El Vy, is the dream-team collaboration between Matt Berninger of The National and Brent Knopf of Menomena. Their team-up resulted in their great debut album Return to the Moon which 4AD released in late October. On November 13 they made their debut New York live performance at a sold out Bowery Ballroom, with a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg the day after.
The band, which also included Andy Stack of Wye Oak (who opened both shows), had the tough task of playing the same night as the unfortunate and still unbelievable tragedy in Paris during Eagles Of Death Metal’s performance. There were a few cops stationed outside of the Bowery Ballroom that night, which is far from the normal situation outside of the venue. The heightened security was certainly understandable and appreciated, and before they kicked into their set Berninger echoed these feelings. He felt terrible about what happened to the victims in Paris and thanked the Bowery Ballroom staff and NYPD for there efforts to keeping us all safe and making sure that the show could go on.
It was a weird night to go attend a live concert. But in a way, it did feel right to stick to our rituals, and go out in our little live music communities and prove to them that their hateful actions won’t change our way of lives. The ensuing days would be surrounding the horrific acts that unfolded in Paris, so it was important to lose ourselves with El Vy for the hour or so that they shared tracks from their album, as well as their most welcome cover of Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy.”
Matt Berninger may not be a “traditional singer” or whatever description critics use when describing his less than conventional vocals, but it’s the sort of voice that connects to you on an emotional human level. If there was any one that we needed more than ever on that dark night, it was Berninger and his more playful approach with El Vy.
Find some photos from the show posted below.
El Vy Setlist:
1. Careless
2. It’s a Game
3. Sleepin’ Light
4. Sad Case
5. Happiness, Missouri
6. Silent Ivy Hotel
7. Return to the Moon (Political Song for Didi Bloome to Sing, with Crescendo)
8. Paul Is Alive
9. I’m the Man to Be
10. She Drives Me Crazy (Fine Young Cannibals Cover)
11. No Time to Crank the Sun
12. Need a Friend
Wye Oak:
El Vy:
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