I hadn't been to the LSA since a post-Thanksgiving Andrew Bird show in 2006. They've spruced up a bit. It even smelled like paint, and reminds me a bit of Turner Hall in Galena.
Hanging out at Dunlay's with my friends caused us to miss the Broken West, but that's okay. I've listened to them a bit, but nothing's every really stuck.
I was so happy with this show. I'd been looking forward to it for quite some time. I discovered Newman's first solo album a little over a year ago probably, and knew it was probably time for a new one soon. So when I hear about Get Guilty's impending release, and Neko Case's new album, I put two and two together and correctly predicted that they'd both be doing solo tours this spring.
When you have two albums of short-ish pop songs, it's pretty definite that you'll play almost all of your songs at a show, and they did. Since it was a solo tour, I was a little apprehensive, thinking they might be bare-bones, so I was pleasantly surprised by the huge band, including violin and and ultra-peppy guitarist. They delivered almost exactly what's on the albums.
The icing on the Carl Newman cake was the array of limited edition silkscreened posters for sale. They were only $10 each, but I held back... didn't buy the submarine one, or the gun, or any of the others leftover from the pevious stops on the tour. I just bought the Chicago bridge poster. And it's still rolled up on the dining room table, waiting for me to get my shit together and frame some stuff already.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Shiny Happy Swedes - Loney Dear w/ Anni Rossi @ Schubas - 1 March 2009
I love Schubas. And I love going to shows with my friend Joe. But even both of those combined didn't really put me in the mood for this Sunday night. What can I say? This has been a rough winter.
Anyway, when this Anni Rossi got on stage, I thought, oh great, who is this Andrew Bird wannabe with a damn viola? But, she was actually pretty intriguing. It's been 6 weeks now, so I don't remember exactly why, but I'd go see her again.
And Loney, Dear.... well they were just fun. I love the awkwardness of Swedish pop, and I really enjoyed the banter in between songs. It was nice to see them play these songs on actual instruments, when the recordings sound a little more digital. I did not get to hear "I am John" which is the song that drew me to them in the first place, but I heard all my other favorites.
It was a short set, but, as Emil Svanängen himself said before the encore, "after all, it is Saturday, and tomorrow you have to go to your works." So, maybe he gets his days mixed up, but he's adorable, and I had a big smile on my face when I left.
Anyway, when this Anni Rossi got on stage, I thought, oh great, who is this Andrew Bird wannabe with a damn viola? But, she was actually pretty intriguing. It's been 6 weeks now, so I don't remember exactly why, but I'd go see her again.
And Loney, Dear.... well they were just fun. I love the awkwardness of Swedish pop, and I really enjoyed the banter in between songs. It was nice to see them play these songs on actual instruments, when the recordings sound a little more digital. I did not get to hear "I am John" which is the song that drew me to them in the first place, but I heard all my other favorites.
It was a short set, but, as Emil Svanängen himself said before the encore, "after all, it is Saturday, and tomorrow you have to go to your works." So, maybe he gets his days mixed up, but he's adorable, and I had a big smile on my face when I left.
Getting too old for this...Blitzen Trapper with Alela Diane @ the Empty Bottle - 19 Feb 2009
Detours to Enoteca Roma and the California Clipper made us a little late for the opening act, Alela Diane. Reminiscent of Stevie Nicks and or young Emmylou, she was a nice little surprise when we did catch the last half of her set. On the other hand, the main thing I learned from that night is that I need to draw the line when it comes to bands I don't know well who are playing 10:00 shows on weeknights. I liked Blitzen Trapper based on two songs: The older Pink Padded Slippers and the newer Furr. However, the bulk of their southern frat rock was not my cup of tea. And they didn't play the former, anyway.
It was fun watching the frat-cult following, and the random dude in the bear hat really getting into the show, but it definitely sunk quickly to the bottom of my list of rock shows for the 2000's.
The evening's highlights included: California Clipper, Playboy Pinball machine at the Empty Bottle, and "Every Path" by Alela Diane.
It was fun watching the frat-cult following, and the random dude in the bear hat really getting into the show, but it definitely sunk quickly to the bottom of my list of rock shows for the 2000's.
The evening's highlights included: California Clipper, Playboy Pinball machine at the Empty Bottle, and "Every Path" by Alela Diane.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Heartless Bastards @ Martyrs' - 31 Jan 2009
I think that the song "All This Time" was an eMusic Daily Download once, and it was one of those songs that had me hooked from the first couple of lines. I couldn't stop listening to it. It reminded me of all the good parts of female classic/psychedelic rock vocalists - a little Janis, and little Nico, a little Grace Slick. Not really in line with most of what I've been listening to these days, but intoxicating nonetheless.
So, based on that song only, I automatically got excited when I heard they were playing down the street at Martyrs'. I like that place. It's smallish - I never feel too crowded, and.... there's a pinball machine! That's where you can find me if the opening band sucks. Especially if I'm there alone. But neither if the two were true last Saturday. I was there with a couple of friends, and the opener was one of those flannel clad bands of young men from Brooklyn, The Subjects.
It was pretty late when little Erika Wennerstrom and her band took the stage - and the crowd was pretty liquored up. It was an interesting crowd too - a little like I might find in one of my hometown Galena bars... varying ages all sort of drinking and grooving in their own way. Wennerstrom definitely drives the band. We couldn't see her guitar playing from where we were, but her voice is huge. They played a lot of songs from the last two albums, "Stairs and Elevators" and "All this Time" as well as some from the new album "The Mountain," which, recorded with a new band,took a little bit of a jam-band turn (in the cover art as well) which I'm not sure if I like as much.
So many "indie" female vocalists these days are sort of annoying me with their soft pretty little voices. So it was nice to hear someone really belt it out - and all the more amazing since Wennerstrom is such a petite woman. I do worry that her days might be numbered though - I see vocal polyps in her future. There wasn't enough banter - I would have liked a little more chatter, especially in such a small space. And they never played "All this Time." All in all - I don't know that I would go out of my way to see them again, but it was definitely a good show, good music, and a good place to be a little warm whiskey haze in this coldest of winters.
So, based on that song only, I automatically got excited when I heard they were playing down the street at Martyrs'. I like that place. It's smallish - I never feel too crowded, and.... there's a pinball machine! That's where you can find me if the opening band sucks. Especially if I'm there alone. But neither if the two were true last Saturday. I was there with a couple of friends, and the opener was one of those flannel clad bands of young men from Brooklyn, The Subjects.
It was pretty late when little Erika Wennerstrom and her band took the stage - and the crowd was pretty liquored up. It was an interesting crowd too - a little like I might find in one of my hometown Galena bars... varying ages all sort of drinking and grooving in their own way. Wennerstrom definitely drives the band. We couldn't see her guitar playing from where we were, but her voice is huge. They played a lot of songs from the last two albums, "Stairs and Elevators" and "All this Time" as well as some from the new album "The Mountain," which, recorded with a new band,took a little bit of a jam-band turn (in the cover art as well) which I'm not sure if I like as much.
So many "indie" female vocalists these days are sort of annoying me with their soft pretty little voices. So it was nice to hear someone really belt it out - and all the more amazing since Wennerstrom is such a petite woman. I do worry that her days might be numbered though - I see vocal polyps in her future. There wasn't enough banter - I would have liked a little more chatter, especially in such a small space. And they never played "All this Time." All in all - I don't know that I would go out of my way to see them again, but it was definitely a good show, good music, and a good place to be a little warm whiskey haze in this coldest of winters.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Nobo vs. the Dudes - The Hold Steady w/ Tom Morello @ HOB - 15 Jan 2009
So, my first show of 2009, and I found myself one of about 100 women in the entire sold out House of Blues. Showing up fashionably late with a friend, I thought I might have missed a good chunk of The Nightwatchman's set. But, in true rock and roll style, it had started quite late, and by leading with our breasts we were able to push through the crowd of testosterone to secure a nice vantage point along the railing, stage right.
Not knowing much of Morello's music, I was a little lost, but it was still a great set, all of his self-comparisons to Barak Obama aside. He played acoustic and electric. He played guitar with his teeth. He covered AC/DC and he covered Woody Guthrie, and had everyone singing along to This Land is Your Land.
The Hold Steady. Now that was a wild ride. Akin to the mountain goats in the telling of tales of drug and alcohol soaked nights, their songs are never about people with whom I can really identify. On of the things that sets Craig Finn apart from, say, John Darnielle, is that somehow you believe that his characters might actually survive. There's a little more hope in his stories. That said though, a lot the Hold Steady's songs sound a lot like one another, and it's sometimes hard for me to tell one from the other. It was a top-notch live show though, and I enjoyed raising my fist and wailing along with their stadium-rock choruses as much as the next guy. And the next guy, and the next. And those few ladies, who were mostly leaning against dudes looking bored.
I have a theory about why The Hold Steady is a man's band. I think women tend to like men with beautiful voices. How many women do you see swooning over Tom Waits? Finn's vocals are very conversational - staying a short range with not a lot of variation in melody.
So, I'm back to blogging? Perhaps. Time to go to work now, but maybe this weekend, I can write chapter two of January, which ended with Heartless Bastards. I've got at least five more shows lined up in the next couple of months - so, the momentum should keep me going.
Not knowing much of Morello's music, I was a little lost, but it was still a great set, all of his self-comparisons to Barak Obama aside. He played acoustic and electric. He played guitar with his teeth. He covered AC/DC and he covered Woody Guthrie, and had everyone singing along to This Land is Your Land.
The Hold Steady. Now that was a wild ride. Akin to the mountain goats in the telling of tales of drug and alcohol soaked nights, their songs are never about people with whom I can really identify. On of the things that sets Craig Finn apart from, say, John Darnielle, is that somehow you believe that his characters might actually survive. There's a little more hope in his stories. That said though, a lot the Hold Steady's songs sound a lot like one another, and it's sometimes hard for me to tell one from the other. It was a top-notch live show though, and I enjoyed raising my fist and wailing along with their stadium-rock choruses as much as the next guy. And the next guy, and the next. And those few ladies, who were mostly leaning against dudes looking bored.
I have a theory about why The Hold Steady is a man's band. I think women tend to like men with beautiful voices. How many women do you see swooning over Tom Waits? Finn's vocals are very conversational - staying a short range with not a lot of variation in melody.
So, I'm back to blogging? Perhaps. Time to go to work now, but maybe this weekend, I can write chapter two of January, which ended with Heartless Bastards. I've got at least five more shows lined up in the next couple of months - so, the momentum should keep me going.
Friday, December 26, 2008
2 Aug 2008 - Lollapalooza (De Novo Dahl, The Postelles, Mason Jennings, Devotchka, Okkervil River)
De Novo Dahl
A prefect start to a nice sunny day - this band greeted the morning in bright orange and yellow rompers, which stood out nicely against the walls of the band shell. I'd never heard of them before, save for one song that I'd downloaded from the Lollapalooza site, but they kept me occupied and glad I'd gotten up early and made it downtown.
The Postelles
Next up was another group of fresh young faces. The crowd wasn't too big - they had a solid performance, and they really seemed to be enjoying themselves. I kept listening to their catchy little pop songs for several weeks after the show.
Mason Jennings
I've seen Mason several times since I first "discovered" him 9 long years ago. It's been interesting seeing his style, lyrics, fan base and band members change. I enjoyed Robert Skoro as his bass player for a few years, but since then haven't noticed anyone of consequence in his band. That sort of hints to me that he might be a pain to work with, but what do I know? He has a woman playing bass now, and that's cool in my book.
Devotchka
This is a band that has come a long way since I first saw them as a random opening act when I was living in Denver back in 2000. They were fun, and I'm glad that a band with sousaphone, accordion and theremin can get invited to play such large venues. ah, the power of indie film, because I don't know that they'd have had so much exposure without Little Miss Sunshine and the like.
Okkervil River
And finally, I worked my way to the front for Okkervil River. I'd seen them once before, but being right against the rail was much more exciting than being in the balcony at the Riv. The whole band has such a great energy, and seemed to really be enjoying the day, (except for the lone female, sort of absently playing guitar off to the side.) I had fun playing with my new camera while they performed. "The President's Dead," and "For Real" were standouts, but "Westfall" blew my mind.
1 Aug 2008 - Lollapalooza (Yeasayer, Gogol Bordello, Mates of State, Cadence Weapon, The Cool Kids, Stephen Malkmus, and just a smidge of Radiohead)
Here it is Boxing Day, and I'm attempting to update ye olde blog. I figure I'll start where I left off, and see how far I get.
When we last spoke, I had just returned from the mega-festival that that takes place in beautiful downtown Chicago: Lollapalooza. When I first bought my three-day pass, I thought for sure one of my friends would join me for at least part of it. But, alas, I was flying solo, left to navigate to sea of pot smoke and sunscreen on my own.
Even though I got down there pretty early on Friday, the time I'd planned to spend listening to Rogue Wave was spent waiting in line instead. When I finally got in and made my way to the stage where #2 on my list (Yeasayer) was playing, I was starting to feel pretty old and uncool compared to all of the teenage hipsters surrounding me.
I couldn't get very close for Yeasayer, and that was a bad moment. I wondered if I was going to spend the next three days craning my neck to see bands that I liked, but didn't love. I couldn't imagine that that many thousands of people were there to see Yeasayer, who I didn't think had garnered such a following yet. Eventually, I got into the flow of things - learned some of the tricks to getting closer to the stage - and became thankful that I was there alone, and could follow my own agenda.
I'll just provide a few words on each act I caught, and throw in a couple of pictures where appropriate. More for sake of my own documentation than for your enjoyement, but if you like it, awesome.
Yeasayer
I was too far away to really get anything special from their live performance. After listening to their album, I was expecting to see some more interesting instruments (steel drums perhaps?) Chris Keating was a bit of a diva - refusing to take off his jacket despite the 90s temps. It was just okay, from my vantage point.
Gogol Bordello
If I had moved to the front after Yeasayer, I probably would have been able to get a great spot for this set. They sounded great, and put on a good show visually, complete with dancing ladies. Eugene Hütz really connected with the audience, and helped to put me in the mood for the rest of the weekend of rock.
Mates of State
Major disappointment here. I'd been listening to them sporadically for the last couple of years, and thought it would be neat to see them live. But, really they didn't bring anything new to a live performance than a recording. The keyboard and drums were about as far away from each other as possible on the stage, and, with Kori's head always hanging down (see below photo) there didn't seem to be any connection between them.
Cadence Weapon
Finally, I got was just a couple rows back from the stage for this young Canadian's set. Despite being afriad that the bass was going to change the direction of my blood flow or make my eyeballs implode, I had a lot of fun. I took a few mediocre pictures, but I liked what happened to this one when I started playing around with it.
The Cool Kids
Now, despite living in Chicago, and hearing the name before, I'd never heard The Cool Kids, so their hometown energy was a nice treat. I didn't stay for the whole set though, because I'd had enough life-changes bass for one afternoon, and I wanted to catch Stephen Malkmus.
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
I felt a little more in my element watching them - I recognized a few of the songs from Real Emotional Trash, had a relatively good view for showing up halfway through the set, and I was among my peers, so therefore didn't feel old and uncool. I liked that he had so many women playing real instruments in his band. After it was over, I listed a little to Radiohead as I left the park. I was probably more than a quarter mile from the stage, and I'd had enough for the day.
When we last spoke, I had just returned from the mega-festival that that takes place in beautiful downtown Chicago: Lollapalooza. When I first bought my three-day pass, I thought for sure one of my friends would join me for at least part of it. But, alas, I was flying solo, left to navigate to sea of pot smoke and sunscreen on my own.
Even though I got down there pretty early on Friday, the time I'd planned to spend listening to Rogue Wave was spent waiting in line instead. When I finally got in and made my way to the stage where #2 on my list (Yeasayer) was playing, I was starting to feel pretty old and uncool compared to all of the teenage hipsters surrounding me.
I couldn't get very close for Yeasayer, and that was a bad moment. I wondered if I was going to spend the next three days craning my neck to see bands that I liked, but didn't love. I couldn't imagine that that many thousands of people were there to see Yeasayer, who I didn't think had garnered such a following yet. Eventually, I got into the flow of things - learned some of the tricks to getting closer to the stage - and became thankful that I was there alone, and could follow my own agenda.
I'll just provide a few words on each act I caught, and throw in a couple of pictures where appropriate. More for sake of my own documentation than for your enjoyement, but if you like it, awesome.
Yeasayer
I was too far away to really get anything special from their live performance. After listening to their album, I was expecting to see some more interesting instruments (steel drums perhaps?) Chris Keating was a bit of a diva - refusing to take off his jacket despite the 90s temps. It was just okay, from my vantage point.
Gogol Bordello
If I had moved to the front after Yeasayer, I probably would have been able to get a great spot for this set. They sounded great, and put on a good show visually, complete with dancing ladies. Eugene Hütz really connected with the audience, and helped to put me in the mood for the rest of the weekend of rock.
Mates of State
Major disappointment here. I'd been listening to them sporadically for the last couple of years, and thought it would be neat to see them live. But, really they didn't bring anything new to a live performance than a recording. The keyboard and drums were about as far away from each other as possible on the stage, and, with Kori's head always hanging down (see below photo) there didn't seem to be any connection between them.
Cadence Weapon
Finally, I got was just a couple rows back from the stage for this young Canadian's set. Despite being afriad that the bass was going to change the direction of my blood flow or make my eyeballs implode, I had a lot of fun. I took a few mediocre pictures, but I liked what happened to this one when I started playing around with it.
The Cool Kids
Now, despite living in Chicago, and hearing the name before, I'd never heard The Cool Kids, so their hometown energy was a nice treat. I didn't stay for the whole set though, because I'd had enough life-changes bass for one afternoon, and I wanted to catch Stephen Malkmus.
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks
I felt a little more in my element watching them - I recognized a few of the songs from Real Emotional Trash, had a relatively good view for showing up halfway through the set, and I was among my peers, so therefore didn't feel old and uncool. I liked that he had so many women playing real instruments in his band. After it was over, I listed a little to Radiohead as I left the park. I was probably more than a quarter mile from the stage, and I'd had enough for the day.
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