Junior Boys @ Webster Hall (Disaster Ensues) w/pics

May 7, 2009


The show must go on. So the old adage goes at least, but that was before electronic music and before bands became completely dependent on alternating current and all the gizmos, computers and samplers that it brings to life. An electronic-based band should hardly have amnesty from such showbiz dogma. And yet the Junior Boys pulled out all the scapegoats Thursday night when Matt Didemus’ sampler cut out. Singer Jeremy Greenspan had the unfortunate task of conveying all the bad news to the crowd, though. They chastised the sampler’s manufacturer, AKAI, stressed the frustration of having such problems in New York City rather than Kentucky, and shot out that, “I bet this never happens to Fleet Foxes.”


I would also bet it never happens to any band that:
(1) is prepared, technically, to handle such unlikely events;
(2) has the conviction and creativity/ingenuity to continue without the faulty gear, even with wildly different variations;
or (3) has technical issues but keeps it to themselves and still plays--since 90 % of the gear is functioning--and most fans can’t tell the difference anyway! I heard about a dozen people repeat that last one at Webster Hall.


The worst part was their stalling tactics. They’d say, “OK, we’ve got one more option”, and then spend 15 minutes futzing around with a sampler before launching into a song. Elated that they were actually playing the audience would get all excited, only to hear them stop suddenly and whine about their gear malfunctioning. This scenario repeated itself for over an hour, during which they managed to squeeze out "Work" and "Double Shadow", though the effort and ostensible technical problems made them all look constipated. Finally the crowd's patience wore thin (though I was still struck by how many people were willing to wait indefinitely), booed them (in the face of repeated apologies), and was relieved to finally get a straight answer: the show won’t go on. Lame.

So far so good...


Uh oh, announcement time


"Fingers crossed!"

(We're fucked)

Techie

From the three songs they actually did play...

Ben Harper and the Relentless7 @ Webster Hall w/ pics

May 5, 2009


It's been over a year and a half since Ben Harper's last release (2007's Lifeline, recorded in Paris with the Innocent Criminals), but three years since anything of his has really reverberated on American shores (his bifurcated 2006 effort, Both Sides of The Gun). He's huge in Europe. But despite the prevalence of francophones and the excitement of releasing yet another work (White Lies For Dark Times, this time recorded with a new trio, calling themselves the Relentless7) Harper and the Relentless7 eased into the new repertoire. Opening with Zeppelin's "Good Times Bad Times" deliberately instilled the raw, punishing but harmonic hard rock tone that embodies the new album. "Better Way", became a passionately hard effort on its own (sans tablas), and proved an apt segue from old to new songs.

Just because the songs were relatively new hardly meant they'd be trimmed for presentation purposes. Rather the night seemed like a liberation of the White Lies material into the live realm. Tonight they became mature, living, breathing songs that reacted and responded to other stimuli. "Keeping It Together" became an extended jam, with Harper relishing Jason Mozersky's transcendent solo and channeling its scope during his own turn on the slide guitar. The lyrics became even darker (pre-Obama composing I assume?) on "The World Suicide." Harper sang, "The world suicide is irresponsible", the refrain "Love is an old heirloom" echoing like a piece of nostalgia from more compassionate times. The intro of "Lay There and Hate Me" was soft but souful, sensuous three-part "oohs" over a funky shuffle as laid down by drummer Jordarn Richardson--not unlike "Superstition." It then became an impassioned diatribe against a resentful lover, full of Harper's lyrical symmetry, "Ain't no fool like the fool you love."

But the cynical tone of the lyrics didn't overwhelm. Harper was so taken by the crowd's support that he asked for a mulligan on "Fly One Time". An instrument cable input caused a jarring interruption at its most delicate moment so Harper, wanting to give the song's intimacy justice, indulged himself by righting the wrong. Amazingly, the crowd was as excited by the slow tune the second time around. The slow encore number, "Another Lonely Day," was equally well received, the entire crowd singing along in unison. Injecting new life into his covers catalogue Harper et al busted into Queen's "Under Pressure" after teasing he'd never honor another "Sexual Healing" request. The concert should have ended then but they carried on for a few more, wanting to initiate yet more new tunes into the live arena.


Setlist:

Good Times Bad Times
Better Way
Number With No Name
Shimmer and Shine
Lay There and Hate Me
Why Must You Always Dress in Black
Skin Thin
Fly One Time (2x)
Keep It Together (So I Can Fall Apart)
The World Suicide
Boots Like These
---------
Another Lonely Day
Faithfully Remain
Under Pressure
Up To You Now

Good Times Bad Times