As a solo act, it’s never easy to command attention. Sure Wakey!Wakey!’s Mike Grubbs was the only person on stage during his set at TT the Bears in Cambridge on August 26th. Who else are you going to look at? But solo acts are all too easy to dismiss. The music is quieter. It might seem like a good time to grab a beer or catch up with a friend.
I saw some of that behavior at the Wakey!Wakey! concert and it hardly comes as a surprise since Mike Grubbs—shockingly unknown in these parts—is methodically building his Boston presence with an eye toward filling our local venues like he can pack the Mercury Lounge in New York.
But just a few notes from Mike Grubbs’ piano or organ is all it has ever taken to get a crowd to stop what they’re doing and begin paying attention to this native Virginian who grew up surrounded by a family heavily involved in church music. Grubbs’ orchestral music—and that is really how it is meant to be heard—obliterates the audience’s natural skepticism toward a solo act. The expansive nature of his voice and music begs you to give him at least a few minutes of careful listening.
We have yet to see a set where Wakey!Wakey! hasn’t converted 90% of the crowd by the end of a show. That takes intimate music, a strong helping of talent and intricately imagined songs, all things Wakey!Wakey! has in abundance. Throw in Mike Grubbs’ fantastic pipes, his ability to shred the piano (yeah, I said it ... Mike Grubbs shreds the piano) and you’ve got yourself a band building buzz all along the Northeast.
We continue to be impressed with this man’s music if not his 8-ball game.
Download Wakey!Wakey!’s Live at the Bowery Ballroom for free. Catch Wakey!Wakey! in Boston on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at TT the Bears where he will (we hope) be supported by a full band.
Also playing at the show that night was Atomictom, a Brooklyn band composed of Luke White on vocals, Eric Espiritu on guitar, Phil Galitzine on bass and Kevin Rice on drums. We can safely say that they thoroughly rocked the place as the opening set and we’d love to hear more of them in the future.
Particularly of note was the band’s “You Always Get What You Want” which you can hear on their MySpace page. Scroll down for pictures, including Eric’s guitar after he rocked out the group’s closing song (it’s safe to say he left a little bit of himself on stage).
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
