#live reviews

CMJ 2015Ezra Furman

Ezra Furman was all over CMJ this year. I was lucky enough to see him twice-once at a matinee showcase for Brooklyn Vegan, and again at a headlining spot at The Knitting Factory. I’ve always felt like seeing a band more than once in a short span of time is like hearing a the same joke back to...

Madison Bloom

CMJ 2015Jake Isaac and Hooton Tennis Club @ The Living Room

From left: Callum McFadden, Ryan Murphy, James Madden and Harry Chalmers of Hooton Tennis Club. I've often been called an anglophile. When it comes to my favorite books, movies, music - even people - an alarming amount hail from the U.K. I can’t help it. So imagine my delight upon arriving at The...

Madison Bloom

LIVE REVIEWEzra Furman @ Rough Trade

“We went overseas for about two years and became a really good band, and now we can do whatever we want.” Ezra Furman, the eccentric Chicago native who sold out Rough Trade on Wednesday strikes me as someone who’s always done whatever he wanted. He can do such things as wear red lipstick, a striped...

Madison Bloom

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LIVE REVIEW4Knots Festival Highlights

While last year’s 4Knots was downtown and gratis, the updated version boasts an impressive list of food vendors, top notch sound quality, and a killer lineup. And though you have to shell out a lot more than nothing this time ‘round, rest assured that all proceeds go to benefit Hudson River Park...

Madison Bloom

INTERVIEWHeaters

“Play ‘Free Bird!’ Hey, play some Skynyrd!” It’s surprising to think that after all these years, the above still gets shouted at rock bands who are just trying to finish their set. I personally stopped finding the line funny around age 14, but the same cannot be said for the sad twenty-somethings...

Madison Bloom

NORTHSIDE HIGHLIGHTSShilpa Ray and Sun Ra Arkestra @ Rough Trade

An unlikely lineup at the last night of Brooklyn’s seventh annual Northside Festival, one angsty crooner Shilpa Ray opening for the sparkly and jubilant Sun Ra Arkestra. In a way it was the perfect bill, not only due to the heightened quality of the musicians on it, but that their disparity...

Madison Bloom

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LIVE REVIEWCourtney Barnett @ Bowery Ballroom

“There’s not enough songs about Squash.” Are there not? Not according to Australian singer/songwriter Darren Hanlon. On paper, Hanlon wouldn’t entice me all that much. Solo artist. Acoustic guitar. Singer/songwriter. Cheeky and cheerful folk numbers. Australian. With those keywords I’d fear a...

Madison Bloom

LIVE REVIEWYvette/Eaters @ Baby's All Right

Bob Jones and Jonathan Schenke of Eaters It takes a lot of nerve to wear your white hair long like that: straight, thin, and skimming the neck of your skinny white tie, worn over a tight black t-shirt, matchstick jeans, and elf-point boots. But how else would you dress for your 20th wedding...

Madison Bloom

ARTIST INTERVIEW + LIVE REVIEWHappyness @ Baby's All Right

Across me, or rather, encircling me, are the three young gentlemen who make up Happyness, arguably one of England’s best new bands. They’ve just released their debut LP Weird Little...

Madison Bloom