Let's knock these posts out, gang. I have eight straight days of gigs. We can do this! We can build on this.
As per usual, the British bands travel through NYC before heading home after SXSW. All the acts tonight made their area debuts, and all had the look on their faces of "OMG, not another show." A week of playing a series of gigs in the Texas heat, then having to schmooze with the T-MIGs (Typical Music Industry Guy/Gal) will wear you down.
Sam Isaac is a singer-songwriter I've been admiring from a far. While many of the new British acts are leaning towards ultra-twee pop, Sam has a more mature view of popular music.You can consider him the anti-twee. His set was the most energetic of the night -- mostly because he brought his five-piece backing band. The main draw for me is the sense of joy in his music and his fine choruses. His performance is unfussy, free from fake depression and ultimately, sincere. Make sure to check out Come Back Home Tonight on his myspace page.
The man has a strong voice as a singer and hopefully, you'll grow to like his lyrics as well. If you want to make comparisons, his voice resembles that Rik Flynn of Captain. The overall package will have you thinking of Ben Kweller, both have a good genial nature and have an ear for catchy tunes.
Jay Jay Pistolet (pronounceed Pis - Toll - Lay) comes from the Noah and the Whale camp. Those Noah people have led me to discovering more acts than any other in recent memory. Justin Hayward-Young is the man's name and his short, five song set worried me at first. He had that deer in the headlights/lone gunman look as her surveyed the small, late night crowd before delving into his tunes. After the first song, he cracked a joke about how the dirt in his fingernails went to his throat. That fact nobody laughed at first, then made it laughable. After that, he held his ground and did a fine set
In any event, he's got such a pure voice, very sweet and endearing. His music is the style of the 50s early rock singers like Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly, but very stripped down. Tonight, it was just him, his electric guitar and an echo effect on his microphone. I enjoyed his little boy in love song, "Happy Birthday You." I would love to see him again with a backing band to witness some of his tunes take on a different energy.
The band formerly known as Peggy Sue and the Pirates ended the night. Those two girls looked tired and it showed in their music. I truly adore their music, a strong gospel meets country roots folk. It's different from the other anti-folk music coming out of the U.K. "Lazarus" could have easily fit into O Brother, Where Art Thou? with it's terrific harmonies and heavy drum beat. I wanted to get that feeling from their live set, but it was decent, not great. I did have high expectations, but I think the circumstances of playing late and still having that SXSW hangover affected their performance. They get a pass. What we did get is a fun cover of Missy Elliot's "Up In My Grill".
I'll get to see them again tonight as they've been added to the Ladyhawke bill at Bowery. The better setting will serve them well. Even if they don't live up to my hopes in live form, their songs have great value. So more on them tomorrow.
jay jay's been on the list at strummerville for a while now. he's pretty good, saw him in london last year.
Posted by: andrew | March 25, 2009 at 09:27 PM