Yula @ Tommy's Tavern 12-11-09
Story by TJ OlsenPhotos by Konstantin Sergeyev
Last night—saw/booked/experienced/enjoyed Yula Beeri, Jessica Allyn, Jaggery, and Army Of Broken Toys play at Tommy’s Tavern. Tommy’s is a nearly ideal bar/ venue especially from the standpoint of a promoter. Drinks are super cheap and nice and strong to boot, chill laid back environment and a pretty hands off management. We had a solid crowd, though the bar, even though they had such cheap drinks seemed to lack any sort of walk in crowd which very much surprised me, I know if I lived in the area I’d be there often. The only real complaint was the volume which the Jukebox blasted at. Yula simply killed, I can say—and I don’t think i’m to biased that she stole the show, and I’m sooo proud to be able to say I work with her, there’s something special happening around her music. She invited the crowd to sit down on the floor—the bar staff even gave us a mat to sit on. She played piano while Isaac Gardener provided percussion to kick it up.
During her set Ms. Beeri lit a Hanukkah candle and with organ backing sung the traditional prairs. Following her set— a 40 minute set of new material as well as some of her older work, she handed out Gelt—chocolate coins to the crowd. A group of us found ourselves on the now matted floor of this Greenpoint dive playing Dradle. It is indeed moments such as these—simple things even when I remember why I love music, why I love shows, the community. There’s something truly special about a scene such as this in my mind. It’s a reminder of why I care about music and shows and why it’s important—even moreso why all ages music is important.
Jessica Allyn is another performer who keeps getting better—she killed it high notes of her set included a Beatles cover and a brand new track called Nine—based on the Triangle Wastecoat fires—which seemed to connect particularly with the FIT students seated around me. Allyn has a remarkably dinamic voice which Nine and the cover both showed off. Her earliest material did not do this however you can detect increasing comfidence with each time I’ve seen her play, and its really exciting.
Boston’s Jaggery provided an interesting segway of sound, a raw morphing and rithing creature of sound which while not as audience-involving captivated those who sat in front of them. The music was far more technical then anything else on the evening, and would most likely be best suited to a different sort of room, however given the limited facilities the set sounded remarkable. I have a hard time believing tyhat sound system has ever been worked so hard. Closing the night was Army Of Toys—a circus-infused gothic orchestra of sorts who got the crowd to their feet midway through their set and kept their interest rapped.
The show was one of the most fun I’ve ran in a while—I’ve been making a conscious effort to sort of evolve my opporation doing away with big risky events and just booking stuff that sounds good, and will make people have fun. That for me is what music always will be about, people, good vibes and the art. When i first started booking shows, I had jumped in trying to compete with way bigger people, and found myself losing money and stressing out. I think what i’m doing now, and the people I’m working with, it’s perfect. I have to say that everyone I’ve booked lately and everyone I’m talking to—I could not be more excited to be working with.
Music’s not something which is likely to make you rich, but it can bring you endless joy. I am so fortunate in my own eyes to have ended up where I am, doing what I’m doing. I don’t think i’d do it over for anything, it was a sacrifice worth making.
This Wednesday Yula performs at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ with her band the extended family, plus Kiss Kiss, Hank & Cupcakes, and Emilyn Brodsky. The show is all ages and $8. Doors are at 7:30pm and the show starts at 8pm.
See below for more pics.
During her set Ms. Beeri lit a Hanukkah candle and with organ backing sung the traditional prairs. Following her set— a 40 minute set of new material as well as some of her older work, she handed out Gelt—chocolate coins to the crowd. A group of us found ourselves on the now matted floor of this Greenpoint dive playing Dradle. It is indeed moments such as these—simple things even when I remember why I love music, why I love shows, the community. There’s something truly special about a scene such as this in my mind. It’s a reminder of why I care about music and shows and why it’s important—even moreso why all ages music is important.
Jessica Allyn is another performer who keeps getting better—she killed it high notes of her set included a Beatles cover and a brand new track called Nine—based on the Triangle Wastecoat fires—which seemed to connect particularly with the FIT students seated around me. Allyn has a remarkably dinamic voice which Nine and the cover both showed off. Her earliest material did not do this however you can detect increasing comfidence with each time I’ve seen her play, and its really exciting.
Boston’s Jaggery provided an interesting segway of sound, a raw morphing and rithing creature of sound which while not as audience-involving captivated those who sat in front of them. The music was far more technical then anything else on the evening, and would most likely be best suited to a different sort of room, however given the limited facilities the set sounded remarkable. I have a hard time believing tyhat sound system has ever been worked so hard. Closing the night was Army Of Toys—a circus-infused gothic orchestra of sorts who got the crowd to their feet midway through their set and kept their interest rapped.
The show was one of the most fun I’ve ran in a while—I’ve been making a conscious effort to sort of evolve my opporation doing away with big risky events and just booking stuff that sounds good, and will make people have fun. That for me is what music always will be about, people, good vibes and the art. When i first started booking shows, I had jumped in trying to compete with way bigger people, and found myself losing money and stressing out. I think what i’m doing now, and the people I’m working with, it’s perfect. I have to say that everyone I’ve booked lately and everyone I’m talking to—I could not be more excited to be working with.
Music’s not something which is likely to make you rich, but it can bring you endless joy. I am so fortunate in my own eyes to have ended up where I am, doing what I’m doing. I don’t think i’d do it over for anything, it was a sacrifice worth making.
This Wednesday Yula performs at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ with her band the extended family, plus Kiss Kiss, Hank & Cupcakes, and Emilyn Brodsky. The show is all ages and $8. Doors are at 7:30pm and the show starts at 8pm.
See below for more pics.
No comments:
Post a Comment