Bitch @ Googie's Lounge, 04.08.09

Just back from their recent tour, Bitch (of B+TEC, Shortbus, and Bitch & Animal) along with Gabriel Kubitz (also of B+TEC and The Stationary Set) rocked Googie's Lounge last night! The venue is mediocre, at best--above The Living Room, Googie's Lounge is a tiny space from which the audience can hear the downstairs band. However, Bitch and Gabe took total command of the room and had the packed lounge completely captivated during their entire set.


Bitch has been working on two new albums, both of which may be available this coming fall. The project seems to have been formed around the music of the band, B+TEC (Bitch and the Exciting Conclusion), but in its' creation has spawned Bitch's next solo album, as well.


It's clear that B is excited about these projects, and life in general--she sent good vibes to the entire audience, particularly by playing a new song, "I am Happy." "Happy" includes allusions to everything from "Brooklyn skies" to politics; B sings, "I am happy, a black man's in the White House." In addition to the new material, the duo also played more relaxed versions of songs from B+TEC's EP ("B+TEC=!"), including two particularly resonating performances of "Highway" and "Open Up." A surprise inclusion was the Bitch-blast-from-the-past, "Pacman," which seems to fit better with her new sound than it did on Bitch & Animal's album, "Sour Juice and Rhyme."


All in all, Bitch and Gabe put out a fantastic set that makes me itch with anticipation for B's solo album, as well as B+TEC's fall release--but if you just can't wait until then, check out bitchmusic.com for videos, music, and more!

Review and photos by Laura. More photos are available here.

Ra Ra Riot @ Webster Hall, 4.4.09

with Cut Off Your Hands and Jon Moses

I arrived at Saturday night's sold out show at Webster Hall not long after doors, and was warned that the headlining band wouldn't be on until 9:00. Early as it was, by 6:30 a phalanx of teenagers already cluttered the floor around the stage, talking excitedly and snapping pictures of each other.

First opener Jon Moses was met with the unfortunate reception of an unknown act playing to a wholly uninterested crowd. Armed with two guitars ("Old Faithful" and "Old Blue") and a harmonica, he strummed and hummed his way through a handful of simple, sincere songs. If you listened closely, beneath the folky twang of one tune were sly lyrics where Jon expressed his wish to be your tube of lipstick, your pantyhose, and your underwear, hinting, perhaps, at a sense of humor not otherwise apparent in his rather unassuming manner.



Cut Off Your Hands could not have been more different. Lead singer Nick Johnston thrashed around the stage clasping his mic in a death grip while overhead the lights flashed in frenetic, strobelike patterns. A few times he tensed as if to throw himself into the crowd, but mercifully the histrionics were limited to the noise from on stage and a mic stand that got thrown around a bit.



The floor filled in during the wait for Ra Ra Riot to begin, and the end of each song piped in over the PA was met with anticipatory applause, only to die away when no band members appeared and the next song began. Finally, though, the lights dimmed for real and the crowd went wild.



Ra Ra Riot have been touring nearly incessantly since the release of their debut LP, The Rhumb Line, in 2008, and they were live staples even before that. Recently they've opened for acts like Andrew Bird and Death Cab for Cutie, and it's clear that these guys are on the cusp of being huge. Lead singer Wes Miles expressed his honor and gratitude at selling out their biggest space yet as headliners this very night, but watching the band play and the audience respond, the reasons for their success aren't a mystery. The songs are tight, well constructed and tuneful, anthemic enough to inspire upraised fists and with enough groove to dance to. ('Too Too Too Fast,' with its driving synths and boy/girl vocal interplay, is impossible to stand still during.) The whole band is in near constant motion onstage, and the crowd responds in kind, singing along to all of the words of the well known, clearly much listened to songs, and making the floor shake alarmingly with their jumping.



Of particular interest are the lush strings present in almost every song, played by the equally lovely and fascinating Rebecca Zeller and Alexandra Lawn. Positioned at opposite ends of the stage, these ladies provide the anchors, visually and musically, to a busy and vibrant scene. Rebecca spins and bops along to graceful bows of her violin like a music box ballerina, and Alexandra's passionate dance with her cello is breathtakingly sensual.





Ra Ra Riot will next be in the area for All Points West in August, and I highly recommend checking them out there. Review and photos by Amanda, more photos available here.

The Stationary Set @ Arlele's Grocery, 03.31.09

[For background information on The Stationary Set, see this post.













The Stationary Set wowed me, once again, at their show this past Tuesday at Arlene's Grocery. During the show, I realized that there's something unique about the band that keeps me coming back for more--something that makes them different from every other quasi-hipster, Brooklyn indie band. What is that "something" you might ask?

Well, it could be the unique combination of people in the band. As I've said before, each guy throws something different into the mix. Andrew is nothing short of a world-class poet with a powerful voice. Josh H. has a knack for creating an intricately woven ensemble of sound that lays beneath the melody and gives each track a holistic, and thus engrossing vibe. Josh D. can make a guitar do anything he might ever want it to--he can choose the perfect power chord, but he can also come up with complex licks. Gabe throws in an incredibly powerful bassline, but somehow manages to keep it from dominating the song. Logan is an absurdly talented drummer who keeps the beat while still managing to frequently change the rhythym to accompany the evolving mood set by Andrew's lyrics. Though the combination of these talents surely makes for a great listening experience, the band's worth is more than just the sum of its parts.

I could be coming back, show after show, for the songs, themselves. Catchy yet complex, The Stationary Set is able to take the best aspects of pop, like the I-just-can't-get-it-out-of-my-head melodies, and combine them with a much more altrock feel. However, if I only wanted to listen to the songs, I could download the free EP from their myspace page!

Although the band has a number of amazng attributes, the one thing that sucks me in at every show is the overwhelming vibe of excitement and fun that eminates from the stage. They dance, they jump, they just rock the hell out--and you can tell that they're loving every minute of it! During the show, a few random people poked their heads in from the bar on the other side of the venue, and after one song they were up in the front dancing like maniacs--you just can't help but love their music!!! Why? If for no other reason, it's because THEY love it, and THEY have a great time playing it for the audience.


So come to the next Stationary Set show, I'd love to see you there. I'll be in the front, dancing like a maniac . . . with everyone else!

Review and photos by Laura, more photos available here.

Eric Whitacre - 'Lux Aurumque' live @ Avery Fisher Hall, 3.15.09

This video is Eric Whitacre conducting the Sprague High School Concert Choir for his piece 'Lux Aurumque.' The performance at Avery Fisher Hall featured the Choir from Oregon singing eight of Whitacre's works, including the world premiere of his 'Animal Crackers Vol. II' based on the poems of Ogden Nash. Whitacre himself conducted all of his own works.

CHRIS MILLS @ Union Hall - Pi Day 2k9 (3/14/09)

Chris Mills is living the dream, calling all comrades living in the aftermath to smash atoms. Does this sound a bit familiar? If you feel a strange sense of comic fanboy nerddome, don't be alarmed. It only indicates that you are absolutely right. Chris Mills loves comics. And we love Chris Mills.

On a slightly chilly night in Park Slope, Chris rocked his own face off. It was a formidable feat of awesome, which is no overstatement. Performing songs from his latest album, Living in the Aftermath, and some of his earlier work, Chris and his band regaled the crowd with songs about everything from dictators (Hitler and Tojo) to true love (aww). His energy was infectious (rabid?) and the crowd was obviously prepared to bop around. And request "more waltzes!"

After a few weeks in Europe, Chris should be back in town with more U.S. dates.

For the record, Mills thinks the Watchmen movie is a poor representation of the original graphic novel. Also that Zach Snyder is a god-awful director with no artistry.

The Stationary Set @ The Studio at Webster Hall, 2.21.09

After B+TEC's amazing set, The Stationary Set hopped on stage to wow us once again! (For background info. on The Stat. Set, see my post below, "The Stationary Set @ Fontana's, 2.7.09").

First, it must be acknowledged that Gabriel Kubitz is a superhero for playing two sets with two different bands back-to-back. Here he is, rockin' out on bass, as per usual!

Second, it should also be stated that while playing, the band had almost NO sound coming out of the monitors (seriously). The audience could hear the band easily--but the band could not hear itself. Epic fail, Webster Hall, epic fail. However, not to be discouraged, the band played an UNBELIEVABLE set with really excellent attitudes! They looked like they were having a great time, and got the entire crowd (which, by this point, was drunk and chatty) totally engrossed in the music.












The set focused on songs from The Stat Set's new EP, which was made available for free download the day after this show. As a quasi-release party for said EP, the show was a HUGE success! Not only did they play all four songs from the EP to an ecstatic audience, but they also played other new songs that will likely be included on the upcoming album, to be released this fall.





It was great to see The Stat Set headlining (or sharing the headline with B+TEC) at Webster Hall. While the show had some sound problems, the audience was totally unaware and enjoyed every minute of their incredible set. As it should be.

Review and photos by Laura. More photos available here.

B+TEC @ The Studio at Webster Hall, 2.21.09

B+TEC, or Bitch and the Exciting Conclusion, is the ever-growing project of Bitch (Shortbus, Bitch and Animal), Gabriel Kubitz (The Stationary Set), and LeeFree (Inner Princess). Just back from their east coast tour, Bitch and Gabe reunited with Lee to play as B+TEC--and the crowd LOVED it.

A great deal of Bitch's name recognition tends to come from her earlier project, Bitch and Animal, which released two CDs on Ani DiFranco's label, Righteous Babe Records. Since Bitch and Animal stopped collaborating, Bitch has been in John Cameron Mitchell's film Shortbus, released a solo record, Make This/Break This, and produced Ferron's latest album, Boulder, released on Bitch's own label. While a great deal of Bitch's work has garnered attention primarily from the LGBTQ community, her work with B+TEC is accessible to a much broader audience.

B+TEC is a punk, alternative, indie band that mixes Bitch's poetry with innovative and compelling notes and rhythm. B's words are much more than mere lyrics: they are stand-alone poems that, when set to music, take on a life of their own. B's electric violin, acoustic violin, or bass, paired with Gabe's bass and Lee's rhythm, captures the intense emotions behind the words. The songs have a punk-rock feel but induce emotions that might be more akin to a folk-rock experience.

The band's sound is incredibly unique, but not inaccessible. B's background in theater is clear--she has a captivating stage presence that allows her to connect with each person in the crowd. B+TEC does an excellent job of bringing the audience into the experience, winning over an incredibly diverse, and constantly growing, fanbase.

Review and photos by Laura. More photos available here.