Archive for August, 2009

Update: Friendly Fires, The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Friendly Fires played a corking set in the early hours of the night at (Le) Poisson Rouge after a really slow start due to a very long set-up time (it was all so involved, people started booing the empty stage after the half-hour mark). But once they hit the stride, the floor was bouncing happily along with “Skeleton Boy” and “On Board.”

Friendly Fires at (Le) Poisson Rouge; August 12th 2009

Friendly Fires at (Le) Poisson Rouge; August 12th 2009

Friendly Fires at (Le) Poisson Rouge; August 12th 2009

Friendly Fires at (Le) Poisson Rouge; August 12th 2009

The Phenomenal Handclap Band opened this show (The xx doing opener duty at next night’s Music Hall of Williamsburg gig). They were a lot of fun and did a good job of warming up the crowd. Too bad we were given time to cool off between sets.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band at (Le) Poisson Rouge; August 12th 2009

The Phenomenal Handclap Band at (Le) Poisson Rouge; August 12th 2009

Full photo set from the night is up on Prefix Mag. And a more detailed account of the show is up on Out‘s Popnography blog.

Update: Siren Festival pt. 4 – The Raveonettes, Built to Spill, Spank Rock

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

Rounding off the festival, The Raveonettes played a lively set as the sun started to set over Coney Island.

The Raveonettes at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

The Raveonettes at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Built to Spill stepped on the Main Stage to tremendous cheers (and a whiff of marijuana), ready to close off the festival on that side of the Wonder Wheel.

Built to Spill at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Built to Spill at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

On the other side, Spank Rock invited chaos, with the crowd climbing over the barricade to dance in the photo pit until security intervened. I heard there was an impromptu after-show on the Williamsburg Bridge around midnight. With Spank Rock, the chaos never stops.

Spank Rock at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Spank Rock at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

And that wraps up my Siren Festival coverage. I hope you had fun while it lasted.

In the near future look forward to a few album reviews and some photos from a show with Friendly Fires and The Phenomenal Handclap Band.

Update: Siren Festival pt. 3 – Frightened Rabbit, Grand Duchy, A Place To Bury Strangers

Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
Main Stage crowd at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Main Stage crowd at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Frightened Rabbit, from Scotland, drew a very excited crowd (and played a fairly long set).

Frightened Rabbit at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Frightened Rabbit at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Grand Duchy, featuring Frank Black (pictured) and his wife, were underwhelming, musically.

Grand Duchy at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Grand Duchy at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

A Place To Bury Strangers, another Brooklyn band (surprise!) played a moody set at the Stillwell Stage.

A Place To Bury Strangers at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

A Place To Bury Strangers at Siren Festival; July 18th 2009

Coming up in the next and last Siren update are The Raveonettes, Built to Spill, and Spank Rock.