The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

Hot off the presses! It’s the new video by Blacklist! NYC’s finest dark art-rock band not named Interpol has finally put out a new single and video from their fantastic debut record Midnight Of The Century and it’s called The Believer. Possibly the closest thing I’ve heard to a fully formed pop single from the band, Blacklist shows off their melodic side a bit more here. Give it a listen, enjoy the film and if you haven’t already, go and buy the record!

“The Believer” by Blacklist, taken from the Wierd release, “Midnight Of The Century”

This is a call to the ladies and fellas in the NYC area! I’ve got a treat! Interested in partying up with The Knocks and their special guests this Thursday night? I just happen to have a pair of free tickets to get you through the door so you can feel like a VIP at the big bad club Baddies! How do you win? I’ll pick out the best tweet sent to me at @BillySuede between now and 3 pm tomorrow afternoon. It’s that simple. Let me know how much you love The Knocks and if your tweet happens to catch my fancy, you win! Go!

To the creatures of the night and adventure seekers of New York City, here’s a top on how to spend your Friday night! It’s time for another installment of Prehab! Here’s the scoop!

I was in a room full of diamonds last night. Le Poisson Rouge, one of my favourite venues located on the famed Bleecker Street, was simply electric last night. Marina & The Diamonds performed on the second night of a back to back NYC stop as she puts the US on alert of her immaculate presence. The reports from Sunday night’s show at the Bell House were promising so I must say that my heart skipped a couple of beats as I hopped off the 6 train and down Bleecker Street until I arrived. Unfortunately for me the show was already underway but once I walked through the doors, I found myself floating towards the performance space with my eyes closed being serenaded by the dulcet tones before landing in the back amongst the throng of the devoted.

It’s one thing to say that Marina Diamandis is a wonderful singer but she also commanded the stage with style and grace. With every turn, every smile, she converted the uninitiated and to  those of us who were swooning to her every breath, we found ourselves falling in love all over again. Her backing band, consisting of a bassist, a drummer and two keyboard players, were on point and looked like they were enjoying every minute on stage. Marina simply had the crowd eating at her hand. We knew every word. We marvelled at her charm and she gave it right back.

Marina performed the majority of her debut record The Family Jewels and threw in a personal fave in Seventeen from her The Crown Jewels EP. The show lasted for roughly for 75 or so minutes but it could have been 175 and still we would have wanted more. For her first go-round through the US, Marina handled the attention with aplomb. Perhaps she really is obsessed with the mess that’s America? If so, that’s okay with me and I’m sure those in attendance would concur. With a little bit of luck, it won’t be long before the rest of the country falls in line as well.

N.B. I apologise for the lack of photos to document my experience. Mine turned to be pretty craptacular give my position in the back. For some really good shots, check out The Music Slut for she always delivers…

The set list was…

Girls.
Seventeen.
The Outsider.
I Am Not A Robot.
Oh No.
Numb.
Obsessions.
Rootless.
Hollywood.
Shampain.
Guilty.
-
Mowgli’s Road.

“Seventeen” by Marina & The Diamonds, taken form the Neon Gold release, “The Crown Jewels EP”

Read it but don’t you dare weep, friends! This is the place to be Saturday 6 February 2010! I’ll be there so I hope to see all you lot there as well. All the information is on this flyer above so get to it!

First things first. I am a Strokes fan. Check that. I am a HUGE Strokes fan. Dating back to the first time playing at Arlene’s Grocery way back when then getting my filthy mitts on The Modern Age EP, I was smitten with this band who quickly became the pride of New York and the purveyors of what would be the return of new wave whether they liked it or not. With the ten year anniversary of the seminal debut record Is This It approaching, it’s about time we get an idea of what lurks in the mind of the face of the franchise so to speak in Julian Casablancas. I was never particularly taken by the Albert Hammond Jr. records and Fab’s Little Joy project left me cold but when the news came about Julian taking a dip into the solo pool, I was interested.

If you, like me, were bored to tears by that Converse-sponsored earache-inducing error-in-judgment involving Julian, Santigold and Pharrell called My Drivethru, I can say for certain it’s okay to place your faith back in the shaggy-haired one. It appears Julian has traded in his lo-fi sound for a cleaner, much more polished electronic pop sound that almost sounds like he’d been listening to the first Electronic record and been taking notes. Needless to say I am highly in favour of the first track taken from Julian’s solo debut record Phrazes For The Young called 11th Dimension. For most, this would be considered quite a change in direction in sound but here it seems to suit Julian just fine.

The record is due out 3 November via Cult/RCA and you can be sure there will be a review so before I waste more space waxing poetic over this track, let me simply say that it’s quite specatacular and you should play to your heart’s content over and over. By the way, New York City cops still aren’t too smart.

Julian Casablancas on MySpace
Julian Casablancas on Facebook

“11th Dimension” by Julian Casablancas, taken from the Cult/RCA release, “Phrazes For The Young”

Earlier this evening I did a wee hop, skip and a jump to a brand new DIY venue here in Da ‘Burg called Live From Shea Stadium affectionately titled after the recently torn down monstrosity in Flushing, Queens where my dearly beloved Metropolitans now play in Citi Field. Yes, I’m a jock. Deal.  So…the venue is very cool. It’s pretty spacious and is set up to record live performances so it’s definitely a place that local bands in the area will want to check out for small shows and what not.

Tonight’s visit was to bear witness for the first time to Clinical Trials in a live setting. I’ve already gushed over their sound so I was excited to see them play out. I’d say they delivered quite handily.  A frenetic and shambolic set featuring faltering microphones, a flying bass and loads of LOUD! It was everything one could want in such an intimate setting. The band was tight and lead singer/guitarist Somer Bingham did not disappoint as she ensnared the crowd in her wall of wail in songs like Disco Headphones and Polly Got Away. The band definitely brought the force as they pummeled the audience with tons of energy and sweat.

Check them out…now!

“Polly Got Away”, from the forthcoming release, “In The Wake Of The Digital Afterlife”

*******************************PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT******************************************

Umm… *clears throat* Suede-heads in the New York City area! I highly advise that either by hook or by crook, you find a way to get to the Williamsburg Waterfront this coming Sunday, the 9th of August as the one, the only Simian Mobile Disco are making a stop and promise to bring the force. Yes. It will be a happy day indeed.  Granted they are only spinning and not actually performing and the rest of the lineup is droll indie rock, it’s still a chance to throw down with one of the dance bands in recent times!

Pkease leave the glowsticks at home. You’ll just look silly. Really.

Here’s the 411.

Sunday August 9th 2.00pm

East River State Park

90 Kent Avenue in da ‘Burg

also featuring the Fiery Furnaces, Dark Meat and the Netherlands

The Pool Parties

Yes. Time for another plug! NYC Suede-heads! If you’re loitering around the Bowery and are in the mood for some quality electronic rock, go to the Mansion. A band near and dear to my heart, Electric Chariot will be performing at 11pm tonight at Crash Mansion, located at 199 Bowery. It’s a show not to be missed and promises to display of NYC’s up and coming bands. Do it!

Yes friends. Another shoutout to another NYC band. The Mystic Underground and their scintillating brand of electronic pop are performing this evening,the 19th of May, at Lit Lounge. It’s strongly advised if you indeed live in the metropolitan New York area that you attend this show. The band will perform songs from their recently released record It Really Shouldn’t Be This Hard. Lit Lounge is located on 93 Second Avenue between 5th & 6th Streets with the show beginning at 10.30pm. Dancing is most certainly encouraged apparently!

“Nobles Of The Concrete”, taken from the Stereosonic release, “It Really Shouldn’t Be This Hard”