On Saturday, Guilt By Association Vol.2, a compilation of cover tracks that’s out now on Engine Room Records, held a release party at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. The bands on hand to celebrate included Lowry, Takka Takka, Jukebox the Ghost, and Robbers on High Street. The four bands shared an indie rock-pop sensibility although it was eclectic enough to appeal to anyone.
Lowry Photos (Click photo to advance)
Lowry was the first band on the bill. The Brooklyn-based band combines rock sensibilities with pop melodies and southern rhythms. It was lead singer’s Alex’s birthday and there were many in the crowd supporting them.
The band’s contribution to the album was a rendition of “Africa” by Toto. The band keeps it very similar to the original with only minor tweaks. The vocals are sung in unison by Alex and Heidi, keyboardist, guitarist and banjoist. The song is as awkward and campy as you remember it. It’s simple and an appealing note in their set. The song sounded nice in contrast to “Zipped Up the Lost Coat”, which had a much more brooding tempo and used Alex’s southern tinged vocals to great effect.
This was the second time catching them. The first time they played was on the Common Grounds Benefit concert (with Project Jenny, Project Jan). They had a similar set as last time, but seemed to have a better arrangement of songs and the band seemed to be very tight in their playing. I liked them the first time around, but the set was extremely short and it was hard to gauge a band off of a rushed set. This time around, they were also relaxed and the crowd was very supportive.
Takka Takka Photos (Click photo to advance)
Takka Takka were up next. Along with their recent show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Café, they have two additional New York shows coming up. They played their Phil Collins cover “In the Air Tonight” and, lead singer Gabe Levine seemed to be relishing having a proper stage to perform on. He was thoroughly engaging, invoking the David Byrne school of dance. Their set sounded better as well, all the prep for their tour is paying off well. The drumming sounded great in this set as well, even without the aid of a special guest.
Although the set wasn’t as long, they still pulled out a good selection of songs that showcased their strengths. This included “Silence”, “Everybody Say” and “The Takers.” The selection of rhythmic songs propelled the night along in a very pleasant way. The audience reacted warmly to Takka Takka with plenty of movement throughout the crowd. The guitar work sounded better with a certain sense of confidence that gave it more strength. This emphasis allowed for a more direct sound, and in some ways, a more fulfilling sound.
It will be at the upcoming shows (2/27 at Mercury Lounge and 3/15 at Cake Shop) that Takka Takka, hopefully, will showcase more of the new album. As they stand, they had a very good performance in support of Guilt By Association.
Jukebox The Ghost
Jukebox the Ghost came on next and were the most pop-influenced of the bands. The three piece act, lead by Ben Thornewill on piano, Tommy Siegel on guitar, and Jesse Kristin on drums had an infectious on stage presence. Thornewil constantly joked with the audience, and added some playful histrionics throughout the set.
Their songs are poppy with catchy hooks, fun lyrics, and have a sense of ease of disposition. A very fun band, the crowd reacted kindly to the bubbly sounds. “Hold It In” provided a good sense of who the band was. It had plenty of handclaps, smart self-aware lyrics, and a good understanding of the craft of a pop song. The simple trappings of the band added to the charm. All were adept musicians and the music benefited from that. Songs that could have been one-dimensional were not thanks to the interplay between keyboard and guitar.
The song they contributed for the compilation was “It’s a Beautiful Life” by Ace of Base. The band invited some fans on stage and powered through the song, reveling in the ridiculousness of it all. As Jukebox the Ghost put everyone in a good mood, it was time for Robbers on High Street, the final band to go on.
Robbers On High Street Photos (Click photo to advance)
Robbers on High Street had a great set. They were definitely the more “English” influenced band on the bill, and that helped distinguish them. This was further evidenced by the inclusion of a Style Council’s “Shout to the Top.” The crowd did not react much to the mention of Paul Weller’s band after The Jam, but it sounded great. The band has a very rich sound live combining numerous aspects of British music but still maintain a style of their own.
Their contribution to the compilation was not the Style Council cover but New Edition’s “Cool it Now.” The multiple vocal harmonies went well with the easy pop sound of the band. The songs they played were very easy to get into and were solid in terms of structure. There could have been more diversity shown in the set, but once again a shortened set limits how well one can assess the band.
Regardless it was another solid set of pop tunes. Definitely scaled back in terms of pace, the band had a full sound that was reminiscent of the sounds from the 60’s and 70’s.
The bands all hailed from Brooklyn and put on a great set for the Guilt By Association release party. The sets acted as a showcase for each band, and they took on their spotlight with relish. It seems like you can’t go wrong with Music Hall of Williamsburg, with its great sound and setting, it always makes for a good night of music.
