Last night I caught a late night set from Merchandise at Home Sweet Home. The Florida-based band, who recently signed to 4AD, are gearing up for the release of new album After The End. We already heard the great first single “Little Killer”, and I’m impatiently waiting to hear the rest of the album.
The show was a part of the Nothing Changes party and was their third NYC show of the week, with the other two coming over the weekend. It was my first time catching a show at Home Sweet Home, whose stage area is tucked in a tiny corner towards the back, leaving just enough room for a hundred (if even that) or so people to pack around it to catch a glimpse of the band.
Merchandise didn’t hit the stage until about 1:30 a.m., making it a true late night party, with fog blowing strong and all. They’re now a 5-piece, with a live drummer and an additional guitarist. This was different from when I saw them for the first time back in 2012, and the additions made all the difference.
Right from the get-go, the band had the crowd going rowdy. Fans were moshing almost non-stop, even going as far as to pick each other up for some sloppy crowd-surfing. Some fans even jumped up to the low ceiling and ended up hanging on, feet dangling not too far from frontman Carson Cox’s face. Cox was having fun with the crowd, and fed off their energy, returning his own enthusiasm and energy right back to us. Cox was animated and often theatrical, not the type of singer to shy away from crowd interactions. Children Of Desire track “Time”, along with “Little Killer” were clear standouts, making standing near the stage a dangerous option for anyone not flinging arms or climbing above.
This being my second time seeing the guys, it was a completely different experience. With the full band and their maturation, Merchandise have become a total threat live. From Cox’s memorable vocals to their distinct guitar lines, there’s no reason not to get totally swept up by their live show.
Merchandise are in for a big 2014-2015 campaign.
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