Bleary Eyed Brooklyn

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[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

The Stevens perform "Occupied" at Death by Audio, Brooklyn 9/14

One more for the road. RIPDBA! Tomorrow I'll try to recap my favorite good times at DBA! 

http://chaptermusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-stevens

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

The Stevens perform "Weaving" at Death by Audio, Brooklyn, NY 9/14

Yep it's another excellent experience via DBA. This song by The Stevens makes me think of Guided by Voices! #RIPDBA!

http://chaptermusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-stevens

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Martha performs "1967, I Miss You, I'm Lonely" at Death By Audio, Brooklyn, NY 6/6/14

Another song from Martha's set at DBA! Waa waa waa. Very sad to see DBA go. RIPDBA!

http://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Martha performs "Bubble in my Bloodstream" at Death By Audio, Brooklyn, NY 6/6/14

Aw naw! Tonight is the night! It is the last night EVER of Death by Audio. As a lucky soul that lives a few blocks away I have enjoyed so many fantastic live music experiences here. As a little send off I thought I'd share the last few bands I had the pleasure to shoot there. (I have seen more here but was wise enough not to bring a camera. Unencumbered I blissed out completely!)

I had learned about Martha at NYC Popfest 2014. They were my absolute favorite band of the festival by a mile! When I saw they'd be at DBA soon after I would not dare miss it. And I was not disappointed!

DBA was home to so many amazing shows. It sparkled everyday but I loved it's assortment during CMJ and what I lovingly described SXSo2ndSt. This was the phenomenon of hosting bands passing through NYC on their way to and from SXSW and always made me glad I save money on hotel and airfare! 

DBA you were fuckin' rad. Yes you knew it...but so did we! It is sad you are no longer and that the douchebaggery that is Vice will soon reign over what once was. I will miss ye, DBA. RIP Williamsburg!

http://marthadiy.bandcamp.com/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

A few quick photos from my CMJ 2014 experience.

From top to bottom:

Literature and Spring King at Piano's upstairs for Slumberland/Kanine Wednesday Day Party.

Tweens, Protomartyr and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard at Baby's All Right for Brooklyn Vegan's Friday Day Party 

J. Fernandez at Baby's All Right for Baby's 1st Annual CMJ Daycare Party.

Surely there will be a few clips from these bands and some other folks too...Stay Tuned!

[pastabot]

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Guided By Voices performs Over the Neptune/ Mesh Gear Fox & Echos Myron At Maxwell’s, Hoboken

Hey look...@pastabot made these cool gifs of my Guided By Voices (RIP) video for "Over the Neptune/ Mesh Gear Fox & Echos Myron" from their Maxwell's (RIP) show in late 2010. I love 'em!  Thank you! 

I know we are all sad to hear that Guided By Voices are no more...again. To have a little look back at the classic line up's glorious good times check out all the songs I posted of GBV from this show:

"Over the Neptune"/"Mesh Gear Fox" & "Echos Myron": https://vimeo.com/18686157

"Shocker In Gloomtown" & "Tractor Rape Chain": http://blearyeyedbrooklyn.com/post/2546716460

"Cut-out Witch": https://vimeo.com/18552056

"Gold Star for Robot Boy":  http://blearyeyedbrooklyn.com/post/2567753880 

"The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory": http://blearyeyedbrooklyn.com/post/2567728924

"Weed King": https://vimeo.com/18552601

"Dodging Invisible Rays": https://vimeo.com/18518832

"A Salty Salute": https://vimeo.com/18360317

"Don't Stop Now": http://blearyeyedbrooklyn.com/post/2567700039

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee performs her Great Thunder song  "Chapel Of Pines" solo at Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn on 1/23/14

On this night we were treated to this gorgeous Great Thunder song. Katie's beautiful voice lifting up and washing over the crowd made our being uncomfortably crushed and sweaty at this sold out show totally worth it. 

She also played a lovely new Waxahatchee song too. Sadly the riding cymbal in the performance wiped out her vocal on my audio recording...so you'll just have to go check them out live to get your own preview. 

http://greatthunder.bandcamp.com/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Waxahatchee performs "Dixie Cups And Jars" at Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn on 1/23/14 

Here is my favorite song off of Waxahatchee's 2013 Don Giovanni release "Cerulean Salt." I'm not sure when such a sad and beautiful song has last gotten lodged in my brain for this long.

Lucky you..there are still many dates left on Katie and Co's tour. They remain on the road through the later part of May '14. So go ring in some early spring time vibes with these folks. You'll be so glad you did!

http://www.waxahatcheemusic.com/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Cate Le Bon performs "Wild" at Mercury Lounge, NYC on 1/16/14.

Audio by NYC Taper. 

Here was the final song of set...which if you ask me blew the lid off of the place. 

The Cate Le Bon and Kevin Morby combo tour makes it way back west through February 1st 2014...so getchusome if they are visiting your town. Such a great time!

Then Cate and her amazing band heads back to the UK for serious a tour there. Lucky you! GOOOOO!

http://catelebon.com/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Cate Le Bon performs "Duke" at Mercury Lounge, NYC on 1/16/14

Audio by NYC Taper. 

I had a hard time imagining that I could love another Cate Le Bon album as much as I love "Cyrk." But "Mug Museum" has risen to the level of equal excellence. The twists and turns in the pace of "Duke" gives the song an epic feel. And the "aaahhh oooohs" towards the end just kills me. Try to resist this song...I dare you!

http://catelebon.com/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Kevin Morby (of Woods and The Babies) performs “The Ballad of Arlo Jones” (A new song) at Mercury Lounge, NYC on 1/16/14

Audio by NYC Taper.

In April of last year while at Glasslands I developed a huge crush on the music of The Babies. I had really enjoyed the songs on record but there was this different dimension to their live sound. Since I already loved Cassie Ramone's contributions to Vivian Girls I thought I should investigate Kevin Morby's work more closely. And then like six months later there was this beautiful solo album to give me a different insight. 

Here is a song that does not actually appear on "Harlem River." It does have a similar feel to a Babies song so I thought I'd include it. Oh and I can't stop listening to it too...so there's that.

http://kevinmorby.tumblr.com/

http://www.woodsist.com/news/kevin-morby-announces-debut-solo-lp-stream-first-track/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Kevin Morby (of Woods and The Babies) performs "Slow Train" at Mercury Lounge, NYC on 1/16/14

Audio by NYC Taper. 

There are many excellent tracks on "Harlem River" but this lovely song is a highlight for me. I find it to be very beautiful and transporting.

I do hear the influences of Bob Dylan and Cass McCombs' "Catacombs" album that Morby has cited in past interviews..but that doesn't diminish the power of this song.

My only complaint is that Cate Le Bon didn't hop up on stage to help recreate the magic of the album version. Their voices together are just glorious.

http://kevinmorby.tumblr.com/

http://www.woodsist.com/news/kevin-morby-announces-debut-solo-lp-stream-first-track/

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Kevin Morby (of The Babies and Woods) and Cate Le Bon performing at Mercury Lounge, NYC 1/16/14.

Photos by BlearyEyedBrooklyn/Melissa Soltis

Clips from Thursday's show with terrific audio from AcidJack of NYC Taper are on the way. Come on back and check them out.

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Paws performs "Let's All Let Go" (a new song) at Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn

I LOVE PAWS! There I said it. I thought their previous Fat Cat released album Cokefloat! was brilliant. It was both emotional and powerful in it's ability to rock. Seeing them live for my first time earlier this year just blew my mind.

So that's why when I saw this Scottish trio were playing a show in Brooklyn in between releases..I knew I just had to be there to scout some new songs. I was in luck. This was the very first song of their set..and it is terrific!

http://www.wehavepaws.com/

http://www.fat-cat.co.uk/site/artists/paws

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Paws performs "Tongues" (a new song) at Glassland Gallery, Brooklyn

I didn't catch the name of this one..but I likey! Really looking forward to their new record. I'm hoping it'll be out in early 2014!

http://www.wehavepaws.com/

http://www.fat-cat.co.uk/site/artists/paws

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Little Big League performs "Lindsey" at Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn

So here is the lead off batter...um I mean track from Little Big League's 2013 debut LP "These Are Good People" released in August on Tiny Engines. I love this song!  I hope it hits a home run for you too.

http://littlebigleague.bandcamp.com/

http://tinyengines.limitedrun.com/bands/little-big-league/products

[blearyeyedbrooklyn]

Little Big League performs "Dark Matter" at Glasslands Gallery, Brooklyn

In addition to getting to see this bonus round Paws tour..we were lucky front man Philip Taylor invited the Philadelphia based band Little Big League to tag along for some dates. They had been on my list of people to check out in 2013 so I was especially excited. 

Well just...WOW! I knew there were several super songs on the LBL debut album "These Are Good People." But what I did not know was Michelle Zauner is a dynamo on the guitar. It was easy to see why Phil said they were one of his favorite bands. And the two acts side by side could not have complimented one another better. 

I am just sad I didn't get the word out quicker. They shared bills another handful of times including a stop at my old Chicago hometown haunt The Empty Bottle. Well keep your eyes peeled for more dates from both of these bands in 2014. You'll be glad you did!

http://littlebigleague.bandcamp.com/

http://tinyengines.limitedrun.com/bands/little-big-league/products