YAZ Played Terminal 5

Yaz played a fantastic sold out show last night at Terminal 5 in Manhattan, proving that a) Alison Moyet still has some of the best pipes in modern pop music, and b) Vince Clarke's synth-pop compositions are as timeless as ever.

Moyet was in such a great mood, smiling and dancing around with an unexpectedly youthful feel about her. The duo played just about every song they ever recorded together, but one of the greatest highlights of the evening came when they performed the album classic "In My Room", wherein Moyet sat at the center of the stage and delivered the haunting vocal with great passion and drama. The show was heavily enhanced by a remarkable visual light show and the crowd seemed compelled with the performance from beginning to end, as was I. They just don't make them like this anymore.

The Yaz Reconnected Tour coincided with the release of In Your Room, a box set containing both of Yaz' albums completely remastered, as well as a disc of remixes and a DVD full of music videos and a short docu film.

-photo by Scot Bowman

YAZ Afterparty with KIM of THE PRESETS

You know I'll be at Terminal 5 on Thursday night to see the historical reunion performance by quintessential 80's electro-pop duo Yaz. But I'll also be swinging by Hiro Ballroom afterwards for the after party, featuring a DJ set by KIM of The Presets. It all starts at 10:00 pm and it's FREE!, but you have to RSVP at gbh.tv to solidify your entrance. See you there!

DOWNLOAD (link) - The Presets - This Boy's in Love (Lifelike remix)

KIM DJ TOUR DATES:

Thursday July 17, Hiro Ballroom NYC
Friday July 18, Modular Party at Tribeca grand, NYC
Tuesday July 22, Cinespace, Los Angeles

Yaz - Don't Go (music video)

CMJ Report: Justice

Justice has quite a religious following, as was wildy apparent at Terminal 5 on Saturday night. From the moment the black sheets were pulled from the amp towers, to the now infamous light-up cross flicking on at the show's start, the crowd's sheer excitement was unparalleled - and that was just the beginning. The wall to wall crowd of hipsters, electroheads, and straight-up music lovers danced deliriously, many with glowsticks in hand, loving every mili-second of the duo's infectious electronic set.


It seems like a hard task for a pair of dj's to stand at their decks for an hour and a half and pull off an entertaining show. But Justice made it look easy with the help of flawless sound and lighting, which greatly enhanced the overall show. And when they finished their encore, the feverish crowd began singing the duo's most famous song in hopes that they would once again return to the stage.

"Because we are your friends
you'll never be alone again
well come on well come on
well come on well come on"

After many, many rounds of the chorus being chanted, the houselights finally came up and it was all over.



Justice - Phantom (part1 of 2) (live at Terminal 5)

-all photos by Scot Bowman

CMJ Report: M.I.A.

M.I.A.'s show at the brand new Terminal 5 was clearly the highlight of the CMJ Music Marathon this week. OMG!!!!!!!!!! It feels almost unfair to even review it, as the entire show was so full of energy, so completely entertaining...just wow!!! (By the way, this post officially marks the end of horrible photography on this site, new camera! Yeah!)

Firstly, Terminal 5, NY's new premiere Bowery Presents venue is so over the top - three levels, with bars and bathrooms on each one, the place is reminiscent of the bar in the 80's film 'Cocktail', you know when Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown are hitting it big time and land a gig at the hottest club in Manhattan. But, as big as this place is, the house was packed. When M.I.A. finally took the stage after 10:30, following an uproar of boos and violent shouts, people were scrambling around everywhere, trying to land a spot with an actual view of the stage.

But once she did take the stage all was forgiven. She opened with 'Bamboo Banga', the opener to her phenomenal new album "Kala". The temperature rose and the songs were tight, tight, tight, equally blending the set with tracks from "Kala" and her auspicious debut "Arular". The crowd was treated to freaked-out versions of 'Pull Up the People', 'Sunshowers', 'XR2', and the amazing '20 Dollar' which morphed into New Order's 'Blue Monday', before breaking anarchically into the current single 'Jimmy'. Mindblowing!

But the party had only just gotten started. Watch the video below of the "Arular" hit 'Bucky Done Gun', which preceded the crowd-shattering 'Boyz', wherein Miss Maya brought half the crowd onto the stage and the show was nearly shut down. This shit was outta control, yet somehow it was all held together magnificently by the enigmatic M.I.A. And lucky for us, the show went on. We were blessed with her best songs from there on out - the song of the year 'Paper Planes' and the hit that made her famous back in '05, 'Galang'.

I caught M.I.A. at Coachella a couple years ago and back then she was great. Now, she is a virtuoso - at once, staggeringly vital and wildy entertaining. Artist of the year for sure.

M.I.A. - Bucky Done Gun (live at Terminal 5, NYC 10/18/07)