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Longwave
Bowery Ballroom
Filter Grade: 89%
by Irene Bradish | 01.01.2007

They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Hokey? Maybe, but the reorganized members of Longwave would probably agree. In the twenty-three months since the Brooklyn based band last played the Bowery Ballroom, they've lost two members, gained three, almost lost their managers and their sanity.

Creative differences and a shoulder injury saw the departure of bassist Dave Marchese and drummer Mike James. Determined to see their second album for RCA through, remaining original members Steve Schiltz and Shannon Ferguson poured their persistent optimism into recording songs for There's a Fire and later recruited Mercury Rev's Paul Dillon, Jeff Sheinkopf and a pedigreed Jason Molina (his brother is Mercury Rev's Anthony Molina) to flesh out their lineup. But quite unlike guns for hire, Longwave's newest musicians have helped the band to realize their full potential.

The freshly formed quintet opened the show with a vigorous revision of the latest CD's title track. New drummer Molina's arena rock drum roll and singer Shiltz's soaring falsetto injected the once-acoustic anthem, and the crowd, with infectious energy. Guitarist Ferguson's cascading guitars carried the band smoothly into another new song, "Underneath You Know the Names", and the evening's first sing-along, "Tidalwave".

Deep-sea serenade "Underworld" showcased the combined talents of the group.What began as an acoustic melody became a room-filling orchestration as individual effects blended together to create an ebbing underwater sensation
punctuated by Sheinkopf's radar-like bleeps. Rotating between his keyboard and duties as a third guitarist, the former Sea Ray keyboardist deftly fleshed out the finer details of the following "Heart Attack", much to singer Shiltz's obvious pleasure.

Longwave revisited three more songs from their previous album, The Strangest Things, including the instrumental "Daysleeper", extended by an angular feedback outro from the previous song--another crowd sing-along
"Meet Me at the Bottom"--before launching into a thumping "We're Not Gonna Crack" driven by Ferguson's blistering guitars and Schiltz's uncharacteristically defiant chorus.

Before the start of "Next Plateau", Schiltz got chatty with the crowd.Acknowledging an excitable concert-goer's reaction to his acoustic guitar, he entertained a request of Poison's "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" and rejected
the following shout for Ween, explaining his personal hell included and endless loop of Chocolate and Cheese. The mood remained upbeat and Longwave ended the set with a trio of sunny songs, including the standout "Tell Me I'm Wrong". A song the band initially resisted including on the album, Sheinkopf's singsong keyboard melody and Schlitz's warm vocals created a lively pop chorus that readied the audience for the popular "Pool Song" and "Everywhere You Turn".

Following a brief but requisite absence, the quintet returned to the stage for a three song encore--the previously titled "Life of the Party", renamed "Everything Little Thing I Touch", "Wake Me When Its Over" and a brilliant "River (Depot Song)"--but not before singer Steve Schiltz said an earnest thank you to the audience for their enthusiasm after their tough two year absence from the Bowery.

Some things are worth the wait.