Robert Gomez - Mercury Lounge, New York - 20/8/07
3/5
By: Dan Monsell
New York is a rainy mess tonight. Still, being far too used to the necessity of public transport to get around London, a good half an hour walk to the city's lower east side in the rain seems the novelty option for tonight. These days, the lower east side has a lot in common with our very own East quarter of the English capital. A formerly run-down area deemed fit only for struggling immigrants to a new world, this neighbourhood is now reasonably safe and full of fluorescently clothed hipsters hanging out of a dense population of clubs, bars and venues. It seems new rave hasn't been adopted by the media as some kind musical revolution here just yet, but the kids are wearing the clothes like it's only a matter of time.
Just like Shoreditch is a mixed bag, Robert Gomez's show is a whole world of difference to the electro-clash pumped out of the club next door. The area feels exciting and buzzing tonight, despite a recent spat of venue and club closures. Continuing gentrification has meant that venues around here (in Manhattan, rather than cheaper, newly up and coming areas like parts of Brooklyn like Williamsburg) are struggling to afford to exist. It seems that putting on 4 thrash bands for 5 bucks won't keep a bar open anymore, especially in an area that's getting richer day by day. CBGBs has been one of the most famous examples.
Tonight's half-full turnout (it is a Monday) won't help things for the Mercury Lounge. Texan Robert Gomez is signed to Bella Union. Since his debut for said imprint arrived at the rockfeedback offices earlier this year, he's become a mildly successful; critically acclaimed quiet-rocker, touring with bands like Midlake around college towns in the states. Tonight is a firm testament why. He creates small masterpieces of songs, crafted carefully from the acoustic guitar up. This tour's band features keyboard, accordion and a ridiculously good jazz-trained drummer who plays some of the most off-kilter drum patterns that we've heard in some time. He barely plays louder than your mother could, but still manages be fierce enough to make your jaw drop. Want the crowd to really listen? Play quieter.
Gomez comes across like a worldly-sounding Radiohead, circa 'Pyramid Song', or I guess even the rest of 'Amnesiac', though perhaps curtail some of leftfield wandering, and throw in the winning softness of voice that Gomez possesses. The experimentalism is quiet and assured, tapped into the rich differences available in world music, rather than wild and untamed (Gomez has studied Cuban music and interestingly, also joined the circus for a time). Tonight's only downfall is the music being so soothing at times you get a little sleepy. Sometimes you simply want some of the keyboard meanders to break out into some all out noise to shake your bones a little. However, Gomez and his band are a fine talent, and one that deserves to play to packed venues much bigger than tonight's back room space.
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