OK, back to the music...

Yura Yura Teikoku - Northsix 7.08.06

Yura Yura Teikoku have been around for 17 years (9 years for the current trio) and have 9 LP's to their name. None have been released in America, and their lyrics aren't in English for more than a few words. Perhaps it's unsurprising, then, that their success at home in Japan hasn't been replicated in the U.S. yet. Maybe that will start to change, because YYT absolutely kill it live - insanely tight with the quiet confidence of a band that knows it doesn't need to do anything crazy to win you over. Indeed, bassist Kamekawa Chiyo didn't even look like he was trying - he sounded the exact opposite, of course - and guitarist's Sakamoto Shintaro awesome frontman moves (great kicks!) were delivered with a cool detachment. The band never changed instruments, and I barely remember them ever even changing tunings! Instead, they just focused on kicking out the psych-rock jams, endlessly creative within their simple setup - intricate build-ups, blistering freakouts, and songs that kept taking unexpected turns.

This was just their third-ever show in the U.S. - nos. 1 and 2 came last October at Northsix and Tonic, and number 4 came on Sunday at the Knitting Factory. Hopefully number 5 will happen soon. If you get a chance to see them, don't miss it. YYT will not disappoint.

For MP3's and more, head over to Mesh-Key Records.

The Idjut Boys - P.S. 1 7.08.06, APT 7.07.06

I'm told that this past weekend was the Idjut Boys' first visit to NYC in five years! Well, we were definitely missing out. Truth be told, I didn't think too much of their set at APT last Friday - it was nice enough, but nothing special. It felt like just a warm-up gig, though, next to the magic the duo dropped on P.S. 1 the next afternoon. The bearded one in particular is the man - unafraid to drop hits but always with an impeccable sense of timing. First he sent the place off with the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up," soon followed up by an instrumental mix of Daft Punk's "Digital Love" - with an extended intro to make the beat that much more exhilirating when it finally dropped. The other Idjut was equally adept behind the decks, though, as was Phil South opening up. One thing I noticed about the Idjuts is that they weren't always doing a lot of mixing - they often let songs play out until the end. It worked fine though.

Basically, the whole experience reminded me that P.S. 1 is one of the closest things to a guaranteed good time in NYC in the summer. They host Todd Terje this Saturday - he'll also be at APT on Thursday. And if you're curious about the Idjut Boys, set yourself straight with last year's exceptional Press Play.

Belle and Sebastian - Battery Park, 7.04.06

Speaking of guaranteed good times, a Belle and Sebastian outdoors show also falls in that camp. My frequent claim is that they're a better band when playing outside. I'm not sure if that's necessarily true as a general statement, but it's been true for me in NYC. (I don't count the dreadful Across the Narrows festival - every band there got a mulligan.) Their show a few summers ago in Prospect Park is still the best I've seen from them, and last week's free July 4 concert is right near the top as well. (Theory 1: their music does best with open outdoor acoustics. Theory 2: they're more relaxed outdoors, especially since they hate seeing a seated crowd. Theory 3: it's all just a coincidence.)

Last week's concert is most memorable for me for its ace setlist - surprisingly low on The Life Pursuit and heavy on songs missing from their recent NYC shows. Don't get me wrong because I think the world of the new record, but I'm sure I'll be hearing those songs many times again. Hearing "I Fought in a War" (an appropriate Independence Day opener), "Dirty Dream Number Two," "If She Wants Me" (finally!), "Le Pastie de la Bourgeoisie" (nice!) and "Sleep the Clock Around" (among others) was a nice change of pace - all were fantastic, especially with a string quartet playing with the band for the show. The new songs we got sounded great too, especially "White Collar Boy," though "To Be Myself Completely" was missed - I'd take it over "The Wrong Girl" (and most other Stevie songs) any day. I'd also do whatever it takes to ensure that "Your Cover's Blown" stays a fixture in their setlists - that disco groove is even hotter live than on record.

Stuart Murdoch was in a great mood, chatting it up between almost every song, and the rain stayed away once the band took the stage. We were warned of an approaching electrical storm that threatened to cut the show short, but it never came. The show had lots of hubbub around it with the Starbucks ticket fiasco (which Stuart quickly admitted to being unaware of), but in the end it actually lived up to the hype!

SETLIST:

I Fought In A War / Another Sunny Day / The Model / Sukie In The Graveyard / Don't Leave The Light On, Baby / Le Pastie de la Bourgeoisie / Jonathan David / If She Wants Me / Lord Anthony / If You're Feeling Sinister / Funny Little Frog / Your Cover's Blown / Dirty Dream Number Two / I'm A Cuckoo / The Wrong Girl / White Collar Boy / Sleep The Clock Around

ENCORE: The Star-Spangled Banner (played by a Hendrix-inspired Stevie Jackson) / The Boy With The Arab Strap