The Bowery Presents

The Mercury Lounge upcoming shows

The Gay Blades
10:00
Fake Problems
9:00

The Weight
8:00
Gabriel The Marine
7:00

Venue:
The Mercury Lounge
Date:
Mon 11/30
Notes:
21+
Doors: 7:00 PM / Show: 7:00 PM
$10
Tickets
The Gay Blades
official website
myspace
The Gay Blades are a two piece from somewhere in or near New York City and play an acerbic brand of Trash Pop. What is Trash Pop, you ask? Trash Pop is what happens when two keenly observant wanna be hipsters write songs the same pair couldn't possibly pull off live, and make up for their missing bass player with consistent TNT like performances and a heaping spoonful of swagger. The Gay Blades invented it. Trust me.

CMJ - "If Freddie Mercury sang for Death From Above 1979, these guys would open the show!"

Alternative Press - "Melodically addictive pop"
Fake Problems
official website
myspace
Although Naples, Florida is just five short hours from Gainesville—the birthplace of bands like Against Me! and Hot Water Music—the area isn’t commonly considered to be a punk Mecca; and with good reason. “Naples is a really thriving vacation spot, so the whole city revolves around people who come here for three months of the year,” explains Fake Problems front man Chris Farren. “So it’s a strange environment, but I think it’s a good environment creatively because it’s very… nice.”

Despite the fact that they’ve only been together for a few years, the group of four friends—which also features bassist Derek Perry, guitarist Casey Lee and drummer Sean Stevenson—have already logged more miles in the van as a full-time touring band than most acts years their senior. “Last year we played more than 150 shows and were away from home for something like 200 days, with recording and days off in addition to shows” Farren explains. In October, the band blew the minds of fans from around the world at last years Fest in Gainesville, and the band just finished up a largely sold out tour alongside Against Me! and The Riverboat Gamblers.

Recorded with Rob McGregor (Hot Water Music, Grabass Charlestons), the band’s full-length debut How Far Our Bodies Go has a timeless feel that pushes the boundaries of punk rock while retaining the youthful exuberance inherent in the band’s music. With it’s blaring horns, swinging tempos, and anthemic vocals, “Maestro Of This Rebellious Symphony” sounds like it’s about to combust at any moment; although “Astronaut” starts with an acoustic intro the song quickly erupts into the cathartic punk of “Crest On The Chest”; and the confessional ballad “Staying & Leaving As Living & Dying” evokes Saddle Creek artists like Bright Eyes and The Good Life.

A concept album about morality and driven by a love of life and a fear of death, How Far Our Bodies Go manages to tackle existential subject matter in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy or pretentious. In fact, metaphoric references to birth, travel, bones, weather, goals, and uncertainty litter the album, forming a patchwork of experiences that make up one complete life experience. “I need to swing, I need to move/You need to stand up, look forward and go,” Farren sings during “Life’s A Drink, Get Thirsty,” trying his best to move ahead amidst all this self-imposed chaos and confusion—and his catharsis seems to be working.

“In my lyrics I definitely like to say what I feel, but I don’t like to alienate people or create a niche so that you can only listen to our music if you share our beliefs,” Farren explains about the disc, which begins with birth (“We were born in our mothers arms but we have since grown”) and ends with imminent death (“I missed you, I barely hit you but you could have gone to heaven today”). “I don’t like to bring my problems to other people unless they’re really important,” Farren continues, elaborating on the band’s curious moniker.

Fake Problems aren’t concerned about fitting into any type of niche, selling a ton of records or wearing make-up in effort to perpetuate some kind of image. If anything the band’s image is that they don’t have one, instead choosing to put their energy into seeing the world, writing honest music and pouring their hearts out every night—and now that people are starting to take notice, well, that’s just a bonus. We can’t wait to hear if you agree.
The Weight
myspace
The Weight's 2008 release Are Men marks an interesting evolution of the group's sound. What was once a singer songwriter-with-backing band is now simply a band. Of men. Perhaps it was one too many shows with sensitive, weekend-warrior singer-songwriters armed with acoustic guitars (and songs fit only for girlfriends), or frustration with an interchangeable backing band, but upon relocating to New York, Joseph Plunket set out to form a proper band. He found a rhythm section with ease: Will Nolan on bass (Joseph's uncle, strangely only five years his senior), and J. Ellis (friend via Atlanta, GA punk-rock formative years) on drums. A few short-lived characters later, The Weight arrived at a solid lineup with the addition of Fletcher C. Johnson on lead guitar and Johnny Carpenter on pedal steel, with both contributing vocals. The result is something quite different from previous lineups. Fletcher brings his all-around wild style; Johnny, his multi-instrumentalism and name-matching personality; Will and Jay, a newfound consistency and craftsmen sensibility; and Joseph, far more songs than any band could ever hope to learn (an unusual problem.) Are Men reveals a sound and feel very much different from 2004's 10 Mile Grace, which found the group working within the framework of earnest alt-country executed by post-punk kids. In contrast, Are Men brings a sense of light-hearted fun-timin' to the songwriting and execution (more country-rock block party, less alt.) It's the sound of a band enjoying the process. Sing-along choruses, three-part harmonies, psych guitar freak-outs, rowdy gang vocals – all things people love… so The
Weight have discovered. For the similarly post- jaded kids, and honest fans of Americana, Are Men sounds like the record you actually enjoy listening to. Jim Nicholas Brooklyn, NY, January 2008
Gabriel The Marine
myspace
Gabriel the Marine is a Long Island Indie band that incorporates unique classical violin and jazzy vocals, hinting the accessibility and catchiness of a mature pop band while being headed by 18 and 19 year olds. In six months, the band has released their first demo, been featured frequently on KRock (92.3 FM), landed a spot on the 2009 Bamboozle Festival, and was featured in Spin Magazine's Top "15 Bands You Must-Hear Bands" at the Bamboozle Festival. They have recently recorded a record with Mike Watts and VuDu Studios (As Tall As Lions, The Almost, Self Against City, As Cities Burn) and intends on touring nonstop in support of it.
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