Niki and the Dove are back in New York. Instead of playing support, Niki and the Dove headlined a sold out Bowery Ballroom. The duo hailing from Stockholm, Sweden did not disappoint nor were there any jitters from such a big show.
There is something instantly engaging with Niki and the Dove. Be it the easy smiles from Malin Dahlström or the club-worthy beats laid out by Gustaf Karlöf, Niki and the Dove build a strong foundation right away and it doesn’t hurt to have a handful of pop gems to work with.
The Presets headlined Terminal 5 as part of the CMJ Music Marathon 2012. It’s been awhile since The Presets played New York and fans were eager to hear some older hits as well as songs off their latest album, Pacifica.
Playing in a large venue suits The Presets who bring a plenty of lights and are entertaining despite being stuck behind a keyboard and a drum set. Most importantly, The Presets pay attention to the live feel of a show, offering extended cuts and try to revamp their songs to sound bigger and better.
Want a chance to catch Chromeo in New York, DJ Z-Trip in San Francisco or DJ Jazzy Jeff in Los Angeles? Well, you are in luck. Myspace Feel the Music Series will be bringing those acts to each city and it will be free.
On October 20, Chromeo, along with Questlove, will be playing the Tribeca Grand Hotel. Doors will open at 10pm. On November 1, the series will bring DJ Z-Trip, along with Switch (from Major Lazer) to Mighty in San Francisco. On November 17, Myspace will bring DJ Jazzy Jeff to Dim Mak Studios, doors at 10pm.
So, how do you get in? Easy enough. Head over to the Feel the Music page, click on the appropriate city and you are done. RSVP is required but it’s first-come, first-serve.
Denon will be sponsoring the event as they launch their new line of headphones.
Niki and the Dove were an unbridled pop joy at the Music Hall of Williamsburg opening for Twin Shadow. The Swedish duo delivered plenty of fun and big beats that warmed up the crowd and had them dancing.
The best thing about pop is how detached it can be from modern trappings. It can say something, make a point about society or be used as a springboard to something larger, but pop is, at its finest, about very base and human experiences. Love, growing up, regrets, most of the pop we love and sing (silently, in the shower or out loud) is about things we have all come across. Pop can bridge the age gap and have people stand shoulder-to-shoulder, unified and celebrating.
Wild Belle played Le Baron during Fashion Week. While the show, part of the Absolut Encore! Sessions, was not technically a Fashion Week event, Le Baron was full of beautiful people checking out the band. Wild Belle were quite the seductive charmers, winning everyone over with their smooth, sultry dance tunes.
Wild Belle feels extremely polished despite not even having an album out yet (their debut album is set to be released in early 2013) but that shouldn’t come as a surprise. The brother and sister at the core of the band, Elliot and Natalie Bergman, have been making music for years. The sense of poise and understanding of craft have to led to an instantly engaging and delightful blend of dance music that incorporates some interesting rhythms that are just as enticing as Natalie Bergman’s vocals.
There are jazz elements and other World music influence from Elliot’s time in Nomo. Greg Kot has a great piece on the band for The Chicago Tribune and it’s certainly an interesting read.
The band’s understanding of music history, and explorations of various genres, have helped shape the sound of Wild Belle and will let fans appreciate the music even more.
But the music is a blast of joy even without examination and is a pleasure to experience. At Le Baron, the packed club was instantly charmed by Wild Belle. Expect to hear plenty more from them next year when their debut album is released.
