MOG

The setting:

This Sunday was the coldest that it had been in NYC all year. En route to see Brookyln-based White Williams at Studio B, I shuffled in 3 layers of clothes to the edge of Greenpoint - where the wind was making lampposts quiver and all signs of human life had demolished into little flecks of snow on the sidewalks. This was for the love of music my friends.

The inspiration:

First time I heard of White was when he opened for Dan Deacon at Bowery Ballroom during CMJ in September. I missed the show but marked it on my planner to http://www.dazeddigital.com/incoming/white-williams/)

Joe (the brain behind White Williams) crafts hook-driven 80's inspired retro electronic glitz that's appealing despite (and perhaps because) it is home-grown, "I made these songs in a makeshift room, me, myself, and my computer" nature- Its hooks are also easy on the ears...

The reality: White Williams brought with him a whole pose of rugged, roguish friends (some of whom for the record- ignorant of concert courtesy- forgot to shower...days ago) who danced and spurred the 23-year old on. Note, half of them were lithe males who had serious crushes on the fellow dainty musicians. The rest were hard core music junkies (i.e. the kind that refuses to shower for days on end- in case they miss an update on Brooklyn Vegan or Drowned in Sound).

Live, it helps that Joe's got the lankiness and delicate aura of Patrick Wolf (without make-up) and a tone that's a bit Duran Duran-esque. He transitioned easily from melodica (which is the keyboard flute looking thing) to the keyboard, and clicked away at his computer with glee. He was smart enough to warm the frost-bitten crowd w. a 1960s video of surfers in speedos flickering behind him. But when he brought out a little stuffed puppy the size of his fist on stage and kowtowed to it- all the while asking where some guy Kevin went, I wondered what the hell he was on.

The Point: I wouldn't say it was worth braving the cold for it- that would have taken a miracle (or Ghostland Observatory or Patrick Wolf himself); instead, I would say his recording stuff has much more panache, intrigue and yet control. Live- despite being the rave of the 'new acts of 2008' in the media world-he's still very awkward- and at times even off pitch. He reminded me of a prepubescent figure skater- (I like to watch acts where I am not worried the little guy is going to fall off the stage or faint unexpectedly-).

The Olive Branch: Perhaps all of that stage 'prowess' will come with age and touring. If he wants it. Truth be told, I am enjoying songs like New Violence too much to forget him. I am curious how you guys like him. Keep in mind, he's young enough to be my brother (who's the same age, 23), and while my brother is on the 7-year college program, this guy's making poppy computer confetti that's sending him to England this month. So, being a woman of good faith with a predilection for paths less traveled by, I'm going to keep my eyes and ears open- and watch him grow.