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.

The Whip Whip It Across the USA

Pardon the pun. We here at NYC2LON enjoy double entendres very much and like to make use of them whenever we can. I'm also pretty sure The Whip have never heard that one before, so kudos to me for being oh so original. Anyway...The Whip kick ass. I discovered them in 2007 in London when they opened for The Sunshine Underground at the Scala (RIP) and now see them whenever they come to New York. Lucky for me, they're playing our fair city this week with Late of the Pier: April 1 at Bowery Ballroom and April 3 (for those who hate April Fools' Day) at Studio B. They're also doing a special afternoon DJ set on April 3 at the brand new Topshop USA New York flagship store in Soho--all the more reason to take the day off and go shopping! Make sure you check them out if you like having fun, dancing to awesome music, and/or cute ginger bassists.

More live dates in April:
4 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA*
7 Washington, DC @ 930 Club*
8 Boston, MA @ Paradise*
9 Montreal, Canada @ Les Saintes**
10 Toronto, Canada @ Kool Haus*
11 Chicago, IL @ Congress*
14 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey**
15 Portland, OR @ Dantes**
16 San Francisco, CA @ Pop Scene**
19 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock
20 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland**
21 Los Angeles, CA @ Cinespace **

*with DeadMau5 and Late of the Pier
**with Late of the Pier