Cayetana Played One of Their Final Shows at Music Hall of Williamsburg with Katie Ellen and Bacchae, 8/2/19

Cayetana by Rose Lamela

The Influence of Female Rock

Words and pics by Rose Lamela

Growing up, I had many female idols that contributed to the music I loved as lead singers and songwriters. Their posters filled up my bedroom walls. Even though I looked up to them, there were always more male-dominated bands that I was drawn to. I spoke of all my favorite male guitarists and drummers. I also had a habit of calling all female bands "girl bands," but I never called some of my favorite bands "guy bands."

Today, I find myself going to tons of shows that have more women on stage. It was noticeable to me at first, but I realized this year that I have become desensitized. I expect to see women in most bands and not just singers, but shredders and drummers too. One of those bands is the Philly trio Cayetana. It helped that they wrote a break-up song called "Scott Get The Van, I'm Moving" which joined me for car rides with the windows down and yelling lyrics into the North Jersey traffic. I was inspired to attend one of their live shows that ended up being one of their final shows. They are not a "girl band" either. They are an indie rock band!!

I drove to Brooklyn with a great co-pilot that made the hour drive go as smooth as the organic conversation. We laughed and talked about things that we feel passionate about and the crazy world we live in. We got to know each other better. We have been seeing each other at shows over the years and bonding through social media, but the car ride solidified our friendship. Mr. Hoboken Jack was around when I first started this journey during my days as a volunteer at WFMU -- my journey into finding the great indie scene within the walls of small intimate venues.

We got to Williamsburg, and I had the opportunity to be introduced to Bacchae's music. They played their swift and fast DC punk music. They woke me the hell up as I was chugging some caffeine on the way in to make sure I was present for a much-anticipated show. I especially liked the songs "Dig" and "Prick." I love when opening acts start the show off with a rush of noise.

Bacchae

Bacchae

Bacchae

Katie Ellen followed with her stories weaved into lyrics and music that hit those frequencies that make your heart buzz. She shared a story about meeting [Cayetana vocalist / guitarist] Augusta Koch at a music festival and their conversation about forming bands. She expressed her appreciation for Cayetana and getting to be part of their farewell tour. Katie then closed her set with a song that escalated towards the end for a little bit of a jam session. I regret to report that I do not know the title to that tune even though I really enjoyed it. It was a nice intro to what would come next. The final Cayetana show in Brooklyn.

Katie Ellen

Katie Ellen

Katie Ellen

Cayetana took the stage and the crowd at times yelled, "Get back together!" and "Don’t go!!" Their fans expressed their disapproval of the band's announcement to break up. The show was packed with attentive listeners that sang along to Cayetana's sometimes painful lyrics. It was a packed show, but everyone was incredibly mellow, and it felt like a reunion at times. I saw people finding each other in the crowd and talking about the last Cayetana show they went to. I was so happy to hear songs like "Am I Dead Yet?," "Bus Ticket," and "Hot Dad Calendar."

Cayetana

Cayetana

Cayetana expressed their gratitude to their fans for being there at every show and supporting their music. They came back and rocked out "Scott Get the Van, I'm Moving" as their encore; and I actually got a little emotional. That song should be the anthem for anyone who has felt it is time to hit the fucking road on a relationship!!

Cayetana

Cayetana

We picked up an extra body for the trip back and walked back to the car to find a ticket on the dash. The parking Gods were not on our side, but the banter and stories were plenty. When there is a car full of music lovers and humorous expression, things can only go right. Friday nights in Brooklyn will never get old. Friday nights with friends will always make life feel new again.

Bully Played Music Hall of Williamsburg with Aye Nako, 11/13/17

Bully

Mondayin'

I took it kind of easy last week show-wise. CoolMom had a business trip to DC during the first part of the week. Getting up and out to do anything has been kind of a chore for me lately; and, when the temps dropped this weekend, it sapped most of my resolve. I did get to spend some time with CoolMom following her return. We hung out and caught up on some TV shows which is one of our favorite ways to spend time.

Anyway...

By Monday, I was feeling like I should force myself to get out and "cover" something. I scrolled through the "Discover" section on Facebook and, after a while, came across the Bully / Aye Nako show at Music Hall of Williamsburg that I remembered I'd been really interested in when it first came across my feed. "Not sold out. Done."

I've had Bully's Losing in HEAVY rotation since it came out about three weeks ago. And 2015's Feels Like (along with the Bully EP) is one of my goto albums for late-night drives home from Asbury or Brooklyn. Despite my Bully fandom, I'd never managed to catch them live. The fact that Aye Nako, a band I'd already seen live a couple of times and who put out a great album of their own with this year's Silver Haze, were also on the bill made the whole thing that much more of a no-brainer.

Aye Nako

I got to Music Hall of Williamsburg super-unfashionably early. I figured I'd just zone out with my phone up against the stage until the music started, but then Ed from You Don't Know Jersey showed up. We talked a little blogger inside baseball until Aye Nako came on at about 9.

The last two times I'd seen Aye Nako were in the cavernous Asbury Park Convention Hall and in a dark, red-lit space down in Austin. Jade Payne and Mars Dixon traded off on lead vocal duties throughout last night's set; and, without a doubt, Aye Nako sounded as good as I've ever heard them. Loud, sometimes discordant, but still kind of poppy, Aye Nako's 90s-inspired rock pairs well with Bully. And damn if "Particle Mace" isn't just as great live as it is on Silver Haze.

Aye Nako

Bully came out at about 10 and did a roughly one-hour set that hit just about everything in their two-album catalog. Bully driving force, Alicia Bognanno, sometimes sings in a scream so forceful, it's hard to understand how she's able to speak afterwards. But, then, there she is speaking to the audience as if none of that ever happened.

Bully

Bully

For singles like "Trying" and "Feel the Same," audience members rushed up to the stage to sing along about a foot or so from Bognanno who seemed to enjoy it. At the end of both the main set and the encore, Bognanno slammed her guitar down on the stage with a forcefulness that made me wince a little bit, even breaking a string the first time. I have to admit, though, I'm a sucker for rock theatrics; and it was pretty cool.

Bully

It was also pretty cool that I forced myself to head out. Yeah, it's a long drive to Brooklyn; and, yeah, finding parking in Williamsburg kinda sucks. Seeing Bully live, though, has been on my list for a while now; and it all ended up being more than worth it.

Bully

Part of the reason I get there so early is to take pictures. All of those are available in the Flickr galleries and on the Facebook page.

Bully and Aye Nako bring their tour to DC's U Street Music Hall tonight, 11/15. And I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to catch them again down in Austin at SXSW.

Diarrhea Planet Played Music Hall of Williamsburg with Western Medication and High Waisted, 10/4/16

Tuesday Night Follies

I was sitting at my desk last week, and High Waisted posted that they'd be opening for Diarrhea Planet at Music Hall of Williamsburg. High Waisted put out one of my favorite records of 2016, and Diarrhea Planet are one of the best live acts around right now; so I figured, "What the hell?"

If I'd known then what I know now: that I'd be used multiple times as a human step ladder by people wanting to stage dive during Diarrhea Planet's set, that I wouldn't be able to bend over and tie my shoes today, that I'd carry an impression of the MHOW stage across my ribs for the next week or so, that I'd end up with some of my favorite photos I've ever taken... I'd do it all again.

As usual, I got to the venue too early but in plenty of time for MHOW pre-show happy hour in the downstairs lounge. Steely Dan gave way to 80s hits like "Weird Science" and Peter Schilling's "Major Tom" as I sipped the one beer I'd be allowing myself for the night. I headed up into the barren and empty performance space at around 8:45.

High Waisted took the stage at just about 9, and there were maybe 10 people in the audience. But here's where bands can learn something. High Waisted started their set and played as if they were playing to a packed house. Singer / guitarist, Jessica Louise Dye, kept smiling and enjoying herself until the room eventually started to fill. Steven Nielsen (guitar), Jono Bernstein (drums), and Jeremy Hansen (bass) tossed their hair, jumped from the drum risers, and just generally brought it.

They played through songs from On Ludlow and closed the set with an aggressive version of "Miserlou." By the end of their set, there was a pretty large crowd dancing right along with Dye. That charisma that can draw people in makes High Waisted a great band to shoot; and, if theirs was the only set I saw, my evening would have been made. Luckily there was more.

Next up were Nashville's Western Medication. They're touring with their paisanos in Diarrhea Planet, but I was unfamiliar with them before last night. The band played a relentless set of post punk-influenced jams. Really the kind of stuff I'm into. Their set was also super high-energy, and they definitely won over the crowd. It's really impressive when an opener you've never heard before can play through a set and never have you counting the minutes to the headliner. Western Medication's 40-minute set felt almost too short.

The crowd pushed up front and started getting rowdy before Diarrhea Planet came out. Someone's friend named Tristan, I think, arrived; and the guys behind me all took up the chant of "Tris-Tan! Tris-Tan! Tris-Tan!" That eventually became "DIA-RRHEA! DIA-RRHEA!" and the band walked onstage showered by that chorus.

Then they started. And they pretty much did not stop for the length of their set. It was just a barrage. Song after song without a break. The crowd roiled behind me. Punching me in the spine. Pinning me against the stage as I tried to take pictures.

About halfway through the set, the stage divers -- seemingly egged on by the band, mostly by guitarist Mike Boyle -- started climbing onstage. One guy used my back and collar bone to give himself a boost. People were running up onstage, hugging members of the band, dancing. It was pandemonium. The crowd loved it. The band seemed to be loving it. I kinda loved it.

Diarrhea Planet played a little over an hour, I think. "Separations," "Ain't No Sin to Win," "Emmett's Vision," "Life Pass." Lots more. I wasn't taking notes.

I headed out to the street aching a little bit, looking like someone had just beaten the crap out of me -- which they kind of had -- and feeling pretty damn good about the whole evening. I'm probably getting too old for this kind of thing, but I hope I never feel that way.

Diarrhea Planet and Western Medication hit Bowery Ballroom tomorrow night, 10/6, with White Rope.

All the pics are up in the Flickr galleries.