DEVO, TOM TOM CLUB, DAN DEACON @ McCarren Pool

Devo played a fantastic headlining show at McCarren Pool last night, showing us (and Elijah Wood, who was in the audience) that they haven't lost their punk edge with age. They ripped through all the classics, including "Whip It", "Gates of Steel", "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", "Mongoloid", "Girl U Want", and "Freedom of Choice". At one point, lead singer Mark Mothersbaugh marched around the stage tearing pieces of his bandmates costumes off in what led to a steady "stripping down" metaphor that carried on throughout the set. Devo closed out the show with a rousing version of my personal fave, "Gut Feeling".

-Devo

*****


Tom Tom Club was a lot of fun as well, serving up their unique brand of art funk. Tina Weymouth was in good spirits, entertaining the crowd with her dry humor in between songs, like dedicating the track "She's Dangerous" to Condoleezza Rice. Other highlights of the set were "The Man With the Four Way Hips", "Wordy Rappinghood", and the timeless classic "Genius of Love".

-Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz

***


Dan Deacon kicked off the early show with his interactive performance style that had everyone doing a tag-team circle before forming human tunnels around the pool. Deacon is a character and his live shows never fail to entertain, whether you like it or not. The man is hysterical.

-all photos by Scot Bowman

New MGMT Video for 'Electric Feel'

MGMT's Oracular Spectacular party continues with the second video for "Electric Feel". I think I still prefer the original interactive video over the new version - a visual reminder of how quickly these guys have blown up into a big band. Good for them, but still it's a little sad when your favorite indie secret is no longer indie, nor a secret.

MGMT are doing a free show on July 27th at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn, with The Ting Tings and Black Moth Super Rainbow. You must RSVP to get into the show, though I haven't been able to figure out how. Maybe the RSVP isn't yet in effect.

MGMT - Electric Feel (music video)

CAT POWER @ McCarren Park Pool

Despite plenty of mixed feelings about CAT POWER's performance at McCarren Pool on Saturday, I felt she was rather mesmerizing to watch. Chan had loads of energy (by Cat Power standards anyway) and she sounded really good. I would agree with others who suggest she was under the influence, though having never seen her live before, it could also come down to her infamous nervous energy when onstage. Loaded or not, she was fantastic.


The set was comprised mostly of covers, which makes sense as her forthcoming album is rumoured to be called "The Covers Record 2". Chan opened the show with a cover of 'Don't Explain', followed by a very unique version of 'New York, New York'. Other tracks in the setlist included a rockin' version of '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction', 'Naked If I Want To', as well as a pair of songs from her most recent album 'Willie' and 'Could We'.


And was it just me or did Chan seem to have a particularly intense connection with the keyboard player? She seemed to be singing every song directly to him.


Unfortunately I missed BUILT TO SPILL and BOB MOULD, who bookended the Cat Power set, but I heard Built to Spill were amazing.


This was also the first show I've seen at McCarren Pool and I highly suggest catching one of the many shows there over the summer. Check out the schedule here.


All photos by Scot Bowman