The Radio Dept, High Highs & Braids @ Knitting Factory (pics)

photos by Andrew St. Clair

“We’re having technical difficulties,” Duncanson said, waiting patiently as the Radio Dept.’s first US show in more than a year ground to a halt. The sound guys eventually sorted things out, and although they neglected to turn up Duncanson’s vocals, which had been virtually inaudible from the start, the group picked up right where it had left off.

“OK, so this is the encore,” Duncanson said, just before making a more successful pass through ‘I Want You to Feel the Same,’ a yearning 2006 pop ballad that ought to have come along two decades earlier, so that John Hughes might have included it on his ‘Breakfast Club’ soundtrack.

The Radio Dept. went on to play five more songs, and while there was, in fact, no encore, there didn’t need to be. By the end of their 40-minute set, Duncanson, keyboardist Martin Carlberg and second guitarist Daniel Tjäder had already revisited three decades of European indie rock, referencing — and at times combining — the defiant fuzz of the Jesus and Mary Chain, jangle of the Smiths, dance beats of the Stone Roses, noisiness of My Bloody Valentine, halcyon droning of Cocteau Twins and preciousness of Belle and Sebastian. [Spinner]

The Radio Dept and Braids kicked off a two-night NYC run at Knitting Factory, with a bit of technical difficulty, on Tuesday night (11/30). The 2nd show happened at Bowery Ballroom one night later. The pictures in this post are from the first show which also featured a set by High Highs, and which was one night after Braids played Mercury Lounge. Bowery pics on the way. More Knit pics below…

Braids

High Highs

The Radio Dept.