The Maccabees Take on NYC with Miike Snow
Posted by Jess. D on July 8, 2009
The Maccabees at Mercury Lounge, 6.22.09
We got very excited way back in February when The Maccabees released track No Kind Words as a free download and prelude to sophomore effort, Wall of Arms. It seemed like we’d been waiting forever to hear new material from our favorite UK art-rockers and even longer to finally see them live. I fell in love with The Maccabees back in London in 2007 when their ballad, Toothpaste Kisses, was ubiquitous on the airwaves, in TV adverts and seemingly the entire nation’s consciousness.
If their debut, Colour It In, was as we called it “a gem that has been harshly overlooked in The States — a deeply affecting, lilting and sentimental musical effusion,” then Wall of Arms, released in May in the UK, is a brilliant explosion of new sounds, textures and styles for The Maccabees.
Miike Snow at The Music Hall of Williamsburg, 6.20.09
The Maccabees recently played Music Hall of Williamsburg and Mercury Lounge in NYC along with Swedish bubblegum pop-rockers, Miike Snow. The Swedish super-producer duo of Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg got the crowds dancing on both occasions with their precise and engaging live set. Although Miike Snow have a bit more of a high profile at the moment, The Maccabees (to their own surprise) brought out many more seemingly loyal fans than expected — resulting in a mostly male, thrashing mosh pit at the Music Hall gig. The South London 5 piece is arrestingly charming live and deliver every song with undeniable energy and fierce sincerity.
I’d go as far as to call the Music Hall gig an epic experience for any fan who had been waiting a long time to see them play live. Being able to catch them at a very intimate venue like Mercury Lounge was special as well considering they drew massive crowds to their set at Glastobury just a few days later. Highlights of both The Maccabees’ humble and heartfelt gigs included Love You Better, Can You Give It, X-Ray and First Love.
Check out coverage of The Maccabees at Glastonbury 2009. The band performed a session on Jo Whiley’s Live Lounge today and covered the Black Eyed Peas Boom Boom Pow, check it out HERE!
Don’t forget to check back later this week for TLC’s exclusive interview with The Maccabees.
MP3: The Maccabees – Dinosaurs or zShare
MP3: Miike Snow – Animal (Crookers Remix) or zShare
MP3: The Maccabees – Love You Better (Russell Lissack Remix) or zShare
Mercury Lounge
Music Hall of Williamsburg
cazzibelle said
I was at the MHoW show… it was incredible. I’d heard they were awesome live but they really blew me away! Looking forward to the next show Stateside!
major itunes said
Crookers @ iTunes: http://bit.ly/qaPSN
TLC vs. The Maccabees: Precious Time in NYC | MP3 Music at MixBurner said
[...] was lucky to get two shows from The Maccabees this summer where the UK indie rockers showcased material from their brilliant [...]