PHOTOS: THE HORRIBLE CROWES @ BOWERY BALLROOM

 

Given The Horrible Crowes frontman Brian Fallon's strong belief in the sanctity of the live performance, I almost feel guilty for posting these photos. The man is not naive, he's well aware we live in the Youtube age. Yet he confesses a yearning to go back, to when the only way to see your favorite artist was by standing in front of their stage. 

In a short few years, Fallon has gained a reputation as a dynamic live performer and superb songwriter. His latest project, The Horrible Crowes, is a collaboration with guitarist Ian Perkins and will undoubtly only add that reputation. Their debut release Elsie is a fully realized album of moody and soulful "night music." Fallon's influences are again worn on his sleeve - the album has it's share of nods to Tom Waits, Van Morrison, and U2. But he takes the best parts of each of those acts and manages to form something new and exciting while at the same time familiar.

The band's performance this past Thursday at Bowery Ballroom was the first of only two US dates. I really don't want to give anything away for fear of ruining what the band may have in store for the lucky folks attending the LA show. I will say you are in for a treat. The band is tight, the music is right, and there's couple of choice covers to round out the night. Enjoy.

Check out more photos from: The Horrible Crowes @ Bowery Ballroom - NYC. 9/8/11.

PHOTOS: Brian Fallon with Dave Hause - Bowery Ballroom 01/15/10

Eerie Von mentions in his new book that in all his time shooting The Misfits live, he remembers very little of being at their actual shows. He'd spent most of the performance searching for shots and figured that his photos would serve as his memories. Fair enough. I guess it's always been the same for me.

I didn't want that to be the case for this show. So I made sure to enjoy the show and grab some pics. And shit, was it one hell of a show.

Dave Hause opened up with a great set. It's no secret this guy has an amazing voice and in the acoustic setting it was on full display, in all it's raw and naked glory. The highlight - a great cover of Kathleen Edward's "The Cheapest Key." Brought me right back to seeing her on the very same stage in 2003.

Fallon's set was half Gaslight songs, half cover songs and oddly enough none of his "solo" songs. There's not much I can say about the show that the setlist doesn't say for itself. It was amazing.

It seems that at some point, all Jersey bands or artists inherit the drunken Giants Stadium parking lot crew. The only sour note of the night was the crowd - completely obnoxious. If they weren't screaming requests (before and during songs) or screaming where they were from, they were talking over Fallon's stories. It was a stark contrast from the crowd at last year's Bowery show, that night you could hear a pin drop.

**Extra special thanks to Jon and Hollie from that Gaslight camp for giving me a photo pass at the last minute. The people behind the stage are just as great as the ones out front.


Brian Fallon with Dave Hause - Bowery Ballroom, NYC, 01/15/10

1. What You Gonna Call Your Pretty Little Baby? (Odetta)
2. Old White Lincoln
3. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (Creedence Clearwater Revival )
4. Great Expectations
5. The 59 Sound
6. Dollar Bill (Screaming Tree's )
7. Miles Davis And The Cool
8. I Do Not Hook Up (Kelly Clarkson)
9. High Lonesome
10. Blue jeans & White T-Shirts
11. The Navesink Banks
12. Here's Looking At You Kid
13. The Broad Majestic Shannon (The pogues)
14. We Came To Dance

Encore : W/ Dave
15. Call It Off (Tegan And Sara)
16. Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
17. Long Ride Home (Patty Griffin)
18. Ball & Chain (Social Distortion)