The Albertans, Sky Larkin at Gothamist House -- The Bell House, Brooklyn

Unfortunately my DSLR is being repaired...so all I had to shoot with was my little LX3 point and shoot.

Anyway, wandered in and got to hear The Albertans and Sky Larkin, loved them both.

The Gripweeds at Arlene's Grocery - Rainbow Quartz Showcase - October 20, 2007

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I've always loved The Gripweeds. Driving psychedelic pop, great songs, a drummer (Kurt Reil) who sings and plays insane drums at the same time (think Keith Moon with a great voice!) You also have two incredible guitarists (Kristin Pinell and Rick Reil) and bassist Mike Kelly holds down the bottom. This is the kind of band that makes you proud to be from Jersey. Along with Bill Kelly's Black Hole of Rock'n'Roll, this is the finest thing to come out of the Garden State in a long time.

The Gripweeds don't seem to be playing around that much...so when I saw they were the headline act at the Rainbow Quartz show at Arlene's Grocery, I went to see them. As always, I am never disappointed. Maybe one of these days I'll even get a shot of bassist Mike Kelly...he always seems to be lurking in the shadows.

The Gripweeds are: Kurt Reil- vocals, drums; Rick Reil- vocals, guitar; Kristin Pinell- guitar, vocals; Michael Kelly- bass, vocals.

Three 4 Tens - Arlene's Grocery - Rainbow Quartz Showcase - October 20, 2007

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If you like real psychedelic garage rock, you are going to love Philadelphia's Three 4 Tens. Check out Three 4 Tens songs and videos on their MySpace page.

Three 4 Tens are:
Joe Tagg - Vox - Guitar, Jamie Mahon - Vox - Bass, Mike Ambs, Drums, Joe Candidi - Lap-guitar

The Contrast at Arlene's Grocery Rainbow Quartz Showcase - October 20, 2007

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The Contrast are one of those bands that always fit perfectly on Rainbow Quartz. The perfect blend of 60s power pop/garage and late 70s new wave. And every time I've seen lead singer/guitarist David Reid, he always takes me back to a time around 1979 when I always wore eyeliner and mascara (yes its true!) The Contrast are now on Wicked Cool records (looks like there's some connection to Rainbow Quartz).

You can hear The Contrast on their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/thecontrasttheband.

The Contrast are: David Reid: Lead vocals & guitars, Richard Mackman: Bass & backing vocals, Fozzy Dixon: Drums, Kieran Wade: rhythm guitar & backing vocals

Deleted Waveform Gatherings at Arlene's Grocery - October 20, 2007

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When I started this blog...I figured it would be easy...upload the photos...write a few words, etc. Well, its been harder than I thought. Plus...real life gets in the way.

Anyway, this was the last night of CMJ...I was tired...I'd heard more bands in one week than I had in years. When Deleted Waveform Gatherings hit the stage I thought...okay, another Rainbow Quartz band (even I get jaded sometimes!) Within seconds of them hitting the stage there's all this action going on in the audience...beautiful Norwegian women with dreadlocks, low cut sweaters lots of cleavage, video cameras...what looks to be a six foot four 250 lb Norwegian football player sticking his digicam within 5 inches of Deleted Waveform Gatherings members faces and flash, flash, flash! By the end of the first song...the roar of hundreds in Norwegian (well, it was probably more like seven, but it sounded like hundreds!) My friend Jim, always the typical New Yorker (Brooklyn to be exact) says "that's easy for you to say!" I think his comment was lost on this crowd. At that point, I knew it didn't matter how tired or jaded I was...I had to get in there and see what was going on. Did I say this band is from Norway? At the end of their set...I was ready to pack up all my stuff...and get on the next Greyhound Bus to Oslo. These people know how to have fun!

Deleted Waveform Gatherings was one of the high points of CMJ for me (I know, I know, I love everyone...but this blog is mine, and it isn't a review site...its just a place for me to share my photos, and express my love for live music). I heard little bits and pieces of so many bands I love...Sell Out era Who, Teenage Fanclub, Small Faces. I hate making comparisons to other groups...but nothing is really original anymore (well, Daisy Chainsaw was, but that was 15 years ago). And this band takes all these sounds and makes it their own.

At the end of their set...I'd usually make a beeline for the band to give them my card, but what the hell...I made a beeline for the most beautiful Norwegian dreadlocked girl I saw (my other reason for wanting to move to Norway). Hi Tonje...here are some photos...can I see the video you took sometime?

Deleted Waveform Gatherings are: ØYVIND HOLM -
vox, guitar, piano, mandolin, soundeffects, perc

HOGNE GALÅEN -
guitar, back. vox

ANBJØRN VIEM -
keyboards, melodica, mandolin, back. violin, vox

ROBERT SKJÆRVIK -
bass

FREDDY BOLSØ -
drums

Look for their CD Complicated View on Rainbow Quartz records (I got mine!)

The Capstan Shafts - Arlene's Grocery

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I ran down to Arlene's Grocery on Stanton Street because I wanted to meet my friend Jim Kiernan of Brooklyn's Windsor Terrors. Jim had invited me to the Rainbow Quartz showcase at the Delancey a couple of years ago...I've always been a fan of garage/psych/pop. I've been a photographer for many years, but that show was the first time in years I'd decided to photograph live bands (one of the benefits of the digital age...you can get instant feedback).

Anyway, I got there a little early...ended up talking to a guy in front of Arlene's...while we're talking, the bass player for a certain Brooklyn band walked by and informed me that his group was doing a special 9pm show down the block. Told him maybe I'd be able to get over for the show...then went back to talking to the guy I'd just met. So I ask him, who are you with? He tells me "the band playing here at 9pm"! Oops...sorry! Anyway, we got to talking more, turns out he is Andrew from Rural Electric. I get to hear that his band is backing up mystery man Dean Wells (aka The Capstan Shafts), it is technically their first live gig, and I'm sold! The fact that Rainbow Quartz put out the original 4 tracks impressed me...I knew I had to hear this. No guilt at missing the 9pm show of **********, they'll be around. You just don't get a chance to hear something like this everyday.

Anyway...I'm glad I stayed...it was incredible. I could tell it was the first time Dean and the band had actually played together live before...but it was perfect. Lots of 1-2 minute perfect punky pop songs...my first thought was that they sounded like a lo-fi version of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. I was able to get my hands on some mp3s from the show...and they've been in heavy rotation on my iPod for the last week. Some of the highlights were "Lauren Behold", Little Burst of Sunshine, Bluejean V. Debs (hey...Eugene V. Debs is actually on my "who have you always wanted to meet" list. Yeah, there were a few flubs...but that just added to the charm of it all.

You can listen to songs from The Capstan Shafts on MySpace.
The Capstan Shafts is Dean Edward Wells and is from Vermont.
Rural Electric are Andy and Alan and Andrew and come from the backwoods of Maine. Check them out too...some great songs on their MySpace page.

Right On Dynamite in some warehouse - October 20, 2007

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As WFMU's Bill Kelly would say, now that's real rock'n'roll! I found out about Right On Dynamite because I'm a huge Frightened Rabbit (my favorite new band from Scotland), and they are playing with Frightened Rabbit at Pianos on November 9th.

This power trio are born and bred New Yorkers and they have they play hard, loud, rock'n'roll songs with great melodies. I'd have loved these guys if they'd played CBGBs when I was a teenager in the mid-70s, and I love them now. They'd be right at home being played on Sunday afternoons on my favorite WFMU show, Bill Kelly's Black Hole of Rock'n'Roll (aka Teenage Wasteland), if they haven't already.

Check out their tunes on their MySpace page, which as good as they are, don't do justice to what these guys sound like live. Thank you Right on Dynamite for a great set of real rock'n'roll on a Saturday night!

About Right on Dynamite (from their MySpace profile): jon bangs on the drums, daniel strums the guitar and sings, nicholas uses his fingers to create bass sounds, and he also sings.

If you want to enter the Black Hole or Rock'n'Roll, check them out at Pianos down on Ludlow Street in the Lower East Side on Friday, November 9th.

Old Time Relijun at Soundfix Records - October 19, 2007

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Old Time Relijun was the only band I saw twice during CMJ (well, technically the first time wasn't CMJ). I had heard them on their MySpace page, saw the videos posted and knew I was going to do whatever it took to see them. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see them a third time at the Knitting Factory...and I'd love to hear how that show was.

I've always loved Beefheart influenced bands such as the Fall and Magazine, but this was something else altogether. Their songs are intense (check them out!), and watching them, well I'll say it again, check out the videos they have posted on their MySpace page), which will give you an idea (although nothing can compare to seeing them live). While you are at it, check out their touring schedule...chances are good they will be playing within a 150 mile radius of your town (if you are in the States) over the next month. If you are in or near NYC, they'll be playing at a Todd P. show Halloween night...come if you dare!

American Princes at Yep Roc Records Party - Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction - October 19, 2007

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The nice thing about CMJ is that there are so many bands to see, and I probably would never have heard about American Princes had I not gone to see Dean & Britta. Even better, is when you get to hear one of those bands, and they kick ass!!! I was coming home from Bowery Ballroom to my neighborhood in Brooklyn around 12:30, and ran my friend Garrett, who works at one of my local coffee houses (Sweet Melissa, actually a patisserie...which I highly recommend). Garrett had worked late, and was sitting out on Seventh Avenue with a friend, and I told them about the show at Bowery Ballroom. His friend (who's name I don't recall) told me she was going to see her favorite band a couple of days later. That band was Little Rock, Arkansas' own American Princes (at first I thought she said American Princesss). So I decided to look them up, I listened to a few of their songs, and added them as a friend on MySpace. I also noticed that they were going to be doing a free gig at the Yep Roc Records party at Mo Pitkin's House of Satisfaction.

I'm glad I went, they were really nice guys...and they played great Replacements/Big Star edgie indie powerpop. The band was tight, with great catchy tunes, hooks, and vocals. Plus, the looked like they were having a great time. I'll be watching out for these guys.

American Princes are: Luke Hunsicker, Collins Kilgore, Matthew Quin, David Slade, and Will Boyd, and are currently touring the midwest.

The Party Faithful at Bar Matchless - October 18, 2007

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I think I have taken more photographs of The Party Faithful than I have of any band, since I first saw them on January 26, 2006 at Pianos. In December 2005 I had gone to support and photograph my friend Susie Deford's old band Terset (love you Susie!), over at an early show at Pianos. I looked at the lineup and saw a band called The Lolita Bras going on around 10 (The Lolita Bras were finishing up a one month residency that night). I knew I wasn't going to stay out that late, but I loved the name. I spent a lot of time on the Lower East Side in the 1970s and 1980s, and I always loved the sign for the Lolita Bras store on Orchard Street which hung there until just a couple of years ago. When I got home I googled them, found their electronic press kit, saw their photos then downloaded the 4 songs I found there. First off, they looked really cool. I really enjoyed the songs I downloaded...I heard traces of The Cure, The Smiths, New Order (all bands I loved in the 80s), but it wasn't just their influences, they also had their own sound.

I had met Jay Russo of Hopewell (another band I love) through some mutual friends, knew he had played in Mercury Rev (I was a fan in the early 90s). Hopewell was doing a gig at Pianos with the Lolita Bras the end of January, so I decided I go check them both out. The show was awesome. The crowd obviously loved them, and I had a wonderful time. At the time I was 47 years old...and such a joy to realize that there was still great live music out there, and that I wasn't too old to get out there and enjoy it (getting up to go to work the next was another story however!) Anyway, that night I went home, looked at the pictures, and thought, hey this is pretty cool. I put some of the photos on my website, sent an email to the Lolita Bras, and got a really nice thank you from them.

In the ensuing weeks, I listened to their demos a number of times, and those songs started becoming part of the playlist of songs I'd listen to on the job. I also looked at the shots I had taken, saw the things I wanted to change, and knew I had to go back to hear their songs, but also try to take better photographs of them. Over the last (almost) 2 years, I've seen them countless times. I've gotten to watch them change, to hear their music evolve. I've loved countless bands over my last 40-some odd years of listening to music, but had never had the opportunity to see it happen in front of my eyes. When one of the members left the band, I got to watch them regroup and go through the pain of change that every band who wants to keep growing go through. And now I've gotten to see the Lolita Bras end, and a brand new band called The Party Faithful rise up in their place. I've gotten to watch them find a new voice, different and better than the old one. As a music fan, this has been incredibly rewarding for me. Watching how other people handle change has always helped me in my own life, and to see how I am constantly evolving too. On their MySpace page it says: "Change returns success - Action brings good fortune." That sounds like it might be from a Chinese fortune cookie, but it also rings true.

At this point I've probably taken thousands of photographs of them. I've gotten to know them better (and not that this is a reason to go see a band, but they have to be some of the nicest people I've ever met!) I'm still taking photographs of them, and I'm still trying to become better at what I do (with mixed results, but that's part of the process.) And out of the thousands of photos I have taken, there is one I took of bassist Erica D'Andrea Gray at Crash Mansion back in April, a photo I consider one of the best photographs I have ever taken...one of those shots that I'm really proud to show people. You can see that photo here.

Thank you guys, you've brought me the gift of much more than music, and hope to keep seeing you in the years to come.

The Party Faithful are (from their MySpace page):
Paul Frick - Drums, Percussion, Obtuse Humor
Erica D'Andrea Gray - Bass, Backing Vocals, Keys, Motivation
Patrick Harmon - Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Contributes Very Little

Change the Station at Bar Matchless-October 18, 2007

Click image for Change the Station Gallery or here for some better shots (well, better lit, anyway) of them at Trash Bar.

I've always wondered how bands find me on MySpace...seems there are many ways...some bands seem to add anybody who is in a 500 mile radius of them, some bands take the time to look at your profile and interests, some bands add you as a friend on the basis of the other bands in your friend list. I think Change the Station found me because they are friends with one of my favorite unsung Brooklyn bands, The Party Faithful (ex Lolita Bras).

I'm glad they found me, because I love their music. I hesitate to call it pop music, but what the hell, its catchy as hell, which qualifies it as pop to me! They write great intense songs that incorporate lots of different influences, but they make all their own. Singer/Guitarist Ian Jacobs a bit of a young Pete Townshend, crossed with Laurence Olivier in Richard III (and that's a good thing in my book), and throws out all these great melodic riffs all over the place. On keyboards and bass, Michelle Feliciano looks all quiet and shy, but her keyboard playing makes me wonder if she might not be the offspring of Martin Rev of Suicide and Yvonne Pawlett of "Live at the Witch Trials" era Fall. Drummer Lisa Poole might look like the girl next door, but I never lived next door to a girl (or a guy for that matter) who played this well.

I went up to see them a few weeks back at Trash Bar with my friend Maryanne, but I had been having such a crappy day I really couldn't enjoy myself, but I knew I'd have to give them another listen. I'm glad I checked them out again. They were playing over at Bar Matchless with my friends The Party Faithful. I thoroughly enjoyed the show, and will be going to see them again soon.

As far as Bar Matchless goes...it seemed like a really nice place, but the lighting in there was almost impossible! It was so dark...and the red and green lights they use make it almost impossible to post process. I'm a photographer...I can complain about the lighting, but as a music fan I had absolutely nothing to complain about. So unfortunately the photos I took aren't my best work, but it looks like Change the Station is going to be playing a lot, so I'll have another chance. You can check out their songs on their MySpace page.

Dean & Britta at Bowery Ballroom - October 16, 2007

Click image to open Dean & Britta gallery

Dean & Britta at Bowery Ballroom was the one show I really knew I had to attend at this year's CMJ. I had loved Galaxie 500 and Luna (and never understood why either band weren't the huge success I felt they should be).

And as much as I loved Galaxie 500, Luna, and now Dean & Britta's music (and this show totally lived up to my musical expectaions), the main reason I wanted to go was so I could photograph Britta Phillips. Okay, I'll admit it...I have a hopeless crush on Britta Phillips. It started when I saw the video for Luna's "Lovedust". I hadn't really been paying attention to the band lineup...but I knew right away Justin Harwood had left the band...and had been replaced by one of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Seeing Dean & Britta's "Night Nurse" video some time later just cemented that crush. I'd had many crushes on pop stars over the years (the first was one Veronica Bennet...better known as Ronnie Spector, who I had seen on the Ed Sullivan Show at far too tender an age to be having crushes on women 15 years my senior. Sandie Shaw? Still going strong. Amelia Fletcher of Talullah Gosh? I would still be her Beatnik Boy. But I have no delusion that I'm going to meet either of them and run off into the sunset, happily ever after (although after over 20 years I haven't given up hope of at least meeting Amelia!) One of my crushes over the years was even consummated (no, I won't say who...but needless to say it ended in disaster...This Mortal Coil's "It'll End in Tears" comes to mind).

On crushes: I was speaking with a friend of mine (who I also happen to have a crush on...the first one I've really had after a particularly painful breakup 4 years ago) about that very subject the other day, and we both agreed about how difficult it is for us to enjoy our crushes in the real world...I know I for one tend obsess, second guess myself, and can very easily make myself miserable when those crushes don't turn out the way I'd like them to. Right after our conversation, I realized that I could stop taking myself so seriously and see it for what it is...a simple crush on a very nice woman, who is actually becoming a real friend. And I know...good friends are hard to find. All I know is that after a number of years of having no real crushes whatsoever (of the non pop star kind) I'm glad I can feel this way again...hopefully I'll never be too old or jaded to continue to have crushes (in real life and on stage). I'm sure that Britta and my friend won't be the last crushes I have.

Getting to see Dean & Britta made me realize, I actually have been able to enjoy crushes over the years...my pop star crushes. The crushes that have no chance of turning into anything else (well, except in one case). Maybe I can learn to enjoy my real life crushes too. So for now, I'm enjoying my little crush on Britta. I'm also enjoying the crush on my new friend. And this might sound incredibly shallow, but I will say I have damn good taste in women I have crushes on.

Not to leave Dean out of this...I met a woman at the show who feels the same way about Dean as I do about Britta...so I know I'm not alone in this (I'm envious...he actually spoke to you!!!) The photographs in my gallery of Dean Wareham are dedicated to her, I hope she enjoys them. I won't mention her name in order to not embarrass her, but she does have impeccable taste in music.

Dean & Britta, thanks for a wonderful show. I do hope you like these photographs.

The Most Serene Republic at Bowery Ballroom - October 16, 2007

Click image to open The Most Serene Republic gallery

Milton, Ontario's The Most Serene Republic put on one hell of a show, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for them next time they come to NYC. Their music reminded me a bit of They Might be Giants...sort of nerdy, poppy, and experimental at the same time. I couldn't help but think of the guy from "That 70s Show" when lead singer and trombonist Adrian Jewett skipped with glee all over the stage...and guitarist/vocalist Emma Ditchburn (what a sweet, melodic voice) was just so cute I was cursing myself that I couldn't have been on her side of the stage! Check out their recent album Population if you want to hear some intelligent, slightly nerdy, very melodious indy pop.

The Most Serene Republic are: Adrian Jewett, Ryan Lenssen, Nick Greaves, Emma Ditchburn, Sean Woolven, Simon Lukasewich, Tony Nesbitt-Larking

The Shaky Hands at Bowery Ballroom - October 16, 2007

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I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I saw both Conga drums and pedal steel guitar being set up on stage prior to Portland, Oregon's The Shaky Hands set. This band obviously is having a great time performing, and from looking at their touring schedule, they work hard (and seem to love what they do). I thoroughly enjoyed their set.

The Shaky Hands are Nicholas Delffs, Nathan Delffs, Colin Anderson, Mayhaw Hoons, and Jeff Lehman.

Bon Iver - Bowery Ballroom - October 16, 2007

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Bon Iver are a trio from Wisconsin. They played nice, sort of melancholy indie folk with beautifully sad, poetic lyrics. I love the slide guitar on For Emma.

Bon Iver are Justin Vernon. Matt McCaughn (Rosebuds, Portastatic). Mark Paulson (Bowerbirds, Ticonderoga)