Peter Kirchhausen is the host of Chilly Underground, a weekly news and culture radio program based in Greenpoint on Radio Rampa 620 AM. Previous work includes NPR, C-SPAN, PBS, and NBC Washington. Instagram @ChillyPeteBK
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Saves The Day playing in front of a packed Warsaw crowd in Greenpoint on Wednesday, Nov. 14th. Photo by Peter Kirchhausen
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a nostalgia-soaked night of music, and on Wednesday night at Warsaw (261 Driggs Ave.), Saves the Day was exactly that. But although it pains me to write, the nostalgia seems to be wearing thin.
It was an early 2000’s North East emo basement scene recreated nearly 20 years later in North Brooklyn, in front of all those 17-year-olds who are now nearing their 40s. Although the band on stage at Warsaw still features emo-rock legend vocalist Chris Conley, most of the other members- a literal revolving door with over 20 different people over the years- are mostly all new. The previous dozen plus band members chose to bow out years ago when it just stopped being fun, countless years before the creation of the newly released ninth studio album which dropped earlier this November.
Conley wearing a dark tinted sunglass inside Warsaw on Wednesday night. Photo by Peter Kirchhausen
Three or four times during the 90 minute set, there were sparks from the fan favorites that put the band on the national map, such as the opener “At Your Funeral,” “Freakish,” or “Holly Hox.” For the remainder of the setlist, the audience was starved of what they paid to hear- the early catalog- and for a Wednesday night, the packed crowd was not willing to fake it. Conley has every right to create a set list which he prefers, relying on either newer or older songs, but musicians can read audiences very quickly and Conley knows what is going on. The audience stood idle in for large chunks of time while newer songs were performed and it appeared tough for the other bandmates to fake the energy on stage. Conley was often stationary in the center and putting out low energy all night, something I previously have not seen out of him during more recent live performances. Continue reading →
The hot and sweaty crowd, transfixed by Post Malone Friday night.
In a typical year, I go to anywhere from 50 to 80 concerts, spanning a wide range of genres and venues. From Arlene’s Grocery toCarnegie Hall, I am always searching for the brightest/strangest/most unique musical talent New York City can serve up on any given night. But even with all the music I take in each year, it’s rare that I truly get excited leading up to a show, similar to that tingly type of excited feeling you got when your mom dropped your off at your first rock show in middle school. Maybe it’s because I don’t do the summer time festival circuit anymore, which often host those mega-star headliners I don’t usually seek out. But that was the excited feeling I had as I Lyft’d my way over to Randall’s Island Friday night for Governors Ball. I was lucky that my driver was a 22-year-old and happened to be a big hip-hop fan. Ariel advised me on what to focus on and what to avoid over the weekend. Sadly, I missed his favorite act, Vic Mensa! I’m not a typical top 40 Billboard music fan and I can’t tell you the last time I turned on my FM radio for anything other than NPR, but starting on Friday night with mega rap sensation Post Malone and spanning all the way to Sunday night’s closing act Eminem, there was a palpable vibrant energy that permeated the fest and I had no problem temporarily suspending the music snob in me. Continue reading →
Khruangbin performing live at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 13. Photo by Peter Kirchhausen
With back-to-back sold-out performances this past weekend at Music Hall of Williamsburg, the East Texas based trio Khruangbin (Pronounced Krun-bin) is firmly making the case that a bands sound doesn’t need to neatly fit in a musical box to sell out music venues across the United States. Following the February release of their second full length album, “Con Todo El Mundo,” their fanbase continues to swell as was seen in North Brooklyn.Continue reading →
Møme controlled the packed room for 2 hours with his eclectic electronic creations.
With more than 200 million songs streamed since the debut of his 2016 Album Panorama, French DJ Møme is breaking out of Europe and turning up his global presence with a new focus on the United States. Currently on a North American tour with Gramatik until mid May, Møme ventured to Williamsburg this past Wednesday night for a headline show at Rough Trade (64 N 9th St) and we sat down with him to explain his motivations and process for creating his extremely popular sounds. He says fame has not changed his general musical equation and the his organic love of music continues to be his guide.
Greenpointers: You are originally from the south of France, but you were producing music in Australia. Where are you currently based?
Møme: I’m Back in Europe. I moved to Australia three years ago to write my first album but now I’m back in France and I’m touring a lot. I had 150 gigs last year and I have a lot of gigs overseas, it was a very busy year. I’m not supposed to be touring right now, I’m supposed to be writing my new record, [so] things are very busy. Continue reading →
