We got feast... all the time... We got famine... all the time...

So I caught up last night with a few friends to see a few more old friends.

We popped in at the Mercury Lounge to take in the triumphant NYC return of one of our favorite bands of yesteryear, Rustic Overtones. We discovered them as an opening act for They Might Be Giants at the Bowery Ballroom and followed them anywhere they went.

You can read their history elsewhere - but our history's a little more intimate. You'd think Rustic Overtones was one of those bands that you discover in college and you think is awesome solely because no one else is listening.

You'd be wrong. This isn't Guster here.

Rustic Overtones can play. Their music was up, funky, accessible, never arrogant or pretentious. You could move to it. Unwind to it. Sing along to it.

And they're back together and looking for one more shot at the big time. Last night was a good first step. They played a set that consisted of half new songs and half songs from their last album, Viva Nueva. Sadly, they didn't play some of their best work ("Check," "Cherry," "Feast or Famine," and their best by far - "Iron Boots") - but they sounded good. They didn't bring the megaphone for "Smoke," but they didn't have new gimmicks, either. Just Dave Gutter singing like he's having a seizure. Spencer Albee jumping perpendicular to his keyboard. Like they're back on track. Like they will go places.

I don't meant to wax nostalgic and get all sappy about the Overtones. It's just that it was a 45 minute set, but could've gone on for 4:45 and I wouldn't have cared. It was a damn good show. It's nice to have them back (if only because I've never heard "Scarecrow" live).

Just for kicks - here's a live version of "Cherry." And a live version of their cover of Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer."

I won't say, "I told you so."

"So when you reach into your pocket
reach down further than the seams
to the leg that you could kneel down
and beg upon; one day a prince
and the next day a vagabond.
I flip a coin into a wishing well
this one's for you..."
-Rustic Overtones, "Long Division"