Henry Millers @ The Studio at Webster Hall

Much like the $3 cans of Bomb Lager served at the bar, The Henry Millers proved to be an acquired taste, at first unsettling, but ultimately leaving you thirsting for more at night’s end.

Fronted by the duo of John MacCallum and Katie Schecter, the NYC based pop tarts built momentum as the show progressed with their catchy harmonies and charmed an enthusiastic crowd filling The Studio, Webster Hall’s subterranean lair. The supporting live instrumentation, particularly the contributions of bassist Philip Nuttle, provided more energy and authenticity to their sound than can be heard on their recent, more synth-oirented EP.

“Flash Gordon” served an excellent example of how the interplay of John & Katie’s voices, which defines The Henry Millers in a manner similar to The XX, is best framed within the context of a live show.

Tremendous poets they are not, as more than one chorus relies on soulful howls and repetition rather than mindful wording, but the bands appear comfortable with its identity as creators of fun & free melodies, sure to stick in your head for days.

The Aviation Orange Top 10 of 2009

RethinkPopMusic sat down with The Aviation Orange to find out what were their Top 10 Albums and Singles of 2009.

Albums:

Grizzly Bear – Vecktamist
Wild Bests – Two Dancers
The xx – The xx
Phoenix – Wolfgang Amedeus Pheonix
Passion Pit – Manners
The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – It’s Blitz
Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavillion
Built to Spill – There is No Enemy
Islands – Vapours
Bat For Lashes Two Suns

Singles:

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks
Wild Beasts – All the Kings Men
Karen O & The Kids – All is love
Phoenix – 1901
Lady Gaga – Bad Romance
Miike Snow – Animal
Dirty Projectors – Stillness is the Move
The Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – Heads will Roll or Soft Shock
Pains of Being Pure at Heart – Everything with You
Pitbull – Hotel Room Service