Live: Dear Landlord with House Boat and Mikey Erg @ The Knitting Factory 5.12.11

Looking at the fake poster to the left for this show, one might surmise that we had a contender for the show of the year for JS-NYC. I enjoy all off the parties, but it was really the mid-card that had me excited. It had been well over a year since the Unlovables had played out and The Sainte Catherines have a hell of a new record. Putting them on a bill where I could start thing off with the tail end of a House Boat set seemed like a fine recipe for an evening in Brooklyn. In what is becoming my new favorite irritation, the aforementioned two bands that I hadn't seen a million times before dropped off the bill just as soon as I bought the ticket. Don't get me wrong, it was only $8, but come on.

I considered bailing, but Mikey Erg jumped on the front of the bill, so I figure I'd make it an early evening and count my blessings. Mikey put in a good solo set, albeit one without the Cee-Lo cover that highlighted his solo show last week at Cake Shop. House Boat were up next. I always enjoy them a lot more than I expect to, but could deal with about 50% less drunk Grath per show. Suffice to say, he is no Paddy Costello. This show featured the recording, rather than ad hoc local, HB lineup with Zack and Mikey. It was good and hopefully now that Grath has a job, we'll get less talk and more rock in the future. As such, I hear there is a new House Boat record on the way, so we'll see how things transpire.

Dear Landlord came on at the wonderfully reasonable hour of 10 to a rambunctious crowd. I like me some DL, but was surprised to see the number of DL painted jackets and his and her t-shirt combos out at the show. Dream Homes has been out for a bit now and there is the new split with The Dopamines, but it still doesn't leave an epic amount of variety set-wise. I was more than pretty stoked to find that Zack and Brad have got the Copyrights half of the franchise knocking out Rivethead covers. That will get me to make the long walk down the block to ABC next month. All in all a good set, and I made it home by 11:15, so I will call this a win, despite the fact that I sure would have preferred to have seen The Unlovables and The Sainte Catherines on the damn bill.

R

The Gateway District - Some Days You Get The Thunder

For the uninititated, The Gateway District is a new(ish) band from the Midwestern musical mecca that is Minneapolis. There's a heavy Twin Cities ex-member presence, what with the males in the band being from the dear departed Rivethead and the females coming from The Salteens. In their early trio days a couple years ago, they dropped a 7" that I haven't heard, played a show, then promptly scattered to the four corners. They got back together recently and added a member. The new record Some Days You Get The Thunder is their first as a four-piece and it kicks a whole lot of ass.

Gateway were one of the better sets at Insubordination Fest this year, although when I told Maren that, it was pretty obvious she didn't feel the same way. With Banner Pilot and Dear Landlord both pushing new records, I don't see a lot of touring behind this, so you would do well to grab a hard copy of this. The full-length is on It's Alive for $8. If you like the Twin Cities punk rock, there is really no way that you couldn't not like Some Days You Get The Thunder, unless you're one of those types that don't like females singing in your punk bands. Get over it, as The Gateway District has all the best parts of their previous outfits, along with healthy doses of The Fastbacks and The Gits. Get The Thunder here and keep track of Gateway goings-on here.

Dear Landlord - Dream Homes

Not since the release of the Shorebirds record last year has there been rejoicing on a level comparable to the elation shown at JS-NYC HQ with the arrival of the Dear Landlord full-length. Comprised of half of the dear departed Twin Cities punk stalwarts Rivethead, along with a couple of Copyrights, Dear Landlord are one of the few bands that is just as good as their predecessors.

Above and beyond their previous bands, you can discern the Screeching Weasel influence pretty easily. No slow songs, no ballads and one cover. All pretty bad-ass. They have re-recorded Three To The Beach in a not altogether displeasing manner, but from where I'm sitting, it's better on the split with Chinese Telephones. Quibbling aside, Dream Homes is out today via the lovable Floridians of No Idea Records. If you don't already have it, you may purchase via this handy link.

R

Banner Pilot - Resignation Day

It's always a happy day on my end of Rivington St. when Banner Pilot drops a new record into my hands. My neighbors may feel differently, but I sense I'll be able to wear them down soon enough. At this point, there may be an insurrection if I play another Lifter Puller song for their pleasure.

I had ordered Resignation Day through Nate as a pre-order back in June, with the implication that I'd be getting it early and with a t-shirt. Punk rock being punk rock, I only got it yesterday, which is before the release date (actual release date: 8/12), but I gotta say I'd like a wee bit more for my pre-order dollar. The t-shirt is nice, though.

Oh yeah, and the record's pretty fucking top-notch, too. The EP got lots of play around Chez Rivington (at least someone does) and still gets a lot of bike time. If I've dropped you sprinting up the West Side, chances are these gents had something to do with it.

Maybe you remember that Nate used to play with Ryan from Off With Their Heads in Rivethead (and played in previous versions of OWTH). If you liked Rivethead and currently like OWTH, Banner Pilot are a no-brainer for you. They are cut from the same beer-soaked punk rock cloth as their aforementioned compatriots from the Twin Cities. On Resignation Day Banner Pilot treat your ears like a basement show at the Alamo and have their way with them.

Don't worry, you won't complain and there will be a lot less clean-up.There is absolutely no new ground being broken on Resignation Day, but if you like your the punk rock in the power trio format ala Jawbreaker/Larry Arms/Alkaline Trio, you won't be disappointed in the slightest. Stuff like Cut Bait and Baltimore Knot will have you pumping your fist in the air and shouting along wherever you are. I've done it in the house, at the store and on the bike in the last twenty-four hours and people really seem to receiving it well. It would be a lot easier for me to assimilate into common society if the gents would actually come East, but I'm more than willing to be 'that guy' and sing along in inappropriate places until the boys come through NYC. I smell a short and/or disappointing late-night G0-Kart showcase at CMJ in my Fall. The record's on sale at the GoKart site here. Buy it suckas, and see them on tour West of the Mississippi starting tomorrow through the end of the month. Links below.

R

Banner Pilot MySpace
Banner Pilot web presence
Go Kart Records