Last week, sludge metal band Red Fang took the stage at The Gramercy Theater. Their intense set kicked off with the pounding “Blood Like Cream”, which had the entire venue singing along with the chorus. The band then immediately jumped into “Malverde” before launching into “Crows in Swine.” The rest of their 60 minute set was filled with songs from throughout the band’s catalog. “I have an announcement. This next song is about dancing. Announcement over!” said the band before rocking out their 2019 single “Antidote,” during which every member of the band seemed to be jamming out and having just as much fun as the crowd. Red Fang are currently on tour supporting Clutch and Dinosaur Jr. You can check out their remaining support dates here.
Opening the show were the Washington DC based drum and guitar duo Teen Mortgage. The band’s quick and punchy songs filled the venue with fuzzy guitars, whammy-pedal swells, and even audio samples from movies that the band would play in-between songs. “This one’s about calling in sick from your job…but you’re actually not!” said the band at one point introducing one of their songs. Teen Mortgage have a few more US shows this year before heading overseas in November. Their tour dates are listed in this Instagram post from the band.
Scroll down for setlist, pics of the show (photos by Kyle Ostrander)
Setlist: Blood Like Cream, Malverde, Crows in Swine, Arrows, Into the Eye, Antidote, Wires, Freeride, Number Thirteen, Humans Remain Human Remains, Sharks, Dirt Wizard, Prehistoric Dog ; Encore: Hank is Dead
Boston based funk band Ripe played an upbeat and energetic show at Terminal 5 this past weekend. The venue was packed with their dedicated fan base (who call themselves the Goon Squad after one of the band’s songs), wearing an endless sea of their merch. The band took the stage with full force, starting their set with “Get Over,” before diving right into “Flipside,” followed quickly by a cover of “Lola” by The Kinks. The enthusiastic crowd was dancing and singing along to every word, matching the vibe of the band beat-for-beat. “New York City…is this for real?!” said vocalist Robbie Wulfsohn excitedly in-between songs, showing a true appreciation for their fans’ dedication. Even in the crowded venue, the band’s connection with the audience made it feel like you were at a small, intimate show, but with all the excitement of an arena rock band. If this show is any indication of what’s next for Ripe, it seems like even bigger and better things are on the horizon.
Kicking off the show were fellow Boston band Couch, who were the perfect start to the funky and soulful night of music. Coordinated band dance moves, layered vocal melodies, and even what appeared to be a Jeff Goldblum pillow were all brought to the stage from the band. Couch’s band members dancing and jumping up-and-down on stage had the crowd doing the same. Several times, the band even asked the crowd to sing along with their choruses, to which the engaged audience happily obliged.
Second on the bill were NYC natives Melt. “It’s great to be playing a hometown show on this tour!” said the band happily in-between songs. Throughout the set it was clear the band was having a lot of fun at their homecoming show. All of their members interacted not only with the audience, but with one-another as well, while their vocalist made use of every inch of the stage. Their set even featured a band intro and solo section, showing off an impressive level of musicianship from each member. It makes sense the band’s name is Melt, because I think all of our faces were melted by the end of their set.
Scroll down for setlist, pics of the show (photos by Kyle Ostrander)
Setlist: Get Over, Flipside, Lola (The Kinks cover), Brendan, Stanky, All or Nothing, Paper Cups, Beta Male, Say it to Me, Young Tom Rose, Queen of the City, Talk to the Moon, Noise in the Forest, Goon Squad, Downward, Settling Encore: Passerby, Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 (Pink Floyd cover), Little Lighter
New Jersey rock band Titus Andronicus performed an electrifying set at Elsewhere this past weekend. The seasoned band knew how to play a classic rock show, with singer/guitarist Patrick Stickle bringing his signature frontman antics to the stage. “I’m here to play guitar, and that’s what I’m gonna do!” yelled Stickles before diving into a face-melting guitar solo. Even though they packed out the room and had adoring fans singing along to every word, the band still remained incredibly humble, taking time during the set to thank their management, the venue staff, and even their in-laws. They even brought their sense of humor to the show, joking at one point that “Saturday night is one of the top two nights for love in NYC, so here’s a love song.” The band was on the road in support of their latest album, The Will to Live, which came out late last year.
Kicking off the show were alternative rockers Country Westerns. The band had been on the road with Titus Andronicus for over a month, and jokingly credited them with “teaching us how to drink beer in cold hotel parking lots” on tour. The band’s songs were punchy, to-the-point, and filled with the wonderfully chime-y sounds of 12 string guitars. As a special treat, the band brought out guitar legend Matt Sweeney (Skunk, Chavez, Zwan) for a few songs during their set, letting his shredding loose on the crowd. The band’s new album, Forgive the City, drops later this month, and you can catch them back in NYC on May 5th at Union Pool.
Scroll down for setlist, pics of the show (photos by Kyle Ostrander)
Setlist: My Mother Is Going to Kill Me, (I’m) Screwed, Above the Bodega (Local Business), Fear and Loathing in Mahwah NJ, Give Me Grief, Baby Crazy, Fatal Flaw, Fired Up, Dimed Out, Tumult Around the World, Four Score and Seven, A More Perfect Union, Titus Andronicus Forever Encore: Glory Days (Springsteen cover)
On April 6th, Algiers took their genre-bending style to the stage at one of NYC’s newest venues, Racket. With a mix of influences ranging from post-punk to hip-hop, the band’s unique sound was eagerly consumed by their enthusiastic fans. Adding to their sound were curated visuals projected on stage, which complimented the vibe and themes of each song perfectly. The band was on the road promoting their new album Shook (Matador), which was released earlier this year. Their set featured several cuts from the new album, including “Irreversible Damage” and “73%,” along with tracks from throughout their catalog.
Starting off the show were Brooklyn based rockers Shop Talk. The stripped-down drums, bass, and guitar trio were the perfect juxtaposition for the night’s sound. The band brought all the fun-loving and intense energy of a DIY show to their set, which was openly welcomed by the crowd. “It’s great to be playing a hometown show on this tour, so thank you all for coming out early to catch us!” the band happily exclaimed in-between songs.
Up next was the Australian drums and saxophone duo Party Dozen who were here on their very first US tour supporting their 2022 album, The Real Work. The amazingly unique sounds of crashing drums, thumping samples, and sax tones bent by effects pedals filled the venue. The band’s infectious energy and catchy songs intrigued the audience with every note, and left us all wanting more. Having all the intensity of a basement punk show mixed with a genre-bending sound, they were the perfect complement to both Shop Talk and Algiers. This is another band that leaves us wondering “why doesn’t every band have a sax player?” and more importantly keeps us asking “when can I see them again??”
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Kyle Ostrander)
Last Friday, Deep Sea PeachTree closed out night three oftheNew Colossus Festival with a late night set at Pianos. Even though the band didn’t take the stage until almost 1am, the room was still packed with eager and excited fans. The band brought their signature indie-inspired sound with full force, jumping around on stage with every song, and infecting the audience with their energy. The 10 song set kicked off with “Strawberry Milk,” and included other cuts such as “Felt,” “Vaguely Navy,” and “Haircut Confidence.” “This next song is about sleep, which is fitting given it’s after 1am already” joked the band at one point during the show.
Scroll down for pics of the show (photos by Kyle Ostrander)
