After catching a set from The Pass, I hung around The Knitting Factory for the late show that featured a very solid bill consisting of Cymbals Eat Guitars and Alex G.
Philadelphia bedroom rocker Alex G (also known as Sandy Alex G) has been releasing music through bandcamp on his own now for a while, slowly building a modest fanbase. This year he released his latest album DSU, which has been getting some sizeable praise. People are starting to take notice of the young rocker. I was taken aback by how many people in the crowd seemed to be there for him, signing along with nearly every word of every song. It was an impressive set, one that has them pegged as an artist you need to watch. Good things are coming.
This show was my second time seeing Cymbals Eat Guitars this year, with the first coming in September when they opened up for Bob Mould at Bowery Ballroom. That was a good set, but obviously cut a bit short compared to their normal shows. The Knitting Factory was a great place to see a band like this, who have a pretty large scale sound, but one that is better suited to be taken in a somewhat intimate manner. New album Lose is one of 2014’s more underrated releases. They continue their emotional assault, creating memorable and uniquely atmospheric songs that hit you like a brick.
Their live show succeeds because they put their back into their performance, bringing that same level of emotion to life in a convincing manner that comes off as authentic. It’s a tricky thing to do, but the Staten Island band manage just fine. From the delicate build of “Jackson” to the climatic “And the Hazy Sea” (which closed the show), it all felt so damn real.
Alex G:
Cymbals Eat Guitars:
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