These New Puritans / School of Seven Bells / Soundpool @ Music Hall of Williamsburg

You know, I was going to wear my shirt that's adorned with metal feathers as well. That could have been awkward.

The Crackers United folks put together another fine Friction line-up tonight with U.K. buzz act These New Puritans on the bill. The four piece are playing three NYC shows, which is at the end of the first U.S. tour to promote their debut album on Domino, Beat Pyramid.

I must admit that These New Puritans are not for everyone, but I really dig their intense, bordering on serious art rock. We throw around that term "art rock" because it's an easy way to label a band when it's hard to define their sound. It's post-punk attitude, heavy kraut rock beats and rap vocals. It does sound like music you would hear in the London underground art scene. There's not much levity in their music or in their live shows. It doesn't take a genius to recognize that their big inspiration is The Fall.

Obviously, "Elvis" is a damn fine rock tune with unrelenting drums and cracking guitar riffs on top of Jack Barnett’s authoritative vocals. There's also "Numerology" and "Swords of Truth" with their hardcore dance beats on top of those dreaded art rock vocals. It's a good album, although most of the memorable tracks have the same formula.

Their live show is a good representation of who they are. You get Paul Barnett short rants where he says, "Fire .... fire .... fire. These ... New ... Puritans ... 2008 .... these songs comes from the sky .... and the stars." Gotcha, dude. They have mastered the art of the angry performance artists/rock star, where they live in their own world and we're just there to watch them. That keyboard player didn't move the whole set, while Bartnett plays and stomps around like he's pissed off.

I guess every show can't be 'You guys have been great. Love you New York." These New Puritans are angry -- I'm just trying to figure out what they are angry about. In all, it's good stuff in general and if you get it like I do, it will have you doing the stiff, jerky dance. If not, just do the arms folded thing.

Two of my favorite local acts took the first two sets. It's worth repeating again that School of Seven Bellsis the new band comprised of Ben Curtis of Secret Machines and twin sisters Claudia and Alejandra Deheza of On! Air! Library!. It's just until recently that I put two and two together. Their former bands toured together in 2004, opening up for Interpol. Duh, Chris!

I caught them last year, and I wasn't sure what to make of them. Now, I'm digging their band. It's a lot of spacey dance beats, harmonies and funky electronic dots and loops. What I was surprised at is how there's a lot of happy pop beats and tribal drums in the mix among the dark synth stylings. The end result is a pretty, spiritual sound that will give the band some definition in the crowded NYC music scene. I endorse all future proceedings involving School of VII Bells even though Ben gutted me a bit by leaving Secret Machines. I'm over it.

In the same vein as Seven Bells is Soundpool. I actually saw them randomly two years ago at Pianos, and enjoyed their Stereolab inspired sound. Just never bothered to find out who they were. Now, it's all clear. They have a cosmopolitan sound that reminds me of New York at night. They've got a coolness with their smooth electronics and spacey vocals. They all have a thing where the only stage illumination comes from a front projector showing random video images. How's that for art?