Tonight: one of the better solo guitar sets I've seen in quite a while from Gwenifer Raymond. Positively violent on the low string with her thumb and then somehow simultaneously sublime and quite lovely with the rest of her fingers. At times almost sounding like a thrashing drum solo and a beautiful piano solo all at once. Absolutely mesmerizing.

Also, the extent of her banter (Welsh accent):
HI, nice to meet you.
I'm Gwen
I'm not very good at this part
{awkward pause}
Well, here's a song about a dog.

#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #guitar #gweniferraymond

This afternoon: rare, but appreciated, matinee set at Union Pool. Added because Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band sold out their two weekend night shows. Album is great, but somehow, counterintuitively, live I was more zeroed in on the lyrics, and damn, some super swell songwriting! The band is surprisingly large at 8 (kept finding more bodies hidden back there) and an endearingly ramshackle country-rock octopus at that. Fiddles and multiple (!) melodica, pedal steel... Good shit.

#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn

Friday night: did something I'm not sure I've ever done before, hit all three shows at Barbes. It was a great lineup and seemed like it'd be a fun thing to do.

Oscar Noriega typically great with Marta Sanchez her usual hypnotic-piano self, although not the best set from them.

Then an incredible set from Tsons of Tsunami who are on my short list of bands making the most creative, uniquely awesome improvised music out there... Anywhere! Just so very cool every time, it's no wonder Billy Martin has become effectively a permanent member. Simon Hanes has something special going, especially when secret weapon Anna Abondolo is on bass. Must-see every time and this was one of the best I've seen from them. Further cementing my Zappa-meets-Zorn descriptor.

Finally, Big Lazy, the "cinematic noir" guitar trio from Stephen Uhlrich. Twangy danceable fun in the late slot.

Great night in my favorite room...

#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #barbes #parkslope