Opener Shilpa Ray and her Happy Hookers from Brooklyn with a recent release on Knitting Factory records gave off a lot of sound. Ray played harmonium, which I learned is a tabletop pump organ. It looked like she was opening and closing a dresser drawer, part accordion, part furniture. Her vocals swelled from somber melancholy to stub-your-toe level scrawl. Capable backing band were all solid. I can see why she is a favorite of Nick Cave, even opening some shows on the Grinderman tours. I asked her about the harmonium, which I confused with a euphonium ( which is actually a large tuba).
Kayo Dot were billed as "avant-metal". They were sinister, wore black, and played metal-ish tunes with proggy lyrics. Five string bass player and singer seemed like the leader. Guitar, keys/synths, and propulsive drummer rounded out the group.
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