Ra Ra Riot/Neon Trees/Broken Bells Review

For some of us, going weeks without live music is like going weeks without water - if not that drastic, the feeling is certainly strange, like something is off-balance.  Thankfully, our lovely friend Jen Yi is always in-the-know when it comes to Boston's music scene. She was the coordinating force behind our Ra Ra Riot outing at the Royale and also alerted us that they were coming back to Beantown at the Orpheum Theater on December 2nd with another one of our favorite banks Broken Bells, in addition to Neon Trees - about whom we knew nothing.

Unfortunately, I had a night class, so Lesley and I got a relatively late start heading into the city.  Although we were cutting it close, we figured that Neon Trees would be the first band on-stage because they weren't the headlining act, but sadly we were mistaken. We caught Ra Ra Riot's final songs and a satisfying view of Wes Miles's beautiful bod before the band exited the stage.  Now what we were about to experience in the next hour was unlike anything we could have ever anticipated, let alone conjured in our wildest dreams.  In two words, ladies and gentlemen, we give you: NEON TREES.

Lucy's Review:

I had arrived at the concert expecting at least a full hour of Ra Ra Riot, so I was obviously irritated at having missed one of my favorite bands.  Even though I was not familiar with Neon Trees, I try to keep an open mind when it comes to experiencing new artists; after all, what better way to broaden your musical horizons and judge a band based on a purely raw, unbiased review of their live performance? Lesley was however, familiar with "Animal," one of their singles - which I'll admit isn't terrible.  When Neon Trees took the stage, I instantly knew that I was in for either a huge treat or a serious misfortune.  The lead singer Tyler Glenn, who was clearly on acid, pranced out in full-fledged fabulosity.  For the most accurate image, consider a physical and stylistic mashup between Michael Jackson, Johnny Ramone, Prince, and David Bowie.  Tyler's outfit choice was in a word: spectacular; he adorned his skin-tight pantsuit with a skinny red sequined scarf which he proceeded to lasso like a cowboy on ecstasy and playfully whip himself with like a sex toy.  Tyler's dance moves were truly extraterrestrial; I will openly admit to enjoying the spectacle that was Matrix body-bending, stage-humping, and high-kicking, but Tyler's practically tyrannical need to dominate both the stage and audience completely overshadowed the presence of the other band members. I could hardly focus on anything other than than him, which made for a dramatic performance but negated the concept of a band.  One redeeming quality to Neon Trees was their female drummer, Elaine Bradley.  What encouraged me to give Elaine a second glance (and see past the blinding display of crazy that was Tyler Glenn) was her spritely enthusiasm and adorable punk-rock-femme persona.  I've always had a great respect for female drummers (Meg White from the White Stripes, Kim Schifino from Matt & Kim) and Elaine's musical talent, as well as her badass stage presence, was undeniable.  To be perfectly honest, Chris Allen and Brandon Campbell on lead guitar and bass blended into the sound equipment like unenthusiastic techies scared of overpowering their lead singer.  It is difficult to describe the band's sound because each of their songs was so different; some were screamo metal rants adorned with pounding percussive intervals, others were punk-rock-inspired with a pop vibe.  Tyler, a self-proclaimed "80's fanatic," professed his love for vintage icons and admitted to being a crazy dude on drugs, all while encouraging the crowd with motivational blurbs such as "don't let anyone tell you who to be" and "fuck the haters." In conclusion, while you won't find Neon Trees in my Top 25 Most Played on I-Tunes,  I have to congratulate the band, mainly Tyler Glenn, on being true to themselves as artists and defending individuality and self-expression in a world all-to-often consumed by conformity and persecution.  Rock on, Neon Trees, but I think I'll stick to Ra Ra Riot and Broken Bells for now.  


We were SO ready for Broken Bells by the time they took the stage; the stylistic difference between them and Neon Trees is so drastic, it's almost comical.  If you're not familiar with Broken Bells, look them up NOW.  The band is fronted by creative duo Brian Burton and James Mercer (of The Shins), but they're joined by a full band when performing live.  Lesley and I are obsessed with BB's trippy and dexterous yet rhythmic melodies (check 'em out in our RR Study Playlists!).  Every time I listen to their music, I become lost in their songs - literally.  Their sound is slightly reminiscent of Coldplay's Chris Martin and Neil Young on vocals mixed with a little bit of Spoon's Britt Daniel and some MGMT instrumentals; The Shins connection is audible, but hardly distracting.  The electronic variations facilitate a smooth transition from one song to the next; the sounds are hypnotizing, and obviously even more captivating live.  After the headache-inducing chaos of Neon Trees, I really appreciated BB's simplicity; they opened while standing in a simple line, jamming just as casually and passionately as if they were making a studio recording.  Not one band member surpassed another - it was clearly about creating and sustaining a musical connection between audience and band.   Again, if you are unfamiliar with Broken Bells, check out "October," "The High Road," "The Ghost Inside," "Sailing to Nowhere," and "Meyrin Fields." You'll thank us later.  


Lesley's Review: 


After dashing out of my evening class, throwing a concert-appropriate outfit together, grabbing some trusty Jack Daniels for the road, and running in the bitter cold to the bus stop to meet Lucy, I could comfort myself in the fact that in just a short T ride, I'd be swaying to the heart-wrenching sounds of the amazing band that is Ra Ra Riot. Too bad I was mistaken. I figured Neon Trees would be opening the show, but apparently they switched it up on us and Ra Ra Riot played first. We caught the tail end, so at least I got to hear a couple of my favorite songs, but I was disappointed. Granted, I've seen Ra Ra Riot twice already, but still... kinda upsetting. At least I had two more bands to look forward to.

I wasn't familiar with Neon Trees, aside from their single "Animal," but like Lucy, I'm open to anything, so I was excited to hear a new band for the first time live. I have no idea what song NT opened with, but all I remember is that it was loud. And off-key. And all around a horrible opening song choice. I laughed so hard when our friends Jen and Erica almost immediately got up and left. I chose to stay, however, out of pure curiosity. The scene that enfolded before my eyes was like a car wreck -- gruesome, but at the same time so fascinating that I couldn't look away. I actually started writing my review -- well actually, more like a list of adjectives to describe the lead singer, Tyler Glenn -- on my Blackberry as I sat there, watching with wide eyes.

The way Tyler was behaving as he performed was unreal. I could only assume that he was either on a lot of different drugs (I’m thinking a mix of a hallucinogen and an upper) or he was possessed by demons (evidenced by his constant alternate mumbling and shouting into the microphone in-between songs as he addressed the audience). Aside from his use of words like “tomfoolery” and what must be his favorite, “douche,” he could have been speaking in tongues for all I know. He started off his hour-long dance performance with a classic move, the can-can, except that he looked like a Rockette on Ecstasy. Tyler has super long legs and is apparently quite flexible so it was mind-boggling how high his kicks went. In general, his moves were the most bizarre I’ve ever seen. He simultaneously managed to resemble a sea creature (with his swirly arm movements), a broken Elvis (with awkward and erratic hip twists and swivels), and a chicken (with jerky head bobbing and neck thrusting) all at once. He also at one point started rocking back and forth on his heels in a squatting position like a mental patient as he sung, clearly very moved by the lyrics of that particular tune. He also managed to pull off a very-Akon like move and started dry humping the stage very energetically. And ladies, lemme tell you, part of me was attracted to his tall lanky frame and mohawk, but word to the wise, I can only imagine him being terrible in bed. I did really enjoy he flamboyant style, so props to him for that. He wore a red scarf, black skinnies, an embellished black blazer that I’d love to have in my own closet, and these amazing black glittery oxfords. He did however ruin the fashion aspect of the show for me as well when he started slowly stripping. And then when he somehow pulled out another glitter scarf out of thin air and started using it as a headscarf like some European peasant woman from the middle ages. The whole performance, from beginning to end was basically a joke. I give him credit for putting on a unique and attention-grabbing performance (he also was fond of smashing his head against the drum set cymbals) and I did get a lot of great laughs out of it, but I just couldn’t take NT seriously as a band. The drummer chick was really cool, but she, along with the other band members couldn’t compete with Tyler. Tyler stole the show and spent the whole time trying to be outrageous and different instead of delivering a good musical performance. They only had one good song, their popular single “Animal,” with the rest of their performance sung (i.e. shouted) relatively off-key, making me question if NT will ever be more than a one-hit wonder. Would I pay to see NT again? Not a chance. But if they happened to be opening for another band I was seeing I would stay and watch for a little while, and maybe, just maybe with some more good hits and a the help of a professional choreographer, I could begin to take them seriously.

As for Broken Bells? They were a drastic contrast to NT’s performance in all ways. They were calm, they were quiet, they didn’t dance, and they were AMAZING. I was blown away by how beautiful they sounded live. And also impressed by the talent of the band. Almost every band member could play more than one instrument, and so they seamlessly switched from instrument to instrument for each song. I loved it. Here was a band that sounded just as good live as in their recordings. There’s not much more to say about Broken Bells, aside from that they left me speechless, unlike NT who I could probably have gone on about for pages and pages more. Trust me, being left speechless is a desirable thing.

Our view of The Orpheum's stage

NeonTrees. Tyler, the red and black blur to the far left of the picture, was difficult to capture due to stage lights and his fast and erratic dance moves.

The Orpheum Theatre is so amazing. It was strange seeing a concert in a place that looks more appropriate for an opera, but also really neat. The ceiling was gorgeous.

Broken Bells, playing in the dark. It was such a refreshing contrast to watch a band play with subtle but amazing skill and style. The lighting and stage effects suited the mood of their music.

And of course, our style shots from the night!

Our friends Erica Shubin and Jen Yi looking concert ready!

Lucy pairs Alexa Chung for Madewell seamed skinny jeans with  homemade studded Converse, a deep armhole tank, a black Free People bra, and and H&M leopard cardigan

Lesley layered a thrifted black and white checkered flannel shirt over a t-shirt dress from H&M paired with American Apparel micro-mesh two-sided leggings and black Nine West American Vintage Collection combat boots. She accessorized simply with a few silver rings, a floppy black beret from Akira which is her favorite Chicago boutique, and a cascading black feather headband from F21 underneath.

Sunset Grill & Tap.....I Can Haz Cheezburger?

Last weekend, Lesley, Danielle, myself, and our friend Dylan took a trip to one of Boston's greatest gustatory  haunts - Sunset Grill & Tap.  If you inhabit the greater Boston area, you're no doubt familiar with Sunset's incredible selection of beer and fried goods whether it come from personal experience or word of mouth.   The restaurant features the East Coast's largest selection of brews, including 112 taps, 380 microbrews and plenty of exotic imports.  In terms of culinary delights, Sunset is famous for its steam beer burgers, curly fries, buffalo wings, giant nachos, BBQ steak tips, grilled fish, homemade pasta, Yankee ribs, and sizzling fajitas.....hungry yet? Us too. Sunset's interior is equally as enticing as its menu, fully mimicking a "beer shrine." The restaurant walls are literally covered with beer advertisements, quotations, and photographs in a multitude of different locations and languages.  Magazine and newspaper articles are carefully framed and mounted, praising Sunset for its award-winning burgers and brews.  The bustling crowd itself speaks volumes for Sunset's popularity; one can pick out Allston hipsters, to BC undergrads, to Harvard professors, to suburban families.  Thus, the consensus is out: Everyone loves Sunset Grill & Tap.  

For the beer novice (or average drinker), the novel-esque menu appears overwhelming at first glance.  We felt no shame in asking our waitress for recommendations based on our individual tastes.  We all wanted to be adventurous, so we stayed away from anything that sounded familiar.  Lesley and I decided to go with bottles while Dylan and Danielle went with drafts.  I ordered a delicious Belgian golden ale called Leffe, and Lesley chose a classic pale ale from Flying Dog Brewery called "Doggie Style." While sipping on our first round, we enjoyed rocking out to an exclusively 90's soundtrack featuring classics by the Gin Blossoms, Smashing Pumpkins, Spice Girls, Aqua, Train, Britney Spears and many more.  We started off sharing an order of the famous giant nachos, and then ordered our respective dishes.  Between the four of us, I think we ordered all the award-winning dishes....I certainly enjoyed my cheezzzzeeeeburger!  Overall, I give Sunset 5 Stars.....I seriously couldn't find ANYTHING to complain about.....I actually plan on joining their beer club so I can start receiving weekly updates, discounts, and free samples.  CHA-CHING.

Mmmmm GIANT NACHOS

Lesley's turkey tips came with sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, and the very pleasant addition of a large hunk of cornbread

Danielle stayed true to her favorites, getting her classic steak and mashed potatoes

Dylan's chicken fajita with famous curly fries

My award-winning beer burger with curly fries (of course)

Sunset Grill & Tap is located at 130 Brighton Ave. in Allston, MA, 02134.  Phone number is 617-254-1331....open 'til 1 am! It's an easy ride on the T's Boston College B Line, closest to the Harvard Ave. stop.  Check out this link for more info! See you at Sunset.

Cheers!!

Me Lykke

Lykke Li's new fabulous single "Get Some" has finally been released, and she's giving away the single and B-Side song "Paris Blue" for free!!! All you have to do is sign up for her mailing list.

The lyrics are blatantly sexual in meaning, but the song is anything but vulgar. "Get Some" is a heavenly mix of tribal beats, electric guitar, and haunting harmonies. The almost chant-like quality of the music mixed in with some primal hoots and shouts in the background give the song a natural, almost feral quality that makes you (or maybe it's just me) want to get up, do a little Native American yell, and completely lose all inhibitions and dance my feet off. While its sophisticated mixing makes the song modern, the elemental quality makes the song one that appeals to all senses.

I for one cannot wait for the release of her new album. Youth Novels was amazing, so I can only imagine how much potential her next songs have. I saw her in concert two summers ago, and I was just blown away by her fabulous sense of style and stage presence. She sung a bunch of songs entirely through a mega phone which gave her voice the coolest quality I've ever heard. She's definitely one of my favorite artists.

Check out the graphic viral video for "Get Some" here:



xoxo Lesley

Facebook Dominates Cinemas

No matter the season, genre, or company, I always enjoy a good film. What constitutes "good?" Quite simply, a "good" movie is one that keeps you thinking hours after you've left the theater...one that prompts you to read about it further...one that sparks discussion and debate. Movies are such an integral part of culture in its social, aesthetic and historic sense. Like music, fashion, and art, movies cross oceans, change time zones, and break linguistic barriers. While movies obviously hold a traditional charm in their entertainment purposes, their cinematic and artistic power lies within the fact that they subconsciously force the audience to relate what they see on the big screen to their personal lives. In today's post, I'll be doing two movie reviews with subject matter very relevant to everyone, especially if you are between 12 and 30 years old: FACEBOOK.


I'll bet that about 75% of you reading RR right now have Facebook open in your browser. And why wouldn't you? You're probably going through photo albums from last weekend and creeping on that hottie while simultaneously trying to type a paper. In the past five years, Facebook has gone from a college networking site and expanded to include high school networks, regional networks, and international networks. It has transcended it education origins to include businesses. Everybody is connected, and almost overwhelmingly so. As of right now, Facebook has over 400 million active users with 50% logging in on any given day. There are more than 60 million status updates per day, 3 million photos uploaded each month, and more than 3 million active pages. With technology practically conducting our social existence, Facebook seems to make the world a little smaller. To only add to its fame, this fall's movie selection included two very different films both centered around the concept of Facebook. The first, Catfish is a documentary about an internet relationship while the second, The Social Network, focuses on the story of Mark Zuckerberg (one of Facebook's founders) and his rise to fame.


Over Columbus Day Weekend, I had several friends visiting me and thus the perfect opportunity to suggest a film as a group activity. While we were in Cambridge catching up some Harvard friends, we decided on Catfish, which was on my "must-see" list. I had seen several previews for the film, both in theaters and online, and the documentary looked so curiously strange, scary, intriguing and endearing that I felt an almost overwhelming compulsion to see it.


Before you read on, check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKe75Q6eVw


Catfish is produced by Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost, starring their friend, family, roommate, and co-worker Yaniv "Nev" Schulman. As you can infer from the trailer, Nev is a NYC-based photographer who becomes involved with a family via Facebook, and particular the young and beautiful Megan. I'm obviously not going to reveal the end of the movie, but I will admit that it will leave you perhaps with a greater regard to the power of the internet in the Twenty-First Century, and more specifically of social networking sites such as Facebook. As a character, Nev and his friendly are extremely likeable. They almost reminded me of those MTV guys who go around filming things they want to see and experience before they die, but with a little more maturity and hilarity. While some documentaries are choppy and semi-confusing, Catfish flows; the spectacle of making discoveries keeps you on the edge of you seat while Nev and his friends' humor keep you in good spirits. Three and a half stars from me.


This past week I journeyed home to good old Long Island for some rest, relaxation, and real food (thanks Mom). On Sunday, I took my little brother Liam (my go-to movie partner - he's a tough critic but will see anything) to see The Social Network. Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you've heard of this movie.


If not, click here to watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB95KLmpLR4


With a screenplay by Alan Sorkin, director David Fincher brings us a film about a young Harvard tech genius who develops the concept of Facebook as a technical internet program to foster, promote and maintain social connections between young people. While he achieves enormous popularity and success, legal debates arise over financial and authenticity issues. I had heard that the movie was excellent, and I definitely wasn't disappointed. As with every film of a biographic nature, it was equally interesting as it was sad to learn Mark Zuckerberg's story and his turbulent relationships with other members of his team, more specifically Eduardo Saverin. As the role of Mark, Jesse Eisenberg's performance is entirely authentic - he nailed the prototype of the "socially awkward yet academically equipped and business-savvy" Harvard undergrad. I enjoyed the film immensely and I left knowing a lot more about the historic and economic origins of Facebook. Four stars from me, it's a must-see.


Hope you enjoyed the reviews and are making plans to see these film if you haven't done so already! I promise to be back with more, because watching movies is a real treat for me. Have a great day guys!


Lucy

"I Wouldn't Like Death If Death Were Good"

Fresh back from an incredible evening in Boston's Boylston Theater District, our heads are still spinning with the haunting melodies and rhythmic twangs of Ra Ra Riot.  While our expectations were high, the vote was unanimous - the performance was phenomenal from start to finish.  The venue, The Boston Royale, is a nightclub which every week features an assortment of bands and artists ranging from M.I.A., to Deerhunter, to Steve Aoki, to Jersey Shore's very own DJ Pauly D.  Located on a strip dotted with Boston's most popular hotels, bars, theaters, and concert halls, The Royale allows for an intimate and comfortable concert experience.....quite contrary to the suffocating push-and-shove of the typical live performance.

We started off the night with a tasty dinner at Fajitas and 'Ritas a popular Mexican joint around the corner from The Royale.  Us and a bunch of friends shuffled in from the torrential rainstorm (Thanks, Hurricane Nicholas), looking to warm our bodies with some spicy food and strong margaritas.  We were seated right away, just barely evading the dinnertime rush.  We started off with two margarita pitchers and the standard chips and salsa.  Our chicken and steak fajitas arrived soon after on sizzling skillets.  Overall, the meal was tasty, the ambiance was fun, and the prices were great! In terms of food quality and taste, I have definitely had better Mexican, but this place was perfect for a quick dinner before our final destination.

Gordon, Lesley, and Lucy at dinner.

Jen, Liz, and Hube.  

Lesley and Lucy braved the frigid rain and wind to take some quick style shots. They came out grainy and dark (i.e. "artsy") unfortunately, but the city lights look cool in the back ground.

Lesley wore body con black lace tank under an oversized black J. Crew cotton slip. She layered a vintage Ralph Lauren denim shirt over the dress and accessorized with a wide knit headband from Wet Seal, some funky rings, tall black socks, and  Nine West American Vintage combat boots.

Lucy wore an army green jacket over an edgy lace tank and denim shorts. She finished off her outfit with black thigh high socks and motorcycle boots.

Ra Ra Riot was actually preceded by two other bands: Chikita Violenta and We Barbarians.  We really didn't know anything about the opening acts (Lesley knew a bit more about We Barbarians than myself), and we were short on time, so we didn't end up making it over to the venue until around 8 o'clock.  We explored the ground level of  the building, which actually included a bar segueing  into a hotel lobby.  We stopped for a few quick (and way overpriced)  drinks in the bar before heading upstairs to the "ballroom." There seemed to be a considerable amount of people in the space, but surprisingly, there was ample room to move, walk, breathe and converse.  We weaseled our way to the front by the first song.....it actually wasn't that difficult considering Wes Miles is a Golden God.  

For those of you who aren't familiar with the band, Ra Ra Riot hails from Syracuse, NY.  The 5-member university band formed in 2006, gaining rapid recognition and popularity due to their energetic and upbeat live performances.  The band consists of vocalist (and our future husband) Wes Miles, bassist Mathieu Santos, guitarist Milo Bonacci, cellist Alexandra Lawn, violinist Rebecca Zeller, and drummer Gabriel Duquette.  The group released a 6-song EP in July 2007 and their debut album, The Rhumb Line, dropped in 2008.  Their sophomore album, The Orchard, followed in August 2010.  Read on for our individual reviews of the show, and check out the pics!

Lucy's Review: Ra Ra Riot has been one of my favorite bands for the past two years.  I first heard a bunch of their tracks from The Rhumb Line at work (Thanks Free People!) and knew I had to hear more.  What I love most about the band's music is the purity of sound that resonates through their upbeat rhythms, mixed with the melancholy wailing of the string instruments.  Furthermore, the lyrics are equally quirky and deep.  I had never seen the band perform live, and Lesley (my little Chicagoan concert aficionado) assured me that they were excellent.  I WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST LIVE MUSIC PERFORMANCES I HAVE EVER SEEN.  Sorry for the caps, but I am still on Cloud 9 after seeing this live performance.   It certainly helped that I was so close to the band, had ample room to move, and was looking straight at Wes Miles, but RRR's energy and passion would have been just as obvious had I been standing a mile away.  The band played a good assortment of crowd-pleasers, opening with "The Orchard," and rounding the show off with "Can You Tell," "Too Fast," "Dying is Fine," and "Shadowcasting." Wes was very attentive to the crowd.....he high-fived everyone he could reach in the first few rows (including us!).  Naturally, the fans screamed for an encore and the band obliged.  Bassist Mathieu Santos returned wearing a Boston Bruins jersey and RRR finished the show with "Massachusetts" and "Run My Mouth." The icing on the cake? Wes Miles threw the band's setlist into the crowd and I CAUGHT IT (well, I like to think that he "handed" it to me).  I think I can speak for everyone when I say, we were left equally satisfied yet wanting more.  If RRR is ever performing the the NY or Boston area anytime soon, you can bet on finding me in the audience.

Lucy and Jen in the front row!!!

Wes Miles - A God on Earth

Wes and guitarist Milo Bonacci

Milo Bonacci

Gorgeous and stylish cellist Alexandra Lawn

Lucy and Lesley - showtime shot!

Violinist Rebecca Zeller

Lesley's Review: I first saw Ra Ra Riot live at Lollapalooza 2009. It might have been the circumstances -- it was a bright and sunny August Sunday afternoon in summertime Chi, and my then significant-other-boy-whatever-he-was had just taken me out on a nice breakfast date to a cute little downtown diner. It was so hot I could feel the sweat dripping off of me, and maybe I was a little delirious from the beer, hand-holding, and heady music festival atmosphere, but seeing the band perform live -- I was instantly in love. And now having seen them again this weekend, I'm even more in love than I was before. I literally teared up when the first bittersweet, shiver-inducing notes of "The Orchard" left the violin and cello on Friday night. It was seriously the most haunting and beautiful sound I have ever heard. They were even better sounding than the first time I heard them, and both times I thought Ra Ra Riot sounded better live than on a record which tells a lot about just how talented this band really is. Song after song I continued to be blown away, both by harmonious instruments and by the sweet voices of the lead singer Wes Miles and celloist Alexandra Lawn. The group's energy was high from beginning to end and the set list was the perfect combination of new material and crowd pleasers like "Too Too Fast" and "Dying is Fine." And the best part about this whole experience? We managed to work our way to the front row. I got to feel the bass in my chest, got to set my empty drink glass down on the edge of the stage, made sex eyes with Wes Miles and got to touch his hand for one second (let's get real, we basically held hands), and managed to snap some incredible photos. Definitely one of my favorite concert experiences to date. So good, I may just become an official groupie.

Alexandra's sassy singing and fashion sense is enough to make any girl want to be her, and any guy want her.

Lesley, Lucy, and Jen smile for a Myspace concert pic.

Loved how happy the drummer looked the entire time.

The back of Jen's head. Proof of just how close we were... she literally was resting her hands on the stage.

Tambourine-playing sex god.

Encore performance.