CONCERT REVIEW: Shudder To Think (Mercury Lounge,

New York City)

- Nina Ramos

The Mercury is a small club off east Houston, just a few steps from CBGB's. The nice thing about venues in places like this is that you get to actually see the band as well as listen to them. This is precisely why this show was perfect. The place was packed to the max. I had to push and shove to make it to the side of the stage. They immediately went into a song from their new release Pony Express Record. The only way to describe their sound is to say they are somewhere in between the hard edge of hard core and `70's power pop. There's a tragic melody to Craig's voice. Combined with the in your face riffs from Nathan Larson's guitar there's no telling what's around the curb. It was only about 45 to 50 minutes later when the show ended. Too soon, unfortunately, for me - I could have listened to them all night long. These are the kind of concerts that make you realize just how one hour of music can make you feel totally invigorated.