Gotye concluded his two night stay in New York at Williamsburg Park on September 27. The night was a little different than his previous night at Radio City Music Hall. The outdoor venue let fans get up close to Gotye and enjoy the music on a warm fall night and were treated to a longer set.

The night began a little differently with Gotye starting with “Eyes Wide Open” in Williamsburg and through the night Gotye sprinkled in some other songs that he did not play at Radio City Music Hall including “Don’t Worry, We’ll Be Watching You” and “The Only Thing I Know” in the main set. Of course, fans were delighted to hear “Somebody I Used to Know” although there was no special guest vocals to accompany Gotye.

For the encore, Gotye added “I Feel Better” in addition to “Seven Hours With a Back Seat Driver” and closed the night with “Learnalilgivinanlovin.”

Check out the set list after the jump.
continue reading "Photos: Gotye at Williamsburg Park"

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.

Read more of the review, including a full set of photos after the jump.
continue reading "Niki and the Dove Are a Pop Hit at Music Hall of Williamsburg"

It’s rare to be taken off guard while covering the music scene and Zammuto did just that. Opening for Gotye, Zammuto handled the large Williamsburg Park with ease thanks to his brand of weird, infectious and smart pop.

Zammuto – The Shape Of Things To Come

I was not sure how Zammuto’s intricate blend of pop would translate live. There are a lot of hidden charms to be mined from his music and dedicated listening is richly rewarded. Thankfully, all of that richness was magnified live, with the audience treated to some fun visuals and offbeat tangents.

Read more of the review including a full gallery of photos after the jump.
continue reading "Zammuto’s Offbeat Pop Charms Williamsburg Park"

Getty: Donald Bowers / American Express Unstaged

The Killers in the majestic Paradise Theater were a pop force. Juxtaposing the ornate grandeur of the scene with the cameras and other modern electronic equipment, The Killers put on a show and spectacle worthy of such a grand and large stage.

Usually a trip to The Bronx meant you were probably catching the Yankees. Going further up, fans were treated to enough entertainment to last into extra innings. The Paradise Theater is an old movie theater that rivals The Ziegfeld Theater or Radio City Music Hall in its beauty. Originally opened in 1929, the theater was host to movies and live performances but eventually closed its doors in 1994. Six years later, the doors were reopened. New York City has designated the interior and exterior as New York City Landmarks.

Read more of the review after the jump.
continue reading "The Killers Are Battle Born at Paradise Theater"

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 – Keep You

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.

Take Me Away

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.