The Next Round - Episode 35: Robert Ellis

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend.  The only thing that could make this week even better is a new episode of The Next Round.  Guess what?  I've got one for you.

Just prior to his show at Rockwood Music Hall in March, Robert Ellis had a beer with me next door at Cheese Grille.  We talked about touring, TV shows, and the crazy idea to produce Jonny Fritz's new album in India without any pre-planning.

Stream below, download directly, or listen on iTunes.  (Please subscribe on iTunes.  I posted this episode last night just after midnight, and it didn't show up in the iTunes store until just now.  If you subscribe, you get it instantly, which means you could've had it for your morning commute.)

Follow Robert on Twitter.

Check out his tour dates.  He just announced a tour with Richard Thompson June 9-17!

Buy his music.

Kishi Bashi Le Poisson Rouge Setlist

Review to come?

TALL TALL TREES - 05.17.15 - LE POISSON ROUGE (49 minutes)

SET -

Nothingless > Improvisation > Say Something Real! / Picture Picture / Waiting on the Day / Highwire

KISHI BASHI - 05.17.15 - LE POISSON ROUGE (1 hour, 45 minutes)

SET -

Improvisation (Intro) > Manchester / Bittersweet Genesis for Him & Her / I Am the Antichrist to You / Atticus, In the Desert / Carry on Phenomenon / Wonder Woman, Wonder Me / Q&A / Q&A (tease) / Conversations at the End of the World / Evalyn, Summer Has Arrived / Evalyn, Summer Has Arrived (tease) / Game of Thrones Reading / Improvisation (Game of Thrones) / Bright Whites / Improvisation (Space Jam) / Improvisation (Orch Pop) > Bright Whites / Philosophize in It! Chemicalize with It! / The Ballad of Mr. Steak

ENCORE -

Pedal Breakdown / It All Began with a Burst

Young Buffalo Charge Into Bowery Ballroom

Although they've been around since 2009, due to a myriad of label issues and lineup changes, Young Buffalo didn't release their debut LP, House, until March of this year.  A history as such could understandably wear down on a band, but last night at the Bowery Ballroom, Young Buffalo played with all the excitement of a brand new group, performing the House tunes with vigor and upping the tempo of their older songs.

Taking the stage to the swirling synths of St. Lucia's "The Night Comes Again," the band replaced those keyboard sounds with a few of their own, Will Eubanks sweeping into "Man in Your Dreams."  The small crowd gently nodded their heads as Jim Barrett sang the first verse, still unsure as to their opinions of the opening act.  You could feel the change in the room when Ben Yarbrough and Tim Burkhead joined Barrett in beatific harmony for the song's pre-chorus.  With the audience hooked, it was time to have some fun.  Jim put down his guitar to dance around the stage while singing "Nature Boy," the arrows in Matt Pond PA's backdrop sporadically providing a Steve Martin effect.  "Guilt" began with a gentle bassline from Andrew Guinn before evolving into a full-on rocker.  Following a Yarbrough-helmed "Cliff Diver," the boys powered into their rumbling single "Sykia," the room now mobbed with engaged listeners.  As Burkhead pounded his kit at the song's end, two girls behind me started singing "hey!" noting its similarity to Gary Glitter's "Rock & Roll, pt. 2."  It was tolerable at first, but wore thin when they continued doing it as the band broke into "My Place," their softest number of the night.  Barrett and Guinn traded instruments for the nearly-prog "Old Soul," and switched back for a frenetic "No Idea" that climbed "Upstairs" to finish off the set.  We can only hope that Young Buffalo will visit us again this summer, and maybe they'll even pack a "Pill" and some "Summertime Blondes" along with them.

I had drinks with Jim and Ben before the show, so stay tuned in the next couple weeks for a new episode of The Next Round with Young Buffalo.

YOUNG BUFFALO - 05.15.15 - BOWERY BALLROOM (38 minutes)

SET -

Man in Your Dreams / Nature Boy / Guilt / Cliff Diver / Sykia > My Place / Full Metal Whacket / Old Soul / No Idea > Upstairs