Show Review: Skorts, Pons, Mary Shelly at Mercury Lounge.
June 22nd, 2024.
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It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity
June 23rd, 2024
It’s been so hot in NYC that we needed a cool show to go to, so we found ourselves at Mercury Lounge for the celebration of Mary Shelley’s new album Bloodhounds, with incredible support from Pons and Skorts. Each of these bands were in top form, here’s our recollection of events.
We crawled straight into the middle of Skorts ripping through their dance hit R4DR4M. We’ve ran for days and for miles many times before and this song perfectly captures the thrill of the chase. This band is tight and locked in, they sound like a polished record in full stereo. One of their superpowers is their magnetic vocal harmonies, and their ability to make each instrument melodic. They played their heavy hitters and some new songs as well. We wanted to hear them play for another hour.
Just looking at Pons’s stage setup, two drum kits and a guitar rig, gave away the fact that we were in for something special. This was a totally new spin on the power trio concept. Forget a bassist, give me more rhythm. Berserk rhythm. After a seizing noise jam introduction they launched into a near constant frenzy of sound and intensity. Their set was a manic episode of music. There was a dance interlude of sorts that we can’t explain the madness of, you just had to be there. But it got the people dancing.
Mary Shelley opened with a high speed cruising psych jam about going to the beach. There was so much happening musically that each song drew a story in our mind. Rhythm and bass were bouncy, lead guitar was sharp and piercing, a synth occasionally warped through a song, and lyrics spun tales that welt like a wild night out. There were at least three additional guest performers throughout the set. They were celebrating the final stop of their early summer tour and the release of their new album Bloodhounds. Mary Shelley was the musical equivalent of hanging out in Washington Square Park on a Saturday. Everything was happening all at once, and everyone was having a good time.
As we left the sky ripped open with a bolt of lightning and a shower of rain, a final exclamation point to an electric evening of sound. We sense an incredible summer of music on the horizon, these aren’t the only bands that are primed and ready. Connect with Skorts, Pons, and Mary Shelley below to stay in the loop and connect with us to keep up with more rockin coverage!
