Parquet Courts celebrated 'Human Performance' at The Bell House (pics/video, setlist, review)

“We’d just like to remind everyone that Austin Brown does not necessarily reflect the views of Parquet Courts.” Austin Brown was in an ornery mood on Friday (4/8) at The Bell House, the record release party for Parquet Courts‘ terrific new album Human Performance. Wearing a suit, hat and sunglasses (instead of his usual more Thurston Moore look), Brown referred to himself as Snakeskin Dubai, a very opinionated persona who had much to say about baseball (NY baseball, specifically), Bernie Sanders, Playboy, and more. “Snakeskin don’t give a fuck!” was his response to Andrew Savage’s disclaimer.

It wasn’t just Snakeskin, the whole band was in a very good mood, in front of a packed house and appreciative crowd and played one of the best shows I’ve seen them do in a while. Instead of leaping straight into the new album, Parquet Courts kicked off the show with the blast-off of “Sunbathing Animal” (from The album of the same name) and “Dear Ramona” before a four-song Human Performance block of “Dust,” “Paraphrased,” the skronky, Devo-esque “I Was Just Here” and Modern Lovers-y “Berlin Got Blurry.” Over the course of the night, we got about 80% of the album and of the unplayed, “Captive of the Sun” was the only one I really wanted to hear.

The Light Up Gold burners — “Master of My Craft,” “Borrowed Time,” the title track and “Stoned & Starving” — were saved for the end, with the night ending with one of Human Performance’s best songs, “One Man. No City.” Full setlist, plus video of “Human Performance” (and a little of Snakeskin in action) below.

Rips, whose new record is being produced by PC’s Austin Brown, opened the night and their dissonant postpunky sound was a good match. Parquet Courts will be back in NYC in a month, playing Webster Hall on May 20 with B Boys and tickets are still available.

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(video via @schwank)

SETLIST: Parquet Courts @ The Bell House 4/8/2016
Sunbathing Animal
Dear Ramona
Dust
Paraphrased
I Was Just Here
Berlin Got Blurry
Bodies Made Of
Black & White
Vienna II
No No No!
Control Nausea
Dead Cops
Keep it Even
Pathos Prairies
Outside
Human Performance
Master of My Craft
Borrowed Time
Stoned and Starving
Light up Gold
One Man No City