New York art-rock band Godcaster has kicked off a four-date residency at the new venue Night Club 101, showcasing tracks from their past and previewing material from their upcoming third album. Produced in part by of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, the new LP promises a shift to euphoric pop sounds. The residency features guest performers and a unfolding gothic play, drawing local fans and musicians.
Godcaster, a sextet known for experimental art-rock, started their residency at Night Club 101 on April 8, with performances every Tuesday through the month. The venue, in New York City's East Village and operated by the team behind Baby’s All Right, hosted the band's second show with opener Brutus VIII, the project of former Slow Hollows member Jackson Katz. Attendees included lead vocalist and guitarist Judson Kolk’s parents, and the crowd sang along to classics like the 2019 single “She’s a Gun” while dancing to a new unreleased track, “My Crytone Rind,” with its hypnotic melody and synths.
The residency invites friends such as Asher White and Macula Dog to join, and each night opens with installments of the four-part gothic Americana play He Keenly Feels His Loss, written and directed by Jane Ferry and Nazareth Bowman. Those attending all four shows witness the full story. In interviews, band members discussed refining their live set, which spans their evolution from early funk and psychedelic pop-rock to darker post-punk influences on their 2023 self-titled album.
Judson Kolk noted the set's eclectic nature: “The set seems very schizophrenic in that way, with all the different sounds.” Von Kolk added, “Godcaster has stayed together since they were kids, so that’s why it’s changed so much, because it’s literally people growing up and transforming into adults.” Highlights include the 11-minute “Didactic Flashing Antidote,” where David McFaul takes vocals, evolving from loose jams to a structured performance “like a play,” per Kolk.
The upcoming third LP, recently completed, marks a brighter direction. Kolk described it as “euphoric, kind of utopian pop, bursting with joy music,” with “Judy Living Daylights”—released in January—as a preview featuring sparkling textures and sugary melodies. Unlike prior live-room recordings, this album uses multi-tracked production, condensed power, and no lengthy tracks. New drummer Ryan West, who joined in summer 2023 after Sam Pickard’s departure, adapted to chopped and processed drum sounds, calling the process “super fun” and “super challenging.”
Kevin Barnes provided guidance at his home studio, building on a friendship sparked in 2018 via his fiancée Christina Schneider’s band Locate S1. Most members have known each other since childhood, except Von Kolk (joined at 17) and West (met in 20s), allowing the residency to trace their artistic growth amid growing acclaim from outlets like Rolling Stone and Pitchfork.
