Photo: Chris La Putt

Magnetic Fields / Friday, Feb. 22 / Town Hall
The big question going into Friday night's Magnetic Fields concert at Town Hall was obvious: How will they rise to the challenge of duplicating the distortion-heavy sound of their new album? Simple: They didn't. This was a bit of a disappointment for fans of the fuzzed-out, amped-up, Jesus and Mary Chained jams on “Distortion.” Another shame was the way-too-low volume, especially for those hapless hipsters stuck in the balcony. The Magnetic Fields are so magnificent that their sound should fill the room, and it just didn't. This left many a fan literally on the edge of their seats, straining to hear (or maybe just rapt with adoration).

Of course, the Magnetic Fields' songs are so perfectly poignant, so melancholically melodic, so...luminously literate (I'll stop now) that it seems wrong to quibble. As they wended their way through a set filled with their trademark wryly sad songs, old lyrics sounded new again, and new lyrics were just as hilarious as the old ones. Shirley Simms, perched on a stool dressed in candy-cane stripes, was especially good at playing the songs for laughs, while leader Stephin Merritt, in somber browns, took on his usual role of the good-natured curmudgeon, expressing ironic awe of all the tiny glowing rectangles waving in the crowd.

Pianist/singer Claudia Gonson provided an opening for a frustrated audience member with the telling of a story involving seeing a rock show in Boston in her younger days. "When music is loud enough, it's really comforting," she explained, with Merritt joking, "Kind of like this show," before a fan piped up: "You should turn this song up then!" The reply: the gentle acoustic picking of "3-Way." Ah, well. The distortion-laced new songs could have benefited from a little extra muscle ("Too Drunk to Dream" was saved only by Merritt's loose delivery), with many of them suffering from an excess of restraint in the sparse arrangements. In fact, one could argue that the audience was even more enthusiastic than the band, breaking out in thunderous applause and hearty laughter with just about every song. But truly, the band are such pros and the songs so masterful at heart that these magnetic gems shine on their own, even without the sonic fuzz. —Catherine Hopkinson

Although it was a pain in the ass to get to, our memories of Magnetic Field are genuninely fond. So it's sad to hear the venue is closing, looking like at the end of March.

A couple of Metromix staffers had DJ gigs there...while sparsely attended (we'll blame the location), it was always a fun night. And the bartenders? Lovely, lovely human beings. There's actually a hilarious and horribly embarrassing story about one Metromix-er, one Magnetic Field bartender, a few shots and ... well, the problem is that no one can quite remember. You know what? Go and have a drink on us.

(Photo by Karen Sandler)

Magnetic Field closes (via Brooklyn Vegan)

Celebs are immune to waiting on line at Cuban-themed hotpsot Socialista, but clearly they're not immune to contracting Hepatitis A.

Yeah, it's true—former Bungalow 8 bouncer Armin Amiri's celeb-soaked spot was exposed to the virus via a bartender. Guess they'll be instituting an HR department now!  

If you managed to get your ass inside the bar on Feb. 7th (the day of Ashton Kutcher's 30th birthday bash, whose guest list included Madonna, Salma Hayek, Lucy Liu and Eric Dane), Feb. 8th after 8 p.m. or Feb. 11 th after 10 p.m., run to PS 41 this weekend and get thy self vaccinated.

If you didn't manage to get inside, well, how's that for retribution.

Our friends at amNewYork have the full scoop.   

Last night's Foo Fighters show at MSG had all the makings of a classic arena rock show...for better or worse.

The good:

* The Foos had two sets...literally. Besides the main stage, the group also set up a stage on MSG's floor, near the back. "Bet you guys thought you had lousy seats!" Dave Grohl yelled, to thunderous applause. Ha! A shame that most of the second set was used to highlight the rather boring, acoustic half of 2005's "In Your Honor"

 The bad:

 * The audience, who either ignored, heckled or didn't bother showing up for the Foo's opening acts, Against Me! and Serj Tankian. While Serj did let loose with a couple of oddball comments (such as calling his band "The Flying Cunts," which doesn't make sense and wouldn't even sound good if said with a charming British accent), neither band deserved the indifference...or the frat boy "you suck! Foo Fighters wooo!" screams. Or maybe I didn't deserve those, as they happened, frequently, right behind me. 

From AMNY.com

Rivers Cuomo, a post-Valentine's Day playlist and more [AMNY.com]

The Green Restaurant Association has anointed Counter with Certified Green status. That means they are styrofoam-free, use non-toxic chemicals and energy-efficient lighting (including occupancy sensors), and run a waste-efficient resto (think low-flow spray valves on sinks and recycling of used fryer oil...which is gross, but necessary.)

Counter also offers organic and biodynamic wines, so they truly practice what they preach. Nice job! 

Sophia Bush all over fashion week, but first she was at the opening of Bagatelle (from the owners of stk, also in the 'hood), the new french resto in the Meatpacking District. She briefly stood elbow-to-elbow to the NYC's culinary celeb Bret Thorn before settling into a table against the wall, yet also facing the large floor to ceiling windows that look out onto West 13th street.

(Bagatelle, 409 W. 13th St., 212-675-2400)