The Vaccines Debut U.S. Show In NYC

It’s been quite awhile since I really looked forward to a band’s debut show in NYC. But this was more than a debut show in NYC, this was the first show in the good old U.S.A. for The Vaccines. Earlier in the day on 1/20/11, Justin, Arni, Freddie and Pete stopped by for a Last.fm Discover interview, and we’ll have that here for you soon!

Word is that this show was originally planned for a much smaller Mercury Lounge, which is where many newbies tend to play when they hit Manhattan. But based on the growing positive vibe for this London based foursome, they were now unveiling themselves to us at the 575-ish capacity Bowery Ballroom. Trust me, that was a wee-bit over on this night. To date, this was the largest audience they have ever played for!

The show kicked off at 10:35, which was good, because we were running a little late from dinner just up the street. Right off the bat the boys come out with their debut single “Wreckin’ Bar (Ra Ra Ra)” and blast through most of the upcoming debut album What Did You Expect From The Vaccines? Thrown in for good measure, a cover of The Standells “Good Guys Don’t Wear White.” Other highlights include the current U.K. single “Post Break-Up Sex,” “If You Wanna,” “Blow It Up” and my album fave “A Lack Of Understanding.” Two songs not on the band’s setlist that were lying on the stage were two other standout LP tracks, “Wolfpack” and “Under Your Thumb.”

Musically the band run the spectrum to my ears from The Wedding Present, Ramones, The Pooh Sticks, The Chameleons, a little bit of The Velvet Underground and especially The Soup Dragons before they discovered and covered “I’m Free” by The Rolling Stones.

Also in attendance that night taking in the show were Keith & Chris from We Are Scientists, The Duke Spirit (one of this week’s featured artists for Last.fm Discover) and Ben Lovett from Mumford & Sons. The Vaccines album will be out in the U.K. on March 21st with a U.S. release slated for the Spring.

Lead singer and guitarist Justin Young (who used to perform under the name of Jay Jay Pistolet) praised the audience by commenting “You are not as stale as other big city crowds.”