Caught two shows last week, British import Just Jack and Canadian imports Tegan & Sara, both played the Hiro Ballroom (separately) at the Maritime Hotel in the meat packing district. I used to work in the meat packing district and when you came to work in the morning there would be full cows hanging on hooks- very appetizing. The neighborhood has changed quite a bit since then, transforming the old spaces into a couple of fancy hotels and lot of boutiques and fancy eateries. Hiro is a unique (if not super new) space, it holds maybe 250 standing, and the sound is always excellent. What sets it apart are the high ceilings and chic Japanese motif including huge paper lanterns and a large torii (a gate that would mark the entrance to a Shinto shrine) that frames the stage. The drinks are expensive, even by Manhattan standards, and there are bathroom attendants- which I always find creepy- but that’s another post.
Jack Allsopp or Just Jack as he is known in musical circles is from London, and apparently he had a little difficulty making it to the NYC. We arrived about 10 minutes before his scheduled set time- but the doors had not opened. As we waited in line rumors circulated that the artist had been delayed at the airport- and was en route. Indeed- Jack conceded that he had spent the majority of his day at the Newark airport- fun. So after a decent delay- which didn’t allow for a sound check- Jack took the stage w/a backing band consisting of guitar, drums, bass, and a wonderful female vocalist. To his credit Jack seemed unperturbed by the stressful day- radiating a positive vibe throughout a set that featured cuts from this new record (for TVT in the states) Overtones including the hit UK single “Stars in Their Eyes”, “Glory Days” and “Writer’s Block”. He also pulled out “Snowflake” the single from his 2002 debut The Outer Marker. That record only sold a couple thousand records in the US, Jack told the crowd, not a couple hundred thousand, just a couple thousand, I’m not sure why they asked me back he joked. For those of you unfamiliar with his work Jack’s music is an interesting mix of hip hop, two step, and a garagey type rock. I’m always curious how complicated records are going to sound live but they pulled it off; very low key, but fun, not too deep.
Check out the video for “Stars in Their Eyes”
The next night I was back at Hiro to check out Canadian twins Tegan and Sara. The sisters have a new record out on Sire called The Con (co-produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie) and they played the entire thing- backwards- including their excellent first single “Back In Your Head”. It seemed like a bold move- as the record had just come out the week before. But it worked out, the audience was definitely a die hard bunch, several folks already knew the words to the new tracks. One of best parts of the evening was the harmonies. I firmly believe that no one harmonizes like siblings- and the ladies did not disappoint. An interesting and integral part of the show was the stories. As is the reputation, there was no shortage of banter. Sara would tell very long and tangential stories about the sister’s childhood- including a story about the time Tegan has fallen off a swing and broken her arm, and a story about not wanting to drive with their grandfather. Tegan would chime and in as well, at some points try and get Sara to warp it up, which made of an entertaining and very sibling dynamic. The girls switched off between guitars and a keyboard and were backed by a full band- which they jokingly asked if the audience could see- apparently given their name they are often mistaken for a duo- even onstage. After the new record the group treated fans to a solid set of older material- highlights including “So Jealous” and the closer and White Stripes favorite “Walking with a Ghost”.
