The Bowery Presents

Music Hall of Williamsburg upcoming shows

Crystal Stilts

The Beets / Christmas Island / Beach Fossils / The German Measles

Venue:
Music Hall of Williamsburg
Date:
Sat 2/20
Notes:
18+
Doors: 7:30 PM / Show: 8:30 PM
$13 advance / $15 day of show
Tickets
Crystal Stilts
myspace
It's no big secret that Brooklyn has been the home for some mighty happening music lately, but there are few bands with as unique a vibe and presence as Crystal Stilts. Their self-released single and 12" EP won them rave reviews everywhere from Pitchfork to Stereogum, and the blogoshpere has been humming about them for months. And now we are very proud to bring you Alight of Night, an album that more than delivers on the promise of those early singles. A remarkably graceful collision of such disparate references as The Velvet Underground, Red Crayola, Joy Division, The Pin Group and early Jesus & Mary Chain, Crystal Stilts' spectral avant-garage is both classic and totally new. It's dark and melodic, deep and yet somehow still "pop" at the same time. There is some serious sonic alchemy going on here, resulting in Alight of Night being one of the most interesting records we've heard in ages.

Crystal Stilts have created one of the most perfectly formed reconciliations of classic rock swagger and zoned dreampop." - The Wire

"If Crystal Stilts weren’t one of Brooklyn’s most hotly tipped exports before, there’s no doubt they will be now." - Exclaim

"...easily the most exhilarating rock 'n' roll record to emerge in 2008..." - Prefix

"These are weird pop songs you clap your hands along to. They pile a rockabilly riff and nursery school melodies onto a revved-up bass line and sweet surfy 60s organ riff on top of minimalist percussion."
- Pitchfork

"...one of the year's best albums..." - Brooklyn Vegan

"Quite simply, Alight Of Night is one of the most breathtaking records these ears have been partial to in a long while, and even if Crystal Stilts never make another record, their legacy is assured."
- Drowned In Sound

“it has that classic first ten Creation releases era sound mixed with a drummer raised on a diet of only Moe Tucker and laura from the shop assistants." - Rough Trade
The Beets
myspace
The Beets are a garage rock/psychedelic band from Jackson Heights, NY. Lots of reverb, minimalistic drumming, some backwoods vibes, and shouted vocals sung by all three band members. Similar to Thee Oh Sees. They recently released their debut, Spit In The Face Of People Who Don’t Want To Be Cool, which was limited to 200 hand-painted copies, on Blank Dogs’ label Captured Tracks.
Christmas Island
myspace
There are actually three Christmas Islands; one off the coast of Australia, one in the Pacific Ocean (which also goes by the name Kiritimati) and one who are releasing their incredible self-titled debut album on In The Red in 2009. Hailing from sunny San Diego, California, Christmas Island's music is happy and poppy on the surface, yet there is a dark undercurrent to their brand of lo-fi pop punk. Simultaneously joyous and almost twee while secretly depressed and deeply disturbed. Citing Tronics, Urinals, Television Personalities, the Clean, Versatile Newts and The Fall as influences, Christmas Island are Beach Boys style pop by way of the late 70's-early 80's UK DIY scene. All brought to you by way of sunny southern Californian culture. The results are sublime.
Beach Fossils
myspace
There are lots of new lo-fi bands out there that are obsessed with sand. By their sound, it seems all these groups really just want to be selling seashells by the seashore. There's Real Estate and Best Coast and Ducktails (maybe Small Black), not to mention the whole Underwater Peoples label roster, and now Beach Fossils.

Beach Fossils is the work of Brooklyn's Dustin Payseur and I tell you, his songs make us feel happy; so happy we want to chase Annette Funicello around with crazy Frankie Avalon. So happy we'd start a beach campfire, roast some dogs, and not even care if Johnny and his rough crew showed up and started bullying people with their bikes. Beach Fossils is great guitar jingle-jangle with that lo-fi pop distortion we've all come to know and distinguish by now.

If you like the beach, any of the above mentioned bands (and Blank Dogs too), or have a special place in your heart for itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikinis, you'll like Beach Fossils.
//oh my rockness
The German Measles
myspace
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