Only in Williamsburg can one find the back of an otherwise unassuming café housing, somewhat surreptitiously, an unexpectedly excellent art and music venue. And that was precisely the case on Sunday night, when the “Noncerts” series kicked off its inaugural show at Cameo Gallery, located off North Sixth Street behind the Lovin’ Cup Café. (“Noncerts,” naturally, describing the new nonprofit string of concerts, the first of which benefited Brooklyn public schools.)
The brainchild of Dave Godowsky (who performs as John Shade), Noncerts’ mission may seem high-minded, but the proof is in the (concert) pudding: The show took on an otherworldly air, rendering quiet the rapt, capacity crowd. The ethereality of the show was further spurred on by the flawlessness of an all-star backing house band (the likes of which have played with everyone from Jay-Z to Lou Reed).
Featuring Gene Ween of Ween, Hamilton Leithauser of The Walkmen, and songwriter Dave Dondero, the show quickly hit a dynamic stride, with Godowsky taking the stage first. His string-backed set — punctuated by his admission that he was surprised that his idea for the Noncert had actually come into fruition — set the tone for the evening, its initial equanimity belying a quiet intensity. Dondero, Leithauser, and Ween’s respective sets followed in step with the tone, with more than one audience member unable to keep from yelling the encouraging comments to themselves — such enthusiasm a rarity for live shows in the area.
More shows allegedly on the way — check back here, here, here.
