It would figure that my first post after moving away from NY would be to recount an evening during my first trip back to my hometown ... However, the long weekend trip back was perfectly timed to coincide with a performance by one of my favorite new bands, the (relatively) unknown local darlings, Longwave, at Mercury Lounge (still a preferred venue for seeing bands in NY for me, as well). And while as much as I'd love to say that the third time was the charm for seeing them, I'm still holding on to their performance at Luna in Brooklyn last year as living up to my expectations of them. To be fair, they were trying out a lot of new material this past Saturday night, much of it to be heard on their still as yet unnamed new CD, though a few tunes can be heard on their MySpace page, and it was a little rough around the edges. Fortunately, there were also fine renditions of some old standards and personal favorites, "Tidal Wave," "Everywhere You Turn," along with a version of "Wake Me When it's Over," that might just make me a believer of that tune ... As for the new songs, even unfinished, they were promising, fun and in line with what I'd expect from lead singer Steve Schiltz--the only man I can stand with long curls--nice guitar riffs and catchy post-alt-pop-rock (is there anyway to describe the current music scene without ten hyphens??) melodies and heart-sure lyrics ... All in all, a great treat while being home, for the one thing I miss most about NY these days is the live music. Certainly Memphis has its blues and funk, but that, like men with curly hair, is generally not my thing.In any event, if you haven't yet heard their songs, you really owe it to yourself to have a listen. They have an album, "There's a Fire," as well as several EPs, and the aforementioned upcoming untitled CD, to which I am very much looking forward.
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longwave © 2008 duluoz cats
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