Julian Casablancas + the Voidz at First Avenue (17 Nov 2014)
- Intro: Los Saicos’ “Demolicion
- Xerox
- Father Electricity
- M.utually A.ssured D.estruction
- Human Sadness
- Where No Eagles Fly
- Ize of the World (The Strokes cover)
- Business Dog
- Crunch Punch
- River of Brakelights (Julian Casablancas song)
- Nintendo Blood
- I’ll Try Anything Once (The Strokes cover)
— Encore —
- Dare I Care
- Intro: Madonna’s “Borderline”
- Don’t Make Me Hit You
- D.U.I
- Restless Leg
- Everywhere I’m Local
- www
- Lady, You Shot Me
- Prisoner
- Girls Only
- Tall Boy
- We Don’t Sleep
- Late Night Morning Light
Julian Casablancas Tour Dates
11/19/14 Detroit, MI St. Andrews Hall
11/21/14 Toronto, ON Kool Haus
11/22/14 Montreal, QC Virgin Mobile Corona
11/25/14 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom
11/26/14 Boston, MA House Of Blues Boston
12/07/14 London Coronet
12/08/14 Paris Casino de Paris
12/10/14 Antwerp Muziekcentrum Trix
12/12/14 Amsterdam Melkweg
12/13/14 Berlin Posthof
12/14/14 Hamburg Mojo Club
12/16/14 Copenhagen VEGA
12/30/14 Lorne Falls Music & Arts
12/31/14 Marion Bay Falls Music & Arts
01/02/15 Byron Bay Falls Music & Arts
01/04/15 Busselton Sir Stewart Bovell Park
We’ve seen Har Mar’s show a few times now, and if you’ve never seen him, you’re in for a treat. He’s usually dressed from head to toe in clothing, but as he sings, he slow discard his garments. You first see him in double shirts and a large scarf… but by “www” (aka ‘Why Why Why Woe Is Me’) he’s taking off clothing. By the time “Tall Boy” comes around, he’s shirtless.
Most of the set was taken from his latest album Bye Bye 17 (out now on Julian Casablancas’ Cult Records), and I have to say these new songs are incredibly soulful, like Jackson Five-era, and sometime with a dash of 70s funk, especially on “Prisoner” (of Love!).
Julian Casablancas + the Voidz came on stage to the sound of Los Saicos’ “Demolicion”, slightly later than advertised. I assumed they had gotten there earlier, but from the comment by Casablancas on stage, he made it sound like they had just gotten in from a rather long drive from Montana.
The set was declorated with old CRT computer displays and massive back light – which made photography nearly impossible. I think that’s just the way Julian prefers it… singing and dancing in the dark.
Comparing the Voidz’s music to Casablancas’ previous band, the much be-loved The Strokes, it’s a little different. Casablancas and the Voidz is more on the punk/DIY side of music. To draw comparison, I previously have seen Albert Hammond, Jr. (with Jake Bugg) and Hammond’s music is more in line with what the Strokes were doing… which is understandable since he’s the guitarist of the Strokes.
In typical Casablancas style, the band played straight through with only a few words thrown in here and there. It’s only by the fifth song, “Where No Eagles Fly” did Casablancas declared, “Let’s get this sh** started!”, then as a way to introduce “Ize of the World” he commented, “You don’t mind if we do a cover song, do you?” Considering that Casablancas and the Strokes are synonymous, I wouldn’t even consider it a ‘cover’, even though technically, it is.
If you love the Strokes, you definitely need to check out Julian Casablancas + the Voidz on tour now for Tyranny. Har Mar Superstar will continue his tour in California with The Pizza Underground tomorrow at Pappy & Harriett’s in Pioneertown… then to San Francisco’s Bottom of the Hill for a two night residency.
Har Mar Superstar/Pizza Underground tour dates:
11/19 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
11/20 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
11/21 Portland, OR Dantes
11/22 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
11/23 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theater
11/24 Calgary, AB The Palomino
11/25 Billings, MT Pub Station
11/26 Denver, CO Marquis Theater
11/27 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
11/28 Omaha, NE Waiting Room
11/30 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
12/01 Columbus, OH Skully’s Music Diner
12/5 Washington, D.C. Black Cat
12/6 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
