Review and Pictures of Beck and MGMT

The United Palace Theater, where MGMT and Beck played, is way up in Harlem, on 175th St. to be exact. Getting there was no problem; getting home afterward was a little more of a hassle, but definitely worth it. The United Palace Theater is gorgeous.
Inside was seating, featuring a little less-than-preferably low ceilings but great views of the stage. I arrived mid-way through MGMT's performance. They had spotlights on stage but otherwise put their energy into the songs and not into visual appeal for the audience. I was satisfied that I arrived in time to hear their live performance of their songs "Kids" and "Electric Feel." I am excited to hear future releases by MGMT and see how they develop. (MGMT describes their musical style as "Healing/Easy Listening/Soul" on their Myspace page; somehow, that combination works for them, though I would be more inclined to call their genre folk-pop.)

(MGMT, above)

There followed a brief intermission as the stage was prepared for Beck.

And Beck's performance lived completely up to my expectations, playing music from his older albums as well as his more recent releases. He and his bandmates put on a good performance; for the most part, they stuck to their musical roles and let the video backdrop behind them provide the visual complement to their music.
Everyone, or almost everyone, was standing during their performance. And a lot of us, like myself, were also dancing. Good times.

Wednesday Music Events!

I am really stoked that I will be seeing both Beck and MGMT tonight. I think it is going to be an absolutely amazing show! I have been a fan of Beck's for years and have never seen him perform before; so tonight's show will be quite the treat, especially with MGMT opening for him! They are playing at United Palace Theater in Harlem, a venue I have also never been to previously. So, the evening ahead is looking quite electric!

(Beck, above)

The Beck/MGMT shows are sold out, but playing for three consecutive nights, so checking out craigslist.org or ebay.com, or trolling the area for an extra ticket prior to the show may yield you your very own lucky ticket to the event. But if you are not intersted in scavenging for a ticket and are looking for a fun electro-experimental show or an interesting evening in Brooklyn, musical or otherwise, I recommend the show below.

Barbara Morgenstern is apparently a musical superstar in Germany; to the American ear, she offers German-tinged electro-experimental music. See her Myspace page here.

Barbara Morgenstern
Berlin underground favorite Barbara Morgenstern www.barbaramorgenstern.de has come across the ocean to New York. Come hear a bit of what the Berlin scene is creating, and see why it's as interesting as it appears to be.
Buy tickets here!
Barbara Morgenstern is playing at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO. The show is at 8 pm; tickets are only $10!

Madonna's 'Sticky and Sweet' Performance

I saw Madonna in her Sticky and Sweet tour last night (yes, Madonna on a Monday!), and I have to say, I am blown away by that woman. If I had half the energy now that she has at 50, I would be a happy lady. Madonna's sheer unflagging energy onstage, from her double-dutch jump-rope dancing and general high level of physical exertion and ability, to her enthusiastic shouts to the crowd, was phenomenal. The show began somewhere around 9:30 p.m., a large video candyland projection introducing us to the spectacular spectacle of the evening which momentarily was eclipsed by a swiveling of the stage, revealing Madonna's dancers and then Madonna herself, sitting at the throne.

A NY Times article on Madonna's previous performance in New Jersey gives a more critical look at Madonna's performance, in an article entitled, Aerobic, Not Erotic: The Concert as Workout, emphasizing how cold-hearted and driven her performance and general aesthetic was, a feat basically of sheer willpower. I would have to say I disagree; the erotic and aerobic are not incompatible, especially in Madonna' case. While her performance was an odd mish-mash of both music and theatrical effects, with themes ranging from hip-hop to club kid to Europen gypsy and spiritual, Madonna's show offered barely, if ever, a dull moment.

In one break from her live onstage performance, the audience was treated to a large projection of her very politically-oriented video, "Get Stupid":



Upon the video's closing, the audience erupted into loud applause. Madonna also made it clear during the performance, "Palin is NOT invited." She did, however, thank everyone there yesterday for attending her "party," and proclaimed that sitting down wasn't allowed during her show. "This is not the Streissand show," she said. Yes, Madonna is still going strong: with her attitude, her looks, her energy, and her performances. She is a worthy icon.

Of The Kills and Margaret Cho

It's been a busy week. While getting over my cold this past week, I continued with my plans; and perhaps, in this more sickly, weary state of mind, I was more critical than I would otherwise be, though I am not entirely sure that's the case.

The Kills, who played at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday, were great, lively performers. The Kills, a boy/girl duo (Alison "VW" Mosshart, the female lead singer, as well as guitarist, and Jamie "Hotel" Hince, lead guitarist) were both rockstar musicians with frenetic energy on the stage and humble performers who continuously graciously thanked the audience. Mosshart especially was apologetic and sincere in her remarks to the crowd; after I initially wondered if she might be under the influence of something after seeing her flying around the stage, she gravely apologized to the crowd, saying she was actually a bit sick and would get through the performance as best as she could. Huh. If she hadn't made these remarks referring to her poor state of heath, I would have been left suspecting exactly the opposite; so I give her credit in her truly stellar rockstar performance.
The Kills' live music set lived up to my expectations.... with one exception. They were not a full band. While apparently they receive a lot of comparisons to The White Stripes as an indie boy/girl band, The White Stripes play all of their instruments, while The Kills rely on a drum machine (and other pre-recorded music, possibly?) for their song beats. This somehow makes their music seem a bit less impressive and, well, more inauthentic, to me. But I am still hooked on their riffs, their energy, and their attitude. Their bio can be read here, which gives an intriguing account of how they started out working together as well as how they avoided approaches from major record labels.

And, a video to share with you:


Of Margaret Cho at Radio City Music Hall: The sheer crowd and lustre of Radio City Music Hall promised a good night for Cho.

(Radio City Music Hall, above)

As I expected, she included a substantial amount of comedy about the presidential campaign, staunchly emphasizing that Palin is not a feminist. I was proud of her opinionated contribution to the campaign, as well as of the audience's enthusiastic response to her remarks. As for the rest of her act, suffice it to say that she is very LGBTQ friendly and also very adult-themed. She was a strong crowd-pleaser and a good beginning to a Saturday night, if a little over-the-top!

Recommenations of (Semi-)Underground Dancing/Music/Cultural Venues

For those of us seeking alternatives to the traditional clubs, or even to what I like to call the “dance-bars” (those places without an actual so-called cabaret license, which is the license to permit dancing in private spaces; you can read about it here), there are many semi-unknown, not very largely publicized venues in the city to be found for a night of bustin’ a move and/or catching upcoming artists, musicians and DJ’s.

Spiegeltent, located in the South Street Seaport, is one such venue. Only up until November 2nd, the place hosts evenings of salsa, AfroBrazilian and other music and dance parties. Spiegeltent hosts parties from Wednesday night to Sunday afternoons. If you are looking for a good, cabaret-styled show, I also recommend checking out the shows at Spiegelworld!

Another place I recently discovered is a bar called rehab. Located in the Lower East Side (LES) on Ave. B, where club midway once resided, rehab is a venue featuring live bands and other performances. Wandering into the place expecting to find a simple bar, I was delightfully surprised upon discovering a live band and an enthusiastic dancing crowd. This is a place I recommend if you find yourself in the LES or the East Village without a specific plan or destination in mind, or if you simply want to check out some lesser-known bands. Rehab also features a regular reggae party on Sundays.

And from here, we move on to Brooklyn, my borough of residence and where I know most of the edgier music and dance venues to be found. Crooked Disco is, just as the name suggests, a disco party. The party often features live performances in addition to disco, electro, breakbeat, and other jivin’ dance tunes brought to you by the DJ. Crooked Disco is hosted both at Galapagos Art Space (in DUMBO) and Public Assembly (in Williamsburg).

Galapagos Art Space and Public Assembly also feature a diverse slew of other events, from theatrical performances to film screenings to lectures. They are both worth checking out; their events cater to a wide variety of audiences!

For an experience reminiscent of a (dirty/fun) college house party, try the Glasslands in Williamsburg. The performances of many up-and-coming bands in this venue, and its small size, are its high points; but be ready to accept an evening in an overcrowded place where very possibly most people seem (and maybe are) younger than you and there is a very distinct aroma of mildew in the air. These drawbacks aside, it is a fun venue to visit every now and then, especially if you are previously familiar with the band playing there. Visit ohmyrockness.com for listings of events at Glasslands along with musical shows across the city.

Finally, let me briefly name a few places where free or cheap musical performances may be found, often of the experimental and jazzy variety. In Williamsburg, Zebulon is a bar which boasts of free live music performances nightly. Shows begin at 9 pm, if they are on time. Though some of the bands are more experimental than, say, conventionally musical, there are some big names who perform here. Improv and free jazz, as well as poetry and comedy, are some of the features to be enjoyed here. Their website features a full calendar of up-and-coming events.

In Park Slope, ISSUE Project Room is a venue that features experimental music, interdisciplinary and multi-media performances, as well as art exhibitions, dinner events, literary readings and film screenings. Located at 3rd St. and 3rd Ave., at the Old American Can Factory, ISSUE is an artist-centered venue that boasts a board of such notable people as Steve Buscemi, Jonathan Lethem and Moby, among others.

(ISSUE Project Room, above)

Similarly, The Stone in Manhattan’s East Village is a space devoted to innovative, avant-garde and experimental music. Located on Ave. C and E. 2nd St., The Stone is under the artistic direction of well-known musician John Zorn.

And this, ladies and gentlemen, or whomever you are, is only the tip of the iceberg of the musical, cultural and dancing opportunities and venues in the city.

The Black Kids: Poppy Cure-esque Fun

So I saw the Black Kids perform at Webster Hall on Wednesday. The Black Kids, with songs like "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You," are full of youthful pop tunes. I first heard of the Black Kids in Spin Magazine, with their article promoting the Black Kids as an up-and-coming group. Reggie Youngblood, the band's songwriter, leading singer, and guitarist, admits that the Cure was a major influence in his musical stylings: that much is transparent in the music. I have to think that it's kind of ironic that I have previously complained that the similarly-named band, The Black Keys, also strikes me as a clearly derivative band. Yet, acknowledging their derivative sound and moving on, you find that the music's quality is appealingly addictive.

The Black Kids played a short set, only an hour long. They played their album songs, as well as a cover of a Magnetic Fields song, and one song not on their album. Why such a short set? They don't yet have a larger repertoire of songs. But, that said, they played a solid performance. The crowd (see picture below) was packed. I found myself watching their set from the balcony, where, while I did not consistently get a clear, unobstructed view, I had space to enjoy the music and see the event from a bird's eye view.

Upcoming: The Black Kids, The Kills and Margaret Cho

And that's this week alone!!! I will be seeing the Black Kids tonight at Webster Hall. (See their website here and their Myspace page here.)
(The Black Kids, above)

Then, Friday night, I will be seeing the Kills at Music Hall of Williamsburg (see their website here and their Myspace here.) They play Thursday and Friday, and both shows are already sold out!
Then, Saturday, I am seeing Margaret Cho at Radio City Music Hall. (There are still tickets for her!) I am so excited!! I actually saw her years ago at Oberlin and remember her raw energy and humor.

And that's it for now.