Calvin Harris/Gabby Glaser @ Mercury Lounge

This week's U.K.'s Next Big Thing comes in the form of Scottish techno gee-whiz kid Calvin Harris. The tall, lanky and drunk lad made his New York debut tonight to a packed house at Mercury Lounge. After eight party anthems played in 40 minutes, the crowd had no choice to boo at him ... because they wanted more ... a lot more. Granted, his debut album, I Created Disco, contains 12 songs, but you can only do so many of a school night.

The setlist:

• Disco Heat
• Colours
• Merrymaking At My Place
• Acceptable in the 80s
• Neon Rocks
• This Is Industry
• The Girls
• Vegas

At first impression, the young Calvin falls into the burgeoning sound of 80s disco beats performed with high pitched vocals. With his high energy and masterful knack for finding the right beat and rhythm, he could be Scotland's answer to James Murphy -- one of those rock guys who got into dance music later in life and wants to combine both worlds. Merrymaking At My Place could be mistaken for Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.

I wasn't sure how he would present himself. I was hoping he wouldn't be a Dan Deacon type, who turns a bunch of knobs by himself and jumps around a lot. Calvin brings a band, but still turns a bunch of knobs and jumps around. Although I usually prefer the small venues, I felt his sound is more suitable for a larger club. Never-the-less, he impressed me with his ability to get the crowd jumping and shouting. His songs are pretty straight-forward with lyrics that goof around with the dance genre. It's self-aware dance pop music for the New Rave and Rock crowd. 

Although the guy was visibly drunk, he still delivered the goods. He would goof around between songs about how he appreciates every one coming, then when the songs kicks in and his yelling at the crowd to get their hands in the  air ... about five times every song. We get it, Cal. No encouragement needed. The show was infectious, where everyone jumps around or just gets their dance on. There no way anyone could just fold their arms and not get into the funk beats.

Also there: SoundBites give C.H. some deli advice, and The Music Slut

Gabby Glaser is my girl. Okay, more like woman. As you know, I was a huge Luscious Jackson fan in college. When I saw her tonight, I hadn't seen any of them in person in ten years. It made me feel very old, remembering the time I saw them at Hammerstein Ballroom's debut show in 1997. Anyway, the band had their moment in the sun and now Gabby is back on the scene and ready to rock. Gone are the rap grooves, in comes in the bar rock. Gabby being the guitarist, she taps into her inner-Joan Jett and lets it rip. The hip-hop girl has become the motorcycle chick, but still stays true to her New York roots. Her solo work on Gimme Splash definitely has a raw rock sound that's suits a beer-drenched road house.

You put the rock into the girl, but she knows why she has a small falling, and she graced us with Electric from Fever In, Fever Out. That was awesome.

Comments

[bill p]

The tongue picture is a classic, Chris. Really fun show.

Bar rock is the operative word for Gabby's new thing. It sounded like every band on Bleeker St. Disappointing.

[shannon]

bill p, i don't know if you've been to bleecker lately but i think you're wrong about gabby. her songs have a great classic new york city feel to them.

[dianadog]

I thought Gabby's show was great, lots of dancing and rockin' songs, no way beer bar songs! The crowd really seemed to enjoy the show. I love the music and will buy the cd. On the other hand, Calvin Harris I just didn't get, Not cute at all!

[dianadog]

P.S. The other thing is that a whole LOT of us tried to buy tickets to specifically see Gabby, but couldn't because the show was sold out due to Calvin. There would have been A LOT more people in Gabby's audience had that not been the case.

[Steph]

I'm bummed I missed seeing Gabby Glaser at Mercury, I was among those who missed out on getting a ticket. Do you know when she'll play there again? And what's the deal with the dude comparing the show to Bleecker Street? I've only witnessed NJ bands covering Journey songs over there.