The Golden Filter: Midnight Fire at Mercury Lounge

It's been nearly 2 years since I caught The Golden Filter's debut performance, and having been a fan of everything they've done since then, I'm admittedly embarrassed to note that it wasn't until this past Friday that I was able to catch their stunning live show once again. With a midnight pass through Mercury Lounge, a hot and humid Lower East Side proved perfect to dance the night away.

 

 

Getting to the venue early enough was a wise move, as I was able to catch the rising radness of fellow Brooklyners, The Hundred in the Hands. The duo of Eleanore Everdell and Jason Friedman have spotted up in various outfits before (Friedman in The Boggs and Everdell lending vocals to TV on the Radio), but it's their joining of forces that had myself, and the packed house, captivated with a splash of psychedelic disco-pop. (Their EP comes out tomorrow, and they play Crush on Thursday...more on that later today.)

 

THitH joins back up with The Golden Filter on their summer tour, so this "warm up show" was the perfect introduction as to what's in store as both bands hit the States in June. Beginning their set with a flurry of lights and sounds, it's evident that TGF have come into their own as the enigmatic embracers of what I like to call "desert disco", that which is both sounding as if created straight from the earth while remaining thrillingly-danceable.

 

Ravaging a set filled with most of the songs found on debut album Voluspa, front-woman Penelope led many a chorused chant as she danced around the stage, showing off a charismatically charming side, which she usually reserves during live shows. Highlights included the performance of Dance Around the Fire (one of my favorite cuts from the album...that build-up into the big drop at the 2:40 mark is sensational!) along with the entire crowd (including one sweaty shirltess guy!) getting down to Thunderbird.

 

Check out The Golden Filter on tour...dates here. Full set of pictures from their set can be found here, along with images from The Hundred in the Hands' set here. Select pics and vids from the show below.

 

   

 

 

 

  

 

 

mp3: The Hundred In The Hands - Dressed In Dresden

mp3: The Golden Filter - Dance Around The Fire