The Clientele played Le Poisson Rouge – 7/30

U.K. dream-pop royalty The Clientele stopped by NYC last month as part of brief East Coast venture surrounding Merge 35.

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If you follow the Noise Floor Instagram with any regularity you might’ve noticed I’ve done a lot of showgoing well outside of Boston the past month or so, hence why the updates around here have been a little fewer and further between. Fear not, we’re getting back on track for the encroaching fall, but first come some gigs to catch up on.

First up, we check in with the rarely-seen-stateside Clientele. The veteran British band take their time between records, and between logistically challenging overseas tours as well, which made missing them in Boston last summer on the supporting run for 2023’s excellent I Am Not There Anymore a real heartbreaker (I was, ironically, in Europe at the time). Thankfully, the band was coaxed back this year for their longtime label Merge’s 35th anniversary fest down in Carrboro, and squeezed in a few more East Coast dates on side.

I was pleased to catch them at Greenwich Village’s Le Poisson Rouge – another storied NYC venue checked off my personal list – where the trio led by singer/songwriter Alasdair MacLean delivered a pitch-perfect set of their enchanting tunes. I Am Not There received the most setlist attention, about which you’ll hear no complaints from me. It’s their most expansive and ambitious record to date – an easy top-10 pick of last year – and it was great to hear a good chunk of those songs live for the first time. They also left plenty of room for the classics of course: a hypnotic “The House Always Wins,” all-time genre classics “Since K Got Over Me” and “Reflections After Jane,” a genuinely ripping guitar solo showcase for MacLean on “Lamplight.” Just a delightful set all around.

Check out photos from the show below, including a few of retro-flavored openers The Smashing Times.