Wavves & Christmas Island @ Music Hall of Williamsburg 9/21/10

    I moved to New York for two reasons, the music scene and the opportunities. In this city, on any given night there is a show to go to, no matter what your musical taste is. You may think this is an exaggeration, but it most definitely is not.  The first show I attended was at the Music Hall of Williamsburg featuring Wavves, a "lo-fi-noise pop" band from San Diego.  Opening the show was fellow west coast band Christmas Island, whose name refers to the Pacific island where the United Kingdom tested nuclear weapons in the 1950s.
    I arrived at the show three songs in to Christmas Islands set, where I walked in to an array of hipster rockers. Not that I didn't expect this, this is Brooklyn, but some kids are just too hip for there own good.  I found the bar and ordered myself an overpriced whiskey and coke, found a spot and began to listen to front man Brian Island and his immensely lovesick songs. It was like he stole the diary of a heart broken 16 year old surf punk and wrote an album with his words. His backup vocals were provided by drummer Lucy Wherly, who added a sort of innocence to the band that I enjoyed.  This isn't a band that I would rush to tell my friends about, but they are certainly recommended to see live if you get the chance. They ended the set with their new single called "Bed Island" off the self-titled EP.
    I have read a lot of reviews about Wavves and their live shows, most of them consisting of stories that front man Nathan Williams gets so wasted on and off stage that he can barely finish a show.  I would probably  be doing the same if I was 23 and touring the country with my band so I can't judge the guy. The month or so prior to the show I began listening to Wavves new and second album "King of the Beach", full of distorted vocals, sloppy guitar, and my favorite of all synthesizers, the MicroKorg.  This album caught my attention quickly which is why I couldn't give up a chance to see them.
   After  forty five minutes of waiting for the band, they appeared just as I imagined. All of them sporting tye dye t'shirts with messy hair and a confused look on there face, I quickly thought to my self, those look some friends back in Omaha.  They began to play and not long after a mosh pit began. I found myself to be right in the middle. It had been a long time since I pushed some people around at a show, so I figured why not. After losing my shoe twice, falling over, and elbowing a girl in the nose, I figured it was time for me to step out. They played for about an hour and were very talkative with the crowd, while sipping on Heineken.  The last song they played was "Post-Acid", my personal favorite. Maybe it was the number of drinks I had, or the atmosphere of the venue, but I had no complaints with their show. I loved it all from the mosh pit to the five minute pee break that the bass player took mid-set.
   I couldn't imagine going to a better show to introduce myself to the Brooklyn music scene, it was all I could ask for. I only wish some of my regular concert going friends from Omaha could be here to witness the amazing things that go down in this city. There is no doubt in my mind that New York City can satisfy my hunger for music, and I'm always hungry!

Listen to Christmas Island Here

Listen to Wavves Here