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Review by Josh Darr
Harlem @ The Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL.
May 1, 2010
As the floor shakes beneath my feet, most of the crowd seems to be either inebriated or full of derby glee from the day’s earlier festivities. Harlem begins their set with a clatter and bang from Curtis O’Mara’s drums while Michael Coomers (wearing a derby like lei of roses) sings his inner most desires from the heart. The transplanted Austin trio have made a large splash with their lo-fi garage rock sound whose songwriting shines above many other bands of the same genre and keep their listeners nodding their heads yearning more. The Empty Bottle was overpacked with a rowdy audience, creating havoc on the floor as oversized men try to crowd surf a sea of artsy and feeble music hipsters. Harlem in great spirits egg on the audience who continue to wail their song requests in the air; keeping a casual conversation in between song an open discussion continues obviously creating an impromptu setlist during their performance. Bassist, Jose Moyer jest fully continues to announce “Only a few more songs” while Coomers and O’Mara swap instruments midway through the set. Through their fuzz of chaotic beauty, Harlem are able to beautiful marry the dissonance of angst filled emotion with the gentle waviness of Coomers screeching sound. At the conclusion of their set, the sweaty trio return to stage as the riotous crowd beckons more; Coomers notes an awkwardness of forced encores hinting at their reluctance to play anymore. He ultimately plays two more before calling it an evening.
Harlem – album review for Hippies
