Comet Gain & Crystal Stilts @ MHOW, NYC - pics

April 13, 2009

Comet Gain

NY Press: This is the 17th year of Comet Gain’s existence. How has the band changed in that time?

David Feck: We lost a few and the ones that have stayed got hairier. There was a moment in our history where it became clear that Comet Gain was going to be a band about carrying on. That for every joy and blunder and hard time that goes on we have our songs for it… and that keeps happening… unfortunately there are more blunders and hard times but fortunately there are tons good times

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Is there anything in New York that you’re excited for? When was the last time you were here?

We were here 10 years ago…and it’s been about that long since we’ve seen a lot of friends.

Comet Gain played Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn last night, April 12th (Easter). Time Out says,

The venue was not packed, but the cluster of fans were enthused–a cult defined.

The New York label What’s Your Rupture? recently issued Broken Record Prayers, a compilation of singles that Comet Gain released over the past decade. It’s an apt showcase for the sloppy band, and the ostensible reason for its presence in Brooklyn last night. Comet Gain came to town short a member–guitarist Jon Slade does not fly–appearing as a five-piece. They were fronted by singer-guitarist David Feck and Rachel Evans, who stands at center stage, singing and vigorously clapping like a cheerleader. Feck is Comet Gain’s songwriter and sole original member; Evans is its secret weapon. The interplay between the two singers, along with the group’s ragtag charm, was reminiscent of the Mekons. Its tiny jumpy songs, with Velvets guitars and drone from a Vox, funnels an army of the stubborn and underappreciated: the Clean (whose “Beatnik” is covered, beautifully and loudly, on Broken Record Prayers); the Pastels (namechecked onstage during a Hitler joke); and Television Personalities (whose “Part Time Punks” was requested and performed, briefly, as an audience sing-along led by Evans).

Bill said it was a good show with lots of witty stage banter by David Feck. One highlight was when opener Crystal Stilts joined Comet Gain on stage for a cover of Teardrop Explodes’ “Sleeping Gas”. Comet Gain, who concentrated mostly on their garagier/punkier material, played two other covers: Felt‘s “Ballad of the Band” and New Order‘s “Love Vigilantes.” Both CG and CS shared a drumkit that read “Love is All” (another What’s Your Rupture band). CC (Cold Cave) was the first of three bands on the bill.

And speaking of Crystal Stilts, they were added as the lucky opener for Dead Weather at Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday.

More pictures from Sunday’s show below…