hooves on the turf

Download “Leonard Woolf“ | I’ve been waiting for Princeton to leave California behind and head to New York ever since I heard their Bloomsbury EP. I’ve a column of bands whose personality I find so likable and whose motivations I find so commendable that I’ll always be nothing but forgiving, patient and loving towards them no matter what, and Princeton exemplifies the kind of bands I’m willing to put on this list (another being These United States). The jewel on the crown, for me, is definitely the song, “Leonard Woolf”, with which I have a special attachment because it says so much with so little that it gives me goosebumps. It’s definitely a meeting point of worlds.

When CMJ marathon finally brought Princeton here this week, it was with much excitement that I went to see them at the Bell House last night (thanks to my gracious hosts, The Loom). It was also my first time at the venue, and whereas the performance space at its sibling Union Hall commands intensity on the strength of its smallness, the Bell House, being barn-like and big enough to provide plenty of space for mobility, does the opposite: it gives the shows a feel of being much more laid-back and informal, which I enjoy.

However, a relaxed atmosphere also tends to encourage chatter amongst the audience, and a crowd spread thin can seem intimidating. Given this, even though a few people started dancing as soon as they started playing, I thought the boys from Princeton were perhaps a bit shy in the beginning, especially in contrast to the undeniable vibrancy of their music, but the shyness fizzled soon enough. They loosened up a few songs in, talking about their fondness for New York and saying how they thought LA was just okay, and one-half of the leading twins, Matt Kivel, going berserk over his guitar at one point. When his brother Jesse Kivel was finally free from playing any instrument for the last song “Shout it Out”, he asked the crowd in front of the stage to move forward and dance with him, and dance they did. When I told him how much I liked that segment, he said that it’s been somewhat of a tradition at their shows, which only means you should try to catch them at one of the several CMJ shows they’re playing this week.

Download “All the While“ |  Frances is another band I’d been meaning to see for a while. My friend from Michigan thought they sounded a lot like a band would in Michigan, and that’s funny because I thought they sounded so Brooklyn because they sounded so Michigan. I don’t know about you guys, but that makes total sense to me. They had really good chemistry and a fun, positive presence on stage.

Download “Song for the Winter Sun“ | And then, my old friends The Loom, who seems to bring out an extended family of super supportive friends to every show. Surely, this won’t last for too long if the frequency of their shows keeps going up, but if you see their friend-based fan base at the next show, you’ll notice how they’re very much a happy bunch, and you’ll certainly wish you had friends like that! Also, I was really digging the French Horn last night.

An anecdote worth mentioning, as it further illustrates the relaxed vibe of the venue: while The Loom was playing, Nick Anderson from Frances came up to the stage and returned a pen he had apparently borrowed from singer John Fanning. For some reason, it seemed totally appropriate to return it in the middle of a set, although John was perhaps taken back a bit, as he went on to explain how the return of a borrowed pen is evidence of a person’s humanity, and how what had just happened was clearly the best “pen return”.

The band mentioned that their drummer Jon Alvarez seemed to be on fire, and that was the truth.

I’m sorry I couldn’t stay for La Strada. Day jobs are a bitch!