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Swervedriver continued 3-show NYC run w/ Gateway Drugs (pics/setlist @ Mercury Lounge), wrap up at Saint Vitus tonight

photos by Amanda Hatfield; words by Bill Pearis

Swervedriver @ Mercury Lounge 3/30/2015
Swervedriver

Veteran UK shoegaze outfit Swervedriver are in the midst of their three NYC show run which, in turn, is part of their tour supporting their first album since the ’90s. They played the late show at Mercury Lounge last night (3/30) which got off to a bit of a late start for them (11:20 or so), especially for a Monday, but the crowd stayed there till they finished around 1 AM. The band, which on this tour includes Mick Quinn of Supergrass on bass, sounded good though frontman Adam Franklin admitted they hadn’t bothered with a soundcheck.

The set features all but one song from the very good I Wasn’t Born to Lose You, which fit right in with old favorites like “Never Lose That Feeling,” “Son of a Mustang Ford” and “Rave Down.” Like 1998’s 99th Dream, it’s a pretty mellow affair and the set could’ve used a few more of their early burners, especially given the hour, and I would’ve liked more from 1995’s underrated Ejector Seat Reservation (we only got “The Birds”) but very good show all the same.

The Mercury Lounge show, like the whole tour, was opened by LA’s Gateway Drugs who make psych in the post-VU, BJM style. Not bad — their drummer was great and they finished strong with a cover of The Count Five’s “Psychotic Reaction.” Pictures of both bands from the Merc show are in this post.

Swervedriver’s NYC run (which included Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday) wraps up tonight (3/31) at Saint Vitus. Tickets are still available.

You can also check out pics from Swervedriver’s set at BrooklynVegan’s SXSW day party here and here. More pics from Mercury Lounge, and their setlist, below…

Gateway Drugs

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SETLIST: Swervedriver @ Mercury Lounge 3/30/2015
Girl on a Motorbike
English Subtitles
Autodidact
For Seeking Heat
Never Lose That Feeling
Last Rites
Setting Sun
Rave Down
Why Say Yeah
For a Day Like Tomorrow
Lone Star
The Birds
Deep Wound
Son of a Mustang Ford

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