cave

“Neon Pill” — Cage the Elephant “Song of the Lake” — Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds “Starburster” — Fontaines D.C.

Launay has frequently worked with modern rock acts such as the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Idles and Nick Cave, but his career stretches back to the early U.K. punk and postpunk scenes.

But honestly, spending time with Williams’ news cave jamboree wasn’t terrible.

It was a gorgeous afternoon, unusually warm and sunny, and there were only four other patrons, two couples, sitting on stools in the darkened cave of the bar.

Bennett, Roy and five of the Mr. Christmas hopefuls gathered at Rolf’s German Restaurant in Manhattan, a kitschy, Christmas-themed establishment that feels like a cave decorated by Mrs. Claus, with a whirl of twinkle lights, gleaming metallic ornaments and faux-evergreen branches dripping from the ceiling.