Other Voices: Quick Bits On Recent Shows

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On Saturday, the entirely like-able Vampire Weekend played a lovely show at the East River Music Project. Ships sailed in the background, kids (like, actual 7 year olds and not just the uptown college kids who are always at VW shows) danced and the band's best tunes like "Campus" and "Walcott" were toe-tappingly divine. This show was yet another reason to fall in love with Vampire Weekend. Not like you needed my convincing.

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Later that night, I took some bad photos of a very good band, Minneapolis's Digitata. If you're not yet familiar with this female-fronted trio's brand of pleasing, beat-driven electro pop, don't sweat it. You'll be hearing more from them soon.

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Sunday afternoon was all about Ted aka "Shred" Leo. I'll be straight with you, after going to his shows for about seven years, I was ready to stop because they had just been so-so the last few times. Not on Sunday. Ted was every bit the fist pumping, ska-loving, dude of dudes that I, and thousands (should be millions) of other love and cherish so much. Bravo!

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The last stop on the party train was the Social Registry anniversary jump off. Gang Gang Dance closed out the night with 3/4th of an amazing set. Due to noise complaints, the show had to end by ten PM. And it did. Someone pulled the plug on the band in the middle of a brand new mind sprawler of a song at 10:01. That was a shame. So was my camera dying before GGD's set, which is why you are looking at a photo of the Social Registry dudes (honcho Rich on the left) having a bro-ment before their set. Still, a great night for real music in New York City.