Pela @ Mercury Lounge NYC 6/17/07

Visibly pleased to be home in NYC, Pela gave it their all on the last night of the tour with full energy and maximum guitar rock. People compare them to the Walkmen, and it is an apt comparison, but they have something else going on that I like a lot.

The blistering cover of the Pixies Holiday Song was a nice surprise, as was the all band end of tour jam at the end. Not sure what to make of the spaceman who introduced them and joined in on the fun, but he added a nice whimsy to the proceedings.

Stream the album here.

Brakes Brakes Brakes @ the Mercury Lounge 6/17/07

It was hot as hell and the last night of the tour and we were not certain we were in the mood for Brakes Brakes Brakes' brand of punk rock. We were wrong.

These boys won us over, first with the big ol' Wyoming sticker on a guitar, then with their humor and enthusiasm. Porcupine or Pineapple is a song I'll carry in my head forever.

Sorry for iffy photos, I'm far away from my photo-chop.