Honky soulster-on-the-rise Mayer Hawthorne bolted from his own sold-out show at Brooklyn’s new Knitting Factory to play an even solder-outer show at Brooklyn Bowl last night, jamming with The Roots in a clever cross-promotion for Hawthorne’s just-announced Saturday night gig at the hiptastic bowling alley. Earlier in the night, Hawthorne led off the Factory show with his two singles — “Maybe So, Maybe No” and “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” — leaving the rest of the night open for lesser-known works from his nascent portfolio (first album just out via Stones Throw Records).
With backing from his touring band, The County, Hawthorne belted out doo-wop and soul befitting his Motown pedigree, with a bit of reggae experimentation and a healthy dose of crowd involvement thrown in for good measure. Large Professor was reportedly in the amorphous crowd, which comprised the ubiquitous Havemeyer hipster set alongside a smaller contingent of hip-hop heads and Average White Folk. Sporting thick-rimmed glasses and a thick tweed coat over the vest-and-tie combo worn by the rest of the band, Hawthorne epitomized the faux-dork look that plays so well with those who like Kanye and/or James Franco (and really, who doesn’t? Nohomo).
Multimedia aplenty:
Mayer Hawthorne - “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” Live from Dunce Cap Quarterly on Vimeo.
