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I didn't live in NY when the Yeah Yeah Yeahs made their name known on the downtown music scene...oh and across the nation with the song 'Maps' (it's a love song in case you didn't know).
Using a small NYC club mini-tour to test their brand new material, the YYYs emerged Saturday night at the Bowery with a great wave of confidence. The crowd rode that wave all night, enjoying the songs that will make the YYY's a band to remember in 2006.
Dan Fun from whosdrvingthebus.blogspot.com was at Night 1 as well as Night 2; he has excellent pics and spot on reviews.
TOP FIVE TOOTS
My top 5 favorite Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) songs.
1. 54-46 (That's My Number).mp3 - my first introduction to the man who coined the phrase "reggae". From his monster Sunsplash Performance on 9.29.1980. This was later covered by Sublime on '40oz To Freedom'
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa2. Never Get Weary - Live 2003.mp3
3. Beautiful Woman.mp3 - From the album "Knock Out!"
4. One Eyed Enos - Live 2003.mp3
5. Pressure Drop.mp3 I challenge you to try to play this song and a) not smile b) tap your foot to the super-ska beat
Toots will be playing (along with Soulive) at the Nokia Theater April 21st (this show is part of the 1st Green Apple Music Festival)
I wish Mat Kearney all the best as he starts promoting the release of his major label debut album 'Nothing Left To Lose' (hits stores April 4th). His Bowery Ballroom show last night was everything I thought it would be - great. I highly suggest checking out his myspace page in order to listen to some great tunes.
Mat opened for the Fray. To be honest I probably didn't give them the ears it required to find something exceptional in their music....it was kind of ho-hum for me.
Maybe I'll give them a better listen when they return to NYC in May to play Webster Hall.
Struggling Arsenal went to Madrid today to play Mighty Real FC in the Champions' League (tournament of all the greatest teams in Europe). Hampered with numerous injuries and terrible play Arsenal have had difficulties finding goals and wins on the road. Moreover, the european football community see Arsenal as a minor team in the fish bowl of footy champions. Arsenal had nothing to lose and everything to play for today.
ARSENAL FUCKING WON....in the classic gooner style One-Nil (that's 1-0 for you non-euros). Thierry Henry fought off four Madrid defenders to fire home a shot past the keeper two minutes after the second half restart. Arsenal are the only team from England to play Real in Spain and leave with a victory. They have a tough task in two weeks at home against Madrid again (CL rounds are 2 games - one home, one away).
Mat Kearney is set to release his sophomore album 'Nothing Left To Lose' on Columbia imprint Aware (home of John Mayer Trio) April 4th.
Kearney is a Nashville based singer-songwriter who easily blends acoustic pop/folk/rock with hip-hop in a truly unique way. Proclaiming influences such as Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, and George Harrison from rock and A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, and De La Soul from rap, Kearney hopes to stay outside of the box...straddling multiple genres to create music for all people. He has an ability to pen beautiful, poetic lyrics - some addressing love some address social issues - that he delivers either singing, as spoken word, or rapped - all with equal ease.
'Nothing Left...' is basically a re-release of his first album 'Bullet' on a major label. The first single 'Nothing Left To Lose' is already available via iTunes. Stream that song and three others (including two of my favorites 'Undeniable' and 'Girl America') on his myspace page.
'Bullet' can be streamed via a link on his InPop artist synopsis page.
He's currently on tour with the Fray (headliners) and the Cary Brothers (of 'Garden State' soundtrack fame) (find tour dates on both the myspace and Mat Kearney homepage). I'll be seeing them this Wednesday at the Bowery Ballroom.
Last night I went to the uber corporate Nokia Theater in Times Square to see Chicago's phinest metal/prog rock/jamband Umphrey's McGee. This was the third time I've seen this band; just like the first two they did not disappoint. Something in the band evoked a furiously upbeat crowd. They came to dance - the band provided the platform (I was surprised by the noticeably fewer numbers of noodlers).
Highlights were the 'Nothing Too Fancy' medley, the dubbed out (seen!) version of Pink Floyd's 'Breathe' (including an outtro of Yes' 'Roundabout'), and both "Jimmy Stewarts".
Setlist (Courtesy of umphreysmcgee.com)
02.17.06 - Nokia Theatre, New York, New York
Set One: Bridgeless, Passing, Nothing Too Fancy > "Jimmy Stewart" > Bright Lights, I'm in You, 2x2 > Nothing Too Fancy
Set Two: Breathe$ > Got Your Milk (Right Here), The Triple Wide > Anchor Drops > piano solo > 40's Theme, Much Obliged > Pipeline > Much Obliged > Breathe reprise, Syncopated Strangers > "Jimmy Stewart" > Syncopated Strangers, Plunger
Encore: Divisions
Notes:
$ dub version, a la 12.31.05; with Roundabout (Yes) tease
the Umph played a couple new songs including "I'm In You" for the second time ever (played for the first time the night before in VT). Download the below zip file for a couple min. clip of the performance.
I'm In You (intro > first solo)-Quick Time Video.zip
View the rest of my pics here
Download tons of lives shows at the Internet Archive
the Umph's next studio album 'Safety In Numbers' drops April 4th on Sci Fidelity Records.
