Photos: Washed Out & Memoryhouse @ Highline Ballroom

Washed Out & Memoryhouse @ Highline Ballroom - April 22, 2012
Photos: Chloe Lee

On Sunday night at Highline Ballroom, revered synthpop artist Washed Out headlined a sold out show with Sub Pop labelmate Memoryhouse before both bands played Music Hall of Williamsburg again the following night. That show was also sold out. If the turnout is any indication, Ernest Greene (Washed Out’s sole songwriter who tours with a live band) has quite the year ahead of him.

Despite a crippling equipment theft, Memoryhouse will plow on with their tour with Washed Out, before both artists head off in different directions. Our photographer Chloe Lee was there to document Sunday night for us, and you can take a look at her set of photos below…

Future Nostalgia: Washed Out playing Highline Ballroom this Sunday with Memoryhouse

Washed Out, the project of musician Ernest Greene, has pretty rapidly become staple in today's indie world since releasing their debut album Within and Without on Sub Pop last year. After giving it a few spins over the past few months, it's easy to understand why. The meticulously layered record is extremely accessible, and startlingly unique, easily differentiating itself from the current crop of synth-heavy bedroom projects by actually being just really good.

Earlier this week, Washed Out began its first headlining tour in support of the album, which will bring them to Highline Ballroom here in New York City this Sunday, April 22. They will be sharing the stage with their shoegazey labelmates Memoryhouse, a band I've twice caught randomly and have enjoyed both times (their cover of My Bloody Valentine's "When You Sleep" is particularly good). Tickets for the NYC show, unfortunately, are sold out. But take a look at the dates below to see where/when the tour may hit your city.

In related news, Memoryhouse were recently the victim of theft outside of their Washington, DC show on Wednesday. According to their Facebook page, "some" of their equipment was stolen, but if you take a look at the list on their website, you can see that A LOT of gear is missing. You can help out the band by donating to a PayPal account they setup and keeping an eye on craigslist or eBay for the equipment they listed. I'm certain every little bit will help.

Check out videos of both bands, listen to both of their albums on Spotify, and check out their respective tour dates below...

Photos: The Roots @ Highline Ballroom

The Roots @ Highline Ballroom - November 29, 2011
Photos: Chloe Lee

Because you can see them every night in the comforts of your own home, it’s easy to forget how prolific a studio band The Roots actually are. Since 1987, when lead MC Black Thought and drummer ?uestlove formed the beginnings of the group in Philadelphia, The Roots have released thirteen(!) studio albums, their most recent being undun (which we posted about yesterday). How they manage to still release a new album every couple years, all the while backing up numerous rappers and singers (Jay-Z, John Legend, Common and Nas to name a few), plus appear on Jimmy Fallon five nights a week is something of an anomaly.

Needless to say, their live show hasn’t suffered in the least--despite the many factors that should result in extreme exhaustion for the group--and last night they proved as such by playing the Highline Ballroom to a sold out crowd, a feat they will repeat tonight and then again on December 5. Both upcoming shows are sold out, but a limited number of tickets will be sold at the door at show time. Photographer Chloe Lee was at the show last night and you can take a look at her photos below…