One of the things we’ve missed most during the pandemic is live music, and we suspect we’re not alone. Whether it was going to see a friend’s band, going to an open mic to listen and share, or just dropping by a bar that had reliably good acts and checking out what was going on, the lack of live music has left one of the bigger holes in our life. This week at S&W we’re dipping into our archives to celebrate some of the great live performances we’ve witnessed over the years.
Around the corner from the late great Spike Hill in Williamsburg lies a relatively new venue, Gran Torino. They picked up the Sidewalk Monday night open mic after Sidewalk Closed in 2019. The pandemic hit before it could get any kind of sustained momentum, but we were still lucky enough to be in the audience for this great performance by Prewar Yardsale.
Prewar Yardsale always makes us think of that Mark E Smith quote: “If it’s just me and your granny on bongos, it’s the Fall” Well – Prewar has a bucket, not bongos, but it’s no less punk, and proof that it’s not more instruments that make songs sound good. With just a guitar and a bucket, Prewar Yardsale creates songs and shows as alive and fully realized as any traditional “full” band setups. Here we feature a new song of theirs, at least it was new at the time.
Sunshine and Wind 