popwreckoning updates

Posted: 28 Mar 2009 09:53 AM PDT

When Razorlight burst on to the scene with all the hoopla from their first album, Up All Night, they were pretty astonishing; fresh, young and haughty with a record that could support all their hubris. Their debut didn’t make as big of a splash state side as it did in their native UK, but it was one of my favorite albums of the year. And therefore, when they came to New York I had to see them. And what a show it was. They strutted on to the stage with a swagger and confidence reminiscent of Liam Gallagher. They were new, young and passionate and all of that was thrown off the stage and felt in the crowd. It even got to the point where lead singer, Johnny Borrell, took off his sweat soaked t-shirt and played topless in his sweat soaked body. Good times for all.

Two albums and many shows later things seemed different. They played New York at Hiro Ballroom on the heels of the release of their third album, Slipway Fires, which didn’t receive the most enthusiastic reviews, much like their sophomore effort, Razorlight, and this tedium was felt when they took the stage. Borrell looked tired, as if he was being forced to perform. For the first few songs he remained pretty static in his slightly oversized blazer, the crowd swayed but weren’t engaged. Things were looking bleak and I was slightly disappointed, but I should have quelled my fears because after a few songs in, particularly when the band performed "Burberry Blue Eyes", an unexpected energy grabbed hold of the band and thus fused into the crowd.

Borrell started moving, started shaking all over the stage, started interacting with his band mates and the entertainment had begun. Borrell began to sing at the mic and used his hands and arms to tell the stories of his songs, pausing dramatically, lifting, shrugging, and miming the lyrics out in a fun fashion. The crowd picked up as well, I’m sure due to the alcohol taking effect.

Borrell’s miming eventually progressed into jumping all over the stage, guitarist Bjorn Agren throwing his guitar up in the air and playing ferociously. When Razorlight started to play early favorites such as “Golden Touch” and “Somewhere Else”, the crowd joined in feverishly. Then when Borrell switched to his famous ballad “America”, the crowd joined hands, swayed and sung as if around a camp fire, echoing his words: “There’s nothing on the TV, nothing on the radio that means that much to me…all my life, watching America”. This was emotionally felt by all as Borrell sang with pure feeling and left the comfort of his platform, moving into the crowd, connecting with them furthermore. In the end it was a fun, upbeat and entertaining show, only what I would expect from Razorlight.

Razorlight: website | myspace

Slipway Fires
Price: USD 9.98
55 used & new available from USD 3.99

March 12, 2009 — Razorlight - Slipway Fires (0)
January 5, 2009 — Oasis @ Susquehanna Bank Center, Camden NJ (2)
September 7, 2008 — Interview with: Justin Kennedy of Army Navy (3)

Rufus Wainwright @ Uptown Theater, Kansas City

Posted: 28 Mar 2009 07:17 AM PDT

"It's very laid back and just chill," said Rufus Wainwright to us about his plans for his upcoming shows. "An evening with Rufus in the living room situation.”

That’s exactly how his show at Kansas City’s Uptown Theatre show was: a nice, intimate performance. Since we couldn’t describe the show in any better words than what Wainwright himself already said, we’ll let our pictures do the talking: