Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Live Review: Reiging Sound 4Knots Festival 6/29/13 NYC

Our View of the set
4Knots Music Festival
6/29/13
South Street Seaport, NYC

We were a little later then we would have liked to been on Saturday which caused us to miss a few of the earlier acts, but the gorgeous day was still shining bright when we strolled into the South Street Seaport and grabbed our first of many refreshing cocktails on the day.

We entered just as Parquet Courts ended their set on the main stage and we were told we missed a good one so we will have to check them out. Marnie Stern immediately started up the last set of the day on the "B" stage, but her group wailed and slammed winningly through a punky off kilter rager in the hot sun. The Men played a varying set of rock that touched on punk, Pink Floyd and a set closing cover of The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog" complete with saxophone tooting and stage destruction; their set made me really want to revisit their recent album.

Then the group we have been waiting for months to see, Reigning Sound hit the stage. Greg Cartwright and company are clearly not daytime people as they were dressed in layers of clothing, contradictory to the 90 degree heat. The sun hide behind some buildings soon after the group started with their opening "Your Love Is A Fine Thing" showing off the harmonies that liken them to 50's rock so well. After a few sound issues the tambourine started shaking while Cartwright broke out a song from his Parting Gifts record "Bound To Let Me Down", a surprise tune all around which was a joy to hear.  

"Straight Shooter" had the organ pumping while "Reptile Style" slithered in the now (semi) cooling shade. "We Repel Each Other" focused on some thunderous drumming, while "Debris" from Love and Curses might have been the most perfectly played tune on the day.

A quick and really swinging version of "Time Bomb High School" was blasted through as was "If You Can't Give Me Everything", two of the bands best tunes. A cool treat during "You Got Me Hummin'" saw a few passing boats blowing their horns with the music.

Coming off the stage Greg was sweaty and beat read, maybe playing in a t-shirt might have been a better move, but the band delivered on all fronts. Obviously we here at RtBE love Reigning Sound and think they are one of the most underrated out their today, their late set is definitely a nod to their talent, but it was interesting being in a crowd of people who hadn't come for Reigning Sound to view them.

Most seemed semi interested, but politely cheered and clapped. Let's face it we have been going to 4Knots/Siren Fest for a long time now and these are basically hipster showcases...Reigning Sound is far from that world, (Cartwright has been making great music for longer then some of these acts have been alive) but they are a treat anytime we can catch them.

While we stuck around for the first two Kurt Vile songs the night had other things for us to do so we moseyed along...until next year...   

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