the Arctic Monkeys, although they can be sacked in the same group

I was there last night, and having heard only a couple of songs from their myspace site I can totally agree with the BV comment. Their guitar skills were non existant, and even when their lyrics are fun adn their noise (sound) quite catchy, they did not live up to my expectations. The singer has clear command of stage, but the jim Morrison posse was dated. Probably the best thing they did was Seaside and the last song on their very short set (You don't love me???). Hate to say this, but Small sins were more entertaining, and notice I didn't compare them with the Arctic Monkeys, although they can be sacked in the same group

smalls sins was utter noise

ugh the show was pretty bad. the band were assholes to boot. i liked small sins though.

I've got photos from the show.

http://www.thewongway.org/?p=112

The Kooks are huge in the UK.
Here's why..
they're great song writers, that's it. they're not afraid to use pop structures, and make songs that get stuck in your head.

The Kooks don't seem to be going for the too cool for school vibe, and I'm thankful. listening to the album frequently, and humming it as I strut down the road.

You're right on the money BV. The Kooks were totally bland and boring and in general just not very good. I've got some pics here.

http://www.FiddleWhileYouBurn.com/2006/10/10-23-kooks-bowery-ballroom.html

The openers Small Sins were much better.

"the jim Morrison posse"

You mean the Doors?