Robyn @ Highline Ballroom, February 6th, 2008

Robyn, one of Sweden's best kept secrets, hit the United States for the first time to perform last week, and I was lucky enough to catch her sold-out gig at the Highline Ballroom (Two times at that place in four days, I was impressed with myself!). The elusive Robyn, who brought along two drummers, and a keyboardist/synth guy with her, claimed that this was "the first time she was playing in America", despite being an artist for 10 years, and putting out 4 amazing, solid albums (1997's Robyn Is Here, 1999's My Truth, 2003's overlooked Don't Stop the Music, and 2005's critically acclaimed Robyn). The crowd was truly diverse, ranging from the flocks of gay men who came to see their diva, to the hipsters caught onto the critical acclaim she's been recieving from Pitchfork, and the young urban couples who were up on the soulful strut and sass that Robyn exudes.

Opening the act was local DJ/singer Drop the Lime, who brought his "trouble and bass" to the Highline, with him singing over some RIDICULOUS (good thing) beats that had me pumped from the front row. I would definitely check him out again, his swagger was on point, and his mixing skills are pretty damn impressive. He had the whole front going, but I could tell that some of the crowd wasn't ready for his style just yet. I was on it though! You can't really tell from his MySpace, but he's got soul in his voice and he throws down on the turntables! He gets my stamp of approval.


When Robyn and her band hit the stage, all hands were on deck for what was soon to be an all out dance party. Both drummers synced up for her rapid-fire cover of The Teddybears' "Cobrastyle", and by the time she hit the ragga-tinged hook "...my style is the bomb-ditty-bomb-di-dang-di-dang-diggy-diggy...", the whole audience was into it, heads bobbing, hands waving, engaging in what seemed like a massive sing-a-long. Coming from anyone else, this would've seemed borderline cheesy. Someone like Fergie could NOT pull this off. Following that with song after song of hits from her latest album, she pulled all the stops out for New York, treating us to an hour and ten minutes of pop bliss. Jumping erratically from side to side on the stage, playing the drum machine on "Who's That Girl", and engaging playfully with the front row, she was just as into it as we were. The live band really made a big difference, making the beats pop, and fleshing out her soulful vocals. Even when she pulled out "Keep This Fire Burning", one of her best songs from Don't Stop the Music, an album not yet released in the US, the audience was singing along and just as into it, as if it were being played on the radio as frequently as the latest Mary J Blige song.


The highlight of the evening came when she returned for the encore, performing a minimally arranged version of "Show Me Love", her first single that broke her into the mainstream (albeit temporarily) back in 1997. She then followed this up with one hell of a surprise, a well-received Prince cover "Jack U Off" from his 1981 album Controversy. There wasn't a dull moment in the set during the entire show. She's got an upcoming spot at the Austin, TX festival SXSW, and I look forward to checking her again! She's phenomenal and I hope she embarks on a much bigger US tour so that everyone can get into the marvel that is Robyn!


Setlist:

Cobrastyle
Crash and Burn Girl
Who's That Girl
Bum Like You
Handle Me
Keep This Fire Burning
Konichiwa Bitches
Be Mine
With Every Heartbeat
--
Show Me Love
Jack U Off
--
Eclipse *
Be Mine (acoustic)

* on the setlist for the evening, but not performed.

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Please visit her MySpace page to check her out further. I've posted five of my favorites from Robyn's 11-year career. If you're feeling it, please buy her albums [Amazon]. I recommend starting with the latest album and working your way back through her discography. She's been ahead of the game for years if you pay attention! Pick up her albums and thank me later!

"Show Me Love" (from Robyn Is Here) [zShare]
"Main Thing" (from My Truth) [zShare]
"Should Have Known" (from Don't Stop the Music) [zShare]
"Bum Like You" (from Robyn) [zShare]
"Message In A Bottle (Police Cover)" (from her BBC Session - 1/26/2008) [zShare]

Bonus Download:

Snoop Dogg feat. Robyn, "Sexual Eruption (Fyre Department Mix)" [zShare]

Hot Chip @ Highline Ballroom - February 2nd, 2008

So...I found myself at the Highline Ballroom in New York for the first Hot Chip show of 2008, and the first to officially showcase the songs from their brilliant new album "Made in the Dark". I've been in love with these guys ever since I heard their song "Playboy" from their first album "Coming On Strong". They really brought it to the Highline, and I, along with the crowd of the lucky 600 or so people who had tickets to the sold-out gig, left convinced that they were a force to be reckoned with when it comes to their live shows.

Baltimore DJ's Devlin and Darko (from Spank Rock) opened the show, getting the audience of mostly hipsters and the like, adequately prepared for the Chip.


I've got a special place in my ears (and heart!) for Spank Rock, and I really got into their DJ set, I've seen them play several times before, and I knew what to be prepared for, but they really switched it up with obscure disco gems, some Baltimore booty bass (I heard a ridiculous mix of Rye Rye's "Shake It To The Ground" that had me BEGGING for the 12" to come out!), and some favorites of mine (The Juan Maclean's "Happy House" and Holy Ghost!'s "Hold On", for starters). I was in love with this show before the headliners hit the stage, and that was a really good sign!


By the time the DJ's finished, I was already worked up for the new material to hit the stage. I'd heard some of the songs before at their show last April at the 9:30 Club, but that was then, and the anticipation was killing me! They opened with the uber-percussive, jungle boogie of "Shake A Fist", setting the crowd off like firecrackers, following up with a beat-heavy interpretation of "Boy From School" from their last album "The Warning", which took the energy level that much higher. The setlist was packed tight and was full of goodies from the past and present. A lot of the new songs took on a really interesting turn when they were performed live, "Made in the Dark" was transformed from a softer, folky ballad into a feedback-filled burst of electricity as it opened the encores, but "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" stole the show for me, turning into a song that Justin Timberlake wishes he could write, and really utilizing the energy that they have onstage. It just seems that where the album version is very dirge-like with the organ, the live version just POPS. It wins the award for best improvement from the studio to the stage.

They really should release a live album for this tour, as it's not only the best I've seen them, but the audience seemed to be feeding directly off of their energy, as the entire room was up in a tizzy for the duration of the first 3 songs. Although Felix was sick for the show, forcing them to postpone their planned LA show on February 5th, they seemed in good spirits, even though they had to scrap two songs from the setlist (which I'm sure will re-emerge on their setlists on their upcoming US and European tours.) This was one of the best shows I've seen energy-wise, and I can't wait for their return to the 'States in April.



Setlist:

Shake A Fist
Boy From School
Hold On
Wrestlers
Touch Too Much
Over and Over
We're Looking For A Lot of Love
Out at the Pictures
Bendable Poseable
Ready for the Floor
Don't Dance *
--
Made In the Dark
One Pure Thought *
No Fit State

* - on the official setlist for the evening, but not performed.

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Here's their MySpace for those who want to check them out further, and I've uploaded five songs of theirs that I've been digging some kind of hard. PLEASE pick up their album [Amazon] if you're feeling their sound. I'd get the special edition, which has the live DVD attached with five songs done at various venues and festivals last year. Just pick it up and thank me later!

"Hold On" (from Made In the Dark) [zShare]
"Out at the Pictures" (from Made in the Dark) [zShare]
"Bubbles They Bounce" (from the Ready For The Floor single) [zShare]
"The Warning" (from The Warning) [zShare]
"Just Like We [Breakdown] (DFA Mix)" (from the Over and Over single) [zShare]

Nina Nastasia @ Black Cat [backstage] - January 31st, 2008

Contrary to popular belief, I do occasionally step outside of my uptempo haven of 4/4 beats, mirrorballs, and parties with open Sparks bars. So, I went to check out Nina Nastasia's return to Washington, DC, after catching her back in New York at the Mercury Lounge in October with the Dirty Three's drummer, Jim White for the record release. It was to be noted that this was a "solo" show, meaning just Nina and her guitar, so it'd be interesting to hear her do some songs from her last album (which featured White's flawless drumming) with even more minimal arrangements. She played the Black Cat backstage which has a capacity of about 200, and I'd say around 60 people showed up for what was to be quite a powerful show.


Opening the show was local artist, Amy Domingues, of the Arlington, VA band Garland of Hours. It was just her, a cello, and a bunch of little gadgets to loop tracks. I'll be totally honest, she must've had an off night or something, because I thought her first song was really pretty and I thought her voice was interesting, but not long after the first 3 minutes of her nervous banter, badly timed loops, and her (at this point of the concert) annoying voice, I was SO over her. I guess I could see how people could be into her, but I just...wasn't. Not my thing.

Here's her MySpace for those of you who want to check her out.

There was a really quick turnover, and after about 3 trips to the Igloo cooler (I was PARCHED), I ran back over to grab my spot as the lovely Nina took the stage. She had a very unassuming presence to her when she first came on, with just her and her guitar and a little tuner at her toes, she ran through us with her engaging, raw material. If anything, listening to her albums you know that she excels when she's at her simplest. Not once during the show did I miss Jim's drumming or the occasional strings behind her. She commanded the tiny audience, and made us each characters in the storylines of her songs, bringing us with her to wherever she chose to take them. I only wish it lasted longer than an 70 minutes.


Setlist:

The Day I Would Bury You
I've Been Out Walking
Jim's Room
Lee
Our Day Trip
I Write Down Lists
In the Evening
There Is No Train
Brad Haunts A Party
Dumb I Am
Been So Long
Odd Said the Doe
Our Discussion
That's All There Is
--
Stormy Weather
All For You

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As an added bonus, because I really love this woman, here are five songs of hers for you to download. One from each album, each one is amazing. If you're interested, I'd start with either the latest one, "You Follow Me" or "The Blackened Air". All of them are phenomenal, those are the easiest to get into.

"Stormy Weather" (from Dogs) [zShare]
"This Is What It Is" (from The Blackened Air) [zShare]
"I Say That I Will Go" (from Run to Ruin) [zShare]
"Counting Up Your Bones" (from On Leaving) [zShare]
"I Write Down Lists" (from You Follow Me) {mp4 format} [zShare]

Nina's MySpace. Nina's website.