Sometime, I would like to see both John Darnielle and John Vanderslice play with big giant bands including strings and keys. Their recordings keep getting more orchestral,and I want to see that onstage. But, I knew this "Gone Primitive" tour was to be solo acoustic, so I was prepared for bare boned Johns.
That said, I was very pleased with both sets at the Portage. Initially, this show was supposed to the at Epiphany, one of the Empty Bottle myriad venues, but then it was moved to the Portage. My new favorite venue. You can buy popcorn and wine. And you get to sit down.
Both of them worked great with the crowd. I got the feeling most people were not there to see JV though, but the theater seating lended to them generally behaving. He was great though. Even "Trance Manual," which I've always been sort of lukewarm about, moved me.
But John Darnielle - he needs the energy of the crowd, and by the end of the set, he had everyone on their feet and in the aisles. He spazzed out and barked into the darkness, sure to play a lot of favorites, including closing with No Children, sending us all home happy. (After telling us good night and promising that he would one day sleep with all of us. Nerd alert.)
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Bloc Party @ the Aragon - 28 March 2009
...and I hadn't been to the ARAGON since November 15th, 2004. How do I remember the date? I'm pretty sure that was it, because it is my sister's birthday, and it was my first day of work at Rotary. I went with Andrea and Mari to see the Pixies. And to this day, I regret not really being in the moment. I think I was still just too overwhelmed with being back in Chicago to really take in the beauty that is the Aragon.
So, I think when I agreed to go to Bloc Party with Nicki and company I may have thought it was at the Riv. So when I heard it had been moved to the Aragon, I was pretty psyched.
Due to a certain Pitt/Villanova game, we were waylaid at T's, arriving at the Aragon after Longwave finished. That's good, since I don't know who the f*&k they are anyway.
And bloc party was fine. I still think all their songs sound the same. But the Aragon is beautiful, and we had a perfect vantage point up in the balcony, stage right. When a couple of people hauled out the umbrellas in the encore, spinning them over their heads, I almost cried. And then... and then... when the show was over, they played "I've Had the Time of My life" and I flashed back to my 7th/8th grade dances, all was well with the world.
So, I think when I agreed to go to Bloc Party with Nicki and company I may have thought it was at the Riv. So when I heard it had been moved to the Aragon, I was pretty psyched.
Due to a certain Pitt/Villanova game, we were waylaid at T's, arriving at the Aragon after Longwave finished. That's good, since I don't know who the f*&k they are anyway.
And bloc party was fine. I still think all their songs sound the same. But the Aragon is beautiful, and we had a perfect vantage point up in the balcony, stage right. When a couple of people hauled out the umbrellas in the encore, spinning them over their heads, I almost cried. And then... and then... when the show was over, they played "I've Had the Time of My life" and I flashed back to my 7th/8th grade dances, all was well with the world.
A.C. Newman @ Logan Square Auditorium - 25 March 2009
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.
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.
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.
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