I both love and hate Brooklyn Bowl. Here’s a breakdown:
LOVE
Cajun fried chicken with honey, big and luxurious leather couches, “Planet Earth” on multiple screens, absinthe cocktails, free shows.
HATE
Everything related to the stage and sound of bands that play there.
INDIFFERENT TO
Sounds of bowling pins being struck
There are clearly more items in the LOVE category. But the band is what really matters, especially when the band is Real Estate, which pretty much owns a large chunk of my head right now.
The band was really tight last night, (they could play these songs in their sleep), but I think the large room and the unbelievably large crowd may have been startling. Maybe. I mean, 3/4 of the band played Bruar Falls the night before backing up Julian Lynch. That place was packed too, but it’s maybe 1/50th the size of Brooklyn Bowl. Either way, the fire that i’ve seen these guys play with, most recently at the Market Hotel, wasn’t there last night. Or maybe it was, I just couldn’t feel it because it was gobbled up by the 30 foot ceilings.
The show was good, of course it was, but the room and the magnitude of the space stifled the sound.
The band debuted the track “Dumb Luck,” which is a melodic and enchanting song. I feel that the more Real Estate dig into those soft jam spots the better they sound. These guys get lost in extended soundscapes, and you can see it on their faces.
The Babies opened the night with pop garage rock. It was fun and clean– this band could be great.
Watch the twitvid, with bad sound, of what Martin ( @realyrealestate ) calls “Wonder Years.”
5 comments
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January 6, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Pat
Gotta disagree, I saw them play the same room a couple months ago for the Insound party and then they seemed frightened by the size of the venue and lost in the sound, this time they sounded so much better than they did that time. The crowd were a little too indifferent and chatty throughout the set, but that shouldn’t be blamed on the band or the venue, it’s the assholes that talk through the set that should be dragged out and shot in the head twice. I thought they were really good last night, but Babies were even better!
January 6, 2010 at 5:06 pm
sarah
def w/ you on the crowdedness detracting from the quality of the show. hadn’t really thought of it from the band’s viewpoint, but it was def distracting to be so crammed together in a mess of ppl who barely cared about what was going on & just came to chat & half-listen. i always forget thats the general downside of free shows!
oh and i had the cajun fried chicken also last night! was sooooo gooooood. my 1st time at the venue & ill def be back at some point.
January 6, 2010 at 5:11 pm
fiercetalk
Pat- thanks for the perspective! I did not see that first show…
I was right in front so i didn’t have to deal with people chattering, so I was lucky in that sense.
I think it was a good show, but it seemed like they were maybe a bit distracted. And i think that may have something to do with the general sensory overload that comes with BK Bowl.
Of course they sound better now, they’ve been playing constantly!
January 6, 2010 at 5:20 pm
uncle leland
you kidding? the front of the crowd was jammed with chatty pre-teens and drunk frat boys. to be expected at a free show like that. still, RE was as tight as ever. i love how they look like they could give a fuck where they play. its all about the music for those guys.
January 6, 2010 at 6:06 pm
mimi
I am not a fan of Brooklyn Bowl. Love the food, but I never feel like I’m truly “there” when I’m watching a band. Not dark enough with all the distractions around.