Union Hall is a large, fairly new joint. Once a former warehouse it now has a front room that feels like a classic old library in a stately manor. Complete with fireplaces, luxurious sofas and floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with old books. It's like the type of place an unscrupulous 19th century U.S. industrialist would feel right at home sucking a thick cigar, sipping brandy and discussing the latest hostile takeover of some unsuspecting competitor. Well, ok ... not so much with the cigars anymore.Behind that is a full-sized bocce court. Apparently Brooklyn has some huge bocce obsession since this is one of two neighborhood courts. I used to love playing the game as a kid but could never have imagined it would be a popular pastime among inebriated hipsters and yuppies. But there they were; laughing, drinking and playing poorly. Union Hall does have league nights where the play may be more serious. This was not such a night. There's an outdoor garden too, but I never made it out there.

Downstairs—where the bands play—is like a cozy basement living room with an impressive sound system for such a small area. Behind the bar is a glass-encased natural display that reminds me of school trips to this museum or that. On the bar is a huge brass elephant. The restrooms are a unisex series of private toilets that lock with deadbolts. The guys in Stand said (with a wink) that the unisex bathrooms in Sweden are cooler. Still, I'm a guy who likes his privacy so these do me just fine.

This intimate setting was perfect for the melodic, soulful and dramatic songs of Stand. They have a very unique sound that combines atmosphere with rhythm, melody with rock. Swirling all thru is an interesting array of looped vocal effects and tastefully subtle electronic sounds. The contrasting dual vocals also add a nice dimension. Visually, strings of blue light and the random table lamp (including the projection one on a screen) in an otherwise dimly lit space really accentuated the overall atmosphere (click here for photos).

I was amazed at how everyone here knew all the words and cheered louder as the night went on since I had never heard of Stand before getting this invitation. At one point it seemed as though they'd never let the band get off the stage. These guys are seasoned performers with remarkable stage presence and great songs. Their fans are like young cousins at a family picnic all hopped up on some extreme sugar rush. I think the band only stopped playing because they ran out of songs. Or they were exhausted. I just know that I was very happy to be invited to the shindig.

A few of the boys have headed back to Dublin to play a handful of shows, but they'll be back in the states soon. When that time comes, go and check them out. In the meantime, get their CD, listen to it ... repeat.

Oh, just one final thought ... why is it that there is always some ass that has to yell for Freebird!? It doesn't matter the band or the show. I've heard it at folk hangs, jazz nights, experimental jams, drum circles, poetry readings (seriously) and of course rock shows. It just never ceases to astound and bug the hell outta me.

Links:
Stand (website)
Stand (myspace)
Union Hall
Photo Gallery
Stephen Bailey