Photos by Bill Shouldis

JEFF The Brotherhood played to a packed house at Brooklyn’s Death By Audio on Saturday. The set was a good mix of the band’s first album Heavy Days and their brand new longplayer We Are The Champions. I picked up the tour version LP of the new record at the show (limited to 500 on clear vinyl!) and the album definitely has a Blue Album Weezer feel to it. No complaints there.

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Photos by Bill Shouldis

No Age pulled what was presumably some sort of “punk rock fuck you” move by doing a 40 minute ambient noise set when opening for Cold War Kids at Terminal 5 on Thursday, which was moved from Radio City Music Hall very last minute. The wall of noise actually sounded pretty cool, but perhaps would have been more appreciated if interspersed with a few of their songs. Here are some photos of the guys manipulating sound.

In the midst of their tour with the Dropkick Murphys, Against Me! went back to their roots for an afternoon show at the Mercury Lounge in NYC. This was definitely the smallest NYC show the guys had done in quite some time. I don’t think I’ve seen them play a venue this small since 2002 when they played at ABC No Rio. Things have clearly changed a lot since then but the show on that Saturday afternoon showed me a band at the top of their game. Kind of a rare thing to say from a band who just got dropped for a major label.

Adding drumming Jay Weinberg (yes, Max Weinberg’s son) recently didn’t hurt. Of all the times I’ve seen the band (I’ve lost track at this point. Probably more than 15 times), this might have been the best I’ve seen them play. The addition of Weinberg has re-energized them completely. AM!’s live shows have always been known for their no talking, rocket fire setlists but it seemed like they were having more fun that usual this time around.

Sure, it wasn’t the most energetic show crowd-wise. If you’re playing a 21+ venue at 2 pm when a lot of those in attendance may be nursing hangovers, I wouldn’t expect a lot of pogoing moshing youngsters. But to be quite honest, I enjoyed that (yes, I am getting older). But it wasn’t a totally tame show (that would just be weird). There were a few crowd surfers when the guys busted out some older numbers like “Walking Is Still Honest” and “Baby, I’m An Anarchist.”

I wonder where the band will go from here (label-wise, music-wise) but this show was an indication that things have not slowed down at all.

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Photos by Bill Shouldis

I said before that Guided By Voices at Terminal 5 was my favorite show of 2010. They were so great that night that afterwards, I desperately plotted a way to get into their New Year Eve show at Irving Plaza, which was sold out. Luckily, just a few days before the New Years gig, the band announced a show at the much smaller Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ. The tickets were a bit steep but this was a must for any GBV fan.

Never one to disappoint their diehards, the band delivered a nearly 50 song, three hour set. As great as they sounded at Terminal 5, the Maxwell’s show was how a GBV gig should be. It easily topped that show. The band seemed almost as excited (and as drunk) as the crowd. High fives and hugs were exchanged and leader Bob Pollard even shared some of his tequila and beer with the hoard of dudes screaming along to every lyric in the front row.

The “classic era” of GBV is something to behold. Let’s examine the scene:
Who needs oxygen? Clearly not guitarist Mitch Mitchell. Just give him about 5,000 cigarettes and beer and you’re set. Tobin Sprout and drummer Kevin Fennell are the backbone of the band, keeping the madness in check at all times. And what can you say about bassist (and lawyer?) Greg Demos? To understand the man, you just need to look at his outfit. Think Freddy Mercury if he was from Dayton, OH. His pure exuberance and joy while on stage is hard to top. He’s the guy just as excited as you are. And of course, it will never fail to amaze me how Mr. Pollard can be incoherent and nearly falling down between songs but once everything kicks in, he’s a man of precision and perfection, never missing a lyric. What other 53 year old do you know that can high kick and jump like a 20 year old? Shit, Pollard is probably in better shape than me.

GBV at Maxwell’s was the perfect way to send off 2010. I left the show sweaty, without a voice, and yes, pretty drunk.

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Photos by Bill Shouldis

OFF! blazed through a 25-minute set of punk rock fury at their Generation Records in-store performance on Friday. The band was celebrating the release of their debut 7″ and played in front of a packed basement.

With all the Black Flag-inspired aggro, there was a very surprising and poignant moment mid-set. Lead singer Keith Morris reflected on the life of Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the late singer of The Gun Club, who died in 1996 from a brain hemorrhage. Morris, tears welling up in his eyes, talked about his best friend and urged everyone in attendance to buy every Gun Club record in stock. The band then went into their tribute to Pierce, aptly-titled “Jeffrey Lee Pierce.”  It was an incredible and moving moment.

The store completely sold out of the 7″ but don’t fret, it will be included in a box set of four 7″s, that comes out on November 23rd on Vice. Be sure to pick it up!

More pictures after the jump.

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