Holler Wild Rose @ Luna Lounge: A New Sensation

It was roughly two months ago when I first discovered the soaring sounds of (KCRW-approved) Holler Wild Rose. After falling in love with their debut LP, Our Little Hymnal, instantaneously, I was beyond eager see if the band's passionate/potent tunes would translate well in a live setting. While probably better suited at Mercury Lounge, HWR overwhelmingly impressed me with their brief-yet-strapping set last night at Brooklyn's Luna Lounge. Following the adage of 'less talk, more rock', Holler Wild Rose stormed through about half of Hymnal with zeal, precision and arrant finesse. With countless young acts heavily influenced by early '90s shoegaze, it's inspiring to hear a band that can meticulously highlight the genre's brightest moments all the while adding a layer of richness that is entirely their own into the grand melting pot. Read NPR's radiant feature on the Jersey-based band here. Enjoy a duo of photographs from the gig below.

Visit Holler Wild Rose at their official MySpace page. Download an MP3 at bottom.

MP3: Holler Wild Rose - Marylawn Hair

We Are Scientists Still Heart Pseudonyms

Under the quasi-secret (isn't everything these days?) name of Beat Up Old Fellas, We Are Scientists performed a 10-song set of entirely new material last night at Brooklyn's Luna Lounge. Did any of you slutloyals make it out to the gig? If so, any highlights?

Last night's setlist below.

'Spoken For'/'Best Behaviour'/'Rush N' Attack'/'Altered Beast'/'Impatience'/'Let's See It'/'Lethal Enforcer'/'Dinosaurs'/'Dig Dug'/'Tonight, Tonight'

On Saturday, the band will perform with The Spinto Band under the same moniker. In case you forgot, this isn't the first time WAS has performed under a fake name. Just last year the band infamously opened for Art Brut under 'Art Brut 47' at Knitting Factory (Jen's review of that ridiculously fun show can be found here).

MP3: We Are Scientists - What's The Word?

The Lisps @ Luna Lounge: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Monday's Lisps homecoming gig was everything I was expecting it to be - charming, witty and gleeful. Another superb show from the city's most quirky and lovable quintet.

What more can I possibly say about The Lisps that I haven't already said countless times? Oh yes, I can say... come see them at The Music Slut's 2nd Anniversary Show on June 9th! RSVP here for free admission!



For a full review of Monday's gig (including video!) hop over to our good friend, Pop Tarts Suck Toasted. Check out The Lisps on their MySpace page here. Follow this link to reach the band on their official site.

MP3: The Lisps - The Winter That I Missed

Illinois & Stellastarr* @ Luna Lounge 3/8: This Isn't a Scene

Last night was the big +1 Anniversary Party at the newly opened Luna Lounge in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A fella named Eugene, a lanky hipster who wore his scarf, coat and man-purse on stage as he played, opened the show with some 60's style rock which, though good, wasn't exactly met with the warmest of a reception in the cavernous venue. Next time buddy.

Second to the stage were Monsters Are Waiting. Matt and I have seen this band before and loathed every moment of it, this time though, it wasn't as bad. Their music did resonate with dark and melodic triumph that, at times, was rather engaging. It didn't hurt as well that the lead singer seems to have cut down on her distracting onstage convulsions.

Next up were those charming boys from Pennsylvania, Illinois. This is my third time with them and without a doubt, the best- perhaps having to due with the fact that lead singer Chris Archibald was a charmingly tipsy and not completely wasted. After the slower music of the first two acts, I think Illinois caught the crowd by surprise with their foot stomping brand of country rock (a sudden image of Kid Rock jumped into my head when I wrote that, please do NOT think Kid Rock people) and very vocal front man. It was a welcomed kick in the pants for those out late on a school night.

The evening's headliners, and let's face it, why everybody bothered to show up in the first place, were Stellastarr*. I heard rumours that eventually the show was opened up to the public, but that still couldn't fill out the crowd last night. It's surprising. Living in NYC, you come to believe that certain bands are just as popular outside of your little island as they are elsewhere. Stellastarr* is one of those huge NYC bands whose popularity is hard pressed to make it to Brooklyn, or so it seemed last night. Perhaps it was the hour or the feeling of ennui so many young people in the NYC music crowd tend to portray, but a few songs into the set, many folks had left, including my blogger posse holding court at the side table. I myself stayed for about 5 songs and was going to continue on until I at least heard 'My Coco' or 'Jenny,' but thought better of it and decided to be satisfied with hearing 'Sweet Troubled Soul,' the superb single off of the group's 2005 album.

MP3: Illinois- 'Alone Again' and 'Screendoor'
Stellastarr*- The James Iha remix of 'Sweet Troubled Soul'

The Hourly Radio @ Luna Lounge: See The Lights That Have Guided Me

Jen: Last night, Matt and I ventured into the burgeoning South Williamsburg (is that what we are calling this area?) to see for the fourth time, one of our favourite acts, The Hourly Radio, and check out the newly renovated Luna Lounge. The Luna really surpassed my expectations. The space is very large with the perfect amount of tables and seating. The bar is equally as huge, a fact which makes me rather happy with (joy!) barstools. The upcoming shows the venue has booked, unfortunately, don't really match the amount of people the room holds. Hopefully, this won't be discouraging to bands when they get up on stage and see a half empty crowd, hopefully it wasn't discouraging to the bands last night.

And now, I am sitting here trying to figure out how not to sound gushy when talking about The Hourly Radio, but it is proving difficult. What really should be said about the band is that they put on one of the most well thought out, consistently beautiful and compelling shows I have seen. Though last night we were not treated to the usual fog and coloured lights, THR did reveal a new light pattern that was designed to match their music- it was throughly gorgeous.

Their set included all of our favourites from the album, ending with 'Crime does pay' and 'Deaf ears.' The crowd was also treated to a new song, which certainly fit within their vein of dark, post-rock, dance, drum-driven songs but had a slightly poppier feel to it.

There is a reason we keep coming back to this band, folks. Go see them while you can. Full tour dates here.

Matt: With fond memories of early gigs from The Kick, Mooney Suzuki and most notably, Stellastarr*, Jen and I headed to Luna Lounge - the Brooklyn version, that is. For those unfamiliar, Luna Lounge was a Lower East Side haven for unsigned bands in the late '90s and early parts of this decade. After the announcement that the venue would be closing in exchange for a high-rise apartment complex, Luna Lounge became a distant memory.

Last month, after many spiralling rumors, Luna Lounge found its new home on Metropolitan Ave in Williamsburg. While the capacity of the former Luna was in the neighborhood of 200 people, the new Luna is enormous in comparison, with a standing room that holds nearly 600 concert goers. What better way to check out the new space, then by witnessing another stellar show from one of our favorite acts, The Hourly Radio.

Opening with History Will Never Hold Me's instrumental 'Travelsigns', I knew the set was going to be brilliant, and it was. Highlighting nearly all of their debut (and one new track), The Hourly Radio lit Brooklyn on fire.

Even though Jen, Skye and myself have all seen The Hourly Radio multiple times, their sets never grow old. Their live shows are instantly memorable, intense and fearless. Taking the best parts from '80s moody/dark alternative (think Cure/Psych Furs/Joy Division) and melding it with modern layering and passionate vocals (a la Interpol), the combination is undeniably sensational.

The band will be touring all over the country for the next month or so (check out the tour dates and ALL of The Hourly Radio coverage since the beginning right here!) and I can't urge you enough to shell out the cover charge and SEE The Hourly Radio! They're simply remarkable.


The final band of the night was The GoStation. That's all.