A sold out "all ages" (read: eighteen to twenty-two year old) Bowery Ballroom spent Tuesday evening with Matt Pond PA and dios (malos) for some Mom-approved rock stylings. I can't say that this show was on the VI concert calander, but my love for the Bowery and a +1 courtesy of Scott Stereogum were enough to get me there, camera in tow. I wasn't much of a Matt Pond PA fan walking in to the Ballroom and though I'm not any more of one now, I suppose I have more insight into their appeal. Here's a standout track...
MP3 Masala: "Closer"-Matt Pond PA
...and click "Continue reading" for some more on the show and pics...
UPDATE: Matt Pond PA has had their equipment stolen from their trailer overnight while in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. If you have any info, please contact their manager, Andy Kipnes at (212) 924-2929 or andy@aaminc.com.
Matt Pond and his band have all the edge of a butter knife, but I suppose all utensils have their place. The crowd seemed taken with the group's Toad the Wet Sprocket styled guitar jangle pop, offered up in its FM-ready finest, and for good reason: the band is well rehearsed, Matt a charismatic and able frontman and the cello is just the right touch for his sensitive, direct and unoffensive songwriting. At the set's most energetic point he sang: "You should not want to sound like they do, you should want to sound like you," and Pond's lack of pretense and earnest demeanor were ample proof that he was consistent in sermon and practice.
Dios (malos) were mostly good in their opening slot, a capable group which occasionally fell victim to its weaker material. Despite rendering a few songs that felt flat and appearing a bit nervous, dios (malos)' set contained shining moments which exceeded in intensity, if not in frequency, those of the night's headliner. My ears are officially open to their future efforts.
When all is said, there's just no beating free live music-and with that I tip my hat to my benefactor.
nice pics
Posted by: denny | February 08, 2006 at 11:05 AM