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Little Dragon played two nights at T5 (night 1 pics & setlist) with Lawrence Rothman who plays Brooklyn Bowl tonight

photos by Luis Ruiz; words by Bill Pearis

Little Dragon @ T5 6/20/2014
Little DragonLittle Dragon

The band’s sultrier new album, Nabuma Rubberband, was inspired more by, as the band has noted, “Janet Jackson slow jams” than the synth-pop of Ritual Union that became de rigueur on fashion runways and cosmopolitan, 1% afterparties. The question now was how they would blend the two disparate sounds together live; would the more solemn Nabuma afterparty threaten to displace the Ritual party?

The group opened the 90-minute set with Nabuma opener, “Mirror,” a minimalist, scene-setting track that reminded you that this was the same singer who, six years before Little Dragon’s debut, provided vocals to the Lynchian noir jazz of Koop’s “Bright Lights.” When the group followed with animated Ritual Union standout “Please Turn” — Nagano clenching her fists skyward, jumping aggressively and jerking her body in a way that looked more Ian Curtis than polished sophisticate — the group relished in their goofier side. – [Rolling Stone]

Sweden’s Little Dragon hit NYC’s Terminal 5 for a two-night stint over the weekend (June 20 & 21), part of their tour for new album Nabuma Rubberband. The evening ended with a shower of confetti and balloons. Pictures and setlist from the first night (Friday, 6/20) are in this post.

Opening both shows was theatrical, arty singer/songwriter Lawrence Rothman, who used to front The Living Things (and is married to acclaimed director Floria Sigismondi). On his dates with Little Dragon, Rothman has been supplementing “his musical offerings with an embodiment of a wholly different character each night.” I have seen him perform twice — once with backup singers in cocoons, the other time at SXSW where he seemed to be paying tribute to Rick Astley. He wasn’t boring at either. Rothman plays NYC again tonight (6/23) at Brooklyn Bowl as part of the It’s a School Night series with Slow Club, which was free if you RSVP’d and is $7 at the door. Pics from his set, and more from Little Dragon, below…


Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Lawrence Rothman

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

Little Dragon

SETLIST: Little Dragon @ Terminal 5 6/20/2014
Mirror
Please Turn
My Step
Killing Me
Underbart
Pretty Girls
Crystalfilm
Summertearz
Shuffle a Dream
Paris
Ritual Union
Klapp Klapp
Cat Rider
Only One
Encore:
Nabuma Rubberband
Runabout
Twice