Fresh Bread

Bloc Party w/ The Secret Machines & Mew - McCarren Pool, Brooklyn 07.29.06

My first time at Brooklyn's finest summer concert venue, McCarren Pool, was a cracker:  Bloc Party w/ the Secret Machines and Mew. 

Last time I saw Bloc Party was at the dreadful Roseland.  On the whole, they were much better this time.  The band capped  a "Silent Alarm"-infused setlist with a four song encore.  Here is the setlist via Stereogum.

01. "Waiting For the 718"
02. "Positive Tension"
03. "Banquet"
04. "Blue Light"
05. "She's Hearing Voices"
06. "Hunting For Witches"
07. "This Modern Love"
08. "Like Eating Glass"
09. "Little Thoughts"
10. "Helicopter"

Encore
11. "So Here We Are"
12. "Price Of Gas"
13. "Compliments"
14. "Pioneers"

Highlights for me were "This Modern Love", "Banquet", and "Helicopter".  Biggest disappointment was "Blue Light"....something just didn't sound right with it.

Download "Banquet" live from the Paradiso in Amsterdam from BP's website.

Ever since Justin told me to never NOT catch the Secret Machines, I knew I had to catch this show.  They were as good as he professed.  "Alone Jealous & Stoned" was the highlight of a great set.  The setlist (via the Music Slut):

1.  Nowhere Again
2.  The Road Leads Where It's Led
3.  Daddy's In The Doldrums
4.  Alone Jealous & Stoned
5.  Lightning Blue Eyes
6.  First Wave Intact

Siren Music Festival - Coney Island 07.15.2006

I wasn't able to make it to Coney Island until after 5pm today for the Village Voice's Siren Music Festival.  I missed Man Man, Dirty On Purpose (who I really wanted to see), Tapes N' Tapes, and others.  I did catch the last 30 minutes of Montreal band, the Stills.  I E-music'd their album Without Feathers (stream the entire album on their website) when the Siren Lineup was first announced a couple months ago.  At the time I hadn't heard much of them...but I definitely dig their blend of pop-rock.  They remind me of Fleetwood Mac and the Bo Deans.  Glad to have heard them play the catchy "In The Beginning".  I then walked over to the Stillwell stage for Art Brut.




It was a battle.  Art Brut vs. the boisterous sounds of the Go-Kart track.   I had to strain to hear the band...but what I heard sounded great.  "Rusted Guns of Milan" kicked major art brut ass...as well as did the rest of the BBRR songs.  I can't get enough of Art Brut.  A Nathan's hot dog then off to see headliner Scissor Sisters.


Kicking it off with an excellent "Take Your Mama" the Scissor Sisters proved they were in Brooklyn to show off to their hometown crowd.  Full of energy and grooves, their set was fantastic.  I'm really looking forward to their next album (out on 9.26) - some of the new material was played tonight.  I don't think they will suffer a sophomore slump in the least bit. 

Stale Bread - Tapes N' Tapes - the Delancey 01.07.06

Stale Bread - Art Brut - Bowery Ballroom 04.04.06

T.J.I.F. - 07.14.06

THANK JAH!!!!!  It's Friday.  It's hooter hotter in the city than its been all summer...pretty humid, hazy, stupid no cool breeze....just in time for the amazingly free (sweet!) outdoor (not sweet!) concert this weekend:  the Village Voice's Siren Festival at Coney Island.

This weather has me thinking of my first reggae concert...Third World at the Boathouse in Norfolk, VA circa 1993.  My older brother (who ironically listens to only Metal and Jethro Tull these days) was a big fan...my parents made him and his friends take me along to the concert...i didn't know many songs, but I did know this one: 

1865_(96_Degrees  In_The Shade)  - Third World.mp3

Another Third World treat for you - their cover of Burning Spear's "Slavery Days".  This version - which is on their self-titled 1976 debut album -  differs drastically from Spear's - where Spear is defiant and angry, Third World is groove-oriented...almost dub, with a big climactic ending.

Slavery_Days - Third World.mp3

G.R.A.B. - Jones Beach 07.07.06

Currently Phocused - Trey Anastasio is and with his old Phish mate Mike Gordon as well as the Duo, is reaching his form of old.  I've been looking forward to this show since my 100th post back in May.

The setlist:

Plasma
Suskind Hotel
Drifting
Something For Rockets
Mr. Completely >
Host Across The Potomac
Mud City
Trouble
Uncle Albert > (Paul McCartney song)
Stuck In The Middle > (Stealers Wheel Song)
Dragonfly
Shine

The Duo add a fresh sound to the phamiliar team of Gordon and Anastasio.  Marco's organ adds a nice, colored background to Trey's guitar and vocals.  Sir Joe Russo's industrial rock/jazz fusion drums works just as well with Cactus as Jon Fishman's high hat and cymbal dances. 

Highlights were a sick "Mr. Completely" jam, the "Plasma" opener, and believe it or not "Shine". 

A couple vids I posted on Youtube from the show:
"Drifting"

Here's G.R.A.B. performing "Something For Rockets" at this year's Bonnaroo Festival.  This song is on the Duo's next studio album Play Pause Stop (out this Tuesday July 11th). 

Something For Rockets - G.R.A.B.mp3

Birdmonster - Sin-e 06.30.06

Sensational San Francisco rock band Birdmonster's first NYC performance was a sold out success.  Their self release debut album "No Midnight" is excellent and live, well, they just take it to a whole new level.  The first song of the set was "Ice Age" - a slow beginning to a furious foot stomping ending - was a taste of things to come over the next 50 or so minutes.  Front man Peter Arcuni and gang weren't intimidated by the hipster NY crowd at all (in fact they mention how impressed they were to see the NYC'rs actually know how to get down).  On point and always with energy, this band came to rock; they did through songs like "Balcony",  "Cause You Can",  "Skeleton Suit", and "Spaceman".

"...it's just rock music, in the classic sense. No pretense, no attempts to be something they're not." (gorilla vs. bear)

View my photo album of this show here

Rachael (Underrated Magazine) was there...not that there was any doubt she wouldn't be there

listen to four songs on their myspace page

T.J.I.F - 07.07.2006

THANK JAH!!!!!!  It's Friday.  It's Trey Day here at Phresh Bread...soon I'll be heading out to Jones Beach for G.R.A.B. co-headlining with Phil and Phriends.  While I've passed on my really hardcore jammy days, I cannot hide the phact Trey is my guitar idol and phavorite musician.   I am also a big phan of Marco Benevento and Sir Joe Russo (aka the Duo).  Toss in a side of Cactus and my excitement level goes sky high.

1st, a sick ass/dubed out "Windora Bug" from Trey's 1999 solo tour stop in Asheville, NC.  Russ Lawton and Tony Markelis hold the phat drum and bass phor trey to loop his magical Languedoc guitar sounds over.  This clocks in over 11 minutes...prepare to get lost - in a good way.    

Windora  Bug.mp3

Here's a less-jammy-yet-just-as-sick cover of Jimi's "The Wind Cries Mary" from the same show.  Seriously, Trey nails this song.

The Wind Cries Mary.mp3

Lastly, a sweet  youtube video of Phish's own reggae tune, "Makisupa Policeman".  This version is on Live Phish Vol. 1 - 12/14/95. 

THIS COULD BE BIGGER THAN LIVE AID.

Cheeky Brits:

Get The Hoff to Number 1

Think what he's given to the world. Knight Rider. Baywatch. The reunification of East and West Germany. Untold laughter from forwarded e-mails of him in hotpants.

He's given a lot. It's time we gave something back.

The Hoff's having a hard time. He's split from his wife. He needs a lift.

Let's help him out with something that would mean the world to him. Something that would repay all the goodness he's given us over the years. A glittering prize that thus far eludes him.

A top spot in the UK music charts.

Let's get Hoff to Number One.

And even more excitingly we now know from his people that the big man himself is aware of the site. Not sure if he’s signed up yet but Hoff, if you are reading this, we love you man. Let’s get you to No.1! Link

Beware the Hoff Alert.