Tonight two excellent but very different musicians play at the same time in different parts of the city and both are favorites around here. Choosing between them will be tough, but let’s face it, when you have two great options, whatever your choice is, it will be a good one.
Lelia Broussard plays upbeat pop rock which is never less than a pleasure. Even though Lelia lives lives out in Los Angeles these days, she tends to play New York City in general, and The Rockwood Music Hall in particular, frequently. And right now Lelia is on the cusp of something interesting happening: she’s one of the two finalists in a contest whose prize is your picture on the cover of Rolling Stone. If you need something more to help you make up your mind, just click here to see the video for Lelia’s song, Satellite.
Over at Southpaw in Park Slope, you will find Eli Paperboy Reed and The True Loves. The band is an eight-piece affair (guitar, bass, drums, keys, trumpet, sax, baritone sax and Eli on vocals and guitar). Musically, the band plays very good original soul numbers with some covers of some stuff going back to the 60s. The biggest strength of Eli and the band is in their live show. Eli, originally from the Boston area and now living in Brooklyn, is an engaging live performer. I’ve have seen him have the entire audience up and dancing. Eli’s live show harkens back to a soul review, with the keyboard player sometimes acting as MC. If you’d like to see a video, here’s Eli and the band playing Name Calling.
Lelia Broussard, The Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2, 196 Allen Street between Houston and Stanton Streets (F Train to 2nd Avenue, use the 1st Avenue exit), 10pm, No Cover (but a contribution for the band is highly recommended)
Eli Paperboy Reed and The True Loves (Lily and The Parlour Tricks open), Southpaw, 125 Fifth Avenue between St. Johns and Sterling Places (2 or 3 Trains to Bergan Street), doors8pm / show 9pm, $12
