Alright, now I didn’t get to spend my day hanging out in the artist lounge because I had class today, but I heard that the rest of the Z!NG Team hung out with some of the super talented guys from Soho Kings, the Ugly Club, and Peanut Butter Lovesicle. We’ll have those videos up for you soon!
I still got to go to an amazing showcase at The Bitter End, and let me start by saying that this was the perfect venue for the bands we were about to see. It was small and intimate, set up with tables right in front of the stage so you were about to get really up close and personal with the band.
We walked in in the middle of Loren Benjamin playing a beautiful set, making me regret that I missed the first half. He had a very Andrew McMahon/piano vibe, which we all know I am a HUGE fan of. He went back and forth between solo songs on piano and songs with his three piece band, even playing a very impressive cover of “Are We Human, Or Are We Dancers” by The Killers. I will be checking out his original songs after this week ends and I actually have time to update my iPod!
After Loren Benjamin came the set I was there for, This Condition. As a New York based band this was not the first time I’ve seen This Condition, and it won’t be my last. I’ve been a fan since I saw them play in 2009 and nothing beats their passionate, heartfelt, original songs. Nathen Cyphert, the lead singer, expresses each and every feeling he intends his songs to evoke with each lyric and it translates to the audience perfectly.
The rest of the band, made up of Mike McGovern (guitar/ukulele), Nick Cantatore (bass), Devin Passariello (drums), Stephen Conley and Chris Castellin (keyboard), opened their set with a crowd favorite,” Take Take Take,” a little loud, but the sound eventually evened out. They went on to play old and new songs including a very unique version of one of their most popular songs “Red Letter,” with only Nate playing guitar and the rest of the band backing him up with vocals, creating a really beautiful atmosphere.
They closed with a word on valuing people to people relationships, rather than people to dollar relations and challenged the crowd to leave with that outlook on things, especially with the upcoming election. That and a new song ended their set with an engaged crowd.
I will always love This Condition and their message and upbeat music. Bands like this don’t come around everyday, so make sure they stay around. Go check them out, buy their songs on iTunes or see a show. These guys are worth it.
Overall, the night was a successful. I discovered a new little gem when it comes to New York venues, and got to see one of my old favorites perform. And don’t worry, we’re only two days in…we’ve still got two more.
