Salon Lulu at Berlin under Avenue A this past Sunday. . .

This past Sunday I did something different. I wandered over to Berlin Under Avenue A, which is always fun. It just has a feel of a 1920s speakeasy and some great bands and artists too. This time at two in the afternoon. Lulu Lewis was hosting a salon. What they were calling a Lulu Salon. I had no idea what it really entailed. You say salon and I begin to associate 19^th century French aristocrats hanging out with the likes of Chopin and George Sand. I don’t know. There is 2^nd rate movie from the eighties involving such a scene or at least I want to say there is. 

But I always have enjoyed Lulu Lewis. The last time I might have seen them was at the McKittrick Hotel, in the west 30s, which I want to say typically offers up murder mysteries. That show I want to say was on the 4^th of July a few years back. 

More important, what left an impression on me, was the handful of shows they did at the Bowery Electric. I know I saw them there with the Statues of Liberty. One of the latter’s last shows. And perhaps Mad Juana? Maybe Ten Ton Mojo. I do not recall. This was pre-pandemic I believe. Regardless, they left an impression. 

They are not my usual fare, but if I were to only check out artists in the category of “my fare”, I would not be going out all that much at all. Hmmm that has largely been the case lately. And it really is better when you mix it up, change things up, jump lanes, color outside the lines, etc. 

So, Lulu Lewis is just a band with largely 80s sensibilities, and yeah, I was a child of that period, like it or not. So maybe it is a going back to my roots in a fashion. Regardless, I enjoy their synths, their dash of guitar, courtesy of Pablo Martin, and their singer, Dylan Hundley who reminds me of new wave singers past. 

Maybe it is a trip down memory lane, but it is a stripped-down version, more in your face. It is their take. And done well. The minimalist guitar, the bass as per Bill Harvey, and in the past the drums that propelled them and got you into it. Dancing even. Feeling it. And Dylan would just reel you in. 

It was all of that which brought me to Berlin Under Avenue A last Sunday, and I was not disappointed. Sadly, Bill Harvey was not in the mix, but I was happy to hear he is still with them. They had a keyboardist, Sami BG. I am asking myself if he was with them previously. I want to say they had someone on keyboards, but I quickly inspect the YouTube videos, and I don’t see one. I do not know. He was a pleasure to watch playing on Sunday.

Sunday was interesting as they were playing without Bill Harvey. There was a bit of improvisation as he was missing. Some things being done on the fly to compensate. They made it more than work, but I still hope to see Bill Harvey next time. Also, no drummer this time. They have it seems gone to a drum machine. At least for this performance on Sunday. They simply confirmed that it can be done and done well. 

But a live Lulu Lewis performance makes not a salon, even if it is happening on a Sunday afternoon in Berlin. Also performing was Liz Lamere, who has several albums out and again gives a nod to the 80s but has more of an industrial dance sound. It was quite danceable, but with her singing and two dancers, and only two dancers, one on each side of her, she did demand the audience’s attention. It was cool to be introduced to her music. And she is it appears back at Berlin on August 2nd. 

There was also a viewing of Stacked Deck, a short film by Julia Gorton. There was also in the back booths two folks offering up audio studio effect boxes and packages. Landscape, and Red Noise Pedals were the two. I knew nothing about any of these folks, so it was cool to even be exposed to them. 

Till next time. . .