Cheerleader Graduate to the Late Show at Mercury Lounge

Philadelphia's hazy power pop band Cheerleader opened the late show last night at their most frequent NYC tour stop, Mercury Lounge.  "A Million Ways" is the single they're currently promoting, so what better way to do that than to open with its shimmery guitars and self-reflective lyrics?  They followed with a brand new song (the first of four) called "Draggin' Me Down," which marked a shift away from their nebulous patina and towards a crunchier pop/rock sound.  After a whistle-less "Do What You Want," bassist Paul Impellizeri addressed the crowd, "Thanks, guys.  We're gonna get a little weird."  Raising his plastic cup, he added, "Cheers to getting weird."  The weirdness manifested itself as a decaying spoken word intro to the second new tune of the night, "I Feel It Coming," which reassured fans that the band hadn't completely traded in their haziness for pop sheen.  Third newbie, "I'm Just Thinkin' It to Myself," was dedicated to headliner, Paperwhite, and Cheerleader made sure to leave the stage nice and toasty for them with a confident "Feel Like That," as guitarist Chris Duran jerked around in angular motions and drummer Carl Bahner bobbed his head and shoulders from side to side.

Don't miss the episode of The Next Round I recorded with them before the gig, and also, don't miss them when they come back through NYC, as I may open for them with some stand-up.

CHEERLEADER - 05.28.16 - MERCURY LOUNGE (39 minutes)

SET -

A Million Ways / Draggin' Me Down* / Perfect Vision / Do What You Want / I Feel It Coming* / The Sunshine of Your Youth / I'm Just Thinkin' It to Myself* / On Your Side / Feel Like That*

Monthly Mix #15: May 2016

May 2016:
This playlist is all about being excited, probably because summer is nearly here.



1. Mike Doughty - "I'm Still Drinking in My Dreams"
Stoked that one of my favorite Mike Doughty tunes is finally getting a proper release on the remastered Haughty Melodic, one of my favorite albums ever.

2. James Gang - "Walk Away"
Joe fucking Walsh.

3. Fickle Friends - "Swim"
A poppy little ditty with some sweet guitar licks.

4. Rogue Wave - "California Bride"
Rogue Wave just played the best concert I've seen so far this year.

5. Clarence Carter - "Slip Away"
I really only knew Clarence from his risqué groover, "Strokin'," but I heard this playing over the PA before a show.  Dig it.

6. Radiohead - "Burn the Witch"
I'm not sure if A Moon Shaped Pool will ever end up on Spotify, so while I would've preferred to include "Identikit" or "True Love Waits," the latter of which almost brought me to tears, I had to settle for the kinetic opening track.  Not a bad option.

7. Honne feat. Izzy Bizu - "Someone That Loves You"
I have a soft spot for male/female duets.

8. Aloha - "Faraway Eyes"
Aloha had always been a band that I thought was just okay, but their latest record, Little Windows Cut Right Through, is currently at the top of my 2016 list.

9. Wilco - "How to Fight Loneliness"
I get to see Wilco for the first time at Mountain Jam next week!

10. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard - "Robot Stop"
Ol' Giz & the Liz Wiz dropped a seamlessly loopable psych-rock tour de force with Nonagon Infinity. This is how the maelstrom begins.

Kevin Barnes Le Poisson Rouge Setlist

Review to come.

KEVIN BARNES - 05.24.16 - LE POISSON ROUGE (1 hour, 14 minutes)

SET -

Empyrean Abattoir / Obsidian Currents / Chaos Arpeggiating / Raindrop in My Skull / She Courts Calamities / Thank You, Dylan Thomas (Poem)* / The Color of Terror (Poem)* / Ambassador Bridge / Won't You Always Be There* / Mother (tease) / Nothing Compares 2 U / Bunny Ain't No Kind of Rider / Suffer for Fashion > Sink the Seine > Cato as a Pun > Touched Something's Hollow 

ENCORE -

Hang on to Yourself / Gronlandic Edit

Rogue Wave Bowery Ballroom Setlist

Review to come.

ROGUE WAVE - 05.13.16 - BOWERY BALLROOM (1 hour, 22 minutes)

SET -
Take It Slow / Ocean / Kicking the Heart Out (tease) / Look at Me / Endless Supply / Bird on a Wire (tease) / College > Eyes / Salesman at the Day of the Parade / Solitary Gun (tease) / Nourishment Nation / Medicine Ball (tease) / California Bride / What is Left to Solve / Memento Mori / Lake Michigan / Harmonium

ENCORE -

Happy Birthday / Postage Stamp World / Publish My Love / Like I Needed / Chicago x 12 (tease) / 10:1 (tease) / Fame (tease) / California

Honne Standard Hotel Setlist

Review soon.

HONNE - 05.12.16 - STANDARD HOTEL (46 minutes)

SET -

Woman* / I Can Give You Heaven / Warm on a Cold Night / 3 AM / Gone Are the Days / Coastal Love / 'Til the Evening* / Someone That Loves You / The Night

The Revivalists Brooklyn Bowl Setlist

THE REVIVALISTS - 05.11.16 - BROOKLYN BOWL (1 hour, 43 minutes)

SET -

Catching Fireflies / All in the Family / Monster / Amber / It Was a Sin / Move On / Fade Away / Stand Up / Need You / Upright (feat. Lucas Ellman) / Keep Going / Wish I Knew You > Criminal

ENCORE -

King of What / Soulfight / Forgot About Dre (feat. Brandon Niederauer)

Bear Hands Marlin Room Setlist

Review on the way.

BEAR HANDS - 05.07.16 - THE MARLIN ROOM AT WEBSTER HALL (55 minutes)

SET -

Marathon Man / Bone Digger / What a Drag / Like Me Like That / Giants / Pt. II: Bullshit Saviour Complex / Winner's Circle / Boss / Party Hats / Peacekeeper / Chin Ups / Too Young / Agora / 2AM