Video: Plants And Animals - "The End Of That" Live At Mercury Lounge

Last week when we stopped in at Mercury Lounge to catch a blazing set from Plants and Animals, we also managed to get a video of the title track from their latest full length, The End Of That. We think you'll agree that it's a killer clip - check it out above!

Plants And Animals Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Review

Last night we stopped in at Mercury Lounge for Plants And Animals' second show in a two night New York run. Packed into the tiny room, the show was exactly what we had hoped for: a raucous celebration of rock and roll energy combined with a solid dose of musical wizardry and prowess. The band, who continue to reach new heights each time we see them, delivered a killer set for an appreciative crowd, and left us unquestionably hungry for more.

Since the last time we saw them the band have clearly been coming into their own with their new four piece lineup.  Whereas the show in Brooklyn last December showed a group feeling out the boundaries of having a full time bassist, last night was a full fledged exploration of the territories that such a foundation affords. Most of the time there were two guitars blazing in intertwined leads, and even when one went acoustic, the other still was a tour de force of pedal-driven sonic exploration. On top of all this, there was also the welcome addition of a Fender Rhodes, which lent texture to a number of tunes, including a reworked version of "Game Shows" that simply slayed.

One of the most interesting things about Plants and Animals' always-expanding live show is the way that it builds on all of their previous experience. When things change, it's not some abrupt shift. Rather, it's another iteration on a previously explored successful formula, now enhanced with new and meaningful nuance to explore some new facet of sound.  Last night's show unquestionably dipped its toe in the lake of "true" rock and roll.

Without question, the group has always been a rock band, but last night saw them take this vibe to new heights. The vocals were more aggressive and less choral, the arrangements were more foot stomping and the guitars more fuzzy, overall the band just clearly had the urge to rock. All of this was underpinned by the pieces that make Plants and Animals one of the best live bands today: The group have a rapport that is simply unbreakable, and makes for moments of practiced serendipity that never cease to delight.

For us, the highlight of the evening came with the performance of "Lola Who?". The track, which is culled from the band's Avec/With EP, is one of our all-time favorites. It's a sprawling epic that navigates its way through enough sounds that you feel like you've been on a trip for a week after listening. The band seldom plays the tune, and to hear it live, with the advent of their new lineup was, in short, mind blowingly awesome.

We'll be the first to say it: you'd be a fool not to catch up with Plants And Animals on this tour. If we had to guess by the packed house last night, this may be the tour where they begin to graduate to larger venues, and the opportunity to see them "up close and personal" gradually disappears. Whatever the case, the incentive to be at these shows is undeniable, because doing so means catching a band that is close to, if not at, their creative peak.

More photos at the HAD Archive

Plants And Animals Play Mercury Lounge Tonight

If you're anything like us here at HAD, then not only do you love Plants and Animals, but you've been seriously digging on their new record The End Of That. Not only is it some of the best songwriting the band's ever done, but it takes them in a whole new direction that is more centered on classic rock and roll, dueling guitars, and lyrical witticism. It is a record that is imminently replayable, but also ideally suited to the live environ.

Given that, as New Yorkers we couldn't be more excited that the band is playing a show tonight at Mercury Lounge. Not only do we get to see one of our favorite live bands (seriously, they fucking KILL it live), but we get to do so in a super intimate venue. It's the late show, so doors aren't untuil 9, and tickets are still available.  We'll see you out there, and in the meantime, enjoy the two official videos from the band's latest record, both of which are well worth your time.  Check them out below!

White Hills Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Review

Under the icy glow of blue LED's, White Hills took to the stage at Mercury Lounge and delivered about as much noise as can be created by three people. The band's sonic assault heavily embraced the sound of their records, but did so with even more of a nod to their predecessors in the world of 1970's guitar rock. From the squealing sounds of a pedal-heavy Les Paul, to a generous application of eye makeup and glitter, White Hills clearly had come to rock.

The band's live sound, while faithful, is not identical to that of their records. The three-piece format meant replacing the record's synths with a flurry of guitar pedal work that covered the gamut of tone twisting wizardry. While it didn't quite catch the droney goodness that an organ provide, it did manage to create a wall of sound that was more than immersive enough for a live room.

Which isn't to say that the drone wasn't still firmly in place: the bass lines in particular held true to their staunchly repetitive strains from the band's recordings. While the guitar bled on with feedback-laden squelches, the bass line plodded steadily until it came to dominate many of the night's most poignant moments. At times it became so dominant that it almost seemed to become its own entity operating outside, but in sequence with, the band.

That sequence was firmly held in place by drum lines that were the definition of percussive expressionism. Not satisfied to simply provide a backbeat, the drums were instead an always-present force, playing as an equal member of the trio. At times, as the bass and guitar worked together to create an impenetrable wave of sound, and the drums would take on an almost melodic quality as they weaved in and out.

We have to admit: we were expecting White Hills to be a bit more of a Yo La Tengo-style drone fest in the live environ. Instead, they took those tendencies and turned them on their head, choosing to minimize their record's more subtle moments and instead embrace the music's most boisterous inclinations. While the result was perhaps slightly less artistically diverse, it was also a welcome dose of straight-ahead rock and roll which, let's be honest, these days can be pretty hard to find.

More pictures at the HAD Archive.

Nightmare And The Cat Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Review

Last night we had the pleasure of stopping in at Mercury Lounge, and catching Nightmare and The Cat on the eve of the release of their debut EP. The band, a well oiled 5 piece who put a heavy emphasis on vocal harmonies, were completely on-point, and by the end of their set had converted a nearly-full Mercury Lounge into serious fans for the night.

We have to admit, we were a tad skeptical that the band would be able to pull off their recorded sound in a live environment. The EP is a carefully orchestrated piece of rock and roll theater, and pulling off its twists and turns in a live environ seemed like quite the challenge. Fortunately, it was a challenge that the band was up to, and they delivered their sound in spades last night.

No small part of the delivery rested upon the performance of frontman Django Stewart. Not only are his vocals spot-on, but he manages to parallel their theatrics with real-live theatrics as well. Prancing and jerking on stage, Stewart worked himself into a fervor that was less Bowie than it was Hedwig. Regardless, it was a performance that was well deserving of accolades.

Django was well complimented by his brother Sam, who delivered on lead guitar and backing vocals. The guitar was high in the mix, and with hollowbody twang, it offered up more raucous sounds than on the EP. This was particularly rewarding in a live environment, where drifting too far into rock and roll theater can be a slippery slope.

The brothers were backed by a ridiculously tight band, and the performance was nearly immaculate. Not only was everyone on stage well versed in their instrument, but there was an enthusiasm and drive that couldn't be described as anything but authentic. If you think that bulletproof three part harmonies over a killer rock band would be pretty damn amazing, well, you're right.

At the end of the day, Nightmare and The Cat's sound won't be for everyone. At times it can be eccentrically glamorous, and it's painfully conscious of what they're trying to achieve. That being said, they do manage to achieve it, and extremely well at that. Moreover, the band is pursuing a sound that is unique and exciting, without getting bogged down in trends of this week or next. Which is to say, we're quite pleased with what we got for our trouble, and we're guessing you will be too.

More pictures at the HAD Archive

New Music: Nightmare And The Cat

Last week the new EP from Nightmare and the Cat landed on our desks, and we gave it a spin. And another, and another. The music is oddly compelling - strangely earnest, yet epic in its rock and roll vibe, with a tinge of folk. In many ways it's theatrical, but it also manages to hold on to a bit of rock and roll grit.

In short, it's fresh and compelling in its sound, and that's enough to get us interested. Luckily, the band has a show at Mercury Lounge tomorrow night, so we'll get to see how the tunes hold up in a live setting. See you there!

mp3: Nightmare and The Cat - Sarah Beth

The Features Mount Spring Tour

We've long been admirers of The Features: their throwback sound is energetic, raucus, and everything we love about rock and roll. Given that, we were psyched to see that the band has decided to mount a spring tour, and find their way up the east coast from Tennessee. In addition to a May 2nd date at Brooklyn Bowl mentioned on their website, the band will also be playing at May 9th gig at Mercury Lounge. These guys can seriously deliver in a live room, and in a nice small space like Mercury Lounge, well, let's just say it's worth your while.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9 AM.

mp3: The Features - The Way It's Meant To Be

J. Mascis and Kurt Vile Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Review

Last Thursday we made our way to Mercury Lounge to catch what was effectively a co-headlining gig from J. Mascis and Kurt Vile. We had never seen Mascis in a solo capacity, or Vile with a full band, so it was set to be a night of exciting new music. While it didn't work out to be quite what we had expected, it was an evening of solid music nonetheless.

The night opened with newcomers (they don't even have a web site yet!) Call Of The Wild playing a frenetic set of speedy guitar rock. It was a nice amalgam of textures, and fell somewhere between metal and punk, with a good dose of melodic enthusiasm thrown in for good measure. If you see them on a bill around town, we'll tell you this: definitely worth your time.

Soon after, Kurt Vile took the stage with his band, The Violators. As mentioned, it was our first time seeing Kurt with a full band, so we weren't sure what to expect. In fact, it is a vastly different show than Kurt's solo gigs. The echoey acoustic vibe was replaced by a three guitar (and no bass!) wall of sound that completely encompassed the tiny room.

While there wasn't much in the way of feedback, the fuzzed out guitar wash still took on a life of its own, as the various textures mixed with the drum attack and Vile's distinctive melodic sense. There were a number of guitars on hand, including a back-to-basics Les Paul, a flashy glitter number, and an Vile's standard acoustic.

The selection of tunes called heavily on the most recent record, Smoke Ring For My Halo, but also dipped into the back catalog with "Freeway", and closed the night with a killer Springsteen cover. Our takeaway was nothing but positive from Vile's set, and it was a treat to see him with a full band. While the sound's completely different, it engaged his tunes at a whole other (far more energized) level.

When J. Mascis took the stage we were totally stoked and ready for some serious guitar work, and we certainly got our wish. Despite playing solo on an acoustic guitar, Mascis managed to use a Vox head and a number of pedals to put himself firmly in "electric" territory. As might be expected, his fretwork was impecable, and he tore it up with some serious solos.

The setlist was varied, and in addition to pulling from his most recent solo effort Several Shades Of Why, he also dipped into the later (non-Barlow) Dinosaur Jr. catalog. Hearing "Get Me" live on an acoustic guitar was, to say the least, a treat.

The only misstep in Mascis' set came with the somewhat confusing addition of a flute player. We weren't totally clear on what this added to his sound, or why the addition was made. Yet there she was, halfway through the set, fluting away. We're not ones to stifle creativity, but the flute's presence really took away from J's guitar, and we could have done without it. Nonetheless, his amazing fretwork and songwriting easily made up for it, and closed the night leaving us quite pleased we had made our way out to the show.

More pictures in the HAD Archive

Toro Y Moi Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Video, And Review

Last Wendesday we stopped in at Mercury Lounge and managed to catch Toro Y Moi for an early set at one of the city's most intimate rooms. Given that their April dates will see the band at the considerably larger Music Hall Of Williamsburg and Bowery Ballroom, it was really a treat to get to see them one last time in a truly clubby spot. Obviously we weren't alone in our opinion, as the room was packed, and the show sold out from the get-go.

To try and characterize Toro Y Moi's live set in a few words is a difficult task, to say the least. The band manages to simultaneously embody a number of genres, while at the same time defying all of them. There's an unquestionable poppy melody element, but it's balanced by rock solid dance beets. Then there's the wide swath of atmospheric synth sounds, overlaying instrumental parts that verge on jazz at it's best. A comparison to Stevie Wonder at the height of his powers would be apt, but still not really embody everything that's going on.

Regardless, the band's live show is unquestionably rock solid, with a technical precision that's almost unparalleled. The band is, quite simply, locked in to a degree that can only be achieved through diligence, and more than a little bit of raw talent. What's more, Chaz Bundick's vocals are unassailable in the live environment, and are as effortless as they are brilliant.

The show also saw an addition to the band, with a new guitarist on full-time electric duties. While many of the effects were so tripped out that the guitar's sound was barely identifiable, it unquestionably did a lot to fill out the band's sound, and add a new layer of dynamism. The studio complexity of Toro Y Moi's music lends itself to layered parts, and this one was a welcome addition.

The set ended up being a quick one at around an hour, as the band was opening in the 3rd slot of the night (!). Nonetheless, it was a set that more than covered its bases, and if anything just left us hungry for more. We got to hear a bunch of new material from the forthcoming record, and it fit in well with the old material, perhaps even being a tad dancier in its vibe. The fact that the band has two shows on tap for later in the spring is a blessing, as we certainly are more than a little ready to enjoy another night of their tunes.

In addition to some sweet photos of the band's set, we also managed to snag a tasty video (above) of the band's latest single "Still Sound". Given that the show was sold out for quite a while, we imagine there are more than a few New Yorker's who might like a taste, and the sound's not half bad! What's more the band delivered a Daytrotter session (one track below, the rest available for download at Daytrotter) that is absolutely killer. If that's not enough to tide you over until the band's spring dates, well, you better get on the road and start following them deadhead-style.

More photos in the HAD Archive

mp3: Toro Y Moi - Talamak (Live At Daytrotter)

Suuns Coming To Mercury Lounge And Rock Shop In January

Suuns at Bowery Ballroom, from the HAD Archive

We made no secret of our love for Suuns set when they opened for Land Of Talk at Bowery last fall. So, then, it should come as no surprise that we were stoked to learn that they'll be back in town at the end of January: The band plays The Rock Shop on January 25th and Mercury Lounge on January 27th.

To see the band in these smaller rooms will unquestionably be a treat, and judging by the high crowd enthusiasm at their set at Bowery, we're guessing it may be your last chance to catch them this up close and personal. What's more, the show is part of a set of east coast dates just before Suuns head to Europe for the month of February. We highly recommend you get your dose of their killer live show while they're still stateside.

Suuns East Coast Dates Winter 2010
JAN 20 Quebec, CA Quebec City, Qc, CANADA
JAN 23 Higher Ground South Burlington, Vermont, US
JAN 25 The Rock Shop Brooklyn, NY
JAN 26 Shea Stadium New York, NY 11206
JAN 27 Mercury Lounge New York, NY
JAN 28 Funk N Waffles Syracuse, New York , US
JAN 29 Lee's Palace W/The Besnard Lakes Toronto, ON, CANADA

mp3: Suuns - Gaze

Crooked Fingers Coming To Mercury Lounge

Crooked Fingers at Great American Music Hall, from the HAD Archive

It's no secret that we love Crooked Fingers, so when we discovered that Mr. Bachmann will be making his way up the coast in December with a series of small shows, we were understandably psyched. Crooked Fingers unquestionably deliver live, and seeing them in rooms this size will be more than a treat. In New York, that means a show at Mercury Lounge; tickets go on sale this Friday at noon.

Really, that's all we should need to say: be there.

Crooked Fingers December Mini-Tour
Dec. 8-Chapel Hill, NC-Local 506
Dec. 9-Arlington, VA-Iota Bar
Dec. 10-Philadelphia, PA-Johnny Brenda's
Dec. 11-New York, NY-Mercury Lounge
Dec. 12-Boston, MA-TT the Bear's

mp3: Crooked Fingers - Call To Love

JBM and Sondre Lerche Played Mercury Lounge: Pictures, Review

Last night we stopped in at Mercury Lounge to catch fantastic sets from two fiercely divergent songwriters, and to celebrate a record release to boot. The first, Sondre Lerche, delivered his customary playful, endearing, and rocking set. In contrast, Jesse Marchant (as JBM) delivered a set that leveraged his own unique musicality over a variety of genres and sounds.

Sondre Lerche took to the stage just after 9:30, and broke into the set with a new song on a tuned down acoustic guitar. After wrestling with the tuning for a bit, Lerche delivered "Red Flags", which took a slightly darker take on his earlier material, while at the same time holding on firmly to his innate sense of melody.

Over the next hour, Lerche's set traversed most of his career, although it tended to focus more on his newer material. Of particular note were a jumpy, staccato, electric version of "Dead Passengers" that ended up with Lerche jamming himself into a frenzy of guitar explosiveness. Another new song made it's way out at the end of the set. Entitled "Domino", it also used the down-tuned acoustic, and was similarly dark in delivery.

His set was accented by the arrival of two musical guests, the violinist "K", and a duet with Dawn on the always-lovely "Modern Nature". While not strictly necessary, the guests (along with a variety of guitars and a high energy level) served to bring some variety to Lerche's set, and keep him from falling too far down the black hole of "guy with a guitar" blandness. To the contrary, he delivered a set that was dynamic, jovial, and almost impossibly lovable.

Soon after, Jesse Marchant (JBM) took to the stage for a set that would also last about an hour. In contrast to Lerche's set, which was unified in its sound and delivery, Marchant delivered a set that ran the gamut between quiet and loud, stoic and rocking, solo and with band. The stark contrast between songs served Marchant, as it called attention not only to his versatility, but his ability to completely embrace each of the genres completely.

The material (as might be expected) was sourced largely (entirely?) from his debut record Not Even In July, for which last night was the record release party. However, much like the record, the tracks varied in their arrangement and instrumentation. For part of the set, Marchant was joined on stage by openers Diamond Doves as his backing band, and for others he took a solo seat to his songs. Moreover, even his solo act varied, sometimes finding him behind a makeshift drumkit, sometimes with a harmonica and guitar, and sometimes behind the keyboard.

If all of this variations seems like a bit much to believe, you feel about the same way we did witnessing it. Even more remarkable was that Marchant pulled off his many roles with ease, and topped it off with a voice that was one of the best we've heard live in a very long time. With an innate ease of delivery, Marchant's vocals rode on top of the instrumentation like an effortless wave of melody. To hear it is to believe it, we say.

Last night was JBM's record release, and he should be more than a little excited: not only has Jesse Marchant created a killer record, but he also has proven that he can deliver a live performance that surpasses the quality of his recorded material by a long shot.

More photos at the HAD Archive

JBM: New Music, CD Release Party Tomorrow Night At Mercury Lounge

Last night as we were puttering our way around the internet (as we are wont to do), we stumbled upon the musical awesomeness of JBM. The enterprise is the musical pursuit of Jesse Marchant, and sees its first real release to the world tomorrow, with the full length not even in July. The record (which is streaming in full on JBM's site) is an unnerving mix of genres that is all at once atmospheric, melodic, and steeped in the annals of rock and roll.

Much of the record sounds like it was recorded at two in the morning after a day that seemed like it would never end. It's as though the musicians are at long last allowed to play what they actually want to play, and that finally the outside world has been rendered irrelevant. Put differently, the music is honest, stoic, and real.

Marchant's vocals are restrained and delicate in a way that suggests he's resigned to get his music out there, regardless of what pain or chaos might be in store. For their part, his band does a magnificent job at underpinning his vocal delivery with music that is both understated and poignant. They do a fantastic job creating a sound that recalls 50 other talented and melancholy singer songwriters, but at the same time completely comes into its own. If that isn't enough to convince you, Marchant also has a killer Daytrotter Session that more than shows off just why we dug him so much right out of the gate.

Luckily for us, Marchant is a New York resident, and as such has decided to launch the record in his home town, at the venerable Mercury Lounge. Not only will it be an exquisite opportunity to hear Marchant's awesome musicality in a live environ, but the show also features the fantastic Sondre Lerche in an opening slot. Yes: it's going to be as awesome as it sounds. See you there.

mp3: JBM - Winter Ghosts (Daytrotter Session)

Spoon Played Mercury Lounge - Pictures, Review

On Thursday night, we were lucky enough to get to stop in at Mercury Lounge and see Spoon deliver an uber-intimate set for around 250 fans. Suffice it to say that (especially as the band's popularity continues to grow) it was a real treat to see the band in such a tiny room. Moreover, it does a pretty damn good job at reminding you just how good Spoon is at recreating their on album sound in the live environment.

Despite the fact that it was one of the looser shows we've seen from the band in quite a while, there's no question that the set was a highly energized dive into the band's more recent material They played most of their latest record, Transference, and kept most of the set firmly trained on their last three records. That being said, there were a few exceptions, drifting back as far as Girls Can Tell.

The set was largely seamless, and it quickly became pretty apparent that playing to a tiny room of devoted fans (even if some of them hadn't heard the new record!?!?) was not going to phase a band as road tested as this one. There was no discernible blip in the set as the band fluctuated between new and old material, and Transference made clear its place among Spoon's well-established catalog.

In addition to the core Spoon configuration, Stephen Patterson of White Rabbits joined the band on stage, adding another guitar for "Mystery Zone". What's more, the band did a bit of instrument swapping, with Britt Daniel and Rob Pope trading bass and guitar duties once or twice over the course of the show.

We have to say: it's one of the great tragedies of discovering fantastic music, that eventually the bands may go on to play huge rooms where you lose a lot of the intimacy of performance. For exactly that reason, it's so exciting to see a band as meteoric as Spoon acknowledging just how awesome and worthwhile a small venue can be. Granted, some folks don't make it in the door, but for the ones who do, it's a sure fire way to get to the heart of what rock and roll is all about.

Spoon begins their US Tour with Deerhunter in March.

Setlist

--

Black Like Me

Is Love Forever?

I Saw The Light

Stay Don't Go ->

Don't You Evah

The Ghost Of You Lingers

Who Makes Your Money

Nobody Gets Me But You

Don't Make Me A Target

Mystery Zone

You've Got Yr Cherry Bomb

Written In Reverse

Someone Something

They Never Got You

I Summon You

The Beast And Dragon, Adored

Got Nuffin

--

Something To Look Forward To

Chicago At Night

Rhythm & Soul

Fitted Shirt

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive.

Spoon Drops Transference, Mercury Lounge On Thursday

Spoon at The Fillmore, from the HAD Archive

You'd think that the big news on the Spoon front would be that the band's tremendous new record Transference dropped today. While that's certainly good news, it's definitely not all. In addition to the new album, a US tour, and an appearance on Conan O'Brien tonight, the band has also announced a last minute, first come first serve, New York show at Mercury Lounge on Thursday. Needless to say, that's a lot of awesome. We'll see you there.

mp3: Spoon - Written in Reverse

pictures: Spoon in the HAD Archive

Eric Bachmann To Play Solo Show At Mercury Lounge

Eric Bachmann at The Great American Music Hall, from the HAD Archive

We'll make no secret of the fact that we here at HAD are fans of Eric Bachmann: Whether it be with his seminal days with Archers Of Loaf, his recent work with Crooked Fingers, or his gradually increasing solo output, the man always manages to create a sound that is completely his own. Given that, we were totally psyched to see that Bachmann will be making a solo appearance at Mercury Lounge on December 19th.

The show is part of a small, four date solo tour, and it's the only show not in Bachmann's native south. Given the intimate nature of the show, and the fact that Bachmann's last solo release (To The Races) was in 2006, there's no telling exactly what the setlist will consist of. That being said, we've never been to one of the man's shows and not enjoyed it, so we recommend you jump on board.

Tickets are on sale now.

Eric Bachmann Winter 2009 Solo Dates
2009-12-05 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle Eric Bachmann (Solo)
2009-12-19 New York, NY The Mercury Lounge Eric Bachmann (Solo)
2009-12-26 Atlanta, GA The Earl Eric Bachmann (Solo) w/ Liz Durrett
2010-01-02 Charlotte, NC The Evening Muse Eric Bachmann (Solo) w/ Liz Durrett

mp3: Eric Bachmann - Carrboro Woman