It never ceases to amaze me. The abundance of extraordinary talent in the NYC music scene is obvious to anyone who seeks to experience it.  Yet, so many people talk as if the scene is terrible and how difficult it is to find quality music at the venues in NYC.  I will admit, the Bleeker Street music clubs do leave much to be desired, but one venue, le possion rouge, is certainly doing it the right way.  LPR has made a name by bringing in experimental, eclectic and alternative artists over the past 10 years, and this past Saturday night was no exception.

Yonatan Gat performed in support of his new album, “Universalists“ which was recently released on Joyful Noise Recordings.  He played three different sets, and we were fortunate to catch the last two which were truly epic.  The long transplanted New Yorker showed off his masterful guitar skills, (The Village Voice named him “Best Guitarist in New York, 2013.”) shredding through an eclectic mix of ethnic sounds with merely a vocal, but it didn’t discourage fans in attendance as they marveled at his guitar playing skills.  I was also impressed with his band as they were on point throughout the set, and  as the sound changed, their energy was consistent and at a high level throughout.  Gat’s sound is clearly focused on guitar, but I couldn’t help but watch his drummer relentlessly pounding on the skins and his evident passion for the music.  This brings to mind the most anticipated part of the evening for me and apparently many others who were in attendance.  The third set of the evening with the Eastern Medicine Singers.

Yonatan and some of his band mates walked off the front of the stage as the lights focused on the middle of the floor, where the Eastern Medicine Singers sat down around this huge drum.  As we heard the first hymn, chant and the pounding of the drum, a new energy overtook the room- blissful, happy, appreciative for this experience.  Rather than trying to explain this further, just watch this short video: