FIELD REPORT: The Breathing Effect // Altopalo // Zetetics // The Pluto Moons

All Photos: Dylan Johnston

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Gerard Marcus

Our NYC friends No Smoking Media have been putting on some consistently fantastic showcases lately. If you don't believe me, go check out their Benefit Concert for Bernie Sanders tonight at The Gateway in Brooklyn. Sadly, the fact that I occasionally have to do actual work to survive in this city is preventing me from enjoying this one, but I managed to swing by their killer showcase last Thursday at Palisades featuring one of the better bills I've seen in a while. All the way from LA, The Breathing Effect were accompanied by three local favorites: Zetetics, Altopalo, and The Pluto Moons. Pictures were taken. Notes have been written.

Also special shout out to Dominick Chang for the amazing visuals.

The Pluto Moons

I have a lot of respect for this band's recorded work, ever since I heard their 2013 record Mannequin Legs. But I didn't realize, until I actually found myself standing in front of them, that I've never seen them live. It was a strange feeling.

Pretty much everything I personally love about music is exemplified in the work of The Pluto Moons. Their musicianship is even more pronounced live, where they take their audience on an awe-inspiring, genre-bending joy ride that's as mesmerizing as it is oddly comforting—it lets you know that there might be someone in this world as crazy as you.

Zetetics

I've had my eye on Amani Fela ever since I happened to see him play in some girl's living room for an art opening a few years ago. I remember, at the end of that show, going up to him and expressing my gratitude at seeing a contemporary of mine rap with so much style and intellect. I'm glad to see he's still at it.

Zetetics are an interesting group. Simply saying they're a hip-hop collective doesn't really do them justice. All four members come together to form a style that's wholly unique, delivering beautiful poetry enveloped in a sonic tapestry that takes inspiration from hip-hop, jazz, funk, and psychedelic music. And they absolutely kill it live.

Altopalo

Followers of the blog know my love for Altopalo. This concert was really no different, and by that I mean they haven't deviated from their incredibly impressive past performances.

The Breathing Effect

The Breathing Effect's self-titled 2014 EP has been one of my most played records since its release lat February (the day after my birthday, actually). These guys are incredibly tight and easily some of the most talented musicians I've seen assembled on a stage this year. They fly through dense soul-, rock-, and jazz-inspired arrangements with an ease that could only come across as the epitome of cool. In a lot of ways, I'm reminded of the stories my dad tells me of seeing Herbie Hancock during his Headhunters tour, and you can't get much better than that.

FIELD REPORT: Palm // Palberta // The Cradle

All Photos: Dylan Johnston

Gerard Marcus

History was made last Friday at Palisades. A lucky few fans got the chance to witness the sold-out release show for what might already be one of my personal favorite albums of the year, Palm's Trading Basics. To say I was incredibly, ridiculously excited for this show would be an understatement. Unfortunately, a surprise ten-hour stay in an ER in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn (comically close to the venue) prevented me from going to the show. C'est la vie. But thankfully, our wonderful photographer Dylan Johnston was still able to make it and take some killer photos. It's almost like I was there. Almost.

The Cradle

Palberta

Palm

FIELD REPORT: Surf Rock is Dead // Lost Film // Bodega Bay // Soft Fangs

All Photos: Will Roane

Gerard Marcus

I, like most sane, completely unobsessive people, have a list of every single band I want to see live someday. I do a pretty good job of catching majority of them when they come through town, but there are always a few that seem to elude me for whatever reason. The band isn't touring that much, they aren't in New York, I have to work when they're playing, etc.

But I always like to keep an ear to the ground so that when the stars align, as they did a couple of weeks ago on September 6th at Palisades, I have the opportunity to knock out four bands from my list with one concert!

I couldn't imagine a better way to spend a Sunday evening. The night shifted from pensive to raucous to introspective to almost dreamlike with great performances from Soft Fangs, Bodega Bay, Lost Film, and Surf Rock is Dead. We even (surprise!) took some pics.

Soft Fangs

Let's start with the pensive: Soft Fangs first caught my attention at the end of last year with the release of their self-titled tape, and it was nice to see that the chill, emotional, yet understated style transferred so well to the Palisades stage. John Lutkevich's hypnotically engaging performance had an honesty that was almost palpable. It almost seems like a better venue for this guy would be a tent in the woods, or maybe someone's living room with hot chocolate and whiskey. Yeah, that sounds about right.

Bodega Bay

In a drastic departure from the mellow tunes of Soft Fangs, next up were NYC art-rockers Bodega Bay. These guys are a hell of a lot of fun. They hit the audience a heavy garage-punk sound that gradually transformed into an eclectic mix of spoken word, sound collaging, tight grooves, wild guitars, dancing, jumping, and screaming. Everything you would expect to find in a bodega.

Lost Film

I was probably most intrigued with seeing Lost Film that night, mainly because they aren't based in New York. Hailing from Northhampton, Mass, they recently released a new album (Imago) that I haven't been able to stop listening to. Seeing them live has only cemented that addiction—it was an amazing performance from Jimmy Hewitt, who's also just a really nice dude if you ever get the chance to chat with him.

Surf Rock Is Dead

Closing out the night was Brooklyn's Surf Rock is Dead. Super fun music. Super fun band. Their show took me back to happy memories of my high school years, driving at high speed through the Maryland countryside and doing dumb shit at house parties. There's something about the freedom and nonchalance of their lush alt rock that just makes you want to drunkenly float on a mattress in a pond, you know?