The New York Rockmarket

It’s been a strange past couple of days.  These two shows took place on two different nights, but the past 48 hours have sort of melted together into one long medga-day.  I figured I’d just lump both of these concert experiences into one post, rather than get behind.  I saw the gentleman in the photos above showing off his timely “wavves meltdown” t-shirt to his friends, and I asked if I could snap a photo.  I thought it was pretty funny, since Wavves’ recent hissy fit was one of the best moments of schadenfreude I’ve ever experienced.  Turns out, the guy with the t-shirt was from a band called Pinky playing later tonight.  They asked me to stay for their show, but I just couldn’t make it.  If the band ends up reading this, I’m sorry, but thanks for letting me post your photo.

First, Wednesday night.  I’d heard about  The Drums, as did everyone else, from the recent rave reviews they got from their first-ever show at Cake Shop.  I had to check them out, so I made my way to the Annex this past Wednesday only to arrive just in time to see what was apparently Taylor Momsen’s (Jenny Humphrey from Gossip Girl) band give a rousingly bad performance.  By the time The Drums came on I was left feeling a little off-center by this strange turn of events.  But suddenly, I’m confronted with a group of beautiful musicians and back-up singers, led by a boyishly handsome blonde who just can’t seem to stay still.  They launched right into a set filled with an amalgamation of a few of the most popular trends in indie today (beachy, 80s influenced, pop-rock), and gave one of the most joyous performances I’ve seen in a long time.  This band was so care-free and fun to watch that I had no desire to take photos or assess them critically at all.  Frontman Jonathon Pierce danced around the stage with abandon, giving a performance of sheer fun.  The band wasn’t all just poppy hooks and danceable rhythms, though- the music has substance.  It has that truly transportive quality that all very good live music has to have.  It made me forget how strangely the evening had begun and just made me feel happy, perfectly straddling that line between adolescent fun and wistful nostalgia.  Believe the hype on this band, 100%.  I think any NYRM reader would really enjoy The Drums, and I highly encourage you to check out the mp3 below.

After very little sleep and a seemingly endless day at work, I found myself once again at Pianos.  I got lost in the ridiculously large LES Whole Foods for dinner, so I ended up walking in at the very end of Holiday Shores’ set.  The Tallahassee band is the most recent addition to the incredible Two Syllable Records label, home to NYRM faves New Villager and That Ghost.  I would put their music in the same camp with bands like Real Estate, playing tropical, breezy rock.  I only saw three songs, so I can’t really judge too well, but I wasn’t as impressed as I was hoping I’d be.  I thought the last song showed promise with cool guitar riffs layered over some unique keyboards, but unfortunately I think I need to see this band again before I say more.

Next up was Jack Penate, who I initially found over on BrooklynVegan.  I’m not really sure how to describe what kind of music these Brits make.  It’s sort of like…rock disco.  Frontman, Jack Penate, shakes and rattles around with confidence that I think only a UK pop performer can pull off.  His British cockiness reminds me ever-so-slightly of The Libertines, but the music is so much harder to position.  What is it exactly? It seems like he could almost be the male Lily Allen, writing what everyone knows are actually pretty decent songs, but are just too enjoyable to be actually, truly good.  In the end, whatever it is exactly that he does, he does it very well, but I don’t think I like it.  I’d dance to to it if I were out, but I’d never, ever listen to it sitting at my desk.  The songs all had a smidge too much cheese for me to take them seriously.  Still, it’s probably worth it to download the mp3 below to put on a playlist for a party, or at least get to know it so you can dance at a show when they come over to the States again later this summer.

The Drums:

Holiday Shores:

Jack Penate:

MP3: “I Felt Stupid” – The Drums

MP3: “Phones Don’t Feud” – Holiday Shores

MP3: “Be The One” – Jack Penate