You know how I always say their shows make you think you’re on some sort of a boat? Well prepare to sway and float on imaginary waves of far-reaching and heart-crunching dark-chocolate flavors of bitterness and sweetness of melodies and words (!), because it’ll be Nona Marie’s and Marshall’s already superbly complimentary and forlorn voices booming in that boat of a room to the tides and yearnings of Walt’s trumpet and the murmurs of Todd’s bass! Come on out with an emotionally able heart then, won’t you? It’s $10 at the door.

Download “Colors”
Download “New York Song”

July 9 | $10 | 9:30 PM | Sycamore, 1118 Cortelyou Rd, Brooklyn, NY 11218

A mix of light rain and resolute sunshine led to a rainbow over Brooklyn while These United States was playing. Back home this kind of weather means a fox wedding. It was kind of perfect. Lots of people were out. Someone lent me a towel to wipe my wet chair with. That was nice.

These United States
It probably won’t be too long before These United States updates their set list to let songs from their upcoming album, Everything Touches Everything, dominate; but for now, their live favorites from the last two albums are far from wilting. Every time they’re played live, they’re an explosion of a rowdy soundtrack to stories that weave between an equally rowdy cast of characters. Playing on a big stage on a special evening, weather-wise, with that rainbow spread wide behind the trees, it was a special farewell of sort to the old These United States. They rocked way harder than Phosphorescent and Dr. Dog combined.

Phosphorescent
I spent a whole year mixing Bon Iver up with Phosphorescent. Songs about wolves, videos on a winter-y mountain, a common label, the facial hair: there were too many traps laid before my poor mind. Finally having seen both of them live, though, Bon Iver’s shows seem stronger. Most of it might just be because of Justin Vernon’s regular-guy personality combined with devoted sing-along’s at their Music Hall of Williamsburg show, but at the heart of it,  Phosphorescent’s performance just didn’t capture the prettiness and fragility of their album, whereas Bon Iver did. Good performance nonetheless.

Dr. Dog
Before Dr. Dog took came on, the entire stage got a flowery decor. It looked lovely. Lots of energy, great presence, but the songs are a little too bland. They remind me of Illinois. Not a huge fan of either.

In case you missed it, read about this performance here.

I was psyched to learn yesterday that The Tallest Man on Earth has run out of his last vinyl press of Shallow Grave (which included a 4-track 7″ of his self-titled EP). Well done, fans! I’m super thrilled because I remember holding my copy when I bought it and thinking, this is the one vinyl I’m most glad to own; my idea of a perfect record, with foot taps and all; if I were to use one word, it’d be “courage”. Think about it. A man from Sweden writing folky songs in English, with nothing but a guitar, and sometimes a banjo, finishing them up in a home-recorded style, and putting out a US-release on a small run of vinyl. It’s kind of an F.U. to the state of the music industry, if you ask me.

Mexican Summer is repressing a run of a 1000, and it will be in white this time, though it won’t come with the 7″.

Anyway, here’s the full audio from Kristian’s (always-awesome) set at Brooklyn Vegan’s Northside Festival showcase on June 12, 2009, at Music Hall of Williamsburg, except there wasn’t anything festival-like about it, really, but I’m sure you’ve heard that from 10,000 other people already. Feel free to download it and rejoice in the unpaid goodness, but seeing that there is little we can do to affect our culture and society other than BUYING, just remember to buy awesome records on vinyl, especially Kristian’s. Buy t-shirts, too. And buy those beautiful prints he has for sale sometimes. Just makes sure he never goes out of business and that he’s never pressured to resort to unbecoming industry practices :)

Alright then, that’s enough rallying-up for today. Please link to this page if sharing this download link (don’t be a jerk).

Download (from Media Fire) - Live at MHOW, June 12, 2009.

Thanks so much to everyone who came out, especially the fabulous bands who played, and to Trophy Bar for hosting the whole madness. I know everyone I invited to play were some of my favorites, so of course I was thrilled more than anybody else to see them all at one place, but I was extra excited because they all played incredibly strong sets. A ton of pictures are posted here with helpful captions, and we filmed pretty much the whole thing, so video will come soon too! All pics were taken by me (Sarahana), except where noted.

Afuche

The Afuchitas - a feisty gang of interpretive dancers put together by our explosive opening act, Afuche.

Not only was there a lot of dancing, but quite a bit of synchronized screaming.

Afuche decided to go pick up their badges and free Kangaroos shoes after setting up. They played in their new shoes.

And they even sported the free Kangaroos shirts they got in their gift bag.

The amazing drummer of Afuche is clearly adored by his group of dancers.

tUnE-yArDs

Zach Condon’s crew was drinking outside and they all got up and rushed in as soon as we heard Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs testing her voice inside.

I’d asked her if she wanted to do an acoustic set, and she performed on a sole (tenor) ukulele. I had goose bumps throughout her set.

Pic below by Sahara

Zach Condon of Beirut, Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs, Ruben Sindo Acosta of Afuche hanging out in the backyard.

Luke Winslow-King trio

This was my dad’s favorite set at the show. When Luke Winslow-King’s most handsome trio in the world played their 20s inspired rag tunes, and given the Trophy Bar decor, I felt like we were sailing on a boat.

The washboard kills.

And look at this fabulous tuba.

Gracious Calamity

Ideally these girls from Gracious Calamity would play at your bonfire party or your porch. They played a quiet folk-y set that sounded like sweet lullabies.

Doesn’t this look very warm and fuzzy? It’s only missing a bonfire.

Glass Ghost

Glass Ghost provided just the bit of diversity we need in our line-up. Eliot Krimsky’s haunting voice, idiosyncratic rhythms, and awesome bass setup on the keyboard. I was so glad to have them on. I misplaced my camera during their set, so didn’t get to take pictures, sigh.

Pic below by New York Rock Market

Pic below by Sahara

Pic below by Sahara

I found my camera as the set ended. Here’s drummer Mike Johnson.

Drink Up Buttercup

I’ve seen Drink Up Buttercup a bunch of times, but this was the best set I’ve seen from them, period. Drunken sailors all around. Can’t thank them enough.

They played a song about penises and another one about “female anatomy”.

Consulting a last-minute set list they’d made on their iPhone.

Jim had to kneel cause he was using the one little mic we had for his guitar. It was his birthday eve.

Sharon Van Etten

Sharon Van Etten started off by saying she didn’t have any songs about penises.

And that she was wearing her mom’s shoes (with holes).

She was stellar, of course. I don’t even need to mention that.

Pic below by Sahara

Pic below by Jessi Bautista

Pic below by Jessi Bautista

Pic below by Sahara

Pic below by Sahara

Mark Charles of Vandaveer laughs at Sharon’s jokes.

Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs watching Sharon perform.

Adam Arcuragi

Adam Arcuragi arrived with a crew he put together in the last minute. It included a saw player, and plenty of clapping and stomping.

This man changed his plans to be in Chicago to come play here instead. He’s crazy like that. He’s moving to New York soon and you should be on the look out for backyard performances.

When they discovered there was only one mic, they improvised plenty of things.

Vandaveer

Vandaveer started indoors, but after an issue with the mic levels, they yelled, “Who wants to go outside?” and we all poured into the backyard.

It was a fine call! The light rain had cleared just in time.

It was very French, really.

Rose Guerin of Vandaveer strikes a pose.

Mark Charles climbs a table. La Strada looks on.

Motel Motel

People kept asking me who our secret guests were. I had to clarify that it wasn’t a secret at all, but just that Motel Motel is very special. I’d asked them to play a set that would be a “Secret Garden” set and I’m amazed by how much these guys grasp the idea of the Secret Garden without me having to explain anything at all.

Bassist Timo Sullivan and drummer Jeremy Duvall played a guitar case and a banjo case instead.

Look at Mickey Theis. Doesn’t he look like a very handsome man from the 50s?

Eric Engel doesn’t really need the mic at all.

They played “Harlem” the same way they played it for our Secret Garden video (coming soon): a capella, backed up by a recording on a tape. Erik Gundel and Mickey Theis provided gorgeous harmonies.

Timo Sullivan taking a break from his exhausting guitar-case-playing session.

Delicious kebab rolls my mom sold in the backyard.

Thanks everyone! Seriously, it was the best party I’ve been to! :)

Apart from the awesome bands and their awesome managers, and supportive friends in general, notable thanks to Sahara (my sister and trusty helping hand), Kevin Eder and China Kirk (both devoted friends and moral supporters), Ray of Ray Concepcion (he filmed the whole thing!), and my mom for staying up all night to make the delicious food.

Definitely come EARLY! Afuche has prepared a ‘head fuck’ for you. There will be a group of interpretive dancers, the band’s very own ‘Afuchitas’. Tune-Yards will play next, and if you have seen our video of her, you know that she rocks. What it means is you’re getting Afuche, Tune-Yards and the very handsome trio bearing Luke Winslow-King’s name in the first hour and a half. And if you’ve seen our video of that trio, you know it’s a very handsome trio indeed. It’s a highly recommended first hour and a half, is all I’m saying.

Download the music sampler.