The Kills / Adam Green / Jeffrey Lewis / British Sea Power / The Fiery Furnaces - New York Bowery Ballroom - 23/10/03
5/5
By: Joshua K
Even if it were not scheduled to occur during the festival that is the annual CMJ Music Marathon, the line-up of Rough Trade's anniversary party (American edition) would make rock fans gag with delight.
Therefore, confronted with so much bad indie elsewhere in Manhattan, rockfeedback knew where it had to be straight away...
Fiery Furnaces: Rough Trade's newest American signing, the sister/brother act of Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger, kick the party off on a rocking foot by using a full-band line-up to remix their recent 'Gallowsbird's Bark' LP. Gone is the Randy Newman piano-pop, replaced by 70s rock and punk tones, rapid-fire tempos, and Ian Curtis dancing. Among the highlights: the Clash-like music hall of 'Tropical Iceland'; a furious 'South Is Only A Home', segueing right into 'Don't Dance Her Down'; and a buzzing 'Asthma Attack'. If they can bottle this charge on record, their promise will soon be fully realized.
British Sea Power: Entering to the hymn-like tones of album opener 'Men Together Today' before launching into a blistering 'Apologies To Insect Life', British Sea Power quickly confirm themselves as young masters of melody and noise. If you can embrace as oddly endearing quirks the roving percussionist marching about in a WWI-style military helmet and the bass guitarist with shrubbery on his head, you'll find yourself left breathless by their powerful attack. BSP make the most of their 45 minutes by hitting 'The Decline of...' LP's finest moments - 'Fear of Drowning', 'Remember Me' - before mangling their instruments in a glorious freakout jam. At ease, laddies.
Jeffrey Lewis: The last addition to the bill, after planned surprise guests Belle & Sebastian pulled out due to illness, Jeffrey Lewis comes onstage for one slice of witty alt-folk: 'The Rough Trade 25th Anniversary Song'. In his sweet, endearing way, Lewis recounts the history of Geoff Travis' label from the early days to 'signing The Strokes and making lots of cash' while illustrating the music with a 'low budget video' (a.k.a. oversized comic book) that he made. Pity he couldn't stick around for more.
Adam Green: Every time rockfeedback sees Adam Green he's become a more confident and engaging frontman. Tonight, backed by his full band and string section, is no exception, upping the ante of strong voice by letting his personality shine through. From beginning to end he looks thrilled to be here, goofily hopping onstage to the opening 'Bunny Ranch' and even doing the Twist during a celebratory, set-closing 'Friends of Mine'. In between, his joy comes through in note-perfect takes on the pointed satire of 'Jessica', the bawdy 'Salty Candy', the moving 'Bungee' and other current tracks. Mixed in is what appears to be a new song, whose lyrics combine a litany of panic medications with references to Dunkin Donuts. It's just as good.
The Kills: This week The Kills are clearly in anniversary mode. They've just flown in from London, where they played the tenth year party of their UK label, Domino. Now it's America's turn to get one last taste of Hotel & VV's primal swamp blues in 2003. Let's cut to the chase by putting it this way: if they were good the last time your correspondent saw them, back in April, then tonight they blow the doors off.
'Cat Claw'. 'Pull A U'. 'Fried My Little Brains'. 'Black Rooster'. 'F**k The People'. All are here in resplendently dirty form, joined by a heavy, Suicide-like cover of lost 1996 Jonathan Fire*Eater classic 'The Search For Cherry Red'. As one member of the audience put it, while watching their cock-sure guitar fretting and veiled sexual tension: 'This is music by people who know how to f**k.' Mmm-hmm.
So, happy birthday Rough Trade. On tonight's evidence, you're in quite rude health. We'll therefore spot you the 20 and give you...
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