the simple mission

Night Of The Living Ludlow Street

Sorry for slight delay in new wrizzles, but here's where things have been at for Young Elz this week. Last night was ruled by White Rabbits, a band with a nervy and soulful sound that suggests a lyrical updating of what the Lost Generation were on about, filtered through a respectful love for the Jam and the Specials. They're bold, but in all the right ways. These cats just came on to the scene, so I can't use the phrase "peeps been sleeping", but I'll just go on record and say that they are simply one of most engaging bands to creep out from BK in some time. Definitely worth a look.

Tonight began with a quick dip to Pianos to check Downtown Records' latest pick of the litter, Wax On Radio. A few talking points are that the group plays prog-ish rock with lots of levels and peaks, and that they have a serious Chewbacca motherfucker of a drummer. Also, the singer/guitarist plays a reverse-strung guitar left handed (bass strings on bottom, etc) ala my man Entrance and has a serious set of pipes. King Crimson it was not, but they seem to have potential to do some very interesting things down the road.

A few doors down, Danava were doing their thing at the Cake Shop. I was so-so about their song on the Invaders comp, but live, it all came together for me. An astute friend noted that there were no blues licks thrown in to their hard psych grab bag, which made for lots and lots and lots of riffs. To their credit, these dudes could stop and start on a dime all mechanic-like. They'd chug for a few, then run wild up and down the necks of their guitars before reigning in the choas and locking in to another bit. Suprisingly, their singers weren't annoying like most metal-ish bands are. The vibe I got was that they were just two dudes there to do the song justice by throwing some imagery over the battlefield of sounds. Well done.

More To Come But For Now Here's A Picture Of Rimbaud

Webb, Worldwide

What can I say? BK urban bluesman (and Kansas-native) TK Webb was the subject of my first-ever feature story for these guys a few moons back and since then, I've had the pleasure of watching him tear through white knuckled blues, howling psychedlic excursions and most recently, sterling roots and roll, night after night like there was no tomorrow. Without gushing too much, I'd like to say that he's one of those cats who you know was put here to play music when you watch him perform. Fingers sliding over the neck of his guitar pulling and twisting the notes enough to hurt you. You dig? Because it's real. I know some cats who play guitar, but he's a guitar player.

Thanks to Simple Mission extended fam the Social Registry, I'll be previewing a track off of TK's forthcoming Phantom Parade LP for you to check out today. It's just a taste of what's come in the Fall, but if you're hot to trot, I highly recommend seeing him at the midnight show at Tonic this Friday night. He's been playing nearly all of the new album with a sturdy backing band out of as late. In the mean time, here's one for the road.

Click here to download "The Desert" by TK Webb.

Bonus: here is a preview of the cover art for the album. It was made by Gang Gang Dance member and visual artist Mr. Brian Degraw.

Double Bonus: The photo seen above was shot by Mr. Joshua Wildman, one of my absolute favorite mayors of the LES and the dude responsible for updating the most next-level photo blog on this earth.

What I've Been Listening To All Day Today

Baby Lemonade

RIP Syd Barrett

Do You Hate This Band Too?

So—Lifetime played last night and it was the first time I saw them in 9 years (documentation here courtesy of Miss Modernage.) I should mention that I went to college in New Brunswick and spent many a night throwing songs off Hello Bastards on the TDK 90s and doing the thing at basement shows (the kind that Lifetime wrote that song about.) Fast forward a few years, two grey hairs and a deal with Fall Out Boy dude's new label and they're selling out Bowery Ballroom for two nights. I was proud. As for the set, Ari and the crew played most of the choicest tunes from Jersey's Best Dancers (but not "Cut The Tension"), a few from Hello and even something from Background. People I haven't seen for five or seven years came out and lost their shit. I did a stage dive. It was amazing. Then I walked to my friend's crib and it felt weird not getting on the turnpike.

So Much To Do

What you do this weekend is your business, but sharing some noteworthy events happening around town just might be mine.

For starters, cherished SImple Mission favorites White Magic are playing tonight for FREE at the South Street Seaport with Juana Molina. Warming up the show will be one of my favorite talents on the troubadours with guitars front, the excellent Mike Wexler. Word is he'll have a new record coming out in the fall to follow up his stellar EP for I and Ear, so keep an eye out. Later in the eve is some punishing punk at Cake Shop courtesy of Troubleman's Meneguar. Definitely work your time if you want to get heavy.

Saturday kicks off with a very worthwhile N'Orleans benefit at Union Pool featuring Bear In Heaven, the Jewish, TK Webb (whose forthcoming LP is stellar, sterling, amazing) and others. There'll be Southern food to be had and free manicures from the gals who "do" my hair, the Beehive Salon. More info on that after the jump.

Early eve is Robbie Lee time at the Knitting Factory—at 8 PM sharp. Big RL will be performing his tunes live with the band for the first time ever, so if you've been up on his work (you should be), now's a great time to see what's new with the kid.

Capping off the night will be White Rabbits at Cake Shop. To full up on my gush on them a few weeks back, these soul-polished up and comers and really doing it for me these days.

And on Sunday, you and yours can attend the first Pool Party jump off courtesy of the hard workin' folks at Jelly NYC. Les Savy Fav are playing for free and if those three words mean anything to you, you know that shit is fire.

Logistics and such after the jump.

Please Don't Put Your Life In The Hands Of A Rock And Roll Band...