this week in music

THE SHELLS

Bombshell trio brings cosmo-country to the Canal Room

Bombshell trio brings cosmo-country to the Canal Room


Canal Room

285 West Broadway

Thursday, October 8, $10, 8:00

212-941-8100

http://www.theshellsonline.com
http://www.canalroom.com

Not to be confused with the Austin-based indie band of the same name, the Shells are that rarest of breeds, a New York City all-woman country trio. Actually, their sound has been labeled cosmo-country, mixing in folk and pop elements and beautiful harmonies. Originally an a cappella group, Carrie Welling, Melanie Klaja, and Jessica Rae Waltz have been augmented with a touring band as they support their debut album, WRITTEN ROADS (October 8, WeThreeRecords). The Shells, whose name came from “bombshell,” will be holding a CD release party on October 8 at the Canal Room, so come on down and see what all the fuss is about.

THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART

Pains will pour their heart out at Webster Hall (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Pains will pour their heart out at Webster Hall (photo by twi-ny/mdr)

Webster Hall
125 East Eleventh St. between Third & Fourth Aves.
Saturday, October 3, $16, 6:00
www.myspace.com
www.websterhall.com

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart are nice. No one — and certainly not a creative band that emits an edgy mix of indie rock, energetic pop, and experimental ambient music — wants to be called nice, but that’s sort of what they are. The local group plays pleasant music that subtly gets into your head. We caught them this past summer at the South Street Seaport, putting on a pure pop performance that was wholly satisfying if not quite ass-kicking. Songs such as the much-hyped “Young Adult Friction” and the slower “Stay Alive” kept the audience mesmerized with upbeat guitars and soft yet powerful vocals, shared by guitarist Kip Berman and keyboardist Peggy Wang-East, who seemed a little too excited about playing in the shadows of a large pizza chain. Following their U.S. tour, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart are back in New York on October 3 at Webster Hall with buzz band Cymbals Eat Guitars and the Depreciation Guild.