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| Jay and V V Brown post show. |
Last night, Brooklynites and such gathered in Williamsburg’s famous the Knitting Factory to travel into another dimension with the sounds of headliner
V V Brown. The small venue catered to the needs of the urban eclectic, some pulling out chairs and sitting to get a comfort view, most standing. But everyone was at the edge of their seat for what turned out to be an exclusive look into
V V's new album
Lollipops & Politics.
But first up, the opener
Christina LaRocca took the floor for a 40 minute set with an empowering “Independent Lady” anthem. Then, V V's sister
Jay Brown took the stage with a guitar and her new-found friend Sly, equipped with bongo's. “We met today, and we’re playing today!” she exclaimed, starting off with “Waiting,” “Into You,” and “Throne.” She gets credit for her raspy and melodic, yet gritty vocals, and her straightforward songwriting, calling her boy toy “p***y boy” in that tune, and “spammah” in another (that’s “idiot” to you Americans). The solemn “27 Club” was a tribute to the late great Amy Winehouse; then she ended with “London,” which she could only describe is about “how it hates you, but you love it anyway.”
Her departure only kept the ever-growing masses feigning for V V, and when she did take the stage, she did so in style, shoe-less, with a black flowy quilted skirt, fur vest, and purple headband. V V started off with unfamiliar songs, but soon after she revealed she was performing hits from Lollipops & Politics! “Tough Like Glue” and “Famous” were sung; while the former had an innocence to it, the latter questioned why someone would want notoriety. Love is then compared to a “Red Balloon,” as V V croons, “When you think you’re in control, you better keep your head up,” amongst heavy guitar riffs and xylophone, also with some purity, as children’s voices sing at the end.
V V has branched off from her “break-up” anthems, for she’s all boo’d up. “I wrote this about my boyfriend, who I am in love with,” she says before “Be Yours,” and “Like Fire,” which is also a love song but with heavy organ and cymbals. “10 Ft Tall” lets the guitar shine, culminating with piano, and “Circus Town,” also organ and drum-pedal filled, proves that no matter how wild life gets, we’ll survive. “
Children,” whose melody she got from an ice cream truck playing "Turkey in the Straw," came last. It shows the naivety of world debauchery, and she rapped Chiddy of Chiddy Bang's part well. “The economy is f***ed, and every thing is upside down, but we don’t give a damn, for the children keep on singing!” V V croons. Speak.
*V V also performed the well known hit songs “Quick Fix,” and “Shark In The Water.” Tonight she will be at Mercury Lounge in NYC, performing a sold-out show to industry insiders and fans alike.
