Heaven + Swervedriver, live @ Bowery Ballroom

When a killer double bill of both new and legendary bands presents itself - it would be a crime to miss such a show.

So it was my pleasure to head on down to The Bowery Ballroom on the final Saturday (and day) of March - the 31st - to catch two bands who's music holds serious interest for me.

 First up was a band who I've written about previously - both here on this blog and at The Deli Magazine - Brooklyn's own Heaven.

Fronted by guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Matt Sumrow the band plays a precise and controlled style of dream rock.

Complementing Matt's lead vocals is keyboardist and sometimes bassist Ryan Lee Dunlap.  In addition to providing buzzy synth textures within each song, Ryan adds to Matt's lead vocals with a tandem harmonizing that gives this band their unique sound.

Matt is a prominent guitarist who's live and session work is in demand throughout the music community.

Since the band's permanent drummer - Mikey Jones provides the percussion for Swervedriver's live performance - Heaven used a replacement drummer who more than capably filled in.  It was interesting to see how another professional drummer was so quickly brought up to speed on their catalogue of songs.

As in introduction to their forthcoming album (scheduled to be released in full later on this year), Heaven delivers their song “Falling Apple” by way of this music video:

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Ryan concentrates on synthetic textures

Matt delivers essential guitar structures

Vocals, synths and drums, locked and loaded

The audience paid close attention to music that was new to many of them.  Their applause let the band know it was hitting the mark.

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The band presented a tight, no nonsense set that was executed with a precise professionalism that left the crowd satisfied and ready for what was to come next.

For further reading on Heaven, check out my previous features on them at these links here:

http://davecromwellwrites.blogspot.com/2011/10/invisible-dayscrawl-babiesshana.html

 http://nyc.thedelimagazine.com/node/6174

 As well as the band's own site:

http://www.youareheaven.com/

Now it was time for the headline act. Swervedriver was formed in Britain in 1990 fusing swirling textures with the more traditional rock structures.

 22 years later, and the band sounds as good as their explosive beginnings.

As one might expect, the set was filled with all their classic tracks.

The audience hung on every note - every memorable word.

Adam Franklin leads the band with impressive style, while Heaven's Mikey Jones capably covers all of the drumming anyone could ever need.

Bathed in red lighting, the "gaze" was spectacular.

Rave Down - - Hit The Ground

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A set list to make the most diehard of fan happy.