(photo credit: Kasia Grabek)

As a proud native of Park Slope, I’d normally be excited to wander down the street to catch a show, but I generally despise Union Hall. That said, it takes a rather choice bill to lure me down to the library-themed venue, and Friday’s show, featuring New York City natives Blacklist and Swedish post-punk outfit the Mary Onettes was worth the trouble.

Blacklist is a band I’ve seen countless times, to say the least, but their dreamy coldwave and anthemic, pounding rhythms always hit the spot. The band blended a handful of fan-favorites with several new tracks from their upcoming release, expected on Wierd Records within the next few months. If you’re hip to (early) U2, the vast world of dreampop, and semi-obscure French new wave, this is easily the band for you. Make a point to catch their next gig opening for The Warlocks on June 27^th.

Meanwhile, I admit that I was forced to watch the Mary Onettes from the back of the venue, for the crowd was packed in like sardines, leaving little room for actual enjoyment and opening the door to potential claustrophobia. Bless you, Union Hall! However, the band played on, and played well, their mid-period Cure meets Echo & the Bunnymen aesthetic a welcome touchstone for even the most causal attendee. Though there was a bit of a more retroactive vibe throughout their set, the band sounded flawless and delivered a solid set of keyboard driven, melancholy rock for a new era. I was especially pleased to hear ‘Still,’ the closing track from their eponymous debut and a personal obsession over the weeks leading up to the gig.

Afterwards, we all drank like little fishes, soaking up the post-gig afterglow with a few pints into the wee hours of the morning. The Mary Onettes play one last gig in Boston Saturday night, and then it’s back to the motherland, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled next time they hit the States.