Mother Feather - Knitting Factory, Brooklyn

People living in New York City, from time to time, need catharsis, a release. Some folks choose to yell at bicyclists, some assault hot dog vendors, some read from the Bible, out loud, on the subway. All these methods are stopgap, however. Simulacrums of the Real Thing. If one seeks true catharsis, one must look no further than a Mother Feather show.

At this particular Mother Feather show, the band was celebrating the release of their second album, Constellation Baby.* The whole set was exceptional, with nearly every track from Constellation Baby getting its moment, as well as a handful of tracks from their explosive, self-titled debut, but people crave lists, so…standouts included the boppy, poppy “I.C.U.”, the whiplash-inducing “Snakebite”, the NYC anthem “Totally Awesome”, “Shake Your Magic 8 Ball” (the best song about magic butts since…probably something performed by Tina on Bob's Burgers), the teeth-smashing “Natural Disaster”, and “Supernatural”, the beautiful song about a lost friend which could have ended up a dirge, but instead comes off as a heartfelt celebration.

At this point in their career, Mother Feather can do anything they fucking well please, and we’ll be lucky to be asked along for the ride. If you yearn to be a part of something great, stop assaulting hot dog vendors, check out the work of Mother Feather, then see them live, because hearing their music versus seeing them live really is like the difference between seeing a picture of a sumptuous meal and having that same sumptuous meal punch you in the face. And you will come back for a second helping.

* One of my favorite albums of 2018.