Mercury Lounge: Open For Business

A little while ago, someone told me that Mercury Lounge might be closing. If you've talked to me (sober or not) you'd probably heard me complain that there is a lack of good venues left in the city. I have a lot of bands asking me for help when they come to NYC, and I just don't know what to tell them anymore. If a band is on tour and needing to make money by having a good gig with people who will come out to the show regardless of the lineup, there are venues few and far between. So when I heard my beloved Mercury Lounge might be turning into an apartment complex, that was not a step in the right direction.

And then this morning, I saw this post on Paper Mag:

According to New Media Feed, the reason for the shut down is linked to real estate development. Raises in rent and plans for high-rise luxury condos have already forced out other key venues in the neighborhood such as the Luna Lounge (which re-located to Brooklyn) and Sin-e (which will shut its doors soon).

So the little reporter than I now apparently am, I reached out for either a confirmation or denial. And thankfully this is the official word:

total bullshit, some dick box started the rumor.

Phew. Top-notch reporting right here.

The Changes @ Pianos | Fujiya & Miyagi @ Mercury | Band Of The Week: Coconut Records

I never had much luck traveling. I've been home from Austin since Monday and yet my suitcase has yet to arrive. After many hours on the phone with Delta (the devil), the guaranteed times have been anything but guaranteed. It's almost laughable now, if it was not for my antibiotics that are in there that I so desperately need. My newly brunette (but always logical) roommate tells me you cannot become addicted to antibiotics, but I beg to differ. I have always defied science. And I need them. I don't want tonsillitis to come back for the ninth time. Sigh.

But I have not been sitting at home crying over spilt milk, or lost luggage. Instead, I've continued the craziness that was SXSW and hit up some more shows. On Tuesday, I caught the always loveable The Changes at Pianos. They actually were the last band I saw during SXSW, and the first one since I have been back. Imagine that! So for all you haters who think I only see three bands all the time, it's kinda true. I'm still okay with it.

The Changes premiered some brand spanking new songs which Nora and I immediately have fallen for. It's pretty incredible to see this band progress. They were pretty spectacular to begin with, but now their live shows are passionate, tight, and my favorite front man Darren Spitzer has officially broken out of his shell. Cannot wait to hear what these boys have in store for their second album.

After Pianos, Pat and I ran over to Mercury Lounge to check out one of my top 10 bands to see at SXSW, who I didn't actually manage to see. Good thing they stopped by NYC before heading home to the UK. I really didn't know what to expect from Fujiya & Miyagi. I liked what I had heard, and was intrigued enough to catch them live. The set they delivered was jam-packed of funky deliciousness, with no stopping from song to song. The entire room immediately got into this crazy groove, a feat I hadn't seen happen in Mercury Lounge for some time. Their songs, while all quite similar, were executed in fashion, precisely what I want when I see a band for the first time.

Speaking of seeing bands for the first time, I sure hope Mr. Jason Schwartzman and his new project Coconut Records goes on tour pretty damn soon. I got the album Nighttiming and I'm already a believer. It's one of those albums that is sad and sweet, with Schwartzman the ringleader in your mood. If he's happy, you'll be happy. But he can get a little dark sometimes, so watch yourself. All in all, not a perfect album by any means, but just as scatterbrained as I imagine Schwartzman is in real life. And that in itself is awfully charming.

You can listen to a couple songs on their myspace. Here are my two favorites.

Coconut Records - Summer Day

Coconut Records - West Coast

Nicole Atkins Contest!

It's been ages since I've seen Nicole Atkins perform, but her new EP Bleeding Diamonds is the perfect soundtrack for the day before Valentines Day. Tomorrow you will get drunk, but today you are free to be melancholy.

A staple in the New York local scene, Atkins will put her crafted songwriting and haunting voice to the test when she releases her upcoming debut on Columbia Records. But for now, she is headlining Mercury Lounge next Tuesday, and we are holding a fun contest to support that show.

Here are the deets.

To win two tickets to see Nicole Atkins and her band the Sea at Mercury Lounge on Feb 20, write a haiku with the theme “Seahorses Take Manhattan” and Nicole herself will choose a winner. You can email me at underratedmagazine (at) gmail (dot) com, or leave your haiku in the comments.

Fun, right?

Nicole Atkins - Carouselle

Hear more on her myspace.

The Undisputed Heavyweights @ KidRockers | Live EP!!

Saturday night I may have drank a bit too much, but that didn't stop me from heading all the way up to 110th Street on a Sunday afternoon to see my beloved Undisputed Heavyweights perform at The Underground Lounge as part of the KidRockers series. KidRockers is a fairly new idea put together by some super-hip parents, bringing in two acts on a regular basis to perform for a bunch of kids and their parents. Seriously -- fun for the whole family.

Artists perform original, not specifically made for kids songs in an authentic and kid-friendly venue. And let me tell you, these kids were the coolest ever. Not only were they requesting songs from James Levy and The Heavyweights, but they were rocking out to Bob Dylan before the show. I only wish I could be that cool.

Watching The Undisputed Heavyweights perform in front of a crowd of kids was interesting and enjoyable. Perhaps it's because when I watch this band perform, I feel like a six year old -- giddy and enthusiastic, entranced by Casey Shea's antics and persona. One kid kept telling Casey he was crazy. Yes, he totally is, which is why this band is ideal for any age group. You'll always feel young at heart.

The greatest moment was when the band played a truncated version of "Bitches Been Trippin" (cut out the whole bitches part). Casey exclaimed that he had the "stay in school" blues and that he gets mistaken for Harry Potter too often. The kids loved it. And the organizers of KidRockers handed out sunglasses for all them to wear, sharing in Casey's blues. What a sight to see.







All the pictures above were taken by Sarah Ivy, and more can be found on The Undisputed Heavyweight's flickr. Check out KidRockers over at myspce.com/kidrockersnyc.

--

The Heavyweights will be playing next Thursday at Mercury Lounge (February 22) as a release party of their first ever Live EP. Live From New York City is the first in a series of EPs from Family Records, a division of Liberated Matter.

The EP features six songs recorded over at Joe's Pub, by Ryan Ryspace, with one bonus track recorded at Rockwood Music Hall. The EP will also include 11 (!) videos from various performances and backstage antics. Partial proceeds of each EP sold will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Sowbackya Illam Children's Home in India.

Live From New York City is the first volume in a limited edition box set, called, The Bootleg Series. The Series, which will be released under Family Records, will feature several local artists. Super exciting.

It's been a long time coming to have an official release from The Heavyweights. Consider yourself lucky, and pick one up on Thursday at Mercury Lounge!

Ra Ra Riot @ Mercury Lounge | New EP

Last night I made the grand re-emergence of 2007, stepping out of my apartment for the first time since Sunday morning's fun trip to the ER. It felt nice to be outside the confines of a couch and reality TV. Granted I didn't go very far...only a couple blocks west to Mercury Lounge for yet another stellar lineup.

It's always a pleasure to see Ra Ra Riot whether it be in the middle of a clothing store or on a well-refuted stage. Last night was the latter, and actually my first time seeing them at Mercury Lounge. While I expected the band to sound top-notch sonically, something was up with some funky mics that left more to be desired. Regardless, the band put on yet another rowdy set (complete with "Hounds of Love" cover, always a crowd pleaser) that was nonstop fun.

Not to sound like a complete former stoner, but I find Ra Ra Riot at their best when they are jamming out. I wish they extended those instrumental jams sometimes. It's such a privilege to listen to a band like this with such a talented a string section that I frankly can't get enough. And when they get into those crazy moments where all the elements lineup and each part perfectly compliments the other, well...that's when the crowd goes really wild.

Last night the band debuted a couple reworked tracks from their upcoming EP. Specifically "Dying is Fine" has a brand new intro that teases and pleases thanks to lead singer Wesley Miles vocal antics. Watching them made me very excited to hear the new recordings, in which the band was working on this past weekend. Apparently they worked so hard they finished a day early, which means we'll get a copy one day earlier as well. Awesome. No date yet on its release, but something tells me it may be in time for SXSW.

The band will in fact be down in Austin probably playing a billion shows over the four day festival. Following that trip, Ra Ra will be heading overseas, with a mini-tour in the UK. Check out their myspace for more deets.

Band Of The Week: Shy Child | Live @ Mercury Lounge

So I've been in a completely ridiculous mood lately. Like giddy and all that jazz, basically bouncing off the walls at every moment, unable to really contain any normal excitement. It can be embarrassing sometimes. Especially on a crowded subway.

Last night after Ra Ra Riot and meeting the roomie for a drink over at 2A, I went back to Mercury Lounge to check out Shy Child. I really didn't know anything about this group, other than they are signed to Say Hey Records (home to my beloved White Rabbits). But I figured they had to be good. I just didn't know how good.

Like I said, I've been in a very giddy mood lately, so hearing Shy Child totally worked for me. And it's working today. I've listened to their album One With The Sun over and over again, while bouncing around in my chair compulsively. There are only two people that make up this band, but that’s all you need. I spent most of my time last night fixated on their impressive drummer that totally made me jump up and down like a complete idiot. Oh, and there’s a keytar. You cannot, I repeat, cannot lose when you have a keytar.

The band has toured with Hot Chip, which makes total sense because both bands know how to keep you dancing from beginning to end. Even though I was seeing them for the first time, I didn't want their set to end. I seriously would have stayed at Mercury Lounge until 5 in the morning if they kept those beats going. This band just protrudes energy.

Go see this band immediately. Bring your dancing shoes.

Shy Child - Summer

Shy Child - Break Your Neck

The Upwelling @ Mercury Lounge

When I started this strange musical adventure, the first band that I really became attached to was The Upwelling. Three years has passed and a lot has changed. I've found myself making a living chasing after indie bands, writing about them, and each day I become less embarrassed over that fact. The first time I ever saw The Upwelling, I was too young to get into Mercury Lounge and had to coerce the bouncer to let me in. I told him I was a legit journalist. Ah, the humanity.

So I was a bit nostalgic walking back into Mercury Lounge last night, legally and comfortably, a place I've spent countless nights seeing too many bands. And while I myself have changed a lot over the past three years, The Upwelling takes the cake.

Their set last night was a non-stop showcase of what The Upwelling has come to be -- real performers. I give a lot of flak to bands with a shtick, warning them against becoming known as a novelty act. With a blackened stage and an odd recorded introduction, I was nervous that my once-loved local band had jumped the shark. Now donning much longer hair and interesting fashion choices, The Upwelling is far from the band I once knew. But I wouldn't let my preconceived judgments get in the way. What I loved first and foremost about this band was their music, so with ears wide open I gave them an honest chance.

Like their self-titled EP of yesteryear, their live show does not allow for a break. I loved that. To a packed crowd at Mercury last night, each song melded seamlessly into the next, keeping the crowd interested and intrigued at just where they might go next. The old favorites that I have come to know so well were brought to a whole new level, with Ari wailing his guitar like a true hero. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what their sound has evolved into. The stylings of Pink Floyd have become more prevalent, while there's a certain dark 80's electropop mixed in there as well. Last night they opted for more upbeat numbers. While I'll always prefer their romantic ballads, I understood the choice.

When it comes down to it, you have to let bands change and discover their sound. Us lonely bloggers/journalists can't really do much about the directions they choose. You can either sit in your apartment behind a blank computer screen and pout until the pint is empty, or you can understand the reasoning and accept change. Because when it comes down to it, especially in The Upwelling's case, there is undeniable talent and drive. They have something. I can't wait to see what another three years will bring.

Here's a newbie that was played last night that I'm liking more each time I hear it. Check out more tracks on their myspace.

The Upwelling - Love Is Dead

Cold War Kids Bi-Costal Residency

I admit I like the idea of residencies. If there's a band I love and they put together a residency, you can guarantee I'll be there for all shows. I'm just like that. I like routine, and god help me if I can ever get enough live shows under my belt. I wonder if there's a record for how many live shows one human being has seen. Hmm, I should look into that...

However I can't help but express my concern for Cold War Kids. They have taken it upon themselves to embark in a bi-costal residency, switching back and forth from dates in LA and NYC. Talk about jetlag. My only hope is that they have managed to fly first class and have a lot of Ambien. I know I couldn't deal with all that traveling. Good luck my friends.

I hopefully will be attending one of these shows. If my roommate finds out they are here and I couldn't get her a ticket, she's going to be pissed. I've created a monster.

All dates below..

01/10/07 New York, NY @ Pianos
01/12/07 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fold in Silverlake Lounge
01/17/07 New York, NY @ Union Hall
01/19/07 Los Angeles, CA @ The Fold in Silverlake Lounge
01/24/07 New York, NY @ Mercury Lounge
01/26/07 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
02/20/07 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
02/22/07 West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
02/23/07 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall
02/24/07 Santa Cruz @ The Attic
03/02/07 Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
03/03/07 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Underground
03/04/07 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck
03/06/07 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater
03/07/07 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave at the Eagles Club
03/08/07 Madison, WI @ The Annex
03/09/07 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
03/10/07 Columbia, MI @ Mojo's
03/12/07 Little Rock, AR @ Juanita's
03/14/07 Dallas, TX @ Gypsy Tea Room & Ballroom
03/19/07 New Orleans, LA @ The Republic
03/20/07 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
03/21/07 Orlando, FL @ The Social
03/22/07 St. Augustine, FL @ Cafe 11
03/23/07 Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl
03/24/07 Nashville, TN @ Mercy Lounge
03/26/07 Mt. Pleasant, SC @ Village Tavern
03/27/07 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
03/28/07 Washington D.C. @ Nightclub 9:30
03/29/07 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
03/30/07 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
03/31/07 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street Night Club
04/02/07 Montreal, Quebec @ La Sala Rossa
04/03/07 Ottawa, Ontario @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
04/04/07 Toronto, Ontario @ The Mod Club
04/06/07 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
04/07/07 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom

The View @ Mercury Lounge

[Pic stolen from Nora]

Last night, in spite of feeling crummy and tired I ventured over to Mercury to catch the latest NME sensations The View at their early showcase for all those whatsitcalls in the industry (seriously, who were all the old dudes?) Nora and I gave it a 50/50 shot that we'd like them. We really weren't expecting much at all, to be honest. In fact we were both so tired that we took a seat to the left of the stage, and contemplated taking a nap.

And then they came on stage. And I saw the floppy hair. So I stood up and began to bob my head. (I'm easily persuaded)

I ended up liking the band, nothing of a lifelong love though. Everyone's calling them the Scottish Arctic Monkeys, however I don't think their songs are as memorable. It was loud, jangly brit rock with a bit of a classic Scottish traditional edge to it. Sing-song? Sure. Fun? Of course. Just nothing mind-blowing.

We should come to expect this from NME bands, but I still enjoy most of their picks. The View are four young (seriously is one of them 12?) band that jumped around the stage and spouted a lot of babble that I don't think anyone in the crowd understood. Twas a short but sweet set that satisfied my needs, and frankly exceeded my expectations. Perhaps there is more to show from this burgeoning band. We shall see.

The View - Same Jeans

The View - Wasted Little DJs

White Rabbits, The Grates @ Mercury Lounge

I was telling someone on Monday that the reason I'm not very good at writing reviews is because when I like a band, really like a band, I tend to make that far too obvious. I don't hide behind superlatives; I encourage them. Long time readers of this blog have seen me do this before.

And here we go again.

This post marks the third official post on New York's own White Rabbits (discounting CMJ, the first two are here and here) Expect to see many many more. I can't really pinpoint this latest obsession to just one factor. Is it their easily memorable songs? Their exciting live shows? Six indie rock boys on one stage? Two drummers? Calypso beats with sing song melodies? I'll never be able to tell. All I know is that White Rabbits have won me over. And I’m telling you, you will be won over as well.

Granted, this is all before I've heard an album.

As soon as they played "The Plot" last night I was overly excited because it's the only song I've been able to listen to on their myspace over and over again. I'm honestly afraid of what will happen once I get their upcoming debut. It's going to make their live shows that much more enjoyable. Which makes this reek with anticipation.

Go listen to this band. See them live. Everyone else is doing it. Why aren’t you?

It was my first time seeing The Grates and by that time I had downed my bottle of vodka/diet coke that I snuck into Mercury. (I know, I'm a 16 year old at heart). Everyone describes this band as "fun" and gosh darnit they really hit the mark with that one. Lead singer Patience was in an adorable white skirt that I kinda wanted to steal from her, but she was far too busy bouncing around the stage. The packed crowd at Mercury Lounge could have been a bit more energetic considering the band was playing their little dance punk souls out.

While I'm not the biggest fan of their style on recordings, seeing them live was a far more enjoyable experience. The trio is completely charming, both speaking and playing. Maybe everyone just seems nicer with an Australian accent. Who knows. But yes, if I had to sum them up I couldn't really pick a better word that fun.

The Grates - Trampoline

Aberdeen City @ Mercury Lounge

I always get just a little bit excited when Aberdeen City comes to town. Their live shows always reaffirm my love for the band, and I leave with many songs stuck in my head. I welcome that. The Freezing Atlantic has been a staple album for almost a year now. It's one of those that you venture back to on a regular basis and each time it feels like you are listening to it for the first time.

But this is about their live show.

Nora and I ventured to Mercury Lounge with a few minutes to spare. I was day dreaming about my new flannel sheets and the fact that I really wanted to nap. Nora was upset she had to leave half way through Gray's Anatomy. But I told her, this would be worth it. And yes, it most definitely was.

I've seen this band a handful of times, and yet I always forget just how intense their live show proves to be. This is greatly credited to their guitarist Chris McLaughlin, who not only is a trainwreck on stage, but my own personal choice of eye candy. After seeing him last night I've decided that he could in fact be our generation's Sid Vicious. From the spitting of the beer to the hazy eyes, this skinny guitar player proved that sometimes you need an entertaining band member, even if your music speaks for itself. Nora had to take a break half way through the set. She couldn't handle the chaos. I say, more power to you. That's rock and roll.

Aberdeen always has a packed crowd in New York City and it was nice to see them at Mercury Lounge, a venue that is just perfect for their noisy melodies. The band played some new tunes that excited me for their next album. And of course my favorites, "Pretty Pet" and "Mercy" were the highlights. I've said it before, but I'll say it again: this band is on to something big.

Aberdeen City - Pretty Pet

Aberdeen City - Mercy

A-Sides, Annuals @ Mercury Lounge

I've never been more happy to see a Friday before. Is it just me, or has this week felt like a lifetime? Maybe just me. I'm taking serious action to reevaluate my lifestyle, which means that I plan to stay in more and get to sleep at a normal hour. Every week there's more bands and more shows to go to, and more dj opportunities, but sometimes, somehow, I will find a way to say no. I swear. Just not next week. Or the week after. Maybe this will be my new year's resolution. That will give me at least a month to kill my liver a little bit more.

This was my thought going out last night. I initially told Nora I didn't have to see Annuals again, to which she gave me the most puzzled look and asked if I was serious. Okay, I wasn't. I wanted to see them again. Secretly, I'm going for a world record to how many times I can see this band in the shortest amount of time. Last night marked 5 in one month. Beat that.

The plan was to go early to Mercury Lounge, catch A-Sides, grab dinner, back for Annuals and then bed. Surprisingly that's exactly what I did. Somehow in the midst of that, a lot of alcohol was ingested and Nora and I decided that we would become rappers. We would cover only Lilith Fair singers, and make those songs cool again. We practiced in the restaurant while eating delicious homemade pasta. There were looks. And stares. But man, were we convinced that we would be the next big thing. It could still happen.

Back to the music.

A-Sides is another one of those bands that I have been meaning to check out for far too long. They were, in short, awesome. I really dug their Walkmen-esque vibe, their unapologetic jam sessions, and the equally impressive craftsmanship of each of their songs. I found myself really paying attention to every part of each song (something that my musical naivety rarely does). I was sitting right at the front of the stage and I sought out the origin of every noise. You could easily break the song up in parts, but together it created a wall of sound that blasted through Mercury Lounge in the early evening. I must say, I was really into it.

Have you heard about this band named Annuals (no the) from North Carolina? There are six of them. They are young. I have been known to have religious experiences while watching them. You think I exaggerate when I say how much I love this band, but I'm not. If you saw me last night, you'd know. My only addition to every other review I've written about this band is this: Mercury Lounge crowd last night.... you stink. You really should have been into it a little bit more. Don't make me look like the only one there, making a fool out of myself by dancing around like an idiot. You know you wanted to as well.

That is all.

Annuals - Be He Me | Shows

Stop the presses. I actually like a Pitchfork Review.

For a band that I have associated with religious experiences, and one praised by the bloggers, you'd expect Pitchfork to hate Annuals. Even if they did fawn over "Brother," time has passed, and everyone is a buzz. And with a 7.8 review, they don't exactly love them, but thank god it's actually an insightful review this time around. They actually talked about the music in a way that I actually understood. Imagine that!

Refreshingly unconcerned with perpetuating cool, Annuals' attack is fundamentally escapist: Baker seems to prefer living inside his ever-aburst music, and listeners will be lured by the world it creates, a place of freakishly sustainable energy fluctuations where surprises would be routine, naps would raise heart rates, and sighs would result from exhilaration rather than exhaustion. Diehard residents of actuality might even find the Annuals' abstract plane inaccessible, or preferable at a distance....

"Carry Around" invokes exactly-- exactly-- the futuristic tropicalia that Beck was supposed to be perfecting by now. The disco-waltz "Complete or Completing" submerges into a Steely Dan tide, then locks into a chant-groove that is triumphantly resumed on album closer "Sway", which dips the last few years of indie-rock's most-soiled dishes into a Ladysmith Black Mambazo rinse.

Read the whole thing here.

The band is playing yet another show in New York, and yet another chance for me to totally geek out. The rest of the tour dates are below.

11/15 Cambridge TT the Bear's w/ Evangelicals
11/16 NYC Mercury Lounge
11/18 Dublin Vicar St. w/ the Flaming Lips
11/19 Dublin Vicar St. w/ the Flaming Lips
11/21 London White Heat @ Madam Jo Jo's
11/23 Kings Cross, London Water Rats Theatre
11/24 London Stylish Riot @ The Barfly
11/25 London Frog @ The Mean Fiddler
12/2 Tucson Rialto Theater w/ Calexico
12/3 Albuquerque Launchpad w/ Calexico
12/4 Flagstaff Orpheum Theater w/ Calexico
12/5 Tempe The Clubhouse w/ Calexico
12/6 Los Angeles Spaceland w/ Tralala and Jim Noir
12/7 San Francisco Bottom of the Hill w/ Goblin Cock and Pleeseasaur
12/9 Seattle Neumo's w/ Juno and Junior Boys

Song Of The Week: The Plot | White Rabbits

I very rarely post links to just myspace pages for songs, but with so many people have been asking me for some White Rabbits tracks... this is the best I can do.

Ever since I saw this band at Mercury Lounge, and then again twice during CMJ, I have been dying DYING to get a hold of their full-length debut, or at least some MP3s. I haven't been able to do that, just yet.

However, the band just posted a new track "The Plot" on their myspace page, and I can't stop listening to it. I immediately recognized it from their live show, and while the recording does no justice to the anarchy you see on stage, it's still a fantastic listen. It reminds me a lot of what The French Kicks would sound like if they, well, got a kick in the ass. It's got the same wailing harmonies, but combined with an addicting beat. I'm not kidding when I've said I've already listened to it a billion times this morning. It's that good.

No dates yet. No news on the album. But you can guarantee as soon as I hear, you'll be the first to know.

White Rabbits - The Plot [myspace]

[Update: The powers that be got you guys a NYC date. Feel free to send flowers/candle/money over my way. Or I'll just see you at the show. Either one.

12.6.06: Mercury Lounge w/ The Grates

AWESOME.]