First up tonight I was at Arlene Grocery for the One Little Indian showcase to catch local heroes LEVY. They’ve been making quite a name for themselves in the past couple of years, and tonight was a perfect example the kind of bittersweet and lush sound coming out of the L.E.S. that is often overlooked. Frontman James Levy wasn’t chatty, he just went straight to work delivering lines you wish you had on the tip of your tongue the last time you were falling in (or most likely out) of love. Not even the obnoxious afroed Brit to my right trying to get into an industry slave’s peasant skirt with his too-loud talk of “Right love… right, listen, it’s just the rock an’ roll yano. Jus’ basic and primal… know whu I mean?” could ruin the solid set.

I didn’t stick around long after as there was other business to attend to. That business being the Barsuk Records showcase at the Mercury Lounge. I arrived in time to catch the beginning of Viva Voce’s set. A friend passed their The Heat Can Melt Your Brain LP on to me, but sadly I haven’t given it a shot. Save for a single here and there on KEXP (the greatest radio station on Earth, by the way), I wasn’t that familiar with their catalog. A two piece from Portland, OR, they blew me away from note one. Seriously. Drummer Kevin Robinson and guitarist/vocalist/(wife?) Anita Robinson brought some of the thickest and most dynamic rock sounds I’ve heard in awhile. Sampled strings and synths were triggered by Kevin all throughout, and Anita’s delicate, almost waifish voice was in stark contrast to the insane solo work she coaxed from her guitar. At times they had a Page/Bonham sound between them that somehow worked perfectly with the rest of their varied influences. A new fan has been made in me, without question.

Viva Voce:

Next up was Aqueduct, a Seattle duo (in this incarnation) of drums, keys, and a bit of guitar. Lead David Kelly came on stage and told us how after flying all day on Delta, everything he checked (luggage and some instruments) had not made it to NYC. I guess when you fly an airline on the day it files for bankruptcy, they get a lil’ surly. He said he needed to play the one song that would “make him feel better”, and started the set with a fantastically executed cover of The Geto Boys’ “Damn It Feels Good To Be A Gangsta”. Aqueduct brings super fun pop on the weird side of nostalgia that fits in quite well with their miniature Flaming Lips type sound. Lots of sing along material here, and the song “Growing Up With G’N'R” brought back the kind of memories you simultaneously might want to forget, but can’t help but love. They ended with another cover; Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin”. Air guitar and fists pumping in unison as far as the eye could see.

Aqueduct:

Closing the night with a 1am start time was my main reason for attending: John Vanderslice. A renowned producer who recently recorded such acts as Mountain Goats, it seems Vanderslice saves his best work for his own solo releases. This guy is a genius in the studio, using every track, instrument, and noisemaking gadget available to him to create LPs that are required headphone meditation. With all of that in mind, I didn’t know what to expect live. He took to the stage with only an acoustic guitar and (surprisingly enough) eclectic “jazz” cellist Eric Friedlander joining him. Even with his songs stripped down to their barest essence, I was still completely floored. A hushed capacity crowd hung on to every brilliant line of songs mostly pulled from his latest (and best in my opinion) LP, Pixel Revolt. A few tracks were about 9/11 and the military action afterwards, and even with a crowd that looked to be at best 5% New Yorkers, still nothing was lost on them. No joke, people: you must check this guy out. I stood with eyes closed on the tips of my toes in pure joy for the entire set. Viva Voce even joined them for the latest single “Exodus Damage”. Such a rare treat.

John Vanderslice:

Here are a few mp3s for you to kick out your own jams, mofos:
LEVY - On The Dance Floor
LEVY - Rotten Love
Viva Voce - Alive With Pleasure
Aqueduct - Hardcore Days Softcore Nights
Aqueduct - Growing Up With G’N'R
John Vanderslice - Exodus Damage

Thursday Night:
Cloud Cult, William Elliott Whitmore, and others at 169 Bar (if I can get in). Insound afterparty at Scenic (they better friggin’ let me in). Stay tuned!