Live Music Reviews and Photographs / NYC, Buffalo, Toronto, Pittsburgh
It's been a bit of a slow concert year for me since, between travel, medical issues, and an increased challenge in obtaining photo passes, I've only made it to thirty-five shows as opposed to over one hundred in 2019! This makes doing a top ten a bit silly so I'll just do five. This doesn't …
During The Beths show at Brooklyn Paramount, someone in the crowd screamed out “We love you!” prompting lead vocalist Elizabeth Stokes to answer coyly, “We’ve only played four songs. That was easy!”. New Zealand’s premiere alternative band swung through NYC on their latest tour in support of their fourth album Straight Line Was A Lie …
Continue reading "The Beths rocked the sold-out crowd at Brooklyn Paramount – Dec 5, 2025"
The revival punk project called The Saints '73-'78 swung through NYC and played the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Friday with a host of prominent guest stars like Mudhoney’s frontman Mark Arm who provided the vocals. The Saints are a sadly far too overlooked band in punk rock history books but are definitely a band …
“I came from New York and, even though I now live in LA, this will forever be very special to me and Baby’s All Right is the very first venue I ever played,” said Ella Jane at her one-off appearance in her old stomping grounds of Brooklyn. This intimate setting was a change of pace …
Continue reading "Ella Jane’s homecoming at Baby’s All Right – Oct 21, 2025"
The all-female punk pop trio Shonen Knife from Osaka, Japan, who had gained a ferocious following in the mid 90’s with their brand of bodacious bubblegum indie rock, played two sold out nights at the intimate venue called Littlefield in the lowlands Gowanus area of Brooklyn. I was lucky enough to catch the second night’s show which …
Continue reading "Shonen Knife blew the roof off Littlefield – Sept 25, 2025"
Singer Sophia Regina Allison came out during the set by her band Soccer Mommy and asked “Aren’t these free shows great? I wish I could do them all the time, but I have two cats to feed.” Nashville native Soccer Mommy played the last free show of the Central Park Summerstage lineup of concerts as …
The All Things Go Music Festival is returning to melt our music-loving brains once again this year. This is the 11th year of the genre-bending musical jubilee, and after starting this party outside of DC in 2014, they’ve been expanding our musical frontiers and making each weekend an epic party. The hometown fest is held …
Continue reading "Time to experience the All Things Go Music Festival"
The Philly punk band Mannequin Pussy played an intimate late night show at a sold out Warsaw in Greenpoint, Brooklyn for an event called Gov Ball After Dark, an after-hours shindig that took place the day after they performed on the big stage at the Governor’s Ball Festival in Flushing Meadows, Queens. This band has …
Continue reading "Mannequin Pussy threw a late night party at Warsaw – June 7, 2025"
The Doobie Brothers threw a delightfully enchanting reunion show and release party for their new album Walk This Road in the intimately cozy venue Irving Plaza, and they left a lucky bunch of their diehard fans floating on air. This is the first album to feature the “classic lineup” in its entirety performing together in …
Continue reading "The Doobie Brothers reunited with an intimate show at Irving Plaza – June 6, 2025"
The classic indie pop band The Wedding Present played The Music Hall of Williamsburg in celebration of the 35th anniversary of their second album Bizarro from 1989 (which they played in its entirety). I was lucky enough to catch them the last time they came through town in 2017 and played the Bell House, promoting …
Continue reading "The Wedding Present went Bizarro at Music Hall of Williamsburg – May 23, 2025"
NYC alt-rockers Sunflower Bean returned to their Brooklyn home ground for a big headlining show at Warsaw in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to celebrate their new album Mortal Primetime which they self-produced featuring mixing by Caesar Edmunds of The Killers & Wet Leg fame. The trio has been a staple of the Big Apple DIY scene for …
Continue reading "Sunflower Bean had an epic homecoming at Warsaw – May 22, 2025"
In listening and watching LA-based R&B/rap artist Audrey Nuna's (aka Audrey Chu) music & video, it feels like she's ready to explode all over the music industry. She somehow appeals to R&B and pop fans alike and, with an EP and two studio albums under her belt, she is still young and evolving as an …
Continue reading "Phenom Audrey Nuna packs Music Hall of Williamsburg – May 13, 2025"
The Scottish post-punk icons Mogwai brought their latest tour to Brooklyn Steel for a massive show, and they also brought along some very surprising guests as openers. The band have been going since 1995 and they never really stopped moving forward since their inception. Late last year, these art rock punks released their eleventh studio …
Continue reading "Mogwai shred their way to the heavens at Brooklyn Steel – Apr 10, 2025"
As they embraced their growing legions of rabid fans and their increasing level of fame amassed over the last decade, rocking people’s worlds, the local rising star indie rock band called Pom Pom Squad returned home to play the finale of their Mirror Ball Tour at The Music Hall of Williamsburg. Lead singer Mia Berrin …
The experimental folk-rock band The Weather Station came down from their Toronto homeland to grace NYC with a pair of performances for their Humanhood Tour and I was fortunate to catch their first show at the Bowery Ballroom, for which I received every ounce of artful display and deep conceptual artistry that I expected from …
Continue reading "The Weather Station conjured a spell over Bowery Ballroom – Apr 1, 2025"
In the mid-90s, Tsunami were indie rock darlings and Ida were slow core sweethearts. The bands crossed paths on the scene, sharing bills, side projects, and even members many times in the past. Both bands have also been largely inactive for the last decade or two, with most fans feeling like they may never re-emerge, …
Continue reading "Tsunami and Ida teamed up for the perfect storm at Bowery Ballroom – Mar 29, 2025"
Alternative rock icon Kim Deal brought her very first solo tour to Brooklyn’s gloriously beautiful Brooklyn Paramount to support Nobody Loves You More, the first solo album of her lengthy and illustrious career which has become my most adored and heavily-played album of the year so far. I grew up outside of Dayton, Ohio and, …
Continue reading "Kim Deal gets reborn at the Brooklyn Paramount – Mar 13, 2025"
Fast rising Irish dream pop band NewDad have only been around for six years but it's been a hectic ride. I say dream pop but you can say shoe gaze, lo-fi, or even grunge and you wouldn't necessarily be wrong. After forming and releasing several singles in 2020, the pandemic halted things for a bit …
Continue reading "NewDad wraps up first North American tour in NYC – Nov 7, 2024"
Soccer Mommy fans were excited when Sophie Allison announced a small number of intimate events that she called The Lost Shows. She said that she would be playing some hits, some rarities, as well as new songs that portended a new Soccer Mommy studio album! These shows would be scaled down: just a guitar and …
Continue reading "Soccer Mommy opens The Lost Shows mini-tour in New York – May 31, 2024"
Canadian singer/songwriter Luna Li (aka Hannah Bussiere Kim) played a one-off show at the Elsewhere Rooftop in Bushwick, NY on Monday, July 24th. After last year's tour, we hadn't expected her to grace us with her presence so soon but were happy to see this hit our schedule. The show was quickly sold out and, …
Continue reading "Luna Li enchants Brooklyn at Elsewhere Rooftop – July 24, 2o23"
It's been quite a year for Just One More Concert. It was the first full year of live music post-pandemic although much has changed since 2019 (the last full year). Bands are still having to cancel shows/tours because someone in the band or crew tests positive for Covid, more acts have opted for having their …
If you haven’t heard of the Linda Linda’s, you may be living under a rock. They exploded onto the scene, not necessarily the music scene, when they released a song and video for “Racist, Sexist Boy” after a schoolmate made a racist remark to the band’s drummer early in the Covid pandemic. That song became …
Continue reading "The Linda Linda’s rock Music Hall of Williamsburg – Oct 2, 2022"
There are cover bands and there are good cover bands. Wednesday saw Zoso, the Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, come to Brooklyn Bowl in NYC and evoke strong memories of the golden age of 70s rock and roll. Having been formed over twenty years ago, the band has honed its craft and is one of the …
Continue reading "Zoso and the shades of Led Zeppelin invade Brooklyn Bowl – Sept 28, 2022"
If you haven’t heard of Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum, you’re not alone. For a couple of years after they formed, they were primarily only known by a rabid group of fans in the NYC area, even though the band is fronted by award winning actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under on …
Continue reading "Princess goes to the Bowery Ballroom – Sept 15, 2022"
Austin based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mobley (aka Anthony Watkins II) stopped by the offices of LiveNation in NYC to preview his latest record "Cry Havoc!" ahead of its release on September 23rd. I first saw Mobley at Rockwood Music Hall back in 2016 (see photos here) before he started playing drums as well as guitar …
Continue reading "Mobley previews new record at LiveNation – Sept 12, 2022"
When I first heard about the most recent Oh Wonder album "22 Break" and how Anthony Vander West and Josephine Vander Gucht (now Vander West) had been in the midst of possibly breaking up while writing the record, I was completely devastated! I had met them at their Paste Studio session in 2019 and they …
Continue reading "Oh Wonder celebrates life at Brooklyn Steel – May 15, 2022"
I was enjoying the warm almost summer-like 68 degrees in Washington Square Park as I anticipated the show I was to see last Wednesday night. The lineup was definitely something to look forward to with British indie folk singer Fenne Lily as the headliner. Her beautiful voice had been hanging on the skirts of my …
Continue reading "Fenne Lily’s music was warm and soothing on a cold night – Feb 24, 2022"
Canadian indie-band Tokyo Police Club was originally going to celebrate the ten year anniversary of their Juno nominated second full length album "Champ" in 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic shut things down but when live music started to come back, the band immediately put together a "replacement" tour and a re-issue of that great record. The …
Continue reading "Tokyo Police Club celebrates “Champ” at Bowery Ballroom – Nov 19, 2021"
For two consecutive nights in November, young fans of FINNEAS (AKA Finneas O'Connell, AKA Billie Eilish's older brother and collaborator) could be found lined up for blocks around Irving Plaza. And why not? His debut studio album "Optimist" (released Oct 15, 2021) is stupendous. His charming good looks (kinda reminds me of a young Darryl …
Continue reading "Finneas brings the house down at Irving Plaza – Nov 17, 2021"
When talented Norwegian singer/songwriter/activist/fairy Aurora announced just two shows in the United States for 2021, I knew I had to be at Terminal 5 on November 14th. Having attended every one of her NYC shows since 2017, I've had the pleasure of watching her grow and evolve as an artist. Besides having a beautiful voice …
Continue reading "Aurora makes Terminal 5 the happiest place on Earth – Nov 14, 2021"
UK rock band Wolf Alice stopped by the Bowery Ballroom in NYC (Nov 12/13) as they wind down their first tour in three years. Their critically acclaimed third album "Blue Weekend", released last June, has the been the source of much press coverage and garnered them a nomination for the 2021 Mercury Prize. After attending …
Continue reading "Wolf Alice crushes two nights at Bowery Ballroom – Nov 13, 2021"
Ok so maybe it won't be the last concert ever but, with the COVID-19 pandemic, voluntary social distancing, and many tours/venues cancelled in the near future, Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum's show at Mercury Lounge sure felt like it was going to be the last concert ever. Princess (I'll abbreviate from now on), with …
Continue reading "Princess slays Mercury Lounge for last concert ever – Mar 12, 2020"
NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography except for setlist photo thanks to Gabrielle Pires I have to admit that for much of the late 1990s / early 2000s, I was working so much that I didn't pay too much attention to music that was coming out during that time. It wasn't until …
Continue reading "Spending the day with Silversun Pickups – Mar 6, 2020"
Today may be International Women's Day but a few days ago on Wednesday, March 4th, female artists helped Mercury Lounge celebrate early. Two Rochester based bands with female leads, Roses & Revolutions with singer/keyboardist Alyssa Coco and KOPPS with singer Patricia Patrón, were the co-headliners but, like me, many were here for opener Caroline Vreeland. …
Continue reading "Caroline Vreeland gets the party started at Mercury Lounge – Mar. 4, 2020"
As an introvert, there are some weeks where I just don't want to get out to concerts. Even though being in a large crowd can be a very lonely experience, it's sometimes nice to just have fewer people around. During the last week of February, I skipped full shows and stopped by the Paste Studio …
I seem to have been on the Echosmith promotion tour the last few months, having seen them at Paste Studio and Songkick even before they kicked off their Lonely Generation Tour at le poisson rouge in the Village in NYC. This sibling band (Sydney, Noah and Graham Sierota), with their dad as manager, producer, tour …
Continue reading "Echosmith leads young LA bands at LPR – Feb 13, 2020"
East coast met west coast at Paste Studio on Feb 12th. We started with LA band Saint Motel with their cool LA vibe and finished the afternoon with soulful sounds from Brooklyn based Ron Pope. Both are on tour right now so catch them while you can. Click on photos to enlarge Saint Motel Ron …
Continue reading "Saint Motel and Ron Pope at the Paste Studio – Feb 12, 2020"
I always believed punk bands lose their anger as they get older, become more successful, etc. Sir Bob Geldof, Boomtown Rats frontman and the driver behind Band Aid, throws all of that out the window. He is still angry, whether it's about disco and "shit rock", as he calls it, or the political situation in …
Continue reading "Legendary musician and activist Bob Geldof talks to Paste Studio – Feb 11, 2020"
It's been a few years since Grace Potter hit the stage in New York. After a hiatus where she wasn't sure she would return to music, she took inspiration from the birth of her son, Sagan, and started working on a new record. "Daylight" was the result and she hit the Beacon Theatre on Feb …
Continue reading "Grace Potter returns to NYC with new record “Daylight” – Feb 1, 2020"
It was so good to see Grouplove on Thursday after an almost two year hiatus. After last seeing them perform at OzyFest in 2018 and hearing about Hannah Hooper's brain surgery, I wasn't sure if I would ever see one of the most fun bands again! YouTube was nice enough to bring them to a …
Continue reading "Grouplove is back with a bang at YouTube Space – Jan 30, 2020"
Having only recently discovered Your Smith, I was not ready for the amazing evening that awaited me at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on a cold Wednesday night. Caroline Smith had been playing music since she was a teenager in her native Minnesota and after performing under her name for years, she moved to LA in …
Continue reading "Your Smith rules Rough Trade – Jan 29, 2020"
You know you're doing something right when your debut LP is nominated for a GRAMMY award for Best Americana Album. At just 22 years old, Madison Cunningham has done just that with her record "Who Are You Now". While she did not win the award, it shows how mature and respected her music is within …
Continue reading "Madison Cunningham provides her fans a double dose in NYC – Jan 28, 2020"
Sibling band Echosmith got ready to kick off their "Lonely Generation" tour by surprising their fans with an intimate show at the Songkick offices. Those lucky enough to win entry braved the cold as they lined up on West 50th Street. They were rewarded when doors opened with snacks and drinks as they sat on …
Continue reading "Echosmith performs private show at Songkick – Jan 16, 2020"
What do you do when your high school rock band's members go to different colleges, making it difficult to continue to collaborate? Keep things simple with just two members and write some pop songs! That's exactly what Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin of Magdalena Bay did when they got back together one winter break. Named …
Continue reading "Magdalena Bay electrifies Elsewhere Zone One – Jan 15, 2020"
Songland contestant Sam De Rosa, a native New Yorker who now lives in LA, was visiting family for the holidays but took the time out to come over to Paste Studio to play a set. Recently signed to Monument Records, she played three songs including her first official single "Pill for This", which she wrote …
Continue reading "Sam De Rosa kicks off the new year at Paste Studio – Jan 6, 2019"
Starting off part two of my top shows of 2019 with three shows at Madison Square Garden. As I noted in my previous post, it's been an epic year. The Who at Madison Square Garden - September 1, 2019 The Who (Madison Square Garden) - 1 September 2019 When a legendary band from your childhood …
This year was pretty epic for me as a music photojournalist. In addition to this blog, I also shot for Pancakes & Whiskey and QRO Magazine. I attended 83 shows in total although it seemed like so many more. The shows are in date order since it would be impossible for me to rank them …
Singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, poet, activist, dad...however many words we use to describe Kat Cunning (aka Katrina Cunningham), she will, no doubt, blow away those boundaries and create new ones. On a cold and wet night in December, she provided all the heat we needed at Bowery Ballroom. The first opener for Cunning was local …
Continue reading "Kat Cunning wows Bowery Ballroom – Dec 11, 2019"
The annual Pandora holiday show is one of the most anticipated of the season. Previous performers of this huge free event have included Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, the 1975, Bastille, Post Malone and SZA. This year, the show moved from its previous location at Pier 36 to Avant Gardner in Brooklyn and …
Continue reading "Pandora presents Halsey at Avant Gardner – Dec 10, 2019"
As the holiday season approached, there were quite a number of Christmas themed shows in and around the city. One of the more anticipated was by the duo She & Him, comprised of actor/singer Zooey Deschanel and guitarist M. Ward (Matthew Stephen Ward). A holiday shows seems apropos since 40% of their total records sales …
Continue reading "She & Him bring the joy of Christmas to Kings Theatre – Dec 6, 2019"
Named one of the top 100 guitarists ever by Rolling Stone Magazine, Robert Randolph & the Family Band have been bringing bluesy funk to audiences for a long time. In August, they released their eighth studio album "Brighter Days" and the music is still going strong. Randolph came into the Paste Studio NYC with "Family" …
Continue reading "Robert Randolph brings a little funk to Paste Studio – Dec 4, 2019"
Young artists showcased by MTV Push tend to be the next big thing. Just take a look a couple of 2019's class: Lizzo, Billie Eilish, and H.E.R. If that's any indication, Lolo Zouaï (aka Laureen Rebeha Zouaï) and Isaac Dunbar are in good company and you can expect their careers to skyrocket and hit our …
Continue reading "MTV Push showcases Lolo Zouaï and Isaac Dunbar in Chelsea – Nov 25, 2019"
Lili Trifilio started writing music in school and in her parents' house, channeling the emotions of relationships and breakups. Starting as a solo act, she had released an EP in 2016 when she formed Beach Bunny with guitarist Matt Henkels, bassist Aidan Cada, and drummer Jon Alvarado. Her writing has been prolific, releasing four EPs …
Continue reading "Beach Bunny visits Paste Studio – Nov 19, 2019"
As a huge Yeah Yeah Yeah's fan as well as being a fan of some of Danger Mouse's previous collaborations, I was extremely excited to not only hear the record "Lux Prima" when it first came out in March but to see the interpretation of that record on stage. When they announced two small "Lux …
Continue reading "Karen O & Danger Mouse wow Kings Theatre with Lux Prima – Nov 14, 2019"
Bay area teen Maia, known as mxmtoon, found some time in her busy New York schedule to stop by Paste Studio. Her first studio album "The Masquerade" was released in September, only nine months after her debut EP "Plum Blossom" came out. She's obviously a prolific writer and, why not? She writing about her life …
Continue reading "mxmtoon sings about teenage life at Paste – Nov 14, 2019"
Since I just saw Charly Bliss last week at Paste Studio (see coverage here), there isn't much more I can say that I haven't already said. But this headlining show at Webster Hall had a different feeling to it. Opening for Charly Bliss were Chloe mk, winner of the Voice season 13, and singer/songwriter Samantha …
Continue reading "Charly Bliss celebrates homecoming at Webster Hall – Nov 13, 2019"
NOTE: all photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography Canadian rocker JJ Wilde has been on a touring whirlwind over the last several months and November 12th saw her first headlining show at NYC's Mercury Lounge. Her debut record "Wilde Eyes and Steady Hands", just released back in June, is raw and full of emotion, …
Continue reading "JJ Wilde plays double header – Nov 12-13, 2019"
After being jetlagged and getting up to go to the gym at 6am, you'd think Josephine and Anthony of Oh Wonder would be exhausted as they arrived at Paste Studio in the late afternoon. Nope. They were as upbeat and peppy as ever. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen either of them in …
Continue reading "Oh Wonder debuts new music at Paste Studio – Nov 12, 2019"
Tokyo Police Club frontman Dave Monks has been a busy man. After recording TPC with the band in 2017, he was already taking those first steps towards his second solo record "On A Wave" which was released on October 18th. Monks stopped by Paste Studio to play some songs and talk about the new record. …
Continue reading "Dave Monks goes solo at Paste – Nov 12, 2019"
Talented singer/actor Leslie Odom Jr, best known for his role as Aaron Burr on Broadway's Hamilton, stopped by Paste Studio to give us a preview of his upcoming album "Mr" which will be released tomorrow, November 8th. The soulful sounds from that record is based on Odom looking to make music that he feels Nat …
Continue reading "Leslie Odom Jr plays to “full house” at Paste Studio – Nov 6, 2019"
You already know Tony Bennett as the legendary singer who continues to perform and wow audiences even at the ripe age of 93!! What you may not know is that he's also a talented painter. He's been studying with Frank Porcu at the Arts Students League of New York at 215 West 57th Street under …
Continue reading "Tony Bennett’s art exhibit opens at the Art Students League – Nov 5, 2019"
The first time I heard the squeaky poppy voice of Eva Hendricks, Charly Bliss was opening for Veruca Salt at Webster Hall in 2015. Fast forward to 2019 and two albums later, they have been touring non-stop as both a headliner and opening for bands like Death Cab for Cutie and PUP. Their sophomore album …
Continue reading "Charly Bliss plays Paste Studio – Oct 28, 2019"
If you miss the old days of don't give a fuck punk, you have to go to a Starcrawler show. But buyer beware...if you're near the stage, there is plenty of "band/crowd interaction". You might get water poured on you, a band member may blow their nose over you, your glasses or hat may get …
Continue reading "Starcrawler started Halloween early at Music Hall of Williamsburg – Oct 25, 2019"
As a teenager, what type of music do you gravitate to if your dad is a renowned Broadway composer? The opposite of course! Anna Rose, with Tom Waits and Chris Cornell as influences, rocked hard on her first two albums. Her latest record "The Light Between" goes in a slightly different direction. It's a little …
Sk8er bois and grrrls from the 90s rejoiced when Avril Lavigne announced a tour earlier this year to support her latest record "Head Above Water". She kicked off the show with images of herself in a white flowing dress on the beach and in the water. When she came on stage, she had mirrored that …
Continue reading "Avril Lavigne ends five year hiatus with Head Above Water tour – Oct 1, 2019"
It was fitting that Marty Diamond was honored with the SummerStage Icon Award at the 30th Anniversary Gala for the City Parks Foundation. He has helped promote free music and brought many acts to the park including tonight's performers David Gray, Sara Bareilles and Janelle Monáe. The event began with a cocktail hour that ended …
Continue reading "City Parks Foundation celebrates its 30th anniversary – Sept 26, 2019"
Talented multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Grace Potter stopped by Paste Studios on Wednesday as she begins to promote her upcoming solo album “Daylight” set to be released on October 25th. This will be her first studio album since “Midnight” in 2017, which had a more pop/dance vibe. If the first single "Back to Me" (released last …
Continue reading "Grace Potter feeling a lot of love at Paste Studio – Sept 18, 2019"
When I saw Counterfeit at Knitting Factory last year, I didn't know the history of the band. I had heard their punk/rock debut LP "Together We Are Stronger" and wanted to see this band that had been voted Best Live Act in 2017 at the AIM Independent Music Awards. I had arrived early and discovered …
Continue reading "Counterfeit blows away Knitting Factory – Sept 10, 2019"
NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography. Full review and photos also posted on Pancakes & Whiskey! "I think I take myself too serious. It's not that serious." That could represent the evolution of Vampire Weekend's music as they've grown older. Life changes when you're no longer in college but are in your …
Continue reading "Vampire Weekend transforms MSG into one big dance floor! – Sept 6, 2019"
I'm not sure whether New York loves Hatchie (aka Harriette Pilbeam) more or vice versa. Last night was her ninth time playing NYC in the last 2 yrs! This time as a headliner, Hatchie is touring in support of her debut LP "Keepsake" and kicked off the US leg of the tour with a stop …
Continue reading "Hatchie kicks off US headlining tour at Rough Trade – Sept 4, 2019"
Forty five years after The Who played their first ever US show in NYC, they hit Madison Square Garden for the second time this year to kick off the second leg of the "Moving On!" tour. Fans are eagerly anticipating their first studio record since 2006's "Endless Wire" and have even more to look forward …
Continue reading "The Who resume their “Moving On!” tour at MSG – Sept 1, 2019"
Brooklyn based folk singer Pearla (aka Nicole Rodriguez) stopped by Paste Studios just 10 days before her new record "Quilting and Other Activities" is set to be released. I actually saw her play at the Beehive in Brooklyn as part of the now defunct Northside Festival in 2017, even before she released her debut EP! …
Continue reading "Paste Studios presents Pearla – Aug 27, 2019"
It's a busy time for British singer/songwriter Bishop Briggs (aka Sarah Grace McLaughlin). After releasing her debut LP "Church of Scars" in 2018, she has kept on writing, releasing her latest single "Champion" just last month. Last night, Universal Music threw a her private party at the Angel Orensanz Foundation, old renovated church on the …
Continue reading "Bishop Briggs gets emotional at private gig on the Lower East Side – Aug 22, 2019"
Since the end of their Sister Sister Sister tour, we hadn't heard much from pop sister band HAIM until they release the single "Summer Girl" just three weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that they would be playing at Pier 17 as part of the Chase Sound Check series. Not only that but …
Continue reading "Chase Sound Check with HAIM – Aug 20, 2019"
Dream pop band Moira hit Paste Studios yesterday and debuted some new music. Originally from Dayton, this DIY band was based in Cincinnati for a period of time before returning home recently. In speaking with lead vocalist Alicia Grodecki, the recent shooting in Dayton has greatly affected the band since they had performed often at …
Continue reading "Paste Studios presents Moira – Aug 15, 2019"
One of the first artists to ever perform at Paste Studios, Israeli singer/songwriter Ninet Tayeb, graced these offices for the third time, playing two originals and two covers. She opened with "Self-Destructive Mind", the first song she wrote when she and husband Joseph moved to Los Angeles from Israel. It seems the sun and palm trees …
Continue reading "Paste Studios presents Ninet Tayeb – Aug 15, 2019"
When it was announced that R&B star and multi-instrumentalist H.E.R. (aka Gabriella Wilson) would be headlining a free show at Damrosch Park as part of the summer's Lincoln Center Out of Doors series, I knew it was going to be a madhouse...and rightfully so. Fans started lining up as early as nine in the morning to …
It started off as a beautiful afternoon in Central Park but ended with lightning and a downpour. Alternative band Guster is touring on the heels of their eighth record "Look Alive" with Brooklyn-based indie band Rubblebucket joining them for the last couple of shows. This Summerstage show was a benefit to support the City Parks Foundation. Rubblebucket …
Continue reading "Rubblebucket shone but Guster rained out at Summerstage – Aug 8, 2019"
Since I was born in Taiwan, you'd think I would have some clue regarding music coming out of the tiny island in Asia but I don't. After being immersed in English and American culture (as it were), all of my musical experience came from American radio and bands touring the States. Little did I know …
Continue reading "Taiwanese Waves roll over Summerstage – Aug 3, 2019"
Growing up in the 90s saw the emergence of alternative rock and grunge. But if you were into female singer/songwriters, artists such as FIona Apple, Norah Jones, Dido, and Alanis Morissette also hit the spotlight. As part of that list of amazing songwriters, Sarah McLachlan not only gave us multi-platinum albums "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" and …
Continue reading "Sarah McLachlan soothes the soul at Forest Hills Stadium – Aug 2, 2019"
catch up post Electro-pop band Oh Wonder continued their 2018 tour at Summerstage in New York City's Central Park at the heels of their 2017 record "Ultralife". Opening was singer/songwriter Sasha Sloan (aka Alexandra Artourovna Yatchenko), who's debut EP "Sad Girl" was released in April. NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography Oh …
Continue reading "Oh Wonder thrills Summerstage – July 9, 2018"
still in catch up mode Scottish electronic pop band Chvrches hosted the record release party for their latest record "Love is Dead" at iHeartRadio's tiny venue in Tribeca on a sunny day in May. With a capacity under 200, it promised to be an intimate event. This photographer was lucky enough to score a quick …
Continue reading "Chvrches celebrates with fans at the iHeartRadio Theatre – May 22, 2018"
still in catch up mode If you want to listen to pop that just makes you happy, Spanish band Hinds have the remedy for you. After the release of their sophomore album I Don’t Run, the band has been on a global tour covering Europe, the US and Canada. On the night of May 10, 2018, …
Continue reading "Hinds party it up at Warsaw – May 10, 2018"
(still in catch up mode) MGMT presided over the Grand Opening of Sony Hall, a collaboration between Sony and Blue Note. The occasion brought out many VIPs and some hardcore MGMT fans waited hours for entry! MGMT did not disappoint as they played old favorites as well as songs from their excellent new record "Little …
Continue reading "MGMT opens the new Sony Hall with a bang! – Mar 27, 2018"
(Still in catch-up mode) After playing her sold out show at Irving Plaza, K.Flay followed it up with another incredible performance at Warsaw. Opening for her was young Brit, Yungblud (aka Dominic Harrison), who got the crowd energized with his hard hitting hip hop inspired act. Thanks to Loudie NYC for the tickets! NOTE: all photographs …
Continue reading "K Flay slays Warsaw (yeah i know) – Mar 20, 2018"
If my previous post was about a band that took me back to my school days, many in the audience at this Lights show are still living through their school days, including a 9 yr old in the balcony. Her 4th studio album paired with a comic book mini-series that she wrote and drew really …
Continue reading "“We Were Here” for Lights at Irving Plaza – Feb 26, 2018"
I was taken back to my school days as the original line-up for Bananarama is touring the United Stated for the first time. I still remember mixed tapes with "Love in the First Degree"! My write-up and photos are here. NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography
(Still in catch-up mode) Dr. Martens kicked off their customization tour with food, drinks, swag and a kickin' live set from Charly Bliss. This indie pop/rock band was set to explode as they would tour later in 2018 with Death Cab for Cutie. Baby's All Right could barely contain their infectious energy but that's exactly …
Continue reading "Dr. Martens Customization Tour featuring Charly Bliss – Feb 21, 2018"
My first show shooting for Pancakes and Whiskey was a sold out Børns concert at Terminal 5. My write-up and photos are here. NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography
You know that feeling when the local band you've been following starts to make it and you're torn because, on the one hand, you want them to succeed and hit it big but, on the other hand, you want to continue to see them in cozy venues? Well, I have that feeling with both these …
Continue reading "Sunflower Bean and Sleigh Bells rock Brooklyn Steel – Feb 13, 2018"
Monday brought another show in the Steve Madden Presents series, this time with Bishop Briggs headlining and Philadelphia transplant Anna Shoemaker opening. It was a cold day in Williamsburg but fans had started lining up around 3pm. When Shoemaker took the stage at 9pm, she couldn't contain her excitement and mentioned that this capacity crowd …
After a video shoot earlier in the day, the snow coming down hard and ever, and Santa-con in full swing, it would have been easy to go home and just relax for the evening. However, I needed to head down to Rockwood Music Hall to see sister/brother duo Jocelyn and Chris Arndt play because they …
Continue reading "Jocelyn & Chris Arndt at Rockwood Music Hall – Dec 9, 2017"
Pandora typically puts together two events for the holidays: One is a massive "holiday party" at Pier 36 with at least 3 performers. The other is usually a smaller event but with a higher profile artist. Last year was John Legend on the Lower East Side. This year, Luke Bryan took the stage and performed …
Continue reading "Pandora UpCloseWith Luke Bryan – Dec 6, 2017"
You know how you watch a TV show and the kids in the show seem to grow up so much between one season and the next? Yeah yeah, I know it's definitely been that way since I last posted but that's also exactly how it feels every time I see Sunflower Bean. And it's not …
Since there are huge gaps in this concert blog, we'll try to fill in as opportunity permits. I'm not sure what it is about shoe companies promoting free shows but I'm on board! The band gets free shoes (or boots as the case may be) and the fans get to see a free concert. The …
As usual, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals put on a fun high energy show. The Beacon Theatre is great for those who normally go to venues like Madison Square Garden. But for those of us that are used to being at the barricade, the Beacon is rough. We can't get tickets for the front row …
Continue reading "Grace Potter & the Nocturnals thrills Beacon Theatre – Nov 16, 2012"
This was at Rumsey Playfield in Central Park as part of the Good Morning America series of concerts. I've never been a huge fan of these early morning shows but getting VIP access and the good lighting ensures I can get quality shots. NOTE: all photographs are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography Video Neon Trees …
Continue reading "Neon Trees play Good Morning America – Aug 17, 2012"
This was a hell of a lineup: JJAMZ, Penguin Prison and Neon Trees at Webster Hall!! It was the second of four Neon Trees show this year for me and the first without Elaine Bradley, their drummer, who gave birth to her first child, Bryce, the previous day. More on that later. JJAMZ is a …
Continue reading "Neon Trees destroy Webster Hall – July 10, 2012"
Back to the 80s with English Beat and Squeeze! I never saw Squeeze back in their heyday but I got to enjoy the music of my youth this night. Dave Wakeling and English Beat opened the show and got the crowd going quickly with their upbeat ska set. While Ranking Roger was doing his thing …
Continue reading "Squeeze with English Beat – Roseland Ballroom – Apr 28, 2012"
This Neon Trees show is the 2nd of many I've attended as they would quickly become the band that I have seen the most. The Trees were about to release their sophomore album "Picture Show" and had started to stream a few of the songs to their fans. The first single "Everybody Talks" had already …
Continue reading "Neon Trees celebrate their sophomore release at Bowery Ballroom – April 16, 2012"