ContentA new favourite obsession of ours is Levy. Behind the eponymous Vermonter James Levy (emphasis on the long e’s), this four-piece act has been seen all over lower manhattan in recent months. After short stint at Niagara, a weekly series of gigs at the Mercury Lounge, a phenomenal show at Pianos, and a recent night at the Knitting Factory, these guys are quickly honing their stage skills and becoming one of the better downtown rock bands. Levy’s vocal phrasing is a obvious tribute to Morrissey, complete with the requisite rich, deep, and slightly mournful tone. The band (Matthew, guitar, Simon, bass, and Mike, drums) sounds like sober Stooges — more downtempo and straightforward than the Smiths, with a New York earnest candor. Far more polished than most new bands, the only thing belying their age is perhaps the depth of the lyrical subjects. But the melodies resonate for hours after the set ends — a rarity indeed for a ballad about a girl and a boy in love.
And best, Levy has made eight recordings available at www.levytheband.com. Highlights include the beautiful, haunting Rector Street, the addictive You Be Sweet, and the very Lower East Side Rotten Love. Upcoming gigs are announced on their mailing list, and are definitely recommended.