The Whip - Bowery Ballroom - April 1, 2009

Last week we saw The Whip at Bowery Ballroom and, as expected, they killed it. From the moment they hit the stage, the crowd was amped and loving every minute of it (my posse of dancing maniacs helped create the awesome vibe, no doubt!) What's incredible about The Whip's live performance is that you don't need time to warm up or get in the groove to their music. Instead, they hit you like a ton of dancing bricks the second the first note is played and immediately your feet are moving, your head is bopping, and you're having the time of your life!

As the openers, they played a lengthy 50 minute set which included fan favorites "Blackout" and "Trash" as well as new songs, which were incredible. The new songs fit in seamlessly with the older stuff and though the new material doesn't sound any different from the music on their first album, when your debut is as perfect and kick ass as "X Marks Destination" is, it's not necessarily a bad idea to try to recreate the sounds on there.

Also, I must mention the fist pumping that occurs at a Whip show. It actually occurs onstage by the band members themselves. They do it so frequently and with so many variations (up and down, side to side, from the waist, etc) that you would think they invented the move (and practiced it during soundcheck). I wish I had some video or photos to show the awesomeness, but you'll just have to see them yourself to witness the action! Luckily, my friend Olga Bas was there and she took some great shots--some even feature the band members mid-fist pump! The Whip showed us how Manchester parties--and we like it!

Check out more of Olga's photos here.