Photos by Omar Kasrawi
If you’re gonna be a rock ‘n’ roller you could do worse than being born on the same date as Elvis Aaron Presley and David Robert Jones. Actually, scratch that. You can’t do better than sharing a birthday with the King and the Starman. And on January 8th, music fans at the Mercury Lounge got to wish both of those legends and New York’s own Fiona Silver another wonderful trip around the sun.
Starting out the night was Brooklyn based Modern Whale. The three-piece, fronted by “Robbie G” Guariglia, brought energetic rock sound that seemed to pick up the pace with each successive song. Guariglia comes with the requisite hair flips and shredding guitar and an imminently joyous vibe.
Switching gears from there, was the irreverent punk whiplash frenzy known as Crazy and the Brains. The New Jersey-based band features a disparate cast of characters capable of whipping the crowd into a piggyback induced frenzy and then get those same onlookers to volunteer some time on the xylophone (Yes, you heard right…the xylophone). Lead singer Chris Urban is a kinetic spark plug, covered in a fur that would probably dehydrate most, considering how much he bounds about the stage. Every member of the band brings forth an energy and intensity made to further fuel their rabid fan base. Whether it’s guitarist Ernest Young’s power stances, or Jeffrey Rubin wailing on the xylophone (yup, you heard that right…wailing on the xylophone), the whole band exhibits fun danceable vibe and that crowd seemed to wholeheartedly agree with.
Then it was the birthday artist’s turn to throw a party. Fiona Silver, accompanied by guitarist Guy, drummer Chris Geller, and bassist Steve Salerno (including vocal assists from the likes of producer Sonny Ratcliff) have got the style thing down in spades. They’ve also got the bluesy rock vibe down in even larger amounts. Silver, who spent a good part of last year touring North America with Gary Clark Jr., seems increasingly comfortable in letting her howl take over at times. There’s a joy evident in Silver’s performances, from her banter with her fans, to her wry smiles as a smoky rhythm pours forth from her and her band.
Find a full photo gallery from all three performances, posted below.
Modern Whale:
Crazy & the Brains:
Fiona Silver:
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