Chris Garneau @ Southpaw: Love Zombie

With a somber yet whimsical, fervent yet delicate debut LP, it was an easy choice for me to place Chris Garneau's Music For Tourists amongst my fave records of the year (view the full list here). Whereas the last time I saw Chris, he focused on the aforementioned full-length, he chose to highlight his latest EP, C-Sides, at his Southpaw debut last evening.

Chris opened the show with a trio of solo tunes on his piano and squeezebox (see above photo) before accompanying his full band for the remainder of the set. About halfway through his performance, Chris brought out (overly buzz-worthy) Jenny Owen Youngs for a glorious collaboration. In keeping with the winter spirit, Chris treated us to his lone holiday track, 'It's Almost Christmas', to close the awe-inspiring set. He also assured us that he's currently working on a Hanukkah tune, which he plans to premiere by December of 2008. Mazel tov! All in all, the gig was immensely gorgeous and positively charming.

Learn more about Chris Garneau here at his official site or over at his MySpace page.

MP3: Chris Garneau - The Island Song [alt link]

Posted on 6:25 AM / 0 comments / Read More

I'm From Barcelona @ Southpaw: More Glee!

After being witness to such a spectacular show this past Sunday at McCarren Pool (review & pics here), Jen and I had no choice but to see I'm From Barcelona once again at their second and last area visit for the year (sigh) at Brooklyn's Southpaw.

My main concern prior to entering the venue was the seemingly impossible task of fitting all 29 members onto Southpaw's notoriously small stage. Somehow, in spite of my initial hopes that the band would intersperse into the crowd, I'm From Barcelona magically pulled it off without a hitch. Confetti, balloons, sing-alongs et al, nothing was forgone with the gig being indoors versus outdoors. Another glorious set!

This time, one lucky concert go-er got to join the band on stage early into the show for a kazoo lesson & duet, simply because his last name was 'Barcelona'. Let's keep our collective fingers crossed for many many US visits from I'm From Barcelona in 2008!

Enjoy a few more photos plus the complete setlist & an I'm From Barcelona MP3 below.



Setlist: Treehouse/Oversleeping/Rec & Play/Collection Of Stamps/Chicken Pox/Britney/We're From Barcelona/The Painter/Ola Kala//Jenny/Life Aquatic/Barcelona Loves You

MP3: I'm From Barcelona - We're From Barcelona (via Bitchfork)

Posted on 7:00 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Ben Kweller + Tim Fite @ Southpaw: Sha Sha

One of my fondest college memories involves following Ben Kweller around from city to city (well, Baltimore to DC, at least) while BK was supporting his debut LP, Sha Sha. Five years have passed since those smile-inducing days and while I still adore BK in every way, I long for the days when Sha Sha commanded his setlists. When I heard that Ben would be performing the album in its entirety at Brooklyn's Southpaw, I had no choice but to stand front & center, singing along to every lyric.

Complete with a commemorative songbook, a Sha Sha box (full of all sorts of random goodies including but not limited to red toothbrushes, Halls candy and Old Spice deodorant) and a slew of BK diehards, Ben performed a fantastic hour-long set. First, BK ran through Sha Sha in the order that the album was recorded and then came back for three fan-requested encores from later releases. Full setlist below. The night played out as a daft version of Storytellers and/or Behind The Music. Tonight Ben will perform his sophomore release, On My Way, in all its glory, while tomorrow's show will focus on his latest self-titled junior effort.

Setlist: Sha Sha/Wasted & Ready/Family Tree/Commerce, TX/In Other Words/Walk On Me/Make It Up/No Reason/Lizzy/Harriet's Got A Song/Falling//On My Way/Sundress/Penny On The Train Track

MP3: Ben Kweller - Sundress

Opening last night's show was the one and only, Tim Fite. Tim's live show is a unique amalgamation of experimentalism, audio/visual science project, hip-hop, anti-folk, spoken word and crowd participation. While many BK fans seemed reluctant at first to loosen up to Tim, by the middle of his mesmerizing set, nearly every fist was raised in approval. Learn more about Tim Fite & download a bevy of tunes here at his official site.

MP3: Tim Fite - Downturn

Posted on 7:00 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Ben Kweller Plans Southpaw Residency

Each night of the 3-evening Brooklyn run will highlight a different BK album, in its entirety from start to finish.

Here's what to expect:

July 30th - Sha Sha

July 31st - On My Way

August 1st - Ben Kweller

Tickets are $18 each or fifty bucks for all three gigs. Personally, I'm most excited about night #1.

Purchase through BK.com here!

MP3: Ben Kweller - Magic

Posted on 9:51 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Locksley & Undisputed Heavyweights @ Southpaw 4/26: Jen's Spring Cleaning

Sorry for the lack of JK posts but in everything I suppose, there are ebbs and flows. These past couple of months have been all about the flow but come June 7th, my life is about to hit a great deal of ebb once unemployment hits...again.

Enjoy a little of my long weekend down time and take a look at a few choice concerts I've seen these past few months but never had a chance to post about. Happy Memorial Day!


Matt and I were really excited for this show. One of our all time favourite New York acts were playing alongside a band I had wanted to see for quite a while. I arrived to the venue slightly ahead of schedule and called Matt from outside.

"Hi, I'm here. Where are you?"

"A few blocks away getting a slice. Is it crazy there?"

::insert crickets chirping::

"Sorry, I'll be there soon."


A free show in Brooklyn on a Thursday night sponsored by amNEWYORK and not a soul around but me, the bored looking bartender and the boys from Locksley reading a newspaper? Shocking people, shocking.

Well anyway, Locksley were great as always; one of those bands whom you hope you aren't screaming into the wind about.


Also playing the ill fated gig were Undisputed Heavyweights, a band I had been meaning to see for a while.

I suppose I had a predisposition to like Undisputed Heavyweights. On a warm spring day, driving around with the windows open while singing to Sinatra for me, is near perfection. 60's style lounge music is just my thing and the Casey Shea led Undisputed bring the lounge lizard back to life with an updated flair. Their smart, poppy music, that makes you smile as your hips uncontrollably swing back and forth, is punctuated perfectly by Shea's cheeky audience banter.

Upcoming UH tour dates:

Jun. 22nd Joe's Pub (All Ages), 425 Lafayette Street (btw E. 4th & Astor Place), New York, 9pm w/ I. Michaelson, All Ages.

Jul. 26th Joe's Pub 9pm w/ Wakey!Wakey!,

Aug. 24th Joe's Pub 9pm w/ Seth Kallen


MP3s: 'Roll Your Windows Down' and 'Money'

Posted on 5:19 PM / 0 comments / Read More