New York band Jupiter One releases new album Sunshower

New York natives Jupiter One hosted an outstanding line-up for the release of their new album Sunshower at the Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sept. 25.

To start the evening was Nite Club. A project of Richard Spitzer, Nite Club's music is a hybrid of hip-hop, pop and dance. Live, the band consists of Spitzer, keyboardist and synthesist with an ever-popular Apple mac laptop for beats as Steve Bryant pounds away on the drums.

Like any show, it's always hard for the opening band to break the awkward small crowd atmosphere, but the band was well received by the audience. Spitzer's beats and mixes slowly eased you in as the songs build up to where many found themselves moving and swaying along. For such a small act, the duo definitely made an impression on many.

Next to take the stage was Demander. With front woman and bassist Karen Correa, the indie-rock band gave off a sound that you think would be coming from an eight piece band, but if you walked into the hall and looked to the stage you would find four young musicians with normal instruments and wonder how they were emitting such a sound.

Performing without a pick for her bass guitar, Correa also juggled a tambourine for a song or two and would carelessly throw it behind her when she was through, adding to the intensity of her energy and the song. Female drummer Sivan Harlap skillfully balanced the drums and blowing bubbles with bubble gum, an amazing talent as her arms moved left and right pounding beats. Though maybe not as skillful as Travis Barker who has been seen smoking hands free as he drums away and avoids burning himself, it is still quite a skill.

Chimes and bell sounds from a synthesizer bring a whimsical feel to the songs. "Coulee," one of the songs that evening had a deep feel and undertone but brings out triumphant sounds with escalating drums and vocals.

"Song Seven," begins with guitarist Jared Scott's hands literally vanishing into a blur as he plays the opening lines and Correa joins in singing "I can't/ always/ think about better days."

The band then finished their set with the help of a bullhorn. With Correa running back and forth between microphone and bullhorn, they ended with a song that only got you more excited for the next. It might have been their energy or just the bullhorn, but the audience was riled up and ready for more.

The Subjects then kept the energy going with their performance. Like a domino effect, each member one by one began to play an instrument as they transitioned into their first song.

Playing a round of "musical instruments," more members came on stage and each rotated instruments, from drums to guitar and keyboards. Vocals also bounced back and forth between band members. The Subject's sound is definitely a group effort to accomplish their full sound. "Winter Vacation," was a perfect example of this, as at least three members harmonizes "whoa's" as the chorus of the song.

In "Right2Know," singer David Sheinkopf ‘s high vocals asked, "Don't you know how to live your life?" as the band performed more in a jam session style and sound, like just playing for friends and family. That was the case for many that night since all of the bands performing were New York natives.

By the end of their set the hall was fully packed as everyone waited for headliners Jupiter One. With a TV set on static, on the screen appeared the words "Jupiter One" spelled out in electrical tape, a very interesting prop to their set.

The band set up their gear and left the stage to make a proper entrance. All night audience members lingered around the room and away from the stage, but in anticipation of the headliners the crowd slowly made it's way up to the very edge of the stage with no barricades or rails to hold them back.

Jumping right into playing, many of the songs performed that evening came from the new album Sunshower, while some were oldies but goodies. Juggling between instruments, members K Ishibashi and Zac Colwell changed instruments frequently depending on the song.

From playing the keyboards to the violin, flute or guitar, Jupiter One has a diverse sound that is all of their own. Opening with "Volcano," the first song off of Sunshower had a feel good guitar segment and jazz like bass lines.

"Find Me A Place," has a slower feel and definitely toned down the feeling in the room but Colwell then performed a powerful guitar solo that brought it right back up. "Lights Go Out," a song off of their new album, had high energy as Ishibashi shouted the chorus "Lights go out," and jumped around the stage thrashing the guitar around, like most people do when they first pick up guitar.

The band finished and slowly departed the stage one by one until it was evident that the audience was eager for more. With a few simple strums of the guitar and drums beats, the band then performed a cover of "Dear Prudence," by The Beatles.

The band extended an offer for the audience not only to join in singing but to also join them on stage. It took a few minutes until someone mustered up the courage to take them up on their offer and it was then when people began to jump one by one onto the stage. With extended hands, Ishibashi and Colwell helped a few fans up as they joined them onstage and found a microphone to sing along.

The evening finished with a hit and everyone left having a good time and with high spirits. A big attraction to their set was their stage presence. It was a release party for an album that took two years in the making and they were here to celebrate. The quartet of Jupiter One performed over an hour set and were just there to play and have some fun.