2011-09-30

Lisa Hannigan @ The Belly Up Tavern

returned earlier from a phenomenal performance by Lisa Hannigan and band along with John Smith [who opened the evening (and was also part of said band)] at the cozy Belly Up. it was phenomenal in a small way—small not because it was insignificant, but because it was intimate and perfectly content with the microcosm that was the tavern this evening. this is what i call a good musical suspended moment.

Lisa H. opened with a song on neither her first solo album Sea Sew nor her brad new release, Passenger. and what a song it was. the band followed with almost the entire Passenger album peppered with several (of my) favorites from Sea Sew. the crowd was sure happy to hear "I Don't Know" (which she performed on the Colbert Report). they ended the encore (appropriately) with "Safe Travels (Don't Die)." nice.

couldn't help picking up the two John Smith albums that were on sale at the merchandise table, since i am a sucker for music produced by a man with a guitar. or a woman. or whatever.

(image thanks to www.lisahannigan.ie > photos)

2011-09-29

mountains @ The Tin Can Alehouse

On Monday (9/26) the Royal We saw mountains at the Tin Can down on 5th Avenue. What a cute venue; they even sell my favorite gluten-free beer there.

The mountains performance was stunning—makes one wonder how exactly they decide to do what, when. The sound the duo produces is at once immense and intimate. Seeing them live was an experience to be had again, when the opportunity arises.