For those five or so people out there who've been with us from the beginning, you'll know by now that we have a bit of a thing for Montreal's TOPS—they've been featured a whopping twelve times on the site so far, more than any other act. Last Sunday, our rock-star photographer Brandon Bakus powered through a post-Halloween hangover to cover their show at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg and make it a round thirteen. Accompanied by local favorite Jerry Paper and LA's Puro Instinct, it was, predictably, an excellent show. Pics and notes follow.
Jerry Paper
Jerry Paper has always been fairly inscrutable, and it seems this performance was (thankfully) no different. From his odd brand of pop music to his live act which teeters on the edge of performance art, there's always something he does that's perfectly off. His sets are fluid and passionate, which contrasts brilliantly with his shy, awkward stage banter. Also, there's a lot of groaning. He really seems to love groaning.
Puro Instinct
Traveling all the way from the mean streets of LA were electro-pop wonders Puro Instinct. They hit the stage with a powerful, neo-retro California sound, reminiscent of the late '80s or early '90s with an undeniably contemporary twist.
TOPS
This was our photographer's first timing seeing TOPS live, and when asked what he thought of the indie-rock four piece his first words were "authentically sweet." It was pretty apt, for a camera jockey.
There's a sincerity to the way TOPS plays that shines through in every aspect of their performance. It never seems like they're trying too hard, and they let their art speak for itself—the simple beauty of their music is as endearing as it is mesmerizing.
Melody's Echo Chamber has been one of my favorite bands since the group's first full release in 2012, which was so revolutionary that they're STILL touring the same material to this day. That isn't by any means a bad thing, as I'm pretty sure I could listen to it forever.
I was extremely excited when I heard that they were making their way across the Atlantic from France to play in NYC. That excitement was placed on hold for a while, thanks to the federal government obviously not understanding how much this show meant to me and delaying the group's visa in May.
An agonizing four months later, though, my dream became a reality at the Music Hall of Williamsburg where I witnessed a couple of amazing sets by Quilt and Melody's. Great times were had. Pics were taken.
Quilt
The fact I didn't know Quilt before this show is baffling to me. Not because I know everything there is to know about music, but because they are so utterly my kind of thing.
They are the perfect embodiment of '60s psychedelia with wonderfully modern twist. Listening to them live, it was difficult to not be transported back to my high school bedroom, gazing at my lava lamp and blacklight poster (I am well aware of the fact that I was a stereotype—16-year-old Gerard makes no apologies).
I loved every moment of their set. They were an excellent prelude to Melody's Echo Chamber, but by no means lacking in their own identity and appeal. I'm looking forward to seeing them again soon, and I hear they also have an album coming out this fall. Definitely grabbing that for the collection.
Melody's Echo Chamber
I love anticipation. The fact that the concert was postponed for four months almost made it better. Every week I watched videos of Melody's Echo Chamber shows, trying to imagine how it would feel when I finally got the chance to commune with their music in person.
The day of the show I walked into the music hall with my equally eager girlfriend, only to have her zip ahead of me and make a beeline for the front of the stage. Once I finally caught up to her during the Quilt set, I realized that she was standing right next to Pablo Padovani, guitarist in Melody's Echo Chamber and band leader another favorite French psych rock group, Moodoïd.
Suddenly, all of those months of giddy expectation were thrown back in my face. I froze, pretty embarrassingly star-struck, as he turned and looked at us (thinking, I'd imagine, that I was being a bit of a weirdo). Eventually he headed backstage to get ready for his set. A successful start to the night, I'd say.
This was Melody's second time touring the US, and they came on stage full of excitement for their first sold-out NYC show. They ran threw every song in their arsenal and even played a few covers to a crowd that was genuinely rapt.
One of the most interesting things I noticed was how comfortable Melody's was with their live experimentation, specifically that of bassist Benjamin Glibert whose flourishes had me intrigued the whole night. There was a tightness and comfort that must have come from playing the same material for almost three years straight, and it made me eager to hear what new material they'll hammer out in the future.
It's a rare occurrence, but every now and again the stars align in Brooklyn and I get the chance to see two of my absolute favorite acts on one bill. After the release of their fantastic new album, Escape From Evil, I was giddy when I heard that Lower Dens would be playing at the Music Hall of Williamsburg for the Northside Festival. For weeks in advance of the concert I had the record on repeat.
And if that wasn't enough, a week before the show I discovered that another of my favorites, Brooklyn locals TEEN, were going to be the opening act. I had wanted to see TEEN ever since their Carolina EP dropped, but for some reason or other I had always missed them when they played in New York. And unlike most things I let myself get my hopes up about, the concert was phenomenal and both acts delivered incredible performances. We've got the photographic proof right here.
TEEN
I love TEEN. In my mind they can do no wrong. And after several years of trying to see them live, finally witnessing them in action has only made me love them more.
"Stylish" is the only word I can think of to describe these guys. Everything they did on stage, every chord or rhythm they played had an air of cool that still washes over me a week after the fact. If you ever get a chance to see TEEN live, do yourself a favor and go.
Lower Dens
Lower Dens have also been on my list for some time, ever since I first heard Nootropics. Even with a few technical difficulties with what seemed like a new sample playback system, I have to say their performance was better than even I could've hoped.
If STYLE is the one word I could think of to describe TEEN the CONFIDENCE is the word I would use to describe Lower Dens. Every member locked into each song with the skill of a practiced musical veteran justifying in my mind why they are one of the best at what they do.
The group's overall relaxation, their mastery of the material, and Jana's shout-out to the late great Jazz saxophonist and composer Ornette Coleman definitely made the whole experience a night to remember.
