Shilpa Ray has a spectacular voice, and a really likable, spunky personality, but from my first time seeing her last night at Death By Audio, it seemed that her songs aren’t quite as engaging or distinct as she herself is. “Generic” is a terrible word, but there wasn’t enough of her own brandmark to the whole thing. There is the harmonium, which sounds ten times as interesting when only she is singing over it, but gets lost when the band kicks in and everything becomes slightly predictable and non specific, leaving you to think, oh with this voice there are so many incredible possibilities! A lot of it may have to do with the aesthetic choices than the songwriting itself. She has a nice way of turning melodic phrases and leaving them low, but the songs have somehow got to match the quality of her voice. There is the amazing Shilpa and there is everything else that takes a backseat and recedes into oblivion. Good show, nonetheless.
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Cake Shop was a ball last night, and tonight The Mae-Shi and DD/MM/YYYY bring their own party while the sullen Imaad Wasif and his Two Part Beast band douse you with sweet refrains // The ever so active Indelicates are playing again, at Don’s Hill for $5 // Sensitive boys Chris Garneau and Icelandic Olafur Arnalds team up for a night of languid tunes at Joe’s Pub // Mercury Lounge is covering quite a range of volume with Love as Laughter, Cheeseburger, Coin Under Tongue, This Frontier Needs Heroes // Check out Forest Fire at Southpaw, playing with The Kiss Off and Susu // Girls (ex Ariel Pink) and Suckers are playing together again, with WW (secret guest) and Hearts of Darknesses (note the plural) at The Delancy // Deerhoof free show at Prospect Park with Metropolis Ensemble: The Rite: Remixed, thanks to Wordless Music Series // Matmos and Leprechaun Catering play the fabulous (Le) Poisson Rouge. Mewithoutyou, Maps and Atlases play an early show at Maxwell’s. For everything else, check out Oh My Rockness.
Playlist
Forest Fire: Fortune Teller
DD/MM/YY: Super VGF
The Mae-Shi: Run To Your Grave
Love as Laughter: Beautiful Crossed Eyed Young Gunz
The Kiss Off: Mother Murder
Susu: Part Bloodhound
Maps and Atlases: Every Place
Chris Garneau: Blackout
This Frontier Needs Heroes: Marxists and Marigolds
Cheeseburger: Money for the Heart
Coin Under Tongue: Coin Under Tongue
Deerhoof: Giga Dance
Heart of Darknesses: Crazy Legs Man
