BY LAVINIA JONES WRIGHT

In the midst of a whirlwind festival tour, Rogue Wave used a rare night off to play a secret show Saturday night at Brooklyn’s Union Hall, just because, as frontman Zach Rogue told the crowd, “we heard this place was cool.” And BLURT was on hand for the special event.

Billed as Endless Shovels, the band that has recently been playing to huge festival crowds serenaded a tight cluster of around fifty fans.  “Nothing’s secret anymore,” Rogue joked eyeing up those who had somehow figured out they would be playing.

Despite a little feedback the band was stunning in a small setting, with Rogue’s shimmery voice echoing through the small room.  They played album versions of songs that they’ve recently been altering for festival settings, like the set-opener “Bird on a Wire” and set-closer “Lake Michigan.”

BLURT was able to grab Rogue Wave’s full setlist:

Bird on a Wire

Endless Shovel

Publish My Love

Lullaby

Desperate

Like I Needed

Ghost

Eyes

Phonytown

Postage Stamp World

10:1

Love’s Lost Guarantee

Seasick on Land

Kicking the Heart Out

Chicago X 12

Lake Michigan

_____________

Man-Revolutionary!

Birds (Neil Young Cover)

Harmonium

Main support band, Frances, was kind enough to lend Rogue Wave their gear for the gig.  The band is due to release their debut effort via Gigantic Records soon, and judging by their set, it will be filled with sweet and sparkly orchestral pop gems.  Saturday’s show included album preview tracks “Cousin,” “The Brain,” and “Telephone,” as well as a fun cover of Elvis Costello’s “Green Shirt.”

[Photos Credit: Lavinia Jones Wright]