The Lovely Feathers and Kittens Ablaze @ Bowery Ballroom

On Wednesday night I had the pleasure of seeing The Lovely Feathers from Montreal and local band Kittens Ablaze open for Rural Alberta Advantage (who I have seen before and unfortunately could not stay for this time around).

The Lovely Feathers were up first, and I've always liked their particular brand of pub rock/pop (you know, the kind of music that gets drunk people shouting along at the top of their lungs). I've had "Lowiza" stuck in my head for days since the show because their songs are damn catchy. They put on a good high energy show, and yet were down-to-earth at the same time with amusing between song banter with the audience. They're a good looking bunch of guys too, and the music seemed more playful live than it does on the album. Definitely worth checking out if they come to your town.

Lowiza [mp3] - (iTunes)

Kittens Ablaze (best band name ever!) put on fabulously rockin' show. Particularly guitar player Nate Senge, who was leaping off of equipment (and over equipment) and generally head-banging a lot. But the whole band was pretty awesome. They were so much fun and they had the whole crowd singing and dancing along, especially to audience faves like "This Machine is Dying," which also happens to be my favorite. Seeing as they're local, I expect all you NYC readers to go check them out.

This Machine is Dying [mp3] - (iTunes)

More pictures here:

The Lovely Feathers & Kittens Ablaze @ Bowery Ballroom

I do have one criticism, but it's not of the band so much as of the audience (warning, rant coming - feel free to skip this part UNLESS you are a friend of a band - any band - and go to lots of their shows): their friends were f**king obnoxious. About one third of the way into their set, a screaming, jumping friend of theirs came a-runnin' up to the stage and quite literally plowed into me while I was trying to take some photos and completely stole my spot after nearly knocking me clean off my feet. He then preceded to knock into or shove in front of at least two other photographers. And for the rest of the show he wouldn't stop jumping and screaming really stupid shit (lots of inside jokes and then just stupid immature drunk stuff). I found it really hard to focus on the band (or hear them over his yelling) when I was worried about getting elbowed in the head by him and his friends who soon joined him. A suggestion to friends of bands: don't ruin the show for other people. Just because you know them and you see them play all the time, doesn't mean everyone else does too, and we might like to hear the band instead of you yelling the whole time. It will help your friends build a bigger fan base if you shut the f**k up. And don't knock over the photographers/journalists who are trying to give your friends free publicity. We're trying to do good things for your friends, so don't interfere. Thanks.