When it comes to judging underrated bands, they rank up top. They're super-amazing.

bee leave it or snot, i didnt attend either show

I beeeeeleeeeeeeeeve it because Studio B was not very packed.

1) Was Alex Kapranos there?
2) Did anyone get up and dance on the stage?

It was great. I may have permanent ear damage though. I'm not kidding.

Their new takes on the songs were a lot of fun, but after about 45 min. of it they all started to sound the same.

Good Tunes, Good Bros, Good Brew...

Genteman, looks like we've got a party on our hands!!

Don't know about Studio B because with a show also at Maxwells who the fuck would go to Studio B. Anyway the Maxwells show was so fucking good. They played a lot of the same stuff apparently that they played at Studio B but also played a few tracks off the new cd coming out in October. Was just an awesome show. They have Jason Lowenstein from Sebadoh playing with them now. Great sold out crowd. Alex Kapranos was not there but Ira from Yo La Tengo was. No one got up and danced on stage. Amazing show and to the guy above who said after 45 mins their songs all sound the same, you are a dildo.

Did not go to Maxwell's, because why bother when they played Studio B. Same set (Bitter Tea, old songs reworked, a couple of new tracks). Not sold out, but quite full; good crowd. No Alex. Or maybe yes Alex. No idea, really.

"Did not go to Maxwell's, because why bother when they played Studio B"

Nice try but Maxwells is a much better venue than Studio B. Smaller and more intimate and the sound is just awesome. All qualities that tower above Studio B

"Nice try but Maxwells is a much better venue than Studio B. Smaller and more intimate and the sound is just awesome. All qualities that tower above Studio B"

But it's in NJ, so most of the redeeming qualities are thrown out the window. True, Greenpoint is also a dump, especially with all the toxicity, but at least it doesn't require going to NJ.

Maxwell vs. a big 3000+ venue, I could see making the trek to Jersey, but not Maxwells vs. Studio B.

Maxwell's > Studio B

Maxwells is so much better than studio b its not even funny...who wants to go to studio b with all the hipsters and mean bouncers?

its pretty damn easy to ignore the fact that youre in NJ when all you have to do is take the train and walk 15 mins down a street to an AMAZING venue. tiny room, great sound, good food/bar. just a great place, well worth the trip. i guess its kind of nice when people blindfully (lets hope thats a word) hate on NJ when theyve either never been or are from there (haha). hopefully the shows stay less crowded. cursive there in a few weeks is going to be grand.

I hate New Jersey as well, trust me but you can always make the case for Maxwells against any place. Anon 1pm who made the statement about why go to Maxwells when they played Studio B is just an idiot

No, anon 1:29 - I am simply one of many people for whom Greenpoint is more convenient than NJ. I wasn't aware that geographical preferences marked one out as an idiot - thanks for letting me know!

My original comment (why go to Maxwell's when there was Studio B) was in response to an earlier statement "because with a show also at Maxwells who the fuck would go to Studio B" - I suppose it would be more appropriate for me to have said "those who do not always have the time to go to NJ." And really, no need to enumerate why Maxwell's is a better venue (I've been going there for years, so I'm well aware) or how easy it is to get there from downtown Manhattan (I don't live downtown).

Thought the show at Maxwell's(the best NYC venue in New Jersey) was the best I've seen them. My friend thought the percusionist was a bit much but I liked the whole thing. Also, I thought Eleanor displayed a subtly arresting stage presence.

"Moreover, for those of us that occasionally find the Fiery Furnaces' album recordings to be dense and overly difficult, their live show is a revelation: it's actually fun."

'Black Tee Shirt' is the one that's dense. The Fiery Furnaces live show is has got messier and messier until the point where it's just overly-loud noise and Eleanor shouting.

I remember when their shows used to be an incredible medley with actually understandable lyrics being sung, not just talk-yelled, and instruments that you could pick out - most noticeably Matthew on keyboards.

Until they go back to that style, I'll continue to enjoy the albums, but not the shows.

re: "The Fiery Furnaces live show is has got messier and messier until the point where it's just overly-loud noise and Eleanor shouting."

I have the exact opposite sentiments about their live show. I love that every FF live show is a different experience even when they play similar songs. It doesn't always work, like the keyboard-less Webster Hall show last year, but I appreciate their effort.

I love that they rework their songs, transpose verses from one song to another, and generally take risks with their material on stage. I like that it takes some time to recognize the song even if I know it by heart.

I can understand people wanting their live performances to sound like their albums but I'd much rather have it this way.

I thought the perussion-guy was incredible. Very tasteful playing. FFs are one of the best live bands around.

fact - hoboken is closer to d'town manhatan then the upper east side.

fact - if you dropped someone in the middle of hoboken and the middle of park slope they would not be able to tell the diffrence.

fact - 75% of the outer boroughs is a dump and none of you have ever been there or will ever go.

Eleanor's a beautiful woman but she looks like Iggy Pop in the photo.

Eleanor seemed like she wanted to be somewhere else besides Studio B at times. No sign of Alex K, but the mix of new songs and reworked FF classics were great.

re: "The Fiery Furnaces live show is has got messier and messier until the point where it's just overly-loud noise and Eleanor shouting."

EXPERIMENTAL ROCK MUSIC.

re: "The Fiery Furnaces live show is has got messier and messier until the point where it's just overly-loud noise and Eleanor shouting."

ROCK MUSIC.

bah. i thought they sucked at studio b. when I saw them at webster I preferred that more. it was just yelling and loud noises and organ.

anon 1:23 pm- is that you mom?