The View @ Mercury Lounge (First Night): Ready, Set, Go!

I just got back from The View's first-ever US gig, down on Houston Street at The Merc. The band played a solid set, even though it only lasted 30 quick minutes, on the dot. I recall a day, not too long ago, when (my beloved) Clinic got ridiculed for their short (40-minute) sets but I guess as we enter the latter half of this decade, a brief quality show is more than sufficient. Perhaps our patience can't handle much more...

Most people this side of Atlantic have taken to calling the underaged (they seriously look 12!!) lads 'The Scottish Monkeys'. As instantly degrading as that may sound, I think it'd be fair to say that most people in attendance, those who loved or hated the set, would have a hard time NOT talking about 2006's Mercury Prize-winning Arctic Monkeys when discussing The View. The buzz, the 3-minute ditties, the heavy-as-all-hell accents. It makes sense.

The band's setlist highlighted their past, current and future singles, including but not limited to 'Superstar Tradesman', 'Same Jeans' and 'Wasted Little DJ's'. And it all sounded top-notch!

Will The View become the first success story of '07? It's hard to tell. Judging from the reception outside the venue, it's anybody's guess. Surely NME directed us incorrectly when they shit their pants over The Horrors (yikes!), yet The View have something immediately lovable about them that I can't quite put my finger on, just yet.

If you don't already have tickets for their sold-out show tomorrow night, I recommend giving them a go-'round their next time here, SURELY headlining one, or multiple nights @ The Bowery. Don't say we didn't warn you!

Review by the music slut