Show Review: The Thing, Nine Perfect Lives, Television Overdose at Irving Plaza, NYC.
May 9th, 2026.
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“I love Bikini Kill. Last time she played here I gave my daughter my tickets and made her go” -Anonymous
May 10th, 2026
Back to Irving Plaza, back at it again. Last night we made a snap decision to race down there to catch The Thing with support from Nine Perfect Lives and TVOD. It was The Thing’s largest headlining show of their career, an accomplishment they seemed to relish in as they squeezed every drop of blood from the Rock and Roll stone. We were so transfixed, not many notes were taken, but here’s what we remember.
Ever since Television Overdose released their last album Party Time (exactly one year ago this day), we’ve been scratching and clawing to try and see them. A hyperactive sextet, their own songs had them leaping out of their skin, six feral creatures hopping and thrashing around on stage. It was a nonstop dance party, as if Hot Fuss era Killers had dropped acid and crashed a disco set with their tools of punk. A standout was an extended version of Car Wreck that included a pileup collision of a guitar solo.
We hadn’t heard of Nine Perfect Lives, but that made sense when we learned that they only started playing in 2026 and this was their 6th ever show. How does a band so new find themselves on the Irving Plaza stage? One explanation that was in front of our eyes was their knockout talent. We watched the lead guitarist, in black heels, make a noise jam by turning the knobs of one of their floor pedals with the toe of their shoe, while simultaneously playing. The overall sound was something akin to a dreampop act that dreamed lucid of heavy metal.
The Thing is the punchiest psych rock we’ve ever heard. We kept seeing them in 2025 at all these events that didn’t get written up, one standout being a clear sky Showbrain gig at Washington Square Park. Still on a victory lap from last summer's self titled album, it was their biggest headlining show to date and they spared no musical expense. They’re a band you feel like you're listening to in 8K resolution. Guitars are clean, drums crisp, bass slick, and vocals clear-eyed and powerful. Some songs were long enough to get lost in the moment and forget how or when they began. Case and point was a late-set proper drum solo that transcended time, we lost sensation of how long it lasted. We wandered around the floor towards the end and noticed everyone dancing in every corner. Long live The Thing.
Spring’s in full swing. This is one of the best times of the year to catch a gig, bands are sharp and not yet on the summer festival circuit. We almost didn’t go to this show but are glad we did. If you missed it, connect with TVOD, Nine Perfect Lives, and The Thing to make it to their next one. Rrrock on, Rrrat Pack, see you around.
| Keywords: | New York City | Irving Plaza | The Thing | Nine Perfect Lives | Television Overdose |
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