The Mountain Goats Will Never Sell Out
As we've mentioned before, once upon a time John Darnielle promised fans at a Knitting Factory show that, even if he was playing Madison Square Garden someday, he would make the time to play a show at the Knit, his favorite club in the city. He may not be quite that big, but it's clear he's moved on from those once noble statements, considering his impressive and always expanding popularity. He headlined Music Hall of Williamsburg and Webster Hall (!) this week to his rabid fan base, and managed to make these larger shows intimate and as personal as he always has in the past. The shows were full of storytelling and tangential banter, interacting with the fans as though he was playing a backyard party. To complement his sound in these clubs, however, he did decide to bring along a drummer to help fill out his stage show. While some surely miss the days of his cassette recordings and minimalist sets, the songs are all still there, and they sound as good as ever. (pic via Bryan Bruchman's flickr)
Cut Copy slice up Merc
It's tradition, if not merely a convenience, for international bands at SXSW to swing through New York on their way back to wherever they're from. While this is usually a matter of an extra layover for a British or European band, Cut Copy headed North by Northwest -- the opposite direction from their Melbourne home, for a rare NYC appearance. With an excellent new album coming soon, these guys showed off a bit of what they've got in store. An interesting live performance, for sure. It was entirely entertaining, as danceable as a club DJ set, and from most places in the room, it's incredible to see these guys create such tight dance-pop music live. However, the curtain is pulled back slightly when standing up close. Many of the samples and sounds, including some of the vocals, are pre-recorded and inserted in, rather than created on the spot. Not to take too much away from what was one of the more enjoyable shows of the year so far, but it's somewhat less authentic than it seems on the surface. Something to keep in mind if you go see them at Bowery in May.
Ting Ting Ting from the Tangles of my Heart
Another group making a pit stop in New York on their way back home was the increasingly buzzed about Ting Tings from the UK. The guy/girl duo played Merc the day after Cut Copy to appeal to the less transient music fans in town. These two are the latest in the constant stream of love-it-or-hate-it Brit-rock/pop bands being peddled on our shores. Their live show is energetic and engaging, but the real debate seems to be over if these songs are good enough to bother dropping the coin to see them in the first place. There's one more shot to decide for yourself before they head back across the pond tonight at La Royale. They're signed up with Columbia records, so even if you miss it tonight, it's likely not your last chance to catch them ever. (pic via Music Snobbery)
