The first time I stepped foot into U Street Music Hall, I made a mental note to myself while exiting that it would be a great place to see thrashing garage bands trying to claw their way to the top. The cavernous underground labyrinth you wind through on your way down eventually spits you out into a surprisingly roomy and well set up show area with excellent sound. That is probably why I had my doubts about a band that, while interesting and noteworthy coming over my earbuds, seemed like such an unlikely fit for this grungy gutsy space.Turns out I couldn't have been more wrong.
AM & Shawn Lee may specialize in foot-tapping retro electronic tunes but if I expected that not to translate well live, I was quickly reeducated. The set was crisp, pleasantly aggressive but not too reliant on the resonant noise that sometimes permeates live music when the synthesizer is too involved. The pair, touring with a full band, switched styles and showcased tunes off of La Musique Numerique and even a few off of Celestial Electric which I'd been enticed to listen to only hours before showtime.
Demonstrating a cool ease and a real joy in performing these tracks live in front of a delighted and receptive audience, they won over even an old bitter curmudgeon like myself and even had me humming their infectious melodies on my way back up to the street.
Upcoming Shows
06.20 Brooklyn, NY @ Knitting Factory06.21 Chicago, IL @ Schubas
06.22 Rochester, NY @ Lovin' Cup
06,26 San Francisco, CA @ Rickshaw Stop
06.27 Westwood, CA @ KCRW Summer Nights Hammer Museum
06.28 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
06.29 San Diego, CA @ The Griffin
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