Fresh Bread

Ryan Adams New Album Is Good and A Letterman Performance.

Ryan Adams is back, looking sober and sounding very, very good. His new album, Easy Tiger, just hit stores this past Tuesday. It's a heavy dose of easy-does-it americana and some good ole country-tinged roots music. Throw in a classic Lou Reed-like track ("Halloweenhead") and you get Adams' best album...this year....so far.

The band has been busy this week celebrating the release of the new album. Monday night brought a mellowed out yet awesomely awesome show at Hiro. Stereogum was on hand and took some sweet pics. Last night, all of america bore witness to them performing the gorgeously light "Two" on the Letterman show. Peep it here:

Photo Of The Day - Happy Father's Day

Earl Greyhound, Dirty On Purpose, & Great Northern - Bowery Ballroom 06.14.07

Really, ridiculously busy today so I am only going to be able to do a quick wrap-up of the great triple bill I saw last night at the Bowery. Earl Greyhound fucking rock. Seriously rock. This description by the New Yorker is spot on:

"Whether or not Earl Greyhound are the Next Big Thing is irrelevant—watching them will convince you that they are."

I definitely felt that way last night and still today.

Dirty On Purpose was second on the bill. I've definitely rocked their 2007 release Hallelujah Sirens many a time this year. Solid pop.

The very interesting Great Northern kicked the night off. I've liked what I've heard so far (Trading Twilight For Daylight) and was into their show...if only for the red lights.

We Are (Beat Up Fellas) Scientists / Nicole Atkins & the Sea - Luna Lounge 06.06.07

We Are Scientists like to go incognito in NYC.  Last week, they assumed the name "Beat Up Fellas" in order to test out some new material in front of a live audience.  I caught the first show at Luna Lounge.  The new stuff was okay (I've never been that big a fan of theirs).  I really liked the first song best (setlist pic above).  Most of the time though I was distracted with the thought that the bassist, Chris Cain, looks like my homeboy Grant due to his new hairdo.  Striking resemblance.

I missed the headliner, The Long Blondes, but didn't miss the sultry Nicole Atkins.  My first time catching her and yes, I was smitten from the first note.  What the hell took me so long to catch her live?  She's from area for crying out loud!!

A little bit Stevie Nicks, a little bit Patsy Cline, a little bit Grace Slick.  She's got an album coming out next month, Neptune City, that I'm sure I'll be picking up.  In the mean time I'll get my fill watching the video for the title track:

Melvern Taylor - Saatchi & Saatchi 06.12.2007

Ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi brought Melvern Taylor into its swanky downtown office yesterday for a happy hour performance. Mel and his Fabulous Meltones came down to the city for one afternoon of fun from their hometown of Lowell Mass. In tow was their unique style of pop music to share with the anything-for-a-break / I-love-free-booze crowd.

Mel jams on a ukulele. As you would think, there is a tropical breeziness to the tunes because of the typically island-y instrument. However, mixing that sound with some rock, some country, some folk, some americana, tributes to loves lost, and some late nights drinking beer and smoking cigs and you begin to hear the true sound of the band.

Peep these two tracks off their third album, Fabuloso:

Melvern Taylor - Angel On My Shoulder.mp3

Melvern Taylor - Last Train To Baltimore.mp3

Vampire Weekend - Bowery Ballroom 06.02.07

'Gum band to watch and recent college grads, Vampire Weekend, took over the Bowery Ballroom Saturday with their vampmilitia in tow. It seemed the core of the front audience knew every word, knew how to sing backing vocals on "One (Blake's Got A New Face)". The energy between band and this section of fans was astounding. Their cries for an encore extremely raucous (no encore though).

The show was great though you can totally see how green they still are. They've only been together for less than a year but still seem to have major potential. It'll be interesting to pay attention to the next year of development for this band. Who knows, maybe they'll be the next Band in the Bubble???