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Metronomy played Pier 54 w/ Class Actress & American Royalty (pics & review)

photos by Amanda Hatfield, words by Bill Pearis

Metronomy @ Pier 54
Metronomy

I really wasn’t sure if anyone was going to show up. Metronomy’s last NYC show was at Union Hall in August 2008 and there were about 40 people there. Metronomy’s great new album The English Riviera (which just came out this week in the U.S.) has gotten good reviews, but America has largely ignored them. Pier 54 is big.

But about 4000 people did show up and, I know I’m a superfan, but Metronomy killed last night. Killed. Playing for a little more than an hour, we got pretty much everything you’d want to hear: “The Look,” “She Wants” and “The Bay” from The English Riviera, the best of Nights Out (“Heartbreaker,” “Radio Ladio,” “Back on Motorways,” “A Thing for Me”), and even a couple from the first album Pip Paine (Pay The £5000 You Owe).

The new line-up was key, with drummer Anna Prior and bassist Gbenga Adelekan bringing wallop and serious musicianship to Joseph Mount’s off-kilter song creations. (Longtime member Oscar Cash rounded out the quartet.) This line-up is up there with LCD Soundsystem, Soulwax and Hot Chip as to making live dance music.

Mount was self-effacingly charming in between songs, apologizing for a sax solo gone wrong on “Back on Motorways,” and making jokes about the highrise that loomed on the other side of West Street. But mostly the band just knocked out jam after jam. And the crowd, at least those in the front third of the pier, were singing along and dancing. One of my shows of the year so far.

Metronomy play L.A. tonight (7/29) and Mount told us last night that the band reminded us that they’ll be back in the States in October. No new NYC dates has been announced yet though.

Class Actress played a lot of songs from her upcoming album Rapproacher to what seemed like audience indifference. I think recordings are good — very Visage-y new wave synthpop — but there’s something missing from the live show. (A drummer?). L.A. trio American Royalty flew out just to play this show and took the stage like they owned the place, playing a short set of over-the-top party-friendly dance rock. They did not lack for confidence or family in the crowd. They’ve got a 7″ coming out on Seaport Music and, as mentioned in This Week In Indie, play Lit this Saturday if you’re interested.

Deer Tick and Dom play the next and last free Hudson River Rocks show at Pier 54 this summer. More pictures from last night below…

American Royalty

American Royalty

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Class Actress

Class Actress

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Class Actress

Metronomy

Metronomy

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