Metric is one of those bands I had heard so much about over the last 20 years, yet never got to see live, that is until Tuesday, October 10 at New York’s intimate Bowery Ballroom.
Fresh off the Gargage/Noel Gallagher tour this summer, the band has often been comfortable as an opening act, even opening up for Paramore at Madison Square Garden. To Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of their first album Old World Underground, Where Are You Now? they set out on a short run of small intimate clubs.
The Canadian synthpop four-piece (though this night they were nothing short of high energy rock show) really held nothing back last night as they strolled out in style onto the stage at the Bowery. No fluff, not even an opening act booked, just doors at 8pm, Metric at 9pm, as the sign at the door stated. Front woman Emily Haines came out with nothing to prove as the room erupted and the band plowed through a few songs before she addressed the crowd.
It’s hard to keep your eyes off her on stage, the band was really tight and energetic, a crammed stage full of keyboards facing pretty much every direction, rotating between rock, pop and some acoustic numbers. Half the set was of course songs off Old World, followed by 5 off Formentera, a few covers and one song off the new Album out Today, Formentera II.
Metric – Bowery Ballroom, NYC – Tuesday, October 10
Setlist: IOU, The List, False Dichotomy, What Feels Like Eternity, Succexy, Dead Disco, Who Would You Be for Me, Love Is a Place, Formentera, Just the Once, All Comes Crashing, Calculation Theme, On a Slow Night, Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl, Doomscroller, Hustle Rose, Combat Baby, Nothing Is Perfect
On October 8th, music fans gathered at the LIMEHOF to celebrate “A Celebration of the Long Island Club Scene” from the 1980s. The evening’s centerpiece was a book signing by Jay Jay French, the iconic guitarist of Twisted Sister, who had recently authored his memoir, Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock and Roll. However, this evening was much more than just a book signing.
Jay Jay French initiated the event, greeting fans, signing his book, and sharing captivating rock ‘n’ roll anecdotes. Fans had the opportunity to connect with the legendary musician, acquiring signed memorabilia that would serve as treasured mementos.
After the book signing, Joe Rock from WBAB moderated an enlightening Q&A session for the crowd. The panel consisted of luminaries from the Long Island music scene, including Ken Neil and Mark “The Animal” Mendoza, the original and current bassists of Twisted Sister, Joe Franco, one of the original members of The Good Rats, Randy Jackson and Felix Hanneman of Zebra, and Mark Fowler of the Stanton Anderson Band. These musicians, each with their unique stories and experiences, painted a vivid picture of the vibrant Long Island club scene in the 1980s.
An eye-opening revelation of the evening linked Goodfellas mobsters to Speaks, a popular club in Island Park. Panelists shared stories of the mob’s role in the local music scene, illuminating Long Island’s club circuit history rarely discussed.
Jay Jay French recounted a remarkable tale of Twisted Sister’s last show at Hammer Heads, where fans were given the freedom to destroy the venue. Instead of harming their career, it propelled them to fame, with other Long Island clubs eager to host them for more wild performances. The Long Island club scene had a reputation for wild audiences, and Twisted Sister embraced it.
Following the enlightening Q&A, the audience enjoyed a musical extravaganza with all the panelists taking part. Jay Jay French, the charismatic frontman of Twisted Sister, took the lead in performing several hits. The exception was when Randy Jackson of Zebra stepped up to the microphone to deliver a powerful rendition of Zebra’s classic “Tell Me What You Want,” much to the delight of the crowd. The setlist was a dynamic mix of rock classics, including “All the Young Dudes,” “Crosscut Saw,” and captivating covers of Lou Reed‘s “Vicious” and “Walk on the Wild Side.”
The night ended with an exciting performance of Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane,” making it a fantastic conclusion. The audience at the LIMEHOF marveled at the incredible talent and the captivating history they had just experienced.
Update: Dee Snider, the frontman of Twisted Sister, has just revealed that he will host a book signing for his debut novel, “Frats,” at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame located at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook. The event is scheduled for October 14th, commencing at 6pm. While the book signing is open to the public without charge, please note that entry to the museum will necessitate the purchase of a general admission ticket
Texas based post-rockers Explosions In The Sky just released End, their eighth studio LP and first in more than seven years. The band is currently on the road, making their way to Brooklyn’sKings Theatre on Thursday, October 5th to showcase the new record in a truly perfect setting. The historic theatre is just as cinematic as the band’s signature sprawling instrumentals, which effortlessly reverberated around the spacious theater.
Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Explosions In The Sky have mastered the art of the cinematic soundtrack over their career, with End being no exception. Aside from eight studio records, the band soundtracked several films including the enormously successful Friday Night Lights. The quartet’s instrumentals are uniquely suitable for the big screen as well as a focused LP. Their three-guitar approach allows them to layer lush and complex loops that suck the listener into a meditative experience. The music swells to climactic crescendos surrounded by moments of minimal beauty that keep you engaged for the entire album.
Thursday night was an exciting draw for any fan of Explosions In The Sky. The band does not tour all that often to begin with, and Kings Theatre is the type of venue that would perfectly amplify the band’s instrumentals. The show started off with an opening set from the Jim White (drums) and Marisa Anderson (guitar). For thirty minutes, the duo bounced back and forth between complex drum passages and swirling guitar arpeggios, integrating with each other at times but also playing solo here and there. The entire set felt like a singular, continuous piece that was flushed out in the moment on stage. Kings was filled in early and the crowd cheered the duo on as the set continued to evolve.
Explosions In The Sky at Kings Theatre, 10/5/2023. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
The opening duo set the tone for the night, hinting at the atmosphere that was about to take over the theater. Explosions In The Sky took to the stage to a thunderous ovation as they picked up their guitars and got ready for the show. As the first notes of “First Breath After Coma” rang out, from easily the crowd favorite 2003 LP The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place, the audience erupted into a joyous fervor. The band would play a couple more tracks from this album at Kings Theatre, but also added a last minute show at Bowery Ballroom on Sunday, October 8th where they would play the record in full.
The show rolled on, treating fans to a mix of songs from all over Explosions In The Sky’s catalog, blending the art of cinematic soundscapes with the live show setting to maximum effect. There is only one more stop in the U.S. on this tour, taking place on October 20th in Miami at the III Points Music Festival. After that, the band heads over to Europe for a run of shows throughout November. Head over to their website for the full itinerary and check out our photo gallery from Kings Theatre below.
Wednesday, October 4th was an unseasonably warm fall evening in Niagara Falls, Ontario, at Fallsview Casino. Keanu Reeves with his band Dogstar staged an outstanding performance that left no one in doubt about the memories it created. There was only one opening act, the group Archer Oh who hailed from the state of California.
Archer Oh
Dogstar consists of Keanu Reeves on bass. Robert Jailhouse on drums and Bret Dormouse on guitar and lead vocals.
As the lights lowered and excitement rose in the crowds, the members of Dogstar made their way into the stage with a powerful force that attracted viewers at first instance. Not only a great actor, Reeves showed himself to be a talented musician. The chemistry in the band was unmistakably good as they shifted from song to another with ease exhibiting their musical talent. The line-up came just at the right time for die-hard fans, who were looking forward to hearing all Dogstar’s old numbers which prompted many to sing and dance along.
Tracks such as ‘Lust’ and ‘Sleep’ were exemplary of a fusion between alternative-rock and grunge elements in the band’s music. The evening was not dull even for a moment. Reeves bass tone was haunting enough to send shakes into the bones of every listener. He interacted with the audience and made it seem as if they were participating in a unique happening.
There was a strong link between the band and its followers, making it possible for a large number of people in the venue to have an intimate environment. When the night finally ended, Dogstar received thunderous applause and shouts of ‘one more’ as they departed the stage. The audience could hardly wait for the encore from the duo who made their way back to finish the night in grand style, giving the audience four more songs.
Dogstar 2023 Tour Dates 10/08 Atlantic City, NJ – Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel 10/10 Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre 10/11 New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place 11/30 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour 12/03 San Francisco, CA – The Great American Music Hall 12/05 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theatre 12/07 Chicago, IL – Thalia Hall 12/08 Detroit, MI – The Majestic Theatre 12/09 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace 12/11 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg 12/12 Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club 12/14 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts 12/15 Washington, D.C. – The Howard Theatre 12/16 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa 12/18 Charlotte, NC – The Underground 12/19 Atlanta, GA – Center Stage 12/20 Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 12/21 Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
For the second year in a row, Sound On Sound Music Festival returned to Bridgeportâs Seaside Park in Connecticut over September 30 – October 1, 2023.
The two-day festival’s lineup this year featured headlining performances from Red Hot Chili Peppers on Saturday and John Mayer on Sunday. Additional performers included Alanis Morissette, Hozier, Trey Anastasio Band, Mt. Joy, Margo Price, Nathaniel Rateliff, Dispatch, Ben Harper, Gin Blossoms and the Night Sweats among others.
Heavy rain in the area Thursday caused a three-hour delay in opening the Festival on time on Friday. I had the pleasure of attending the second day of the Festival. The schedule was pretty tight giving each act a full 45min set, with a 10min change over time and things ran on time like clock work.
The three main acts on Sunady each got a full hour and by mid day the grounds were packed with over 30,000 people leading to the highlight of the evening to most, John Mayer, who is a Bridgeport native, born and raised.
My personal highlight of the day was Alanis Morrissette (who did not allow photos from the pit so we could not feature her), Ben Harper was in top form (same as Alanis, no photos), and I was impressed by how fresh Dispatch sounded and enjoyed their set. Below are some highlights from the day.
On Monday, October 2, I had the pleasure of seeing Joy Oladokun finally headline her own show at New York City’s Irving Plaza on her Living Proof Tour.
I’ve followed her for a few years now, seeing a live performance of “I See America” that hooked me to her. Oddly enough, the crowd consists of both younger fans and quite a few older fans such as myself. The walk-on music, Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” had the entire crowd singing along to.
Joy came out very humble and down to earth, stating “I look and dress like a truck driver.” Honest and true, Oladokun connected immediately with the crowd and went right into what she does and loves best, playing guitar; lucky for her, the crowd loves watching her do just that.
A strong set featured a highlight, a song called “Sunday” that she dedicated to a gay friend who had passed away. She credited him with having the power to come out herself, the transition of the song’s ending moving into “One Of Us” creating a moment burned into memory.
Canadian indie rock collective Broken Social Scene played a packed show at Brooklyn Steel this weekend (September 29th) in continuation of their You Forgot It In People 20th anniversary tour with support from Hannah Georgas.
Broken Social Scene in Brooklyn, Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
Historic rain and wind buffeted the state of New York last week, leading to severe flooding and a state of emergency. Thankfully, the rain had slowed down and mostly stopped by the time the doors to Brooklyn Steel opened Friday night. The band thanked the audience during their set for braving the elements. “It took a lot for everyone to be here tonight and we appreciate it!”
Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene, Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
Singer-songwriter and fellow Canadian Hannah Georgas opened up the evening with truly heartfelt and catchy pop/rock songs. Despite the fact that the venue was mostly packed by the time she took the stage, the audience was almost completely silent during her set, with hearty applause breaks as the only exception. She even commented, “Wow! It’s so quiet in here.”
Hannah Georgas, Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
As Broken Social Scene took the stage for the headlining act, the warm and cozy atmosphere of the venue instantly transformed into an electric frenzy. With the band’s ensemble makeup consisting of some eight-plus members, the stage was packed with just about every instrument imaginable. Bandmates switched positions, instruments, or sometimes left the stage, depending on the song. They played hits from their entire catalog, with a strong focus on the tour’s titular album, You Forgot It In People. The band brought Hannah Georgas onstage for their final song, fan favorite “Anthems for a Seventeen Year-Old Girl.”
Hannah Georgas singing with Broken Social Scene, Photograph by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
Broken Social Scene frontman and co-founder Kevin Drew spoke with us over the phone last week and we asked him about his new solo record, Aging. We also chatted about the economics of touring as an indie rock group, that viral Boygenius moment, and how Meryl Streep and Tracy Ullman ended up joining the band on stage at Webster Hall last year. Check out those stories in our interview article.
When we spoke to Kevin, he was staying in what he called a “Haunted Hilton” in Pennsylvania. He explained how you could tell if a place was haunted, “You know when you’re in a hotel room, and suddenly you feel like you’re in a sort of coffin. And it has that digital blue light with the time. And if you look at the shadows on the ceiling. And if you can feel the sort of mold in the dirt of the lines on the carpet. That’s how you know.”
We shared a laugh, and Kevin went on, “Well I got friends with kids, they’re like, ‘Do you believe in ghosts?’ And I’ll say, ‘I’m a scientist man.’ But I gotta make sure there’s no monsters under the bed. I believe in all of that.” Kevin took a more serious tone for a moment. “I believe in it because I believe in being a dreamer. I love the idea of another plane. My mother passed a couple of months ago. […] I like to believe that there’s more than us. And because I don’t have children, I need to believe in that.”
Kevin opened up about releasing a record so soon after his mother’s passing. “The desire to put up a solo record was not high, but it was actually Brendan Canning, you know, my partner in Broken Social Scene, he said, ‘You gotta put it out man.’” Kevin wrote and recorded these tracks in 2014, but had left them on the shelf while the band worked on other songs for the band’s upcoming 2017 album Hug of Thunder. He continued, “I didn’t think my mom was going to pass a month before we dropped a song. You know, we arranged everything sort of the 10 months in advance and I had no idea why I was waiting so long and it all kind of lined up and Brendan just says ‘Look, put it out and just we’ll play.’”
Brendan Kenning of Broken Social Scene, Photography by David Reichmann (@davidpresspass)
During the Brooklyn Steel show, Broken Social Scene played Out In the Fields from Kevin’s solo project. As Kevin said in our conversation, it was the “Broken Social Scene” version of the track. Given the collective nature of their group, many members have contributed songs to the band’s setlists over the years. Kevin said on stage, “My mother was always in the audience at every show.” and dedicated a song to her memory.
Kevin Drew’s solo record, Aging is available on vinyl now, with the digital release streaming in November. Check out the rest of our interview with Kevin here.
Broken Social Scene’s You Forgot It In People 20th anniversary tour continues with a few remaining dates in the US and Toronto. Be sure to check out Broken Social Scene’s music here and Hannah Georgas’ music here.
Interview, writing, and photography by David Reichmann. Check out the full gallery below.
Tedeschi Trucks band made their debut with a ‘Garden Party’ at Madison Square Garden (MSG) on Friday, September 29, with the help of friends Trey Anastasio, Lukas Nelson and Norah Jones. There was some intense rain causing serious flooding around this day, but luckily the show went on.
The performance recalled Derek Trucks sitting in with Phish, just a month prior for the Vermont Flood benefit. And now it looked like New York City would be flooding, but only an outpouring of love and music rained down at MSG this evening.
Lukas Nelson and Promise Of The Real opened up the night with a rocking, bluesy set full of originals including a heartfelt “Georgia” and a thumping “Something Real” to close up their set.
When it was time for the main act, the first reaction was “Boy do they have a large band even without three special guests!” The full Tedeschi Trucks Band played a memorable show with their guests, one that was full of surprises which included “The Seeker” & “Layla” with Trey sitting in, Susan killing it on “Sugaree”, Norah and Susan on “Have a Little Faith in Me”, TTB bangers like “Midnight in Harlem” and “Made up Mind”.
The encore included “A Song For You” with Lukas Nelson and “Soul Sweet Song”. The band brought out the whole crew including Trey, Lukas, & Norah for two Sly and the Family Stone songs including “Sing a Simple Song” and “I Want to Take you Higher,” an incredible ending to a phenomenal night.
Tedeschi Trucks Band – Madison Square Garden, NYC – Sept. 29, 2023
Setlist: Anyhow, Playing With My Emotions, Ainât That Something, Part of Me, Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (The Rolling Stones), I Am the Moon, Pasaquan, Have a Little Faith in Me (John Hiatt) [1] [2], You Wreck Me (Tom Petty) [1] [2], Midnight in Harlem, Made Up Mind, I Want More > Beckâs Bolero (Jeff Beck), Angel From Montgomery (John Prine) > Sugaree (Grateful Dead), The Seeker (The Who) [2] [3], Bell Bottom Blues (Derek and the Dominos) [3], Layla (Derek and the Dominos) [3] [4]
Encore: A Song For You (Leon Russell) [5], Soul Sweet Song, Sing A Simple Song (Sly & The Family Stone) [6] > I Want to Take You Higher (Sly & The Family Stone) [6]
[1] Norah Jones on keys, vocals [2] First time played by Tedeschi Trucks Band [3] Trey Anastasio on guitar, vocals [4] Lukas Nelson on guitar [5] Lukas Nelson on vocals; with Susan (vocals) and Gabe (keys) only [6] Trey Anastasio on guitar, Lukas Nelson on guitar, Norah Jones on keys
On Friday, September 29, U2 lit up the stage of the Sphere in Las Vegas with the opening night of their highly-anticipated U2:UV Achtung Baby Live series at the world’s most cutting-edge venue.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg performed two sets of Achtung Baby tunes plus a lengthy encore of hits standing on a Brian Eno-inspired turntable stage. U2 utilized every part of Sphere’s LED screen, offering the world’s largest and highest-resolution, with an awe-inspiring gallery of visual art showcasing bespoke art from artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard, Marco Brambilla, and Industrial Light & Magic.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 30: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 30, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
U2 provided fans a fully immersive experience featuring top of the line technology offered at Sphere, which is reinventing the live music experience with the world’s highest-resolution LED screen on the interior of the Sphere, spanning four acres and surrounding the stage and audience, creating a completely immersive visual environment.
The four-football field long interior screen hovers 240 feet above the stage, with a steel framework supporting the 160,000-square-foot screen and the 160,000-speaker Holoplot multilayered audio system weighs about 730 tons.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Outside of Sphere, the Exosphere is the largest LED screen on Earth consists of approximately 1.2 million LED pucks across 580,000 square feet of surface, with each puck containing 48 individual LED diodes, and each diode capable of displaying 256 million different colors, all combining to create an unmistakably vivid landmark on the Las Vegas skyline.
The Exosphere displays a wide range of custom artistic and branded content, attracting worldwide interest as a result of the venue being photographed and shared widely on social media daily.
The state-of-the-art Sphere Immersive Sound, developed by Holoplot and considered to be the world’s most advanced audio system, provides the world’s largest, fully integrated concert-grade audio system and will revolutionize immersive audio experiences. A system of 1,600 permanently installed and 300 mobile Holoplot X1 Matrix Array loudspeaker modules includes a total of 167,000 individually amplified loudspeaker drivers. Using Holoplot’s next-generation 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis technology, the audio is transformed for delivery in large-scale venues such as Sphere.
The result is a controlled, consistent and crystal-clear concert-grade audio for audiences of up to 20,000 people, providing individual audience members with a personalized listening experience, whether sitting in the front or back rows. At Sphere, you may not see the sound system as the entire apparatus is completely hidden behind the 160,000-square-foot interior LED display plane.
So with this ground-breaking audio-visual venue at their disposal, U2 celebrated an historic live music milestone with fans from all over the world and VIP attendees including Dr. Dre, Jimmy Kimmel, John Starks, Paul McCartney, Sheryl Sandberg, Snoop Dogg and many more.
The show was the first in a 25-date run of shows that celebrates the band’s acclaimed album Achtung Baby, as well as its accompanying and industry-defining ZOO TV Tour in 1991. U2 also performed a new song, “Atomic City,” an homage to the magnetic spirit of 70’s post-punk with a nod to Blondie, whose pioneering work with Giorgio Moroder inspired and influenced the band.
The name “Atomic City” is also a 1950s nickname for Las Vegas from a time when nuclear fascination swept the nation and the city promoted itself as a center of atomic tourism due to its proximity to the Nevada Test Site.
U2 – Sphere, Las Vegas, NC – September 29, 2023
Achtung Baby Part 1: Zoo Station, The Fly, Even Better Than the Real Thing, Mysterious Ways, One, Until the End of the World, Who’s Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, Tryin’ to Throw Your Arms Around the World Turntable Set: All I Want Is You, Desire, Angel of Harlem, Love Rescue Me Achtung Baby Part 2: So Cruel, Acrobat, Ultraviolet (Light My Way), Love Is Blindness Encore: Elevation, My Way, Atomic City, Vertigo, Where the Streets Have No Name, With or Without You, Beautiful Day
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2f5NzAALCA
Sphere has also announced the first movie studio collaboration with Dreamworks Animation for the upcoming Trolls Band Together. A brand campaign specifically designed for the Exosphere – the fully programmable LED exterior of Sphere in Las Vegas – Trolls Band Together, which hits theaters nationwide on November 17.
We’re thrilled to have the innovative and imaginative DreamWorks Animation be the first movie studio to collaborate on a bespoke marketing campaign for the Exosphere. The Exosphere’s larger-than-life canvas has become the premier platform for brands looking to tell their stories on an unparalleled scale, reaching audiences across the globe from the heart of Las Vegas.
David Hopkinson, President and Chief Operating Officer of MSG Sports
DreamWorks collaborated with Sphere Studios, Sphere’s in-house creative studio, to develop custom animated content featuring beloved characters from the movie alongside kaleidoscopic art from the film. The week-long campaign began September 25, and will include a special takeover of the venue on the night of September 28 to countdown to the release of *NSYNC’s new single “Better Place” on September 29, which will be featured in Trolls Band Together.
interior of SpheredefaultLAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 29: (Exclusive Coverage) Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Bram van den Berg of U2 perform during opening night of U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere on September 29, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Live Nation)
Touring in support of their new album Intercepted Message, an album that was a bit of a throw back to earlier sounds, and heavy on the synthesizer; the album is what you’d get if you threw John Dwyer and Devo in a blender. Osees have a monster sized catalog to choose from, and they tend to represent the band’s many sounds and eras throughout the show.
John Dwyer and his Osees have gone through many line-up changes and different sounds. The current iteration has a two drummer setup, Dan Rincon and Paul Quattrone are completely locked in and give the show a driving, chugging force. Tim Hellman does a fantastic job holding down the bass and Tomas Dolas adds some color on the keyboards. John Dwyer is the main attraction though, he twists and gyrates and contorts his body to seemly push out the music.
Do not miss a chance to see these guys when they come to your town, but make sure to bring some earplugs.
Upcoming The Osees Shows
9/28 – GONERFEST 9/30 – Hotel Vegas in Austin, TX 10/01 – Hotel Vegas in Austin, TX 10/3 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister Bar
