Nicole Atkins & The Sea/Craig Wedren/The Parlor Mob @ Bowery Ballroom
It's taken me a few days to recover from Friday night's shenanigans. Yeah, it was a crazy fun show with the Atkins crew for her first headlining show at Bowery Ballroom. My buddy took full-advantage of the spotlight and performed a show that put the paying masses in the thralls of rock ecstasy.
One of the great things about being around music is seeing a band start out and become something of a known act with a fan base. Through the years, I've seen Nic when she's played in front of ten people, at bowling alleys and in front of buffet lines.In the past year, she's been on Letterman and Conan, fronted a commercial and released a proper full-length debut on a major label. That's not shabby for a girl from Neptune.
As you know, she, her band and assorted related characters are my buds, so I'm biased. Still, Friday's show was a blast to watch. From her coming out to the theme from Twin Peaks to the all-star jam at the end of the show, you have to admit that she's come into her own. The big "Wow Factor" for me was that I saw couples in the crowd who paid to see her. Think about it this way -- you have plenty of Friday night options in NYC when you're in a couple. Of all the things you can do, you come to a Nicole Atkins & The Sea show. You get the tickets in advance before they sell out (which it was), have a little dinner before hand, then head to the Bowery. You have a great time, then go home and make sweet love to each other. I think that's the ultimate compliment.
When Nic came out, she first said, "When first question is -- who are you people?" Yup, she has fans who are not relatives.The other funny thing I witness is she had people asking for the setlist. I'm interested to hear about other cities when she goes out on tour.
Anyway, the gig was a great display of what she's all about. She might have throw back Roy Orbison meets Springsteen songs, but my bud can rock the house. Even if I wasn't part of Team Atkins, the encore with special guests doing a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" was one for the ages. Let's go over the participants. Opening act The Parlor Mob joined in as did Craig Wedren of Shudder to Think. Then, my boy Stephen Warwick of the North Carolina's Secondhand Stories and my boy J Stuart from the Cloud Room rocked out as well. I'm glad I got recording of it because it killed.
So when she comes to your town, please check her out. She'll be booking local bands to open up for her so it's your chance to hear what she likes as well.
It's funny because I've been to untold amount of her shows and I finally got some decent pictures of her. As a side note, this post marks the debut of my new computer!!! My five-year old P.O.S. has been replaced by a tricked-out HP, so screw you Justin Long and your MAC.
As mentioned before, Craig Wedren, the lead singer of the defunct 80-90s rock band Shudder to Think was one of the opening acts. The singer has been delving into film composing, mostly comedies like The Ten, Wet Hot American Summer, School of Rock and Laurel Canyon. His solo work is straight-up indie rock similar to his Shudder to Think days.
Finally, I'd like to introduceyou to my good buddies The Parlor Mob from Asbury Park, NJ. They make Wolfmother and Kings of Leon look like a bunch of bed wetters. After a few years of checking-in on them, they are ready to kick your ass properly. They come at your hard and don't let up with their frantic classic rock and Zepplin inspired vocals. It was fucking wicked seeing them come into their own. They'll be with Nicole on her tour next month and into March. Plus, their debut album, And You Were a Crow, will be out on Roadrunner Records in May. So, get to the show early, rock out and tell what you think.
Nice recap.
I was at this show.
It was totally killer!
Posted by: Dave Cromwell | January 28, 2008 at 05:01 PM
I love this lady! Neptune City has been in my CD player for months. I can not wait till she performs in my town
Posted by: sofiblu | January 28, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Nice pics Chris.
Posted by: bumpershine | January 28, 2008 at 11:22 PM
That third picture is rockin'
Posted by: Liz | January 29, 2008 at 10:14 AM
She's so great. I'm kicking myself for not making it, but it's awesome that she's packing venues. Nice pictures!
Posted by: Roland | January 29, 2008 at 07:48 PM
she's great. wanted to go, but the show was sold out!
Posted by: nazz nomad | January 31, 2008 at 04:54 PM