by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Gospel Music - This Town Doesn't Have Enough Bars for Both of Us (MP3)

Florida indie pop group Gospel Music are visiting this weekend, playing the Rock Shop tonight (5/4) with Kleenex Girl Wonder, The Randy Bandits, and Parade Grounds, and Cake Shop on Saturday (5/5). It's the start of a pretty extensive U.S. tour, and all dates are at the bottom of this post.

Gospel Music, who was last around in December, is the new group from Owen Holmes who used to be in Black Kids, if your memory goes back five years, and now makes music on his own that's reminiscent of Magnetic Fields or Jens Lekman. Last year's How to Get to Heaven from Jacksonville, FL is worth checking out if you haven't heard it. You can download "This Town Doesn't Have Enough Bars for Both of Us" at the top of this post and watch the video for it below, or stream the album on Spotify.

Continue reading "Gospel Music (the band, not the style) on tour, playing Rock Shop and Cake Shop this weekend (dates)"

photos by Bryan Bruchman

"@fieldmousemusic just did an awesome set opening for Poliça at the Rock Shop. Great sound." - Drew Salisbury

"Enchanted by Polica at the Rock Shop" - Lindsey Stanberry

Polica @ the Rock Shop

Polica, who were just at SXSW (where they played many shows including a BV party and one with Lionel Richie), is currently on a tour in support of their solid debut LP, Give You the Ghost, which hit NYC for their first of three shows here last night at the intimate Rock Shop (3/27) with Field Mouse. More pictures from the show and a video of Polica playing a new song at the show below.

Polica's tour continues, hitting Mercury Lounge tonight (3/28) with Zulu Winter (sold out) and Brooklyn Bowl on Sunday (4/1) with special guests. Tickets for the much larger Brooklyn Bowl show are still available.

Field Mouse play tonight too, opening for Dana Buoy of Akron/Family at Knitting Factory. Tickets for tonight's show are available. Field Mouse has other upcoming NYC shows in April too.

More pics and video below...

Continue reading "Polica played Rock Shop w/ Field Mouse (pics & video), play Merc tonight, Brooklyn Bowl Sunday (tix available)"

photos by Bryan Bruchman

Ra Ra Riot @ the Rock Shop

Ra Ra Riot played a last minute show at intimate Brooklyn club the Rock Shop last night (3/19). To quote their announcement, they "leave on Tuesday to record a new album and want to play you some new songs" before they go. Those new songs were performed in part by a new member of the band who it appears, at least for last night, has replaced Ali Lawn.

As advertised, the doors opened at 8pm and the show started at 9. They played the songs you can see listed below on the setlist and three more during an encore. All proceeds "will be donated to the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls." More pictures below...

Continue reading "Ra Ra Riot debuted new songs & a new member @ the Rock Shop (pics)"

Ra Ra Riot @ Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 (more)

Ra Ra Riot, who no longer count Alexandra Lawn as a member, announced last night:

Dear NYC fans,

We leave on Tuesday to record a new album and want to play you some new songs before we go. Tomorrow night (Monday) we will be playing at the Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Doors at 8pm, show at 9pm.
Tickets are $10 and all proceeds will be donated to the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls. Show is 21+.

See ya tomorrow!

Ra Ra Riot

Greg Saunier & Liam Finn @ the Rock Shop (photo by David Wexler)

Tonight (1/30) is your last change to catch Liam Finn at the Rock Shop, for now at least. Tickets are still on sale.

The four-show residency began back on 1/9, and at least one person in the crowd drove down from Boston for that show. They wrote:

Finn cruised through two sets (see full setlists for each below), the first as just a man with his looping pedals while on the second he was joined by his brother Elroy on the drums and Jol Mulholland on the bass. In the first set Finn showed off his skills both behind the drums and on guitar, masterfully looping each instrument to create an astonishing amount of sound for one man.

The first set featured songs mostly from his solo debut I'll Be Lightning and his Champagne In Seashells EP, but Finn was also able to work out "Chase The Seasons" off of 2011's FOMO for the first time ever in concert (see video below). For the last two songs of set #1 (as well as a between songs jam) Finn was joined on stage by Wilco's Mikael Jorgensen. The musical chemistry between the two on "Don't Even Know Your Name" and "Lead Balloon" was nearly flawless even though the pair had seemingly had no previous practice time together with the songs....

Continue reading "Mikael Jorgensen & Greg Saunier played the Rock Shop with Liam Finn (whose residency finishes tonight) --- videos"

by Bill Pearis

To say that the second album by North Carolina native Jonathan Wilson feels a bit like getting a free reflexology treatment and a small dose of diazepam combined is, accordingly, no criticism. This immersive double-length album is so languid that it might have its own gravitational field, pulling you earthwards to examine the sky in some detail, growing your hair out with every slowly unfurling guitar line. Even if you care nothing for the culture of Laurel Canyon, the Los Angeles crucible of stoned country-rock back in the 70s and Wilson's recent stomping ground, his unhurried, backward-glancing Gentle Spirit might speak to you, in a whisper laden with effects...

...Wilson's prescription for our ills is simple: flutes, pianos, organs, guitars (acoustic and electric, and lots of them) and guests (even more of them). This album grew - very slowly - out of regular Wednesday night jam sessions that Wilson hosted at his old Laurel Canyon base...Jonathan Wilson is a producer, guitar-maker and veteran of Robbie Robertson's, Jackson Browne's and Elvis Costello's bands. Wilson's fellow Canyon noodlers included Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes (who doesn't appear on the album), plus a Jayhawk, bits of the Steve Miller Band and Andy Cabic of Vetiver, another bunch of psychedelically leaning longhairs, all of whom do. [The Observer]

Jonathan Wilson hits the East Coast next week, which will include three stops in NYC: he plays two nights at  Mercury Lounge (an early show on January 19 and a late show on January 20 with Quilt) and then hits the Rock Shop on January 21. He also plays Philadelphia's World Cafe Live on January 18. Click through for those dates in list form (as well as European dates), plus a few music videos and MOJO's full 2011 list...

Continue reading "Jonathan Wilson released MOJO's #4 album of 2011, playing three NYC shows (and one in Philly)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

One night before they opened for the National at Beacon Theater, Baltimore's Wye Oak headlined their own sold out show at The Rock Shop on 4th Ave in Brooklyn to a crowd that included Sharon Van Etten who they shared a stage with at Beacon Theater one night earlier. Michael Azerrad says it was a great show.

The NYC shows marked the almost-end of a long year of touring for Wye Oak who have been out promoting the heck out of their 2011 album Civilian which landed them the #1 spot on AV Club's "Best Music of 2011" list.

Saturday night, 12/17, Wye Oak played their actual last show of the year in their hometown at the Ottobar with Pattern is Movement who also opened the Brooklyn show three nights earlier. More pictures from the Rock Shop, below...

Continue reading "Wye Oak & Pattern is Movement @ the Rock Shop (pics)"

photos by Bryan Bruchman

Little Scream @ the Rock Shop

Little Scream's performance on Friday was a show and not-telling of everything one might want to believe about art--that somehow one individual's pain or interiority can be translated into something relatable, even into existential comfort. It might have been the end of the tour in one sense, but in another there's relish in the pause. Sprengelmeyer said she's immediately ready to get working on another album. Now will be the anticipation of flipping over the golden record to hear what's on the other side. [L Mag]

Little Scream, whose debut album ended up on NPR's year end list, also recently performed a cover of The Velvet Underground's "Jesus" for The A.V. Club's Holiday Undercover series. You can watch a video of that below. She'll tour the US and Canada again this March, though no east coast dates have been announced.

More pics, video, and all dates below...

Continue reading "Little Scream played Rock Shop (pics), covered 'Jesus' (video)"

photos by Bryan Bruchman

Cate Le Bon @ The Rock Shop

"I'm not one for overly dressing up. My 'on-stage look' is my everyday look. It's most important for me just to feel comfortable and feel like myself when playing. I've brought quite a few jumpsuits with me and my trusty fringed T-shirt dress. I am a fan of buying second hand and vintage clothing--it's more fun than buying clothes off the peg and it's nice knowing there's little chance you'll ever bump into anyone else with the same item. I [also] like to pretend I'm French and dress like I imagine a French woman to dress--although a French woman would probably never dress like a Welsh woman imagines her to."
- Cate Le Bon to Elle

Continue reading "Cate Le Bon & H. Hawkline @ the Rock Shop (pics)"

photos by Toby Tenenbaum

Explosions in the Sky @ Wellmont

Explosions In The Sky took the stage and ploughed through one and half hours of hugely dynamic, instrumental music. The band's signature "soft/loud/soft" style was truly effective--arguably more so than on record. Some drum sections from the band's new album, Take Care, Take Care, Take Care were surprisingly brutal and heavier live, proving the band's mastery of dynamic range.

It was definitely the tracks from EITS' 2009 album All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone that got the most attention from the crowd. The band ended with "Your Hand In Mine" to a sea of hands in the air, and left the stage with squealing guitar feedback. -[CMJ]

If you missed the openers, then make sure and swing on over to Webster Hall on December 10th. Tickets are currently on AMEX presale, but hit regular sale at noon Friday (10/7). The show is one of a select few US appearances currently scheduled outside of their inclusion on the Weezer Cruise. Tour dates are below.

Explosions in The Sky will hit Europe with The Drift later this fall, but are now on the road with Baltimoreans Wye Oak. The Baltimore pair also has an NYC show in their near future, on 12/14 at Rock Shop with Pattern Is Movement. Tickets are on sale for the show that happens one day before they open for the National at Beacon Theater. Mostly EU, but also US tour dates for Wye Oak are below.

EITS's setlist, more pictures from Wellmont and all tour dates are below.

Continue reading "Explosions in the Sky & the Antlers played Wellmont (pics), Wye Oak playing Rock Shop b4 National show (tix)"

by Klaus Kinski

Blackout survivor Ted Leo in the rain (more by Chris La Putt)

You know, I've been bugging BV to put on a show with me since I became aware of just how much I missed helping put together our RoFL shows at Pianos. Doesn't it figure that when we finally get it happening mother nature sends along one of her most loathsome weather systems to go head and destroy my, our, dreams. Folks, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that the BrooklynVegan and Klaus Kinski present Ted Leo, Doug Gillard, Broadcaster, and Dave Hill scheduled to take place at the Rock Shop on Saturday August 27th has been CANCELLED.

If you've been a good little pup and have been reading BrooklynVegan over the past coupla days, you'd know that shows all over the city this weekend are being cancelled. I was really hoping that we could hang in there. However, with the MTA closing down tomorrow at noon, and with the very real possibility that bridges and tunnels might also close, we've got no choice but to cancel the show. What's the point of having a show if people can't even get to it? And Broadcaster has to get to and from Providence. During a hurricane? What're you, some kind of a masochist?

Ideally we would like to reschedule this somewhere in the near future, with the same Dave Hill and the same bands performing. It is a pain in the ass to try and get so many schedule's to sync up, but I am tenacious and really hope we get a mulligan. Refund information to follow.

Other Ted Leo dates below...

Continue reading "our Ted Leo show @ the Rock Shop is cancelled too :("

photos & videos by Jessica Amaya

The Love Language @ The Rock Shop

The Love Language played The Rock Shop on Saturday (8/20) with Nightdogs and IYEZ. Pictures and videos from that show are in this post.

The show was one of a few for the Merge-signed headliner before they play Hopscotch Fest in Raleigh, NC this September. Hopscotch recently updated their lineup to include The Men, Hospitality, Fan Modine, and Dreamers of the Ghetto. The Light Pines, who were scheduled to play the fest, have broken up and had to drop off, and Apex Manor, who were also scheduled to play, cancelled all of their 2011 appearances, including Hopscotch. Rhys Chatham's Guitar Trio, playing the fest on September 8th with The Necks, J Mascis and Steve Gunn at Fletcher Opera Hall, has revealed its band lineup. You can check out the full schedule at Hopscotch's site and purchase Tickets there too.

More pictures and video from Brooklyn below...

Continue reading "The Love Language played the Rock Shop (pics), playing Hopscotch Fest (updated lineup)"

by Klaus Kinski

Ted Leo @ BV-SXSW 2011 (more by Tim Griffin)

Back in 2008, BV and I used to put on shows at Pianos called Rock n ROFL. As the title implies, these shows featured legendary comedy line-ups curated by me followed by musical onslaughts curated by BV. The lead up to each and every one of those shows always stressed me the F out, but as the room would fill up and the shows got under way, all the stress would dissolve and turn into feelings of sheer joy. Our generous drink specials always helped. Although, when the Futureheads played I got a little anxious because I thought for sure the floor of the live room was about to collapse under our feet...

Dave Hill @ BV & KK Rock n ROFL in 2008 (more by Elizabeth Weinberg)

Anywhoozle, for whatever reason, the RoFL's ceased to be and that was ok because, well, life started to get pretty busy. But the other day I came across a poem called Around the Corner by a dude called Henson Towne. After a good cry I realized that, man, life is short and I miss the stress and relief that comes with putting on a show...

So it is with profound joy that I announce BrooklynVegan and Klaus Kinski Present happening at the Rock Shop on Saturday August 27th (8:00pm doors, 21+). The show will be hosted by the great and much loved comedian Dave Hill and feature sets by Rhode Island's own Broadcaster, Doug Gillard, and Ted Leo!

Full disclosure: my brother is in Broadcaster. But before you raise your pitchforks and head into the comments section to cry nepotism, be advised that my adoration of the band has nothing to do with the fact that my brother is in it. They are flat out, ass kickingly awesome. And you don't have to take my word for it; they recently won the Breakthrough Act of the Year award at this year's Providence Phoenix readers poll. The PEOPLE have spoken! They are even Ted Leo Approved! So don't dilly dally getting to the show. Get there early, have some booze, and experience the fury that is Broadcaster.

Doug Gillard @ BV-CMJ 2008 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

And there is no hiding my adoration of the great Doug Gillard. This axe-wielding ex-GBV and ex-Cobra Verde (a band Dave Hill was also in) troubadour makes some of the best rock in the biz. Backed by a full band, he will blow the wig right off your head. And to cap things off, Klaus Favorite, BV favorite, and all around nicest guy in music, Ted Leo will horse around on stage for our listening pleasure.

I honestly could not be happier with the line-up we've cooked up. And I am beside myself that it will happen at the Rock Shop. The intimacy of the room and their kick ass sound-system is going to make for one helluvan evening. Hopefully we'll be able to finagle some sweet ass drink specials for those with the sense not to miss this most majestic evening. Friends, get your tickets before they sell out (on sale at 5pm).

All Ted Leo dates, this weekend in Camden, NJ included, below...

Continue reading "BV & KK Present Ted Leo, Doug Gillard, Broadcaster & Dave Hill @ The Rock Shop! (get your tix)"

by Bill Pearis

The Radio Dept @ The Rock Shop in Park Slope

As hinted at, The Radio Dept played The Rock Shop last night (7/14), part of the venue's week-long One Year Anniversary. Whether people were seeing the night's many other worthy options or said hints were too vague, it felt like this was a kept secret for once as the Swedish trio played to a crowd of maybe 70. The setlist seemed to have been created to fit the setting, culling from The Radio Dept.'s gentler material, played at polite volume. On the dreamy "This Past Week" and "New Improved Hypocrisy," especially, I was a bit mesmerized.

I imagine we'll get a more rockin' set (a relative term for a pretty placid group) tonight (7/15) for their show at South Street Seaport. It's going to be a lovely night, the show is free -- you'd be dumb to miss it if you ask me. (I know you didn't.) Asobi Seksu open, a nice pairing indeed. Bring a tent and stay at the Seaport all weekend for 4 Knots Festival on Saturday (7/16), and the Sound Bites Series and Beach Party show on Sunday (7/17) afternoon. (Please don't bring a tent.)

You can also get The Radio Dept's newly-minted 180 gram vinyl reissues of their first three albums at the merch table. (Lesser Matters is near-perfect.) After tonight's show, The Radio Dept. then travel to Chicago for this weekend's Pitchfork Music Festival.

Video of The Radio Dept. performing at The Rock Shop last night is below.

Continue reading "The Radio Dept played the Rock Shop, Seaport tonight"

by Bill Pearis

DOWNLOAD: Fredrik - Rites of Spring (MP3)

A quick mention that Malmo, Sweden's Fredrik are back in town, playing The Rock Shop tonight (6/13), opening for Archie Powell & the Exports and Eastern Conference Champions. It looks it's a one-off show for the trio, no other U.S dates scheduled at the moment.

Speaking of the Rock Shop, it's a busy week for the Park Slope venue, especially in the solo women known for being in other bands department. Rebecca Gates of the Spinanes is there on Tuesday (6/14), Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab is Wednesday (6/15) and Kathryn Calder of the New Porngraphers is Friday (6/17).

Fredrik's third album, Flora, was released back in April and you can download "Rites of Spring" from it at the top of this post. Like the rest of the record, "Rites of Spring" is a dense and intriguing mix of pulsing electronics, acoustic instrumentation, hushed vocals and pounding instrumentation (one member is credited as playing "mallets").

You can listen to Flora in its entirety via a YouTube stream below, and there are a couple Fredrik videos to check out below as well.

Continue reading "Fredrik released an LP (it's streaming), are one of many artists playing this week @ the Rock Shop "

photos by Ryan Barkan

"Generationals and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. put on one hell of a show last night. There were bubble machines and skeleton masks and happiness." - Morgan Shoaff

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. @ the Rock Shop

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. just toured through town with Generationals, hitting Mercury Lounge and The Rock Shop along the way (and Dale actually played the Rock Shop twice if you count Sunday's Kidrockers show). Pictures from the adult Brooklyn show are in this post and they continue below...

Continue reading "Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. & Generationals played Mercury Lounge & the Rock Shop (pics)"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

"On March 5, all-girl supergroup Wild Flag made their New York City debut with two shows at the tiny Rock Shop in Brooklyn. Featuring some of indie rock's most experienced and flat-out rocking women, the fledgling band sounded exactly like the sum of its parts. Now, for most other bands, that might seem like faint praise. However, when your "parts" are made up of two-thirds of Sleater-Kinney (guitarist/singer Carrie Brownstein and drummer Janet Weiss), ex-Helium frontwoman Mary Timony, and Rebecca Cole of the Minders, that's a sum that most bands can only dream of." [TheMST]

And don't forget Wild Flag are also play Radio City Music Hall with Bright Eyes on Tuesday and Wednesday - tickets to the Tuesday show are still on sale.

More Rock Shop pictures below...

Continue reading "Wild Flag played the the Rock Shop (early show pics)"

photos by Dominick Mastrangelo, videos by Bleary Eyed Brooklyn

After Wye Oak played Beacon Theatre ONE, TWO, THREE nights in a row with the Decemberists, they ended their NYC-stay with a private headlining show at the intimate Rock Shop in Brooklyn on 1/27 (right after the Dylan LeBlanc show that happened in the same venue on the same night).

Now Wye Oak are our on tour with the Decemberists. On 2/9 they kick off a European tour with Cold War Kids (who have No Age opening for them in NYC). In March they get back on the North American road with Lower Dens (who have their own show scheduled at MHOW) and then Callers through April 6th. On April 15th they return to our area for a single show at Johnny Brenda's in Philly, so if I had to guess... I'd say their next NYC might happen around then (maybe at Bowery Ballroom?). Stay tuned.

More pictures and three videos from the Rock Shop show (full NYC Taper recording coming soon), with all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Wye Oak played the Rock Shop (pics, video, more dates)"

Not only do we now not need to wait until Bright Eyes' two Radio City shows to see Wild Flag, the Sleater-Kinney-member-heavy band will make their NYC debut in the intimate Rock Shop. They'll play the Brooklyn venue twice on Saturday, March 5th - early w/ their tour-mates Yellow Fever and late with no opener (click the links for tickets that go on sale Thursday at noon). All dates below...

Continue reading "Wild Flag add tiny Brooklyn shows! (updated dates)"

"Terence William 'Blondie' Chaplin is a musician from Durban, South Africa who first became known to international audiences through his brief stint in the early 1970s as a singer and guitarist for The Beach Boys. Chaplin was also listed as a co-producer, sang lead vocals with fellow South African musician Ricky Fataar (drummer) and composed, with Fataar, "Here She Comes" and "Hold On Dear Brother" on the twenty-third official Beach Boys album, Carl and the Passions - "So Tough", released in 1972. He is well known in recent years as a long term backing vocalist, percussionist and acoustic rhythm guitarist for the Rolling Stones on their tours.

Blondie Chaplin, along with drummer Ricky Fataar, joined the Beach Boys when original drummer Dennis Wilson suffered a hand injury which left him unable to play the drums for almost two years. For the Beach Boys, it was a period in which long-time member Bruce Johnston had departed the band, and one-time leader Brian Wilson's participation in the group was very limited. As a result, Chaplin and Fataar joined the Beach Boys as full-fledged members and not merely as backing musicians. Chaplin left the group in 1973 after a dispute with the Beach Boys' management" [Wikipedia]

PB&J's January 27th show at Santos Party House is sold out. Oh, and LA is getting a 2nd show too, though I don't know the exact details of that one (the previously announced one happens Sunday).

Continue reading "Peter Bjorn & John add a Rock Shop show (same day as Blondie Chaplin who also plays Iridium tonight)"

Kaia Wilson & Jennifer O'Connor

Move over Palomar, it's singer-songwriter Jennifer O'Connor's turn to start bringing special guests like Charles Bissell to special residency shows at new Brooklyn venue the Rock Shop. Jennifer writes...

"I am going to be hosting and performing in a monthly songwriter's series called Tower of Song that will take place on the second Tuesday of every month in 2011.

Each month I will invite three other songwriter's to join me and we will get together at the Rock Shop and each play a handful of songs and talk about our songwriting processes a little bit and collaborate and maybe play a cover or two. I think it's going to make for a really interesting night of music, especially for those interested in the "song" as an art form and maybe learning about how different folks write. I, for one, am totally excited to see what comes from it."

Jennifer, as she explained above, will also be playing at each show. She is also working a new record which she hopes to "have out some time later this year." Flyers, and a video of Jennifer covering "Waterfalls" with Clint Assay, Andrew Singer and Amy Bezbelow at Joe's Pub on December 15th, below...

Continue reading "Jennifer O'Connor starting a monthly series @ the Rock Shop"

In what is now an annual tradition, we're playing catch up during this final week of the year. If this post seems outdated, that's because it is. Happy Holidays!

photos by Andrew St. Clair

Mussels, the Zoobombs, and Hard Nips played the Rock Shop back on the day before Thanksgiving. A set of pictures from that show continues below...

Continue reading "Zoobombs, Hard Nips & Mussels @ The Rock Shop (pics)"

In what is now an annual tradition, we're playing catch up during this final week of the year. If this post seems outdated, that's because it is. Happy Holidays!

photos by Chris La Putt

DOWNLOAD: Apache Beat - Another Day (Aaron LaCrate Remix) (MP3)

Apache Beat

Apache Beat & Blood Red Shoes played a CMJ show at The Rock Shop. A set of pictures from that show continues below...

Continue reading "Apache Beat & Blood Red Shoes played the Rock Shop (pics)"

The Drums recently headlined (or co-headlined?) Webster Hall one day before appearing as a special guest headliner at Santos Party House not long after headlining Bowery Ballroom. NME rated their album one of the top 10 of 2010. Q Magazine said the self-titled effort was #32. The point is that The Studio at Webster Hall is a small (intimate) venue for the band now, and since their January 19th show there is raising money for a good cause, the $25 price tag shouldn't scare you too much. Guards and The Hairs both open, and all proceeds go to Dan Duggins.

Guns n' Roses tribute band Mr. Brownstone sold out Music Hall of Williamsburg on December 31st, 2007, so the fact that they're playing the much smaller Rock Shop on December 31st, 2010 (aka New Years Eve), seems, well, intimate too.

Another recently announced New Years Eve option is Titus Andronicus and Real Estate. Another Park Slope area New Years Eve option is Har Mar Superstar.

words & photos by Chris Gersbeck

The Rock Shop in Park Slope is building a reputation for booking relatively well known acts despite its modestly sized concert space. The last time I was there was for the secret Dean Wareham playing Galaxie 500 show, which was pretty great, so I hopped at the chance to make it down there for former Husker Du and Sugar frontman Bob Mould. Apparently I have a sort of "take what I can get" attitude towards bands that refuse to reunite.

Former Come guitarist and Codeine drummer Chris Brokaw opened the show, playing a 40-minute set of somber acoustic songs. By the style of his music you'd find it hard to believe that Brokaw was also once the drummer for GG Allin-his songs were often melodic and generally mellow, but never uninteresting. Brokaw noted the influence Zen Arcade and New Day Rising had on him as a musician in the 80's, played a couple more songs and finished his set shortly thereafter.

I confess that I've always been a bigger fan of Grant Hart's contributions to Husker Du than Mould's, but that's not to say Mould hasn't written his share of classics. Beginning his set on acoustic guitar, Mould soon switched to electric, reminding us of his trademark distortion and howl of a voice.

Rotating between solo material, Sugar and Husker songs (often by request), Mould was in good spirits throughout the night, joking with the crowd about the NYC Marathon, his admiration of Best Coast and his upcoming memoir. Hearing him play classics such as "Something I Learned Today", "I Apologize" and "Celebrated Summer" made it easy to remember why Mould is an oft-cited influence. At the core of these punk anthems was solid songwriting, and they are no less perfect songs when played solo by the man himself.

The Rock Shop show (11/7) was one of three NYC shows for Bob in a week. The other two were at City Winery (11/4 with Lenny Kaye and 11/4 with Marshall Crenshaw). More pictures from the Rock Shop below...

Continue reading "Bob Mould & Chris Brokaw played the Rock Shop (pics) "