Live Photos: Le Loup @Mercury Lounge [12.13.07]

In remorse for not having posted any photos of Le Loup's lead singer Sam Simkoff on my CMJ review, this post is visually devoted to him. The below photos were taken at last Thursday night's Mercury Lounge gig, where the band was opening for Margot & the Nuclear So & So's. The first pair of shots depict Calm Sam, and the last pair feature him turned up to 11.

Being an evangelical fan of Le Loup, I'm tempted to boast that everyone should have caught this show, but the truth is that I think the talented kids were a little off their game after the 8.5 hour drive from Boston through snow and slush. There are seven players, which warrants tight coordination, and I think fatigue simply didn't fold in seamlessly on this particular night.

That being said, I still reveled in the heart emanating from the ensemble's lively set, which was refreshingly honest in comparison to the overly-polished and substance-void headliners to follow. The set reminded me of a good ol' hillbilly punk O'Death show, except that the audience consisted of very un-hillbilly people sporting gigantic fake Balenciaga bags. Perhaps Le Loup could benefit from touring with a headliner who draws a more energetic, soulful crowd.

[Photos by Mina K]