Sleepy Steele, the Champion.

I've only had a few hours of sleep, and that is because I'm still winding down from seeing The Sleepy Jackson perform last night. It's mostly due to the astonishing performance they put on (plus getting to meet Luke Steele), but also due to being royally pissed off at the security crew of Bowery Ballroom. You see, of all places to photograph bands... Bowery has never been a problem. But last night? A security guy was grabbing me by the arm saying I had to leave... before I finally broke him into letting me remain for the show that I had paid for. Luckily for you, I had already got a few good shots and a semi-decent video in before the camera fun had to end.

Since I'm so sleepy from the Sleepy Jackson, I'm going to try to get through this review as quickly as possible. I need to finish work and take an afternoon nap before the White Rabbits show tonight at The Annex.

Luke Blonde Corporation:



Luke Blonde Corporation is just a blonde-wigged Luke Steele entertaining the crowd with bizarre vocal effects, Dr. King speeches, and quirky music. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or stand still and quiet in awe. It was ridiculous, but strangely entertaining. I felt it was more of an artistic time killer, if anything.

Rick Steele:


Rick Steele is the wonderfully talented father of Luke Steele, and a very sweet man to top it off. His chatter between songs was like that of a father telling war stories... if the war were music, and his troop were Bob Dylan. Luke was standing next to me during Rick's performance, and you could see his happiness in watching dear old dad perform.

Sam Champion:



I had never actually heard Sam Champion until last night, but apparently I had met the bassist, Jack, once before. At least he insisted I had, and that somewhere in that once meeting... a CD exchange and my site had been mentioned. Well I'm sorry we never got around to it before, because I really liked their performance. Very Pavement-esque, Built to Spill'ish, with just enough of a swamp rock touch.

So Good To Me
All Of Our Tomorrows
Slow Rewind

The Sleepy Jackson:




There are just not enough adjectives in the english dictionary to describe how awe-inspiring The Sleepy Jackson were last night. I've been in love with this band since the first listen of Lovers, and the wait for a new album and a US appearance was a hell that is finally over. I thought the songs themselves were fantastic enough, but the energy Luke brings on stage tops anything that could ever be recorded. When they first came out on stage, Luke became the photographer as he took poloroids of the crowd and tossed them out to the crowd. Then, as the third poloroid was taken, instead of throwing it out to the crowd... he handed it to me. Yes, I'm a little giddy like a school girl over that. But all in all, this is one of those shows that I will never forget. I just hope they do a full US tour soon so the rest of the states can experience what magic The Sleepy Jackson are.

Good Dancers Live (Video)
I Understand What You Want But I Just Don't Agree
Good Dancers (Gerling Remix)
+ Myspace