photos by Keith Marlowe

The Men are now on the road after playing 538 Johnson last night (8/4) with an Brain F, Nomos, Only The Messengers, and Face The Rails. If you missed them, their next Brooklyn show is at Saint Vitus with Pygmy Shrews and Vaz on 9/17 after the tour.

Here are some pictures from 538 Johnson (though unfortunately none of the openers). More of them below...

Continue reading "The Men played 538 Johnson (pics)"

photos by Keith Marlowe

538 Johnson

Richmond's Government Warning played their final two NYC shows back on 2/19 - first at Cake Shop (which we already posted a set of pictures from), and then at 538 Johnson later that night. Both were with Night Birds (ex-The Ergs). 538 Johnson also had Omegas.

A second set of pictures from Cake Shop (with Ex-Humans & Perdition), a first set of 538 pictures, and a new streaming Omegas song from their forthcoming Blasts of Lunacy, below...

Continue reading "pics from Government Warning's 2 final NYC shows (Night Birds, Omegas, Ex-Humans & Perdition included)"

photos by Jason House, words by BBG

While I was watching a man beat another with a pizza box, Boston hardcore band Brain Killer played a pair of shows as part of a memorial in honor of Nick Poot, the first of which hit Tommy's Tavern on Jan 15th with Nomad, Earthpig, State of Decline & Longpigs (some pics are over at show booker Undead's site). The second show, where the photos in this post orginate from, took place over this weekend (Jan 22nd) at 538 Johnson with Parasytic, Perdition, and Nomos. Jason House reports:

It was really intense, especially when it came time for Brain Killer. There was PA trouble right before Parasytic was set to start, and it was switched out for one that obviously wasn't able to handle it. It did the trick, but the last 2 sets essentially sounded like they were being screamed through a CB radio. By the end, nearly everyone in the room was singing along so it didn't really much matter anyway. I never had a chance to meet Nick or see him play, but judging by energy in that room, he will be sorely missed.

Continue reading "Brain Killer, Parasytic, Perdition & Nomos played for Nick Poot @ 538 Johnson (pics)"

photos by Jason House, words by BBG

The crowd goes wild for Mob 47 @ Europa

Mob 47 and Parasytic played Europa on Wednesday (11/10) as part of a string of dates for the pair and part of a larger East Coast tour for Mob 47. The nutty Crazy Spirit and Nomad both also played the Brooklyn show. Pictures are in this post.

If you missed the show, unfortunately your window to catch Parasytic, Crazy Spirit, and Nomad has closed. But luckily, as mentioned yesterday, Mob 47 will play 538 Johnson TONIGHT (11/13) as part of a bill that will include all of the bands at ABC No Rio today at 3PM (Punch, Loma Prieta, Vaccine, & Death First) in addition to Passive Aggressor.

The 538 Johnson show flyer, some videos and more pictures from Europa, below...

Continue reading "Mob 47 played Europa (pics), playing show @ 538 Johnson"

photos by Keith Marlowe, words by BBG

Systematic Death @ 538 Johnson

While dodging a string of lit Black Cats, half of an orange, warm Pabst Blue Ribbon spray, not to mention an entire room of swarming and rabid hardcore fans, Inmates played 538 Johnson on 9/18 as support for Japanese hardcore killers Systematic Death. The show was one of two for the pair and one of three overall dates for Systematic Death, with an earlier shindig at Europa with infamous Rhode Island band Dropdead taking place a few hours prior, and a third show happening in Philly the day before. I unfortunately missed Dropdead and Inmates at Europa but caught Systematic Death there. Later, I would catch Inmates at 538 Johnson.

And yes that's Keelhaul guitarist Chris Smith with Inmates. Keelhaul will be back in NYC on 10/10 with COC and Today Is The Day (tickets are still on sale).

Video from Dropdead's appearance in Philly on Friday (9/17) as well as pics from 538 Johnson are below.

Continue reading "Systematic Death & Inmates played Europa & 538 Johnson, Dropdead played too (pics & video) "

photos by Andrew St. Clair, words by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Braids - Lemonade (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wild Nothing - Chinatown (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Depreciation Guild - Crucify You (MP3)

Braids

Montreal quartet Braids played the Knitting Factory last night (5/26), opening for The Depreciation Guild and Wild Nothing. It was the first of what are now four NYC shows this week. Initially it was just last night's show and one Thursday (5/27) at Mercury Lounge with fellow Montrealers The Luyas (early show, no advance tickets). But they have added a loft show tonight (5/26) in Bushwick (538 Johnson Street #202, 8:30PM) and they will also be playing Rooftop Films on Friday (5/27).

For a band as young as Braids (age of the band and age of the members) I thought they really had it together last night, playing an almost seamless set where long songs flowed into the next. Mixing electronics, loops, shoegazy guitars, proggy rhythms, Braids are familiar and accessible but seem to have already figured out their own sonic niche. Some songs were more dreamlike, others had a more melodic grounding. (I preferred the latter). That said, tomorrow's show with The Luyas is a pretty perfect pairing.

Wild Nothing

Wild Nothing have gotten better each time I've seen them and last night they seemed ready for serious touring. The band's debut, Gemini, came out yesterday and is easily the most accessible record Captured Tracks has released to date, full of insanely catchy pop, owing much to mid-'80s UK indie. While you could cite obscurities like The Field Mice and Pale Saints, to say Wild Nothing also kind of sound like The Cure would not be incorrect. The crowd around the front of the stage was mostly female and mostly dancing.

Another influence made itself apparent last night when the band did a spot-on cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." Singer Jack Tatum did a credible Stevie Nicks (he's got a great falsetto) and their version was both reverent and yet still sounded like Wild Nothing. They aren't the most exciting live band, but they've only been playing together as a band for a few months (the record is just Tatum), so that should come. But they sounded great.

Wild Nothing have a few shows in June opening for Neon Indian, including June 17 at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

The Depreciation Guild

Headliners The Depreciation Guild were also celebrating the release of an album -- their second, Spirit Youth, which is out on Kanine. Where their first, self-released album played up the 8-bit electronics element, the new album and last night's show was all about the guitars. Frontman Kurt Feldman is clearly a fan of '90s shoegaze and Deprecation Guild channels that sound flawlessly. (They also look the part too.) It's a real wall of sound they've got going, played at proper tinnitus volume. Feldman and guitarist Christoph Hochheim both also play in Pains of Being Pure at Heart, and that band's pop sensibilities have probably influenced their songwriting. Spirit Youth has strong melodies to go along with their perfected ethereal sound.

More pictures from the KF show, two setlists and more dates, below...

Continue reading "Braids played Knitting Factory w/ Wild Nothing & Depreciation Guild (pics & setlists), add 2 more shows (a loft tonight)"