All photos by Bill Shouldis

Jay Reatard, TV Smith of the Adverts and our new favorite band Screaming Females played an awesome show together at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 2nd. I wasn’t really sure how many people would turn out since Mr. Reatard played a free show the night before. Since I’m never really ever fully satisfied from the Jay Reatard live experience, I was there for the openers. But, hey, Jay was selling his new LP Watch Me Fall, over a month early, so that ruled. I probably freaked out the merch guy I was so excited.

Screaming Females were up first. Sadly, a 9 P.M. set time was a little too early for Reatard fans, so there were only about 30 people watching the band at first. People slowly started creeping in as the band hammered away at a set filled with their strongest songs, including “Bell,” “Boyfriend,” and “Lights Out.” In regards to vocalist/guitar shredder Marissa Paternoster: ”Dude, she wails,” exclaimed a sweaty devotee in front of me. Yep, couldn’t agree more dude. This band really needs to be heard by everybody. I hope that these high profile shows start paying off in the next year.

There was some concern whether or not former Adverts frontman TV Smith would make the show since he had to cancel his show the previous night at the Mercury Lounge due to visa issues. Luckily for all in attendance, he made it. As I watched his acoustic set, I envisioned several things. First off, TV Smith and Bruno Wizard of The Homosexuals should form a supergroup. Secondly, I saw TV Smith as a senior version of Ted Leo. Come to think of it, Bruno, Ted Leo and TV Smith should form a supergroup. All things said and observed, TV played an amazing and very passionate set, with a few Adverts songs sprinkled in. It’s always awesome seeing a man of his age (in his 50s) rocking out on stage that hard. It makes you love music and, well, fucking life that much more.

As much as I love Jay Reatard on wax, his live show leaves me wanting a lot more. I understand his approach to the show. Soft on record, aggressive live. Jay, however, writes some serious jams on his records and I just wish I could hear those songs a little bit more like how they are recorded. Is that too predictable? Perhaps. But I just think Jay strips his songs down way too much. The core is missing. It says something about your live show when you can barely make out which songs are being played. I’m sure, however, this won’t be the last time I see him though. I just can’t resist it.

The highlight of the show came with the encore though. Reatard brought TV Smith on stage for a bunch of Adverts renditions, including two of the more popular ones (“Gary Gilmore’s Eyes” and “Bored Teenagers). I really hope most people in attendance knew these were Adverts songs. Sadly, I don’t think that was the case. Any exposure to those gems is a good thing though. It made me realize that I need to track down all the very hard to find Adverts records.

Ah fuck, THIS is the supergroup…as of now: TV Smith, Jay Reatard, Bruno Wizard, Ted Leo…and all of Screaming Females. It’s official, I’m a geek.

Screaming Females

TV Smith

Jay Reatard

Jay Reatard + TV Smith

You ever have one of those moments where you are sitting at your apartment, wondering whether or not you should go out and see a band that night? You think you’re too tired. You’re not looking forward to waiting for the train. You just opened a bag of chips, whatever the hell have you. My friends, I beg you, unless your guts are wholly opposed to it and Lost marathons are just too tempting, go out and see that band because you never know when you’ll see a show that blows your hair back.

The other night, I had one of those moments. I’d had been looking forward to checking out The Homosexuals at the Mercury Lounge for quite some time. I almost decided not to go out but I went anyways and christ, am I thankful I did. The band were one of the best live shows I’ve seen in a long time. I found myself smiling the whole time and bobbin’ my head endlessly. It was the type of show I would have kicked myself for missing.

I mean, I guess to start with The Homosexuals, you gotta talk about their lead singer Bruno Wizard. He is the leader and lone original member left in the band. The 58-year-old has more stage presence, charisma, and power than most, so naturally, he is the star of the show. The backing band were equally amazing though. One of my favorite moments was when the bassist totally ate shit but didn’t miss a note and got back up acting as if it was all of part of the show.

I’ll admit, I didn’t know that much about the band two months ago but I was truly taken aback by the power they unleashed on stage that night. Count me amongst the coverted. The message here…GET OUT OF YOUR APARTMENT AND GO SEE THAT BAND. Hey, and hopefully, it’s The Homosexuals or something even remotely close to being as good.

You can purchase the band’s recent 10″ Love Guns? over at Serious Business Records.

After a few times of seeing Cursive live, I’ve figured out that are three different bands that can show up at one of their gigs. There is the really drunk one – which is mostly fueled by lead singer Tim Kasher’s famous, belligerent rants. There is also the really god awful one. Back in the salad days of LNWF, I wrote a review (which, I am not going to link here because I’m sure it’s god awful) saying how I thought they might break up after a truly horrid show at Webster Hall. Yeah, it can get that bad sometimes. Finally, there is the super pro version, where the band blazes through their back catalog with little to no talking or ranting from Tim. Monday’s show at the Music Hall of Williamsburg was the latter.

Read more after the jump.

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