2:54

Incredible, along with Honeyblood, amazing and song Sugar was the best

The late show at Mercury Lounge Thursday night was only half to 3/4 full for 2:54 and openers Jangula. First impressions of both : Jangula is a younger band fronted by a singer who also play a Q Chord. They combine vocal harmonies with a blended guitar / Q Chord combination. The rhythm section seemed solid enough holding their songs together. I spoke ti the singer after their set about the Q Chord. Apparently it is a semi electronic instrument the includes facsimiles of the major and minor chords. He alters it somewhat feeding it through more electronics. More interesting though - he likes it because it is so easy to play allowing him to concentrate more easily on singing. I liked this logic very much - a similar approach as last year's ukulele craze - another instrument apparently easy to play. I had heard 2:54 on WFMU Radio awhile back, 2 songs "Scarlet" and "Creeping" and made a note to go see them next time they came around. The British band is fronted by sisters Colette and Hannah Thurlow (who also write the band's material). The songs are usually densely layered mid tempo excursions with Colette's voice trailing in and around the sound. Their material seems to be built up mostly from the guitars, with Hannah out front. As with the best bands, 2:54's songs roll together seamlessly with a great rhythm section moving the sound along. But what I really love about this band is the restraint that they play with. The songs seem to gradually reach a certain point where the parts are fused - or amalgamated - and then they keep it there. All accomplished in a short song context (most (maybe all) songs under 6 or 7 minutes). This was the last show of their tour and if they were tired you would never know. The show was thrilling and I felt privileged to listen to their great sound in such a small club as Mercury Lounge.

This show was really good. The opening act of Widowspeak was an excellent beginning to the evening, a similar sound and style. They ran a set and then came out into the bar and had some drinks with us masses! 2:54 came on and brought it down! The venue was small but the show also suffered from a ack of enthusiasm building. I think only 20 people were at the show. But the bands still put on a stellar show for us...just no encores...to be expected. Had a talk with Joel the bassist, Hannah of course (again FIT bird she), and chatted with Collette too.

The 2:54 set was ONLY about 45 minutes long (including the three other acts, the entire show was almost 3 full hours, however - so NO complaints!), yet was as passionate & as intense as ANY 3-hour concert you'll attend all year!