April Smith & The Great Picture Show

April Smith and the Great Picture Show have two New Jersey shows coming up. Dec. 10 at Maxwell's in Hoboken with Elizabeth and the Catapult and The Canon Logic and Dec. 11 at Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park with Scott Liss & the Sixty-Six, and surprise special guests. Above is a video for "Terrible Things."

Live Review: April Smith + The Great Picture Show @ The Bell House 7-22-10

photos & story by Star Child

April Smith and the Great Picture Show is a band you don't just want to hear. You want to see. To truly feel the effect of the music, you have to see the magic of the band live. Smith and company bring it back to 30's and 40's cabaret and pop and add strong, catchy and sophisticated pop-rock beats and a soulful style. The members dress sharply, in pants, button down shirts, vests, dress. The whole nine. Surely, they're ready to perform. "The Great Picture Show" isn't just a clever title. It's quite appropriate. The songs speak deep like a story you want to piece together to bring yourself together, each song making up what is Songs for a Sinking Ship. Smith has the poise, wit, and voice that many probably wish they had. Cute, yet sophisticated, Smith joked around and spoke of being surrounded by friends and great people. 

During "Colors" a large crew of friends, including Jenny Owens Young and The Woes, two of the opening acts, joined the band.  The result was a full, fun time. A steady drum beat kept the song together and everyone else contributed some bit to the song, including gang vocals. "Movie like a Screen" shows off Smith's pleasant vocal: "I just want to mean something to youuuu."  The jammy keyboard and subtle upright bass sounds along with various other instrumentation added some nice spice to music that is typically seems confined to your typical instruments.

The show was great. At times sexy. At times serious. At times fun. By always passionate. The room was packed. And folks seemed to be having a good time. That's a show! Bravo.

The band's next show is August 11 at Le Poisson Rouge with Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves. More photos below. 

April Smith & the Picture Show playing at The Bell House in Brooklyn 7/22

DOWNLOAD: April Smith & the Picture Show- Movie Loves A Screen

April Smith and the Picture Show is a dazzling cabaret band from Brooklyn with plenty of pop sensibility. The whole aurora of the band is a sophisticated, yet fun one. The band's songs are poppy, slow, and piano and violen driven. Fans of The Dresden Dolls, Ingrid Michaelson, and Eisley. There's a poise in Smith's vocals and lyrics. The steady beats keep you wrapped up.

 

The band performs on July 22nd with Jenny Owen Youngs, The Woes, and Daniel Wayne at beautiful Bell House, 149 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY. 7:30pm. $10 in advance, $12 the day of show. 18+. Tickets are available here. So get your suits on and get dashing to this picture show!