This show seems like so long ago now. I just got back home from Cymbals Eat Guitars at the Rooftop Films opening, which was one of the nicest evenings I’ve ever had in NYC. I’ll post on that tomorrow, but for now, a few quick notes on Thursday’s Union Hall show. I wasn’t expecting too much from Middle Distance Runner, but I was pleasantly surprised. They played a tight, enjoyable set of straight-up rock with a little bit of the South thrown in. I have to say, though, what is up with this week and dudes in bands wearing hats? A note to all men in bands: it’s midnight and you’re in a basement. Why are you wearing a hat??? Unless it’s a baseball hat or your friends just shaved half of your head, I don’t care, take off your damned hat. They make you look dumb. Six out of six of my co-workers agree with me (I took a very scientific poll, and they should know because they’re music professionals). But really, Middle Distance Runner has a solid live show, all hats aside. I particularly enjoyed the rhythmic drumming on “Brother John,” which you can download below.
I love Pretty & Nice. They’re a lot of fun to watch, and they play really fun music. The foursome straddles the line between emo and indie. They produce songs that are almost guilty pleasures, but are supported with enough twisting and turning in the songwriting to make them legitimately good. I love the combination of the two fantastic male voices- the falsettos are almost ridiculous, but fit in perfectly over the frenetically paced guitars. They’re deliciously weird, too, yelling strange, funny little things between songs. I just like this band. I like ’em a lot.
Middle Distance Runner:
Pretty & Nice:
The New York Rockmarket 