White Williams, Ipso Facto & The Black Kids @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC
- Jan 06, 2009
We knew the holiday party, Rayban Remasters, would be impressive just based on the invite: a whole fake CD package, with a spinning wheel that revealed the various bands performing instead of music: White Williams, Ipso Facto and The Black Kids. However, only when we saw the entrance of Bowery Ballroom where the event was hosted did we realize how INSANELY extravagant it would be: the whole front of the music hall Bowery Ballroom resembled the front of a circus, with a big rent tent erected, and movie premier-sized spotlight shining on the hall front. Inside, there were limitless cocktails and cookies for all, and even, yes, seriously, a red velvet rope in front of the stage. Not necessarily indie rock ritual, but PR does and PR goes, and the PR machines Rogers and Cowan even managed to haul the kids from Gossip Girl into the building in full hipster plaid (and conspicuous Rayban shades at night).
While White Williams' performance was a bit lacklustre, Ipso Facto was devilishly alluring - like a rock-infused Ladytron. (Pssst - the pic above is when I caught on of the members in the bathroom after the show; while I complemented her on her talent, she still insisted she can't pay bills, despite talent or desire... ahhh, such is the life of suffering artists.) Afterwards, the Black Kids infused their saccharine pop to a bit more psychedelic-based riffs- which was much appreciated (they are still a bit too sweet to swallow).
Any other details pretty much melded into one by the end of the night, thanks to the cute models who kept passing out refills as soon as our vodka tonics got empty. After all, especially in these lean times, we aren't ones to turn down free rock and roll, drinks and ginger cookies - even if served under a giant circus tent (ahhh, such is the life of suffering music journalists).
