I don’t say this too often, but last night was one of the best line-ups I’ve seen all year. I’ve been to my fair share of triple threat gigs, but this one was extra memorable. Though there wasn’t one real common musical thread between the three bands (besides the fact that they all play rock music), last night’s gig made me feel like the big kid in a candy store and the music proved to provide a little something for everyone.

The bill made it well worth the trek all the way uptown to T5, a big mother, +3000 person cavernous space. Even with cold snowy-rain-sleet, NYC ventured out in support of Editors, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV. Even Natalie Portman was there, and she has a 154 IQ, so you knew you were at the place to be.

Louis XIV

First up was Louis XIV, and all I can say is what a satisfying surprise. Louis XIV brought some serious live sound, showcasing songs from their forthcoming album, Slick Dogs and Ponies, due out Jan. 29.

Sonic treats like “Guilt By Association” and “Air Traffic Control” roused the attention of a good early crowd. With a little help from a bad-ass organ and two violins, Louis XIV killed it. Front man Jason Hill and guitarist Brian Karcsig sported some impressive new facial hair. Wearing black jeans, fedoras, and vests, the band even sipped red wine as they stormed through their tight set. Radically different from, 2005’s The Best Little Secrets Are Kept, the boys are back with more heavy & dramatic rock n’ roll songs. To reinforce the fact that this band has longevity, the new tunes are creatively, a progressive step forward and a lot less pretentious. So much so, that when the band played old goodies like “Finding Out True Love Is Blind”, it was like a hearing a different band altogether. But let’s face it, you’ve gotta love a song that has the lyrics “let’s all get drunk, and have orgies, and your little Asian friend can come too…” Slick Dogs and Ponies is sure to be a captivating new release that could put Louis XIV back in the forefront of the indie music scene.

www.myspace.com/louisxiv

Hot Hot Heat

2003’s Make Up The Breakdown is still one of my favorite albums and I’ll always have a soft spot for Steve Bays because, well, he’s such an entertaining frontman.

Jagger-swagger, lots of energy and even more hair. Half the fun of a HHH gig is just watching Bays jump, flail, and bounce all over the stage. The new album, Happiness LTD, which dropped September 11th, is audacious and aggressive, with a more experimental sound. “Happily” fans will still find the familiar teasing melodies, and clever lyrics.

Launching into tunes like “Dirty Mouth” and “Harmonicas & Tambourines”, the band set the pace for an upbeat 40-minute set. Even with new arrangements to vintage tunes like “Bandages” and “No Not Now”, the band’s unrelenting onstage energy got the masses in a fine frenzy. By the time the band got around to Elevator’s smash “Good Night, Good Night”, the room was in full swing. Saving the best for last, Bays, alongside guitarist Luke Paquin, rocked out while playing “Talk to Me Dance with Me”, a song that has one of the most addictive choruses ever made in synth-hipster heaven. A great end to a great set. It all goes to prove Hot Hot Heat are still, well, hot.

Set list:
Dirty Mouth
Harmonicas and Tambourines
No Not Now
Bandages
5 Times Out of 100
Let Me In!!
Middle of Nowhere
My Best Friend
Good Night
Talk To Me Dance With Me

www.myspace.com/hothotheat

Editors

If you’ve never seen Editors live, do yourself a favor and make it a point to next time they come around. Always known for their strong live performances, last night the band ripped into a seamless set that preceded their reputation, and converted any unfamiliar fans to the band’s rich, arena-worthy performance. Highlighted by a spectacular light show and a dominant wall of sound, this experience was nothing short of cathartic.

It’s hard not have a crush on Tom Smith, watching him climb pianos and play instruments simultaneously, pulling off some beautiful epileptic stage moves. With the band’s soaring melodies and Tom’s hypnotic baritone vocals, you can understand a pleasant comparison to Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.

The set was primarily made up of songs from the new sophomore album, An End Has A Start, which came out June 2007. For veteran fans, the band made sure to throw in some keepers from their 2005 debut, The Back Room.

Editors opened up with “Bones”, a fiery song with brutal guitar riffs that literally makes it ascend. Other gems included “Escaping the Nest” and “Racing Rats”, both so intense they have a ferocious, adrenaline effect. With help from Chris Urbanowicz’s dexterous guitar playing, sonically the sky really is the limit…you hear and feel it.

After flying thru songs from the new album, the band delighted the crowd with earlier hits like “Blood” and “Munich”. Closing out the stellar set with debut album-anthem “Fingers in the Factories”, it was clear that Editors commanded all the space and attention of everyone in the room. As the whole crowd vibrantly chanted the chorus “Keep with Me” over and over again, it was clear the fans wanted the band to know that they were in sync with them as well as with each other.

Set list:
Bones
All Sparks
An End Has A Start
Bullets
Escape The Nest
The Weight Of The World
Lights
Blood
When Anger Shows
You Are Fading
The Racing Rats
Munich
Smokers
Fingers

www.myspace.com/editorsmusic  

Make sure to catch this fantastic triple bill at its remaining US dates:

Jan 19 2008 8:00P
Orpheum Theatre Boston

Jan 20 2008 8:00P
Club Soda Montreal

Jan 22 2008 8:00P
Koolhaus Toronto

Jan 23 2008 8:00P
Newport Music Hall Columbus

Jan 25 2008 8:00P
Vic Theatre Chicago

Jan 26 2008 8:00P
Majestic Theatre Detroit

Jan 27 2008 8:00P
Pabst Theatre Milwaukee

Jan 29 2008 8:00P
Majestic Theatre Madison

Jan 30 2008 8:00P
Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis

Feb 1 2008 8:00P
Ogden Theatre Denver

Feb 2 2008 7:00P
Avalon Theatre Salt Lake City

Feb 4 2008 8:00P
Showbox at the Market Seattle

Feb 5 2008 8:00P
Commodore Ballroom Vancouver

Feb 6 2008 8:00P
Roseland Theater Portland

Feb 8 2008 8:00P
Warfield Theatre San Francisco

Feb 9 2008 8:00P
The Wiltern Los Angeles

Feb 10 2008 8:00P
House of Blues Anaheim

Feb 12 2008 7:00P
Marquee Theatre Tempe

Feb 13 2008 8:00P
House of Blues San Diego

Feb 14 2008 8:00P
House of Blues Las Vegas

–Aishah Roberts, Photos by Faith-Ann Young