My second helping of Scandinavian crooners came on Sunday night when I saw Sondre Lerche perform a solo show at the Swedish American Music Hall. As expected, the Norwegian Lerche asked several questions about playing in a Swedish music hall. "Are there any Norwegian music halls in San Francisco?" asked Lerche. "That's okay, we're using Swedish electricity!" And the list goes on and on. Apparently, there is this competitive spirit among the Swedes and the Nordes, but that's beyond me.
Sondre didn't play everything acoustically. He used, on occassion, his electric guitar. He played a lot of newish songs, even some from the Duper Sessions and songs that he wrote for the move Dan in Real Life. But his biggest applause came when he played songs from Faces Down or Two Way Monologue. In fact, Sondre received not one, but two standing ovations during his nearly 90 minute set. He even mingled with the crowd in the lobby after the show.
I never saw Sondre before, and I wish I did see him with a full band rather than him alone. But he was still very good. His voice was top notch during the whole event, and he talked a lot. Telling stories and just smart comments. Acknowledging some of the crowd requests as well, even some of the hecklers (who heckled with good intentions).
He ended his set with "Sleep on Needles," but I wish he played more. The crowd made many requests, but some of them he doesn't remember. I wished he played "Single Hand Affairs," but oh well.
02 December 2007
Jens Lekman (Bimbo's, 9 November 2007)
Nearly a month after I saw this show, I still can't believe how great Jens Lekman was live. He was fantastic from start to finish, crooning his way to the hearts of every person in attendance at Bimbo's that evening. He sang everything that I wanted to hear, and sang new songs that I haven't heard before. He hasn't been to S.F. in a while, and this was my first time seeing him. With all those factors in mind, I was very excited to see him.
Jens' new album is definitely in my top 5 releases for 2007. So, seeing those songs performed live will trigger an additional sense when I hear that album play through my headphones.
My friends and I stood in the back at first, but found a prime table in the back. Near the bar, away from the hustle and bustle, but still good enough to see Jens and his band that consisted of really cute Swedish women (so I think they are Swedish). Think Robert Palmer's video "Simply Irreststable" to get a minds eye view of what I'm talking about.
Jens was talkative and quirky throughout the show, even throwing in there a story about him rollerblading in the North Bay. I don't know if that story is mere fiction, but picturing Jens Lekman rollerblading just doesn't make sense to me.
One of the stories he told was about his hairdresser in Sweden. It was an amusing story that nicely transitioned into him playing "Shirin." The highlight for me was "Your Arms Around Me," which sounded so fantastic. Jens and his band even did a little interpretive dance, with the whole band pretending to be airplanes. Jens' voice was so good during this song, and his band captured that very Smiths like quality to the song -- a portion of which sounds like "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side."
Oh, and of course, "Black Cab." It was surreal.
He played two encores. One song he played was "Tram #7 to Heaven," which he played by himself, acoustically. "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo" was a bit of a disappointment because of the rather weak horns that accompanied it. But, "A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill" was a lot of fun with all that "bomp" noises they made.
I think this could be one of the top 5 shows of the year. He'll return, I hope, but he'll be playing the Fillmore by then. Regardless, I'll be one of the first persons to buy a ticket.
Jens' new album is definitely in my top 5 releases for 2007. So, seeing those songs performed live will trigger an additional sense when I hear that album play through my headphones.
My friends and I stood in the back at first, but found a prime table in the back. Near the bar, away from the hustle and bustle, but still good enough to see Jens and his band that consisted of really cute Swedish women (so I think they are Swedish). Think Robert Palmer's video "Simply Irreststable" to get a minds eye view of what I'm talking about.
Jens was talkative and quirky throughout the show, even throwing in there a story about him rollerblading in the North Bay. I don't know if that story is mere fiction, but picturing Jens Lekman rollerblading just doesn't make sense to me.
One of the stories he told was about his hairdresser in Sweden. It was an amusing story that nicely transitioned into him playing "Shirin." The highlight for me was "Your Arms Around Me," which sounded so fantastic. Jens and his band even did a little interpretive dance, with the whole band pretending to be airplanes. Jens' voice was so good during this song, and his band captured that very Smiths like quality to the song -- a portion of which sounds like "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side."
Oh, and of course, "Black Cab." It was surreal.
He played two encores. One song he played was "Tram #7 to Heaven," which he played by himself, acoustically. "Friday Night at the Drive-In Bingo" was a bit of a disappointment because of the rather weak horns that accompanied it. But, "A Sweet Summer's Night on Hammer Hill" was a lot of fun with all that "bomp" noises they made.
I think this could be one of the top 5 shows of the year. He'll return, I hope, but he'll be playing the Fillmore by then. Regardless, I'll be one of the first persons to buy a ticket.
02 November 2007
The Pipettes (Bimbo's, 29 October 2007)
They are the Pipettes. And they are the prettiest girls I've ever met...at least on stage singing sugary sweet pop music. The always statuesque Gweno and her spunky partners, Riot Becky and Rosay, came back to San Francisco for a second time to, as Rosay said, "sing short songs, and do a lot of dancing."
Bimbo's was not that crowded actually. At first, I thought it would sell out for sure, but after arriving just right after the second opener, there was plenty of room on the main floor and even more spaces available in the back tables. They came on eventually at around 10:15pm. Their second song, "Your Kisses are Wasted On Me," immediately ignited the crowd. Gweno had a bit of a problem reaching the high notes, but that's probably because she needs to warm up a bit.
The Pipettes wore these really cute outfits, full of polka dots. Gweno's was the most pronounced, with a pyramid-like stiff skirt. She also dyed her hair, much to my dismay, from that beautiful blonde to the more subtle strawberry blonde ala Clair Danes in My So Called Life.
But the songs, oh the songs. They played plenty of them, and they danced their little moves. You don't really get to see pretty girls sing well, but the Pipettes definitely sang well. Their voices were just amazing, and their sparkling personalities also made them so endearing. And the British accents, oh, the British accents.
You're probably reading this and wondering, "OK, where is the actual review of the show?" Well, I'm trying but I can't get past how cute they looked on stage!
OK. So, they played everything off of their We Are the Pipettes. Biggest crowd pleaser was, by far, "Pull Shapes." They did their little Madonna-like Vogue dancing. And the band was quite tight too. This song was played next to last I think. Everyone in the crowd was dancing, even the real hard looking guys. But then again, why would you go see the Pipettes if you were acting hard?
I got to meet them afterwards since I bought a CD and they signed it. They are just too sweet. I just don't know what to say them other than, "great show!" I wanted to ask Gweno when she dyed her hair. But, alas, I had to go.
Beer Rating: 0 Beer
Bimbo's was not that crowded actually. At first, I thought it would sell out for sure, but after arriving just right after the second opener, there was plenty of room on the main floor and even more spaces available in the back tables. They came on eventually at around 10:15pm. Their second song, "Your Kisses are Wasted On Me," immediately ignited the crowd. Gweno had a bit of a problem reaching the high notes, but that's probably because she needs to warm up a bit.
The Pipettes wore these really cute outfits, full of polka dots. Gweno's was the most pronounced, with a pyramid-like stiff skirt. She also dyed her hair, much to my dismay, from that beautiful blonde to the more subtle strawberry blonde ala Clair Danes in My So Called Life.
But the songs, oh the songs. They played plenty of them, and they danced their little moves. You don't really get to see pretty girls sing well, but the Pipettes definitely sang well. Their voices were just amazing, and their sparkling personalities also made them so endearing. And the British accents, oh, the British accents.
You're probably reading this and wondering, "OK, where is the actual review of the show?" Well, I'm trying but I can't get past how cute they looked on stage!
OK. So, they played everything off of their We Are the Pipettes. Biggest crowd pleaser was, by far, "Pull Shapes." They did their little Madonna-like Vogue dancing. And the band was quite tight too. This song was played next to last I think. Everyone in the crowd was dancing, even the real hard looking guys. But then again, why would you go see the Pipettes if you were acting hard?
I got to meet them afterwards since I bought a CD and they signed it. They are just too sweet. I just don't know what to say them other than, "great show!" I wanted to ask Gweno when she dyed her hair. But, alas, I had to go.
Beer Rating: 0 Beer
12 October 2007
Simian Mobile Disco (Mezzanine, 21 September 2007)
Love the album, but on that evening, I just couldn't get into it. First, I had a major stomach ache. That's what I get for eating steak two nights in a row when I haven't eaten red meat in over 7 months. And then, the crowd was just this annoying techno crowd. Which I kind of expected, but not this bad. Finally, Simian Mobile Disco came on at midnight, which, at that point, I was spent, especially since I was at the venue at around 10:30pm. I was over it. I left at 12:30 or so and went home and drank some Pepto.
I'm not even going to rate this show, only because I left not because of the music but for physical reasons.
I'm not even going to rate this show, only because I left not because of the music but for physical reasons.
The New Pornographers (The Warfield, 17 September 2007)
I don't know if I can ever watch the New Pornographers again without thinking that after they play their set, Belle & Sebastian is next. Because, that's what I was thinking the entire time I saw their show that night. "I can't wait for Belle & Sebastian!" But noooooo...it was just the New Pornos.
This time though, Neko Case was with them. Along with Mr. Destroyer himself. It was the first time, I think, that I saw all of them in one show. Like the previous times I saw them, A.C. Newman and crew just played song, after song, after song. They are truly robots, but likable ones at that. Newman's voice seemed off tonight too, but that really didn't matter.
The New Pornos' new album, Challengers, is the most mellow and least poppy of their entire discography. Is it because the New Pornos are getting older? Newman married a week or two before this show, so maybe the whole engagement process humbled his poppy stuff and focused on something, well, not so?
I think the songs I enjoyed most were the ones that Dan Bejar sang like "Myriad Harbour." Bejar is a character. The man is constantly drunk, or so it appears, yet he can sing without missing a beat. And I like how he just appears and re-appears, never being on stage for that long of a time. I did like "Spanish Techno," whici is always in my iPod playlist.
As the show went on, my friends and I decided to take a seat. We stayed for the entire main set, but left once they're done. It's the whole Belle & Sebastian thing. Maybe we'll get over it and the next time the New Pornographers come to town, we'll be more into them.
Beer Rating:
1/2
This time though, Neko Case was with them. Along with Mr. Destroyer himself. It was the first time, I think, that I saw all of them in one show. Like the previous times I saw them, A.C. Newman and crew just played song, after song, after song. They are truly robots, but likable ones at that. Newman's voice seemed off tonight too, but that really didn't matter.
The New Pornos' new album, Challengers, is the most mellow and least poppy of their entire discography. Is it because the New Pornos are getting older? Newman married a week or two before this show, so maybe the whole engagement process humbled his poppy stuff and focused on something, well, not so?
I think the songs I enjoyed most were the ones that Dan Bejar sang like "Myriad Harbour." Bejar is a character. The man is constantly drunk, or so it appears, yet he can sing without missing a beat. And I like how he just appears and re-appears, never being on stage for that long of a time. I did like "Spanish Techno," whici is always in my iPod playlist.
As the show went on, my friends and I decided to take a seat. We stayed for the entire main set, but left once they're done. It's the whole Belle & Sebastian thing. Maybe we'll get over it and the next time the New Pornographers come to town, we'll be more into them.
Beer Rating:
1/2
Rilo Kiley (The Warfield, 6 September 2007)
I just remember being so beat up that day of the Rilo Kiley show. After a fantastic Okkervil River show the night before, I just wanted to get rid of the ticket and go home. I really don't think that Under the Black Light is all that great of an album. Especially that Spanish song. As beautiful as you are Ms. JennyLewis, please don't try to sing in Spanish.
After failing to hawk my ticket to the lowest buyer, I went inside reluctantly. I stood there near the floor, just thinkingof the comforts of my bed. They came on, and I actually enjoyed myself. They played a lot of their "old" stuff from More Adventurous, which I think is a fantastic album. They started off with "It's A Hit," and that immediately got the crowd going. Jenny looked great in that shiny dress, and Blake didn't look that bad either. In fact, everyone in the band looked good and they were as tight as ever. They also played, "Portions for Foxes," and that made me smile, even though it hurt to do so.
As the show went on, they played stuff from Black Light including "Moneymaker," which is not a bad song played live. "Silver Lining," which I think is the best song in the album, also was played. But it was Rilo Kiley's back catalogue that people wanted, and they mixed that in quite well. "Arms Outstretched" was fantastic acoustic, and you know everyone wanted to stretch their arms to hug Jenny.
Even though the show was good, I got tired and decided to leave about 50 minutes into it. No big deal. I saw them, heard the songs I most wanted to hear, and I was happy.
Beer Rating:
After failing to hawk my ticket to the lowest buyer, I went inside reluctantly. I stood there near the floor, just thinkingof the comforts of my bed. They came on, and I actually enjoyed myself. They played a lot of their "old" stuff from More Adventurous, which I think is a fantastic album. They started off with "It's A Hit," and that immediately got the crowd going. Jenny looked great in that shiny dress, and Blake didn't look that bad either. In fact, everyone in the band looked good and they were as tight as ever. They also played, "Portions for Foxes," and that made me smile, even though it hurt to do so.
As the show went on, they played stuff from Black Light including "Moneymaker," which is not a bad song played live. "Silver Lining," which I think is the best song in the album, also was played. But it was Rilo Kiley's back catalogue that people wanted, and they mixed that in quite well. "Arms Outstretched" was fantastic acoustic, and you know everyone wanted to stretch their arms to hug Jenny.
Even though the show was good, I got tired and decided to leave about 50 minutes into it. No big deal. I saw them, heard the songs I most wanted to hear, and I was happy.
Beer Rating:
Okkervil River (The Independent, 5 September 2007)
I first heard of Okkervil River a couple of years ago when a friend of a friend can't stop raving about Black Sheep Boy. She said that their shows are amazing, full of energy and passion and just great stage presence. Everytime they came to San Francisco, I always found a way to miss them. This time, there was just no way I can afford to miss them, especially since their new album The Stage Names is one of the best albums released this year.
I arrived shortly after 9:45pm and was fortunate to have friends who were pretty close to the stage. The Indy was buzzing that night. I was feeling really tired, but I was excited to see what the hype was all about.
And there they were. They were everything advertised and more. Will Sheff was just beyond superb, with his strong voice and equally great guitar work. The rest of the band that accompanied him, including the keyboardist who really looks like one of my friends, were giving it their all. They engaged in little banter, except when Will Sheff described how they were on Letterman for the first time and how he wanted to change the lyrics to one of his songs to fit one of the guests. Unfortunately, that idea was rejected.
They played pretty much everything from The Stage Names, but the song I remember the most was "So Come Back, I Am Waiting." It was long, it was powerful and the crescendo blew me away. I also liked how they were able to integrate live the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" into "John Allyn Smith Sails."
I wish I can remember more details of the show, especially since I'm just writing about it a month later. But it was definitely one of the best shows I've seen all year. They're going to play the Fillmore, just you wait, and then they'll become even bigger.
Beer Rating: 0 Beer
I arrived shortly after 9:45pm and was fortunate to have friends who were pretty close to the stage. The Indy was buzzing that night. I was feeling really tired, but I was excited to see what the hype was all about.
And there they were. They were everything advertised and more. Will Sheff was just beyond superb, with his strong voice and equally great guitar work. The rest of the band that accompanied him, including the keyboardist who really looks like one of my friends, were giving it their all. They engaged in little banter, except when Will Sheff described how they were on Letterman for the first time and how he wanted to change the lyrics to one of his songs to fit one of the guests. Unfortunately, that idea was rejected.
They played pretty much everything from The Stage Names, but the song I remember the most was "So Come Back, I Am Waiting." It was long, it was powerful and the crescendo blew me away. I also liked how they were able to integrate live the Beach Boys' "Sloop John B" into "John Allyn Smith Sails."
I wish I can remember more details of the show, especially since I'm just writing about it a month later. But it was definitely one of the best shows I've seen all year. They're going to play the Fillmore, just you wait, and then they'll become even bigger.
Beer Rating: 0 Beer
19 August 2007
1990's (Cafe du Nord, 6 August 2007)
I don't really read the NME anymore, but on the one day I did, they were raving about this band called the 1990's. So, I looked into them some more and found out that they are playing a Popscene sponsored show at Cafe du Nord. I downloaded their album and found the songs to be really catchy and fun. So, naturally, I bought a ticket.
That was a month before the show. As the months went by, I grew less and less interested. The album was still good, but not as gripping as I originally thought. I still wanted to see what they were all about though.
Come show day, I was too tired and had no interest. Instead, I spend that time catching up with Charky and some champagne. I heard 1990's play "You Made Me Like It," which is the opening track to their album Cookies. It was fun sounding, but I'd rather talk to my pal. They played everything from Cookies, including "You're Supposed to Be My Friend," which has really catchy drums and chorus. And the "da da da" of "See You at the Lights.
The crowd seemed to be into it. I wish I was.
Beer Rating: 1/2
That was a month before the show. As the months went by, I grew less and less interested. The album was still good, but not as gripping as I originally thought. I still wanted to see what they were all about though.
Come show day, I was too tired and had no interest. Instead, I spend that time catching up with Charky and some champagne. I heard 1990's play "You Made Me Like It," which is the opening track to their album Cookies. It was fun sounding, but I'd rather talk to my pal. They played everything from Cookies, including "You're Supposed to Be My Friend," which has really catchy drums and chorus. And the "da da da" of "See You at the Lights.
The crowd seemed to be into it. I wish I was.
Beer Rating:
1/2
Daft Punk (Greek Theatre, 27 July 2007)
A month has passed since Shearwater, and I was so anxious to get out of the office and go see Daft Punk and The Rapture. The last time I saw Daft Punk was Coachella and they put on a show that was beyond belief. This time, I expected that they will have the similar set up with the pyramid, but I hoped that they would change things up a bit from the Coachella show. They did at times, but I lacked interested for the most part since I saw everything they did before.
For most of the crowd, they haven't seen this elaborate music and light show that Daft Punk put on. So, they were just astounded by everything they saw. From the start of "Robot Rock," to the little bit of "Around the World," and to the awesome rendition of "Technotronic," complete with eyepopping visuals. They played pretty much everything that mattered from their previous releases. I wished they played a little bit more of "Around the World," but instead we were relegated to just a few seconds of the song as a transition to another.
The lighting was just great. And during the encore, the lights slowly snaked their way to the band and then their jackets lighted up. As you probably already know, Daft Punk dressed up like robots and they acted like it too. However, the maniacal crowd were anything but robots, constantly flapping their arms in the air and screaming the occasional "woo!" or "Wow" for good meausre.
My friends and I started off on the floor but after three or four songs, went to the beer garden and sat at the lawn. We then moved over to the seats were our other friends were.
I missed the damn Rapture because they came on at 7:45 even though the ticket says that the show starts at 8pm. That pissed me off so much since I wanted to see them a lot more than Daft Punk. Oh well.
Beer Rating: 1/2
For most of the crowd, they haven't seen this elaborate music and light show that Daft Punk put on. So, they were just astounded by everything they saw. From the start of "Robot Rock," to the little bit of "Around the World," and to the awesome rendition of "Technotronic," complete with eyepopping visuals. They played pretty much everything that mattered from their previous releases. I wished they played a little bit more of "Around the World," but instead we were relegated to just a few seconds of the song as a transition to another.
The lighting was just great. And during the encore, the lights slowly snaked their way to the band and then their jackets lighted up. As you probably already know, Daft Punk dressed up like robots and they acted like it too. However, the maniacal crowd were anything but robots, constantly flapping their arms in the air and screaming the occasional "woo!" or "Wow" for good meausre.
My friends and I started off on the floor but after three or four songs, went to the beer garden and sat at the lawn. We then moved over to the seats were our other friends were.
I missed the damn Rapture because they came on at 7:45 even though the ticket says that the show starts at 8pm. That pissed me off so much since I wanted to see them a lot more than Daft Punk. Oh well.
Beer Rating:
1/2
Shearwater (Bottom of the HIll, 20 June 2007)
I'm a bit more discerning now when I choose to watch a show. But I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Shearwater at the Bottom of the HIll. Everytime I think of Shearwater, I think of Okkervil River. Rightfully so, since the band was originally a collaboration between Okkervil's Will Sheff and Kingfisher's Jonathan Meiburg.
Since I'm blogging about this show that happened nearly two months ago, I don't remember much. I do remember that they opened up with "Red Sea, Black Sea" from their album, Palo Santo. It was a very strong start for the band and really electrified this somewhat sparse crowd at Bottom of the Hill that night.
"Seventy-Four, Seventy-Five" was another well played song. Meiburg's vocals, accompanied by the band's superb musicianship, made this venue with sometimes okay acoustics sound like a grand concerthall. Okay, that maybe just a bit exaggerated, but you get my drift I hope.
Beer Rating:
Since I'm blogging about this show that happened nearly two months ago, I don't remember much. I do remember that they opened up with "Red Sea, Black Sea" from their album, Palo Santo. It was a very strong start for the band and really electrified this somewhat sparse crowd at Bottom of the Hill that night.
"Seventy-Four, Seventy-Five" was another well played song. Meiburg's vocals, accompanied by the band's superb musicianship, made this venue with sometimes okay acoustics sound like a grand concerthall. Okay, that maybe just a bit exaggerated, but you get my drift I hope.
Beer Rating:
28 July 2007
Arcade Fire (Greek Theatre, 2 June 2007)
I was unable to attend the previous night's Arcade Fire show because of commitments. And luckily I didn't break any commitments because the second Arcade Fire show easily surpassed the one the night before. The crowd was really into it, and the capacity crowd showed a lot of love for the Arcade Fire.
This was the third Arcade Fire show for me this year. Coming into this show, I knew that there was no way in can top any of the others. I mean, how can anyone top going to Montreal to see them, in a church no less? You can't. There's no way. And at Coachella, I was officially over seeing Arcade Fire at a festival. It was just a mess. So, when I saw them here, I kept in mind of all the past Arcade Fire shows, and told myself to just enjoy, and relax, and take in everything.
Arcade Fire did not disappoint. This was probably the most calm I've ever been at an Arcade Fire show, yet listening to them really made my senses jump. Granted, the new album isn't particularly as great as Funeral, but the new songs were played well live. "Keep the Car Running" and, although not "new," "No Cars Go," was just downright wicked. You can hear a pindrop when the band played "Windowsill" and "Ocean of Noise," but then you couldn't hear yourself think when they played "Rebellion (Lies)" transitioned with "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)."
The stage props were okay, but what makes an Arcade Fire show a memorable one are the theatrics of the band themselves. Will climbed up really high on top of one of the pillars at the show, which was scary. Richard and his Napoleon Dynamite looks banging the snare drums. Regine and her cherub like facial expressions. And Win "the basketball robber" Butler just singing his heart out on every song.
Beer Rating:
This was the third Arcade Fire show for me this year. Coming into this show, I knew that there was no way in can top any of the others. I mean, how can anyone top going to Montreal to see them, in a church no less? You can't. There's no way. And at Coachella, I was officially over seeing Arcade Fire at a festival. It was just a mess. So, when I saw them here, I kept in mind of all the past Arcade Fire shows, and told myself to just enjoy, and relax, and take in everything.
Arcade Fire did not disappoint. This was probably the most calm I've ever been at an Arcade Fire show, yet listening to them really made my senses jump. Granted, the new album isn't particularly as great as Funeral, but the new songs were played well live. "Keep the Car Running" and, although not "new," "No Cars Go," was just downright wicked. You can hear a pindrop when the band played "Windowsill" and "Ocean of Noise," but then you couldn't hear yourself think when they played "Rebellion (Lies)" transitioned with "Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)."
The stage props were okay, but what makes an Arcade Fire show a memorable one are the theatrics of the band themselves. Will climbed up really high on top of one of the pillars at the show, which was scary. Richard and his Napoleon Dynamite looks banging the snare drums. Regine and her cherub like facial expressions. And Win "the basketball robber" Butler just singing his heart out on every song.
Beer Rating:
Peter, Bjorn & John with Fujiya & Miyagi (Bimbo's, May 15, 2007)
On my mom's birthday, I celebrated by going to the much anticipated PB&J show. By this time, the song "Young Folks" has been completely raped by the radio stations, with avid radio listeners calling it the "whistling song." This was evident when PB&J played Coachella, where a packed tent became half full once they played "Young Folks." Will PB&J suffer the same fate here in S.F.?
Luckily, no. The crowd was really into their set from start to finish. PB&J's Swedish charm shined through, although sometimes it was a bit too cheezy. They played everything from their recent album. Of course, "Young Folks" was greeted with ecstatic applause. Too bad the whistling was recorded, rather than live. And unlike Coachella, the girl from the Shout Out Louds wasn't there to do the backing vocals. They did an acoustic rendition of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," which they dubbed as a "new" song because it was different from the album version.
The crowd was also quite ecstatic for openers Fujiya & Miyagi. These Brits brought their electro/groove sound before to the Bay Area, but now they had a much more receptive audience. "Collarbone" was played really well, and everyone was dancing from the second song to the last.
Beer Rating:
Luckily, no. The crowd was really into their set from start to finish. PB&J's Swedish charm shined through, although sometimes it was a bit too cheezy. They played everything from their recent album. Of course, "Young Folks" was greeted with ecstatic applause. Too bad the whistling was recorded, rather than live. And unlike Coachella, the girl from the Shout Out Louds wasn't there to do the backing vocals. They did an acoustic rendition of "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," which they dubbed as a "new" song because it was different from the album version.
The crowd was also quite ecstatic for openers Fujiya & Miyagi. These Brits brought their electro/groove sound before to the Bay Area, but now they had a much more receptive audience. "Collarbone" was played really well, and everyone was dancing from the second song to the last.
Beer Rating:
Morrissey (The Paramount, 1 May 2007)
When I tried to see Morrissey a couple of years ago, the Moz cancelled. I was disappointed, especially since I've never seen him live before. He's a living legend, and, of course, I want to see him before I die. Or he dies. So, I was excited to see him at a smaller venue than the great outdoors of Golden Gate Park, with seating.
The Moz looked good for being the old geezer that he is. I can only hope to be in that shape when I am old. His voice was top notch, and he was very animated. Talking with his die hard fans in the front, who he knows by first name. His backing band was also very tight, playing each chord and beat with so much "umph" and gusto.
The Moz played a lot of songs from his latest release, but it was the classic Smiths and earlier Moz tunes that stood out to me. Although the new songs were great, the earlier stuff carried the nostalgia I was craving. "The Queen is Dead" was surprising, but "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" was even better. A spine tingling rendition of "Everyday is Like Sunday" and "How Soon is Now?" also made this a memorable show.
Beer Rating:
The Moz looked good for being the old geezer that he is. I can only hope to be in that shape when I am old. His voice was top notch, and he was very animated. Talking with his die hard fans in the front, who he knows by first name. His backing band was also very tight, playing each chord and beat with so much "umph" and gusto.
The Moz played a lot of songs from his latest release, but it was the classic Smiths and earlier Moz tunes that stood out to me. Although the new songs were great, the earlier stuff carried the nostalgia I was craving. "The Queen is Dead" was surprising, but "The Boy With the Thorn in His Side" was even better. A spine tingling rendition of "Everyday is Like Sunday" and "How Soon is Now?" also made this a memorable show.
Beer Rating:
06 July 2007
Coachella (Indio Polo Grounds, 28 April 2007)
Coachella day two. After an amazing day one, we arrived at Coachella refreshed and ready to roll. We were used to weather by now, and we know the ins and outs. The line up for Saturday proved to be a great one. Although Jarvis stole day one, and probably the entire weekend, the acts overall for day two easily surpassed day one because it was the dance party set. Everywhere I went, there was some dancing involved.
It didn't start out that way though. We first saw The Cribs who were fun but I wasn't really that into them. They were energetic, yes, but the new songs from their second album wasn't as great as their first. I just really wanted to hear "Hey Scenesters," which they played horribly.
After baking in the sun and drinking a couple of beers, we then caught Hot Chip. It was so fucking hot inside the tent that I thought I was going to faint. But Hot Chip were just awesome, despite my dizziness. A lot better than their Mezzanine show, that's for sure. I actually appreciated their act a lot more when I drank water from a guy who had hoardes of them. I was actually dancing this time. At Mezzanine, I was in the back just sipping my vodka. This time, I was dancing with a water bottle.
After more veggie corn dogs and iced tea, we then caught Travis. I haven't seen Travis in a long time, and I was so happy to see them. Their new album, The Boy With No Name, is a fantastic release. And they were top notched and I sang every word to every song they played. Especially ones from The Man Who like "Turn" and "Writing to Reach You." The new songs also came out well, like "Selfish Jean" and "The Big Chair."
While Travis played their last song, "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?," Meriza and I skipped our way from the main stage to the tent to catch what's left of Peter, Bjorn and John. We arrived just in time to catch the tail end of their set and caught the song everyone was pining for, "Young Folks." After they played that, everyone started to leave. I actually liked their set, but I was glad to catch more of Travis than PB&J.
We rested for a bit and ate more veggie corn dogs. Good thing, because it is Arcade Fire time in the main stage. I was determined to go as close to the stage as possible, risking it all. We arrived at the main stage, where there were thousands of people watching Kings of Leon in all their shirtless, redneck splendor. We inched our way closer, only to be met by several road blocks of hicks and sweaty men with dreads. After Kings of Leon left, there were tons of Red Hot Chili Peppers fans trying to score a sweet spot for their set after Arcade Fire. This really pissed me off, because I was surrounded by fratty RHCP fans, hardcore AF fans and trapped Kings of Leon fans.
Meriza and I were really close to Arcade Fire and we just acted all crazy during their 60+ minute long set. We were drenched in sweat, and constantly protected each other from the maniacs. I love Arcade Fire and all, but that's probably the last time I will go all out to see them at a Coachella like stage. It was just crazy. Crowd surfers everywhere trying to get out. Pissed off RHCP fans punching at people. Just sweat everywhere. But Arcade Fire played their hearts out and I sang every tune out loud. Once their set was over, I was covered in sweat and my skin was wrinkled because of the perspiration. I thought I was going to die, but it was well worth it.
We then went to our sanctuary, which is the Heineken beer tent. We drank some much needed liquids and then slowly crawled to see LCD Soundsystem. Meriza and I just sat way in the back of the tent and just took in the sounds. They were just great, and I had enough energy to see them, but decided to lay low.
While Meriza left to see The Good, The Bad & The Queen, I stayed to see The Rapture. They were fucking awesome and their 60 minute set encompassed every single song I wanted to hear. Granted, it would have been better if I had people to dance with, unlike all the wackos around me, but whatever. I'm looking forward to seeing them again with Daft Punk later in July.
I then caught a little bit of The Good, The Bad & The Queen. That band is tight. Damon sounded great and the rest of the band of all-star musicians played perfectly and effortlessly. The only part of the set that was pure rubbish was when that Syrian rapper came out. He was a total waste of space.
Beer Rating: 1/2
It didn't start out that way though. We first saw The Cribs who were fun but I wasn't really that into them. They were energetic, yes, but the new songs from their second album wasn't as great as their first. I just really wanted to hear "Hey Scenesters," which they played horribly.
After baking in the sun and drinking a couple of beers, we then caught Hot Chip. It was so fucking hot inside the tent that I thought I was going to faint. But Hot Chip were just awesome, despite my dizziness. A lot better than their Mezzanine show, that's for sure. I actually appreciated their act a lot more when I drank water from a guy who had hoardes of them. I was actually dancing this time. At Mezzanine, I was in the back just sipping my vodka. This time, I was dancing with a water bottle.
After more veggie corn dogs and iced tea, we then caught Travis. I haven't seen Travis in a long time, and I was so happy to see them. Their new album, The Boy With No Name, is a fantastic release. And they were top notched and I sang every word to every song they played. Especially ones from The Man Who like "Turn" and "Writing to Reach You." The new songs also came out well, like "Selfish Jean" and "The Big Chair."
While Travis played their last song, "Why Does It Always Rain on Me?," Meriza and I skipped our way from the main stage to the tent to catch what's left of Peter, Bjorn and John. We arrived just in time to catch the tail end of their set and caught the song everyone was pining for, "Young Folks." After they played that, everyone started to leave. I actually liked their set, but I was glad to catch more of Travis than PB&J.
We rested for a bit and ate more veggie corn dogs. Good thing, because it is Arcade Fire time in the main stage. I was determined to go as close to the stage as possible, risking it all. We arrived at the main stage, where there were thousands of people watching Kings of Leon in all their shirtless, redneck splendor. We inched our way closer, only to be met by several road blocks of hicks and sweaty men with dreads. After Kings of Leon left, there were tons of Red Hot Chili Peppers fans trying to score a sweet spot for their set after Arcade Fire. This really pissed me off, because I was surrounded by fratty RHCP fans, hardcore AF fans and trapped Kings of Leon fans.
Meriza and I were really close to Arcade Fire and we just acted all crazy during their 60+ minute long set. We were drenched in sweat, and constantly protected each other from the maniacs. I love Arcade Fire and all, but that's probably the last time I will go all out to see them at a Coachella like stage. It was just crazy. Crowd surfers everywhere trying to get out. Pissed off RHCP fans punching at people. Just sweat everywhere. But Arcade Fire played their hearts out and I sang every tune out loud. Once their set was over, I was covered in sweat and my skin was wrinkled because of the perspiration. I thought I was going to die, but it was well worth it.
We then went to our sanctuary, which is the Heineken beer tent. We drank some much needed liquids and then slowly crawled to see LCD Soundsystem. Meriza and I just sat way in the back of the tent and just took in the sounds. They were just great, and I had enough energy to see them, but decided to lay low.
While Meriza left to see The Good, The Bad & The Queen, I stayed to see The Rapture. They were fucking awesome and their 60 minute set encompassed every single song I wanted to hear. Granted, it would have been better if I had people to dance with, unlike all the wackos around me, but whatever. I'm looking forward to seeing them again with Daft Punk later in July.
I then caught a little bit of The Good, The Bad & The Queen. That band is tight. Damon sounded great and the rest of the band of all-star musicians played perfectly and effortlessly. The only part of the set that was pure rubbish was when that Syrian rapper came out. He was a total waste of space.
Beer Rating:
1/2
Coachella (Indio Polo Grounds, 27 April 2007)
Shit. Has it really been 2 months since I last posted? What can I say? Work and life in general has been hectic. Full of ups and downs, but now, I will try to maintain my blog here. I've cut down going to shows big time. Not only is it getting really expensive, but the actual bands I want to see live has dwindled down a bit.
One of the reasons why is Coachella. This was probably one of the best Coachella line-ups so far. Although one cannot forget Radiohead in 2004, Coachella 2007 was better because of the diversity of acts. Also, since I now consider myself a Coachella pro, knowing what to do and when also makes the Coachella experience that much better.
Unlike previous Coachellas, this one started on a Friday and became a three day long event. Meriza, Sara and I arrived at Coachella under the blazing hot sun and a whole shitload of people. We met up with Jason and his two friends, Francesca and Julianne, near the beer tent. We didn't see much of each other afterwards, but we did run into each other every now and then.
First band we saw was Tilly and the Wall. I only saw them open up for Rilo Kiley at Bimbo's a while back and really didn't think much of them. They were spectacular at the Coachella tent. Despite the heat inside, the band kept us entertained with their tap dancing and just enthusiastic stage presence. Not a bad start.
Then we caught a little bit of Tokyo Police Club. They were okay and I wasn't particularly impressed.
I think we then went to the main stage and caught Arctic Monkeys. I love Arctic Monkeys and I really, really liked their set. However, it was still daylight and people were just so-so into them. They were loud and they sang their songs quick. They started off with "Brianstorm," which was just so mean sounding live. Then they just ripped through their entire song collection. They played all the hits, especially my favourite, "Fake Tales of San Francisco."
After eating the best veggie corn dogs, we caught Jesus and Mary Chain. They looked haggard and they didn't seem to be that into their set. This was the highly anticipated reunion tour, but they just looked and acted "blah." Granted, this is my first JMC show, and for all I know they're always like this, but I thought they'd be more into it. One of the first songs they played was "Head On," which is my favourite JMC song. Apparently, ScarJo sang the backing vocals to "Just Like Honey," but I could care less.
We caught a bit of Peaches, but that's because we wanted a great spot to see God himself, Jarvis Cocker. I haven't seen Jarvis since 1999 when Pulp played Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. That's when This is Hardcore came out and I've been waiting for them to return ever since. After a long wait because of technical difficulties, Jarvis emerged from the back of the stage. Accompanying him was Steve Mackey, who is one of the original members of Pulp. I didn't think his album was that great, but after seeing him live, the album means that much more. Especially "Black Magic," with the lights flashing at the exact moment Jarvis would thrust his hips and elbows. "Fat Children" was also great. And, of course, the storytelling. We couldn't stop talking about Jarvis. I wished he played longer.
After Jarvis, we caught a bit of Interpol. They sounded fantastic but we were just too tired to make any effort to get closer. We then saw Bjork who is just beyond amazing. I fell asleep a bit during Bjork's set, but that's only because of fatigue rather than boredom. By that point, it was a little after 11pm and we were there at the Polo Grounds since 1pm. We were tired and we went back to the hotel.
Day one, overall, was just amazing and I could hardly wait for day two.
Beer Rating:
One of the reasons why is Coachella. This was probably one of the best Coachella line-ups so far. Although one cannot forget Radiohead in 2004, Coachella 2007 was better because of the diversity of acts. Also, since I now consider myself a Coachella pro, knowing what to do and when also makes the Coachella experience that much better.
Unlike previous Coachellas, this one started on a Friday and became a three day long event. Meriza, Sara and I arrived at Coachella under the blazing hot sun and a whole shitload of people. We met up with Jason and his two friends, Francesca and Julianne, near the beer tent. We didn't see much of each other afterwards, but we did run into each other every now and then.
First band we saw was Tilly and the Wall. I only saw them open up for Rilo Kiley at Bimbo's a while back and really didn't think much of them. They were spectacular at the Coachella tent. Despite the heat inside, the band kept us entertained with their tap dancing and just enthusiastic stage presence. Not a bad start.
Then we caught a little bit of Tokyo Police Club. They were okay and I wasn't particularly impressed.
I think we then went to the main stage and caught Arctic Monkeys. I love Arctic Monkeys and I really, really liked their set. However, it was still daylight and people were just so-so into them. They were loud and they sang their songs quick. They started off with "Brianstorm," which was just so mean sounding live. Then they just ripped through their entire song collection. They played all the hits, especially my favourite, "Fake Tales of San Francisco."
After eating the best veggie corn dogs, we caught Jesus and Mary Chain. They looked haggard and they didn't seem to be that into their set. This was the highly anticipated reunion tour, but they just looked and acted "blah." Granted, this is my first JMC show, and for all I know they're always like this, but I thought they'd be more into it. One of the first songs they played was "Head On," which is my favourite JMC song. Apparently, ScarJo sang the backing vocals to "Just Like Honey," but I could care less.
We caught a bit of Peaches, but that's because we wanted a great spot to see God himself, Jarvis Cocker. I haven't seen Jarvis since 1999 when Pulp played Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC. That's when This is Hardcore came out and I've been waiting for them to return ever since. After a long wait because of technical difficulties, Jarvis emerged from the back of the stage. Accompanying him was Steve Mackey, who is one of the original members of Pulp. I didn't think his album was that great, but after seeing him live, the album means that much more. Especially "Black Magic," with the lights flashing at the exact moment Jarvis would thrust his hips and elbows. "Fat Children" was also great. And, of course, the storytelling. We couldn't stop talking about Jarvis. I wished he played longer.
After Jarvis, we caught a bit of Interpol. They sounded fantastic but we were just too tired to make any effort to get closer. We then saw Bjork who is just beyond amazing. I fell asleep a bit during Bjork's set, but that's only because of fatigue rather than boredom. By that point, it was a little after 11pm and we were there at the Polo Grounds since 1pm. We were tired and we went back to the hotel.
Day one, overall, was just amazing and I could hardly wait for day two.
Beer Rating:
30 April 2007
Blonde Redhead, Annuals (Bimbo's, 23 April 2007)
The Annuals. Another one of those blog bands that Brooklyn Vegan hypes up. When I listened to their album, I thought, "Oh well." It wasn't anything spectacular, but it was entertaining. Live though, these guys are something else. So full of energy, both in their songs and in their actions. A band that have percussion instruments for every member should be an indicator of how eclectic and just crazy this band is prone to get. They are a large band, and the sound definitely echoed that. "Father" was the definite highlight, along with "The Bull and the Goat."
If the Annuals are the rookies of indie rock, then Blonde Redhead are the all-star veterans. I've said this ad nauseum, but I first saw this band in 1998 when I was in college at UC San Diego. I absolutely hated them. So much so that I'd rather listed to a Marion cassette then have to endure their live show at the Che Cafe. But when they released Misery is a Butterfly in 2004, they went away from the experimental yelping and actually played tunes. Kazu actually sang rather than shouted and there was more structure in their music.
I forgot what they started off with, but I think they did "23" as the second song. The sound was just amazing, and Kazu sang perfectly. The twins can really emit so much sound just out of two instruments. When they did "Equus," it seemed like there were three guitarists and a keyboardists playing, but they were nowhere to be seen. Other songs from 23 were just amazing, like "Dr. Strangeluv" and "Spring and By Summer Fall". Yes, there were backing tracks on "Equus," but that didn't bother me a bit because Kazu's voice was just mesmerizing.
Kazu wasn't as crazy as she was in the earlier days, but she was just as captivating with that fiery red hair of hers.
Beer Rating:
If the Annuals are the rookies of indie rock, then Blonde Redhead are the all-star veterans. I've said this ad nauseum, but I first saw this band in 1998 when I was in college at UC San Diego. I absolutely hated them. So much so that I'd rather listed to a Marion cassette then have to endure their live show at the Che Cafe. But when they released Misery is a Butterfly in 2004, they went away from the experimental yelping and actually played tunes. Kazu actually sang rather than shouted and there was more structure in their music.
I forgot what they started off with, but I think they did "23" as the second song. The sound was just amazing, and Kazu sang perfectly. The twins can really emit so much sound just out of two instruments. When they did "Equus," it seemed like there were three guitarists and a keyboardists playing, but they were nowhere to be seen. Other songs from 23 were just amazing, like "Dr. Strangeluv" and "Spring and By Summer Fall". Yes, there were backing tracks on "Equus," but that didn't bother me a bit because Kazu's voice was just mesmerizing.
Kazu wasn't as crazy as she was in the earlier days, but she was just as captivating with that fiery red hair of hers.
Beer Rating:
The Shins (The Warfield, 16 April 2007)
Although I like the Shins, I've never been a big fan of their live show. It's almost always boring. I'm not quite sure why. They're energetic enough, but I just can't get into it. Last time I saw them was when they opened up for Belle & Sebastian at the Hollywood Bowl. And back then, they were boring, but that's just because I was anticipating B&S with a full on orchestra.
Now, they are Billboard chart toppers with Wincing the Night Away. Will the success get to their head? No, not the bit.
They started off with the new stuff from the new album. "Sleeping Lessons" was accompanied by the soft glow of lights. "Australia" followed, and then "Phantom Limb." I thought they were going to play the album in order. But they didn't, thank goodness.
They played everything and anything that I possibly wanted to hear from their entire discography. Of course, the biggest applause came for that Garden State song, "New Slang." But there were some other great songs played there, like "Young Pilgrims" and "Girl Inform Me" that went relatively under the radar.
Although they played a great song selection, and a rather tight set, their show lacked the gusto that was sorely needed. One friend was so bored with the show that he and another friend played Cat's Cradle. I enjoyed it, but it lacked something that I can't pinpoint.
My hunger during the entire set triumphed over any possible encores. So, I grabbed a burrito from Taqueria Cancun across the street and I was satisfied.
Beer Rating: 1/2
Now, they are Billboard chart toppers with Wincing the Night Away. Will the success get to their head? No, not the bit.
They started off with the new stuff from the new album. "Sleeping Lessons" was accompanied by the soft glow of lights. "Australia" followed, and then "Phantom Limb." I thought they were going to play the album in order. But they didn't, thank goodness.
They played everything and anything that I possibly wanted to hear from their entire discography. Of course, the biggest applause came for that Garden State song, "New Slang." But there were some other great songs played there, like "Young Pilgrims" and "Girl Inform Me" that went relatively under the radar.
Although they played a great song selection, and a rather tight set, their show lacked the gusto that was sorely needed. One friend was so bored with the show that he and another friend played Cat's Cradle. I enjoyed it, but it lacked something that I can't pinpoint.
My hunger during the entire set triumphed over any possible encores. So, I grabbed a burrito from Taqueria Cancun across the street and I was satisfied.
Beer Rating:
1/2
26 April 2007
Muse (Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 9 April 2007)
The last time I saw Muse, they were playing to a sold out crowd at the Warfield about two years ago. Since then, their popularity has skyrocketed to arena like proportions. Although this new album, Black Holes and Revelations, is not as strong as Absolution or Origin of Symmetry, Muse has proven themselves to be the purveyor of all things rock.
We missed a few songs in the beginning of the set, but Muse played long enough to satisfy the rock and noise I’ve been craving for. Muse’s lead singer acted as if he was Freddy Mercury, cleverly prancing around the stage with that rock star swagger and know-it-all attitude. The guitar riffs were amazing as well. It still bewilders me how just three blokes from England can emit so much noise like that.
"Hysteria" and "Stockholm Syndrome" were my absolute favourites in their nearly 2 hour set. Their big single, "Starlight" was amazingly done. Muse sound like Radiohead at times, but this show set them apart from Radiohead. Muse is nowhere close to being great as Radiohead, but Muse set themselves up as just a rock band with strong tunes and catchy riffs.
Overall, the show was amazing. It was a pleasant surprise and a much needed arena rock show to spark the senses.
Beer Rating: 1/2
We missed a few songs in the beginning of the set, but Muse played long enough to satisfy the rock and noise I’ve been craving for. Muse’s lead singer acted as if he was Freddy Mercury, cleverly prancing around the stage with that rock star swagger and know-it-all attitude. The guitar riffs were amazing as well. It still bewilders me how just three blokes from England can emit so much noise like that.
"Hysteria" and "Stockholm Syndrome" were my absolute favourites in their nearly 2 hour set. Their big single, "Starlight" was amazingly done. Muse sound like Radiohead at times, but this show set them apart from Radiohead. Muse is nowhere close to being great as Radiohead, but Muse set themselves up as just a rock band with strong tunes and catchy riffs.
Overall, the show was amazing. It was a pleasant surprise and a much needed arena rock show to spark the senses.
Beer Rating:
1/2Mew (The Fillmore, 6 April 2007)
It’s been a while since I posted. I’ve just been really busy with all sorts of things. Now that I have this brief moment of respite, I will post about the Mew show that I saw eons ago.
When I first saw Mew at Popscene, they blew me away. It’s that rich sound that emits from their instruments and the lead singer’s voice that convinced me that they are one of those bands that are absolute gems. I still don’t understand how that singer’s voice can reach that high. It’s just bewildering.
At the Fillmore, their biggest show in San Francisco to date, the packed house was treated to a plethora of sound and visuals. Mew played a whole bunch of songs that I didn’t even recognize, possibly because it was from their previous albums. But when they played songs from And The Glass Handed Kites, the crowd went ballistic. They opened up with “Chinaberry Tree,” which is a fitting beginning to the set. Start off powerful, slow it down and then pick it back up again.
Easily, the best consecutive songs ever recorded are in this album. The trio of “Apocalypto,” “Special,” and “The Zookeeper’s Boy” are just flawless in transition and sound. Although Mew didn’t play these songs in a row, but rather in strategically placed points of their 90 minute set, they were still powerfully played.
The visuals were a bit distracting and weird. That’s all I have to say about that.
Beer Rating:
When I first saw Mew at Popscene, they blew me away. It’s that rich sound that emits from their instruments and the lead singer’s voice that convinced me that they are one of those bands that are absolute gems. I still don’t understand how that singer’s voice can reach that high. It’s just bewildering.
At the Fillmore, their biggest show in San Francisco to date, the packed house was treated to a plethora of sound and visuals. Mew played a whole bunch of songs that I didn’t even recognize, possibly because it was from their previous albums. But when they played songs from And The Glass Handed Kites, the crowd went ballistic. They opened up with “Chinaberry Tree,” which is a fitting beginning to the set. Start off powerful, slow it down and then pick it back up again.
Easily, the best consecutive songs ever recorded are in this album. The trio of “Apocalypto,” “Special,” and “The Zookeeper’s Boy” are just flawless in transition and sound. Although Mew didn’t play these songs in a row, but rather in strategically placed points of their 90 minute set, they were still powerfully played.
The visuals were a bit distracting and weird. That’s all I have to say about that.
Beer Rating:
27 March 2007
Youth Group (Slim's, 12 March 2007)
I like Youth Group. Their album, Skeleton Jar, was a great piece of work. It's a shame that they are not that known here in the U.S. as opposed to their home country of Australia. They make great songs because the band reminds me an awful lot of James. Their recent album, Casino Twilight Dogs, is not so great to my ears. But there are hits in there like the "Underpass" song and their cover of "Forever Young" (it's not a b-side in my book!).
The crowd was sparse. There wasn't that many people that went to this show, and that's quite disappointing given that this is such a good band. But, more room for me to stretch out, which is fine by me.
Most of their songs was from Casino Twilight Dogs like "Underpass". Although I now appreciate thos songs much more live, the better songs were from Skeleton Jar. The band was tight throughout. I had to leave a bit early, but I liked what I did see. So did the crowd.
Beer Rating:
The crowd was sparse. There wasn't that many people that went to this show, and that's quite disappointing given that this is such a good band. But, more room for me to stretch out, which is fine by me.
Most of their songs was from Casino Twilight Dogs like "Underpass". Although I now appreciate thos songs much more live, the better songs were from Skeleton Jar. The band was tight throughout. I had to leave a bit early, but I liked what I did see. So did the crowd.
Beer Rating:
Bright Eyes (GAMH, 9 March 2007)
Conor is no longer the young prodigy he once was. He is now 27 and is now a seasoned veteran in the world of music. His previous two albums, Wide Awake and Digital Ash, were Billboard chart toppers. Before he launches in this humungous tour with his latest release Cassadaga, Conor decides to give us a preview with a few small venue shows. This was the first of two.
The place was packed and it wasn't seeping with a bunch of youngsters like his previous shows in Berkeley. M. Ward was also with Conor during this show. We made a bet to see how many times "I Love You Conor!" would be shouted, but it was less than five. Quite a departure from the previous days where every momentary pause was greeted with such "I Love You" praises.
The songs off Cassadaga will be a bit folky. That's what a majority of the new songs sound like and it was good. However, there was this certain "umph" that was missing in these new songs that I'm sure will disappear once I hear the whole album. Even the song that I do know, "Endless Entertainment," lacked the enthusiasm of the songs from Wide Awake. The songs that he played from the Four Winds EP sounded great.
Maybe what's also lacking is the presence that Conor used to have. Instead of having that emo part in his hair, he now has this ridiculously long do that doesn't do much for his appearance. He now looks older. I have a belief that fugly bands are distracting live, hence making their live music appear "blah." For example, The Notwist. Great songs, but the band is just fugly, thus show was lackluster. Conor. Great songs, but he is fugly now, and the show was just so-so.
He did play some older songs that were greeted with much applause. I think one from Wide Awake and another from Lifted... Since I saw the show weeks ago, I forgot.
Beer Rating:
1/2
The place was packed and it wasn't seeping with a bunch of youngsters like his previous shows in Berkeley. M. Ward was also with Conor during this show. We made a bet to see how many times "I Love You Conor!" would be shouted, but it was less than five. Quite a departure from the previous days where every momentary pause was greeted with such "I Love You" praises.
The songs off Cassadaga will be a bit folky. That's what a majority of the new songs sound like and it was good. However, there was this certain "umph" that was missing in these new songs that I'm sure will disappear once I hear the whole album. Even the song that I do know, "Endless Entertainment," lacked the enthusiasm of the songs from Wide Awake. The songs that he played from the Four Winds EP sounded great.
Maybe what's also lacking is the presence that Conor used to have. Instead of having that emo part in his hair, he now has this ridiculously long do that doesn't do much for his appearance. He now looks older. I have a belief that fugly bands are distracting live, hence making their live music appear "blah." For example, The Notwist. Great songs, but the band is just fugly, thus show was lackluster. Conor. Great songs, but he is fugly now, and the show was just so-so.
He did play some older songs that were greeted with much applause. I think one from Wide Awake and another from Lifted... Since I saw the show weeks ago, I forgot.
Beer Rating:
1/2
08 March 2007
Calendar Updated
April:
2: The Thermals @ Bottom of the HIll
23: Placebo @ The Fillmore
25: Air @ Nob Hill Masonic Center
26: Cornelius @ Bimbo's
26: Birdmonster, The Cribs @ The Independent
30: Elf Power @ Rickshaw Stop
30: Fountains of Wayne @ GAMH
30: Sloan @ The Independent
May:
4: Bright Eyes @ The Greek Theatre
19: Lavender Diamond @ The Independent
24: Nous Non Plus @ Cafe du Nord
June:
9: CSS @ Mezzanine
11: Mystery Jets (acoustic) @ Cafe du Nord
12: Mystery Jets (electric) @ The Independent
27: The National @ Bimbo's
July:
27: Daft Punk @ The Greek Theatre
2: The Thermals @ Bottom of the HIll
23: Placebo @ The Fillmore
25: Air @ Nob Hill Masonic Center
26: Cornelius @ Bimbo's
26: Birdmonster, The Cribs @ The Independent
30: Elf Power @ Rickshaw Stop
30: Fountains of Wayne @ GAMH
30: Sloan @ The Independent
May:
4: Bright Eyes @ The Greek Theatre
19: Lavender Diamond @ The Independent
24: Nous Non Plus @ Cafe du Nord
June:
9: CSS @ Mezzanine
11: Mystery Jets (acoustic) @ Cafe du Nord
12: Mystery Jets (electric) @ The Independent
27: The National @ Bimbo's
July:
27: Daft Punk @ The Greek Theatre
Midlake (Bottom of the Hill, 4 March 2007)
I missed Ghostland Observatory the night before because of the Vivienne Westwood premiere over at the DeYoung. And then I went to Leisure. It was a late night, so having a show in the afternoon was a bit tiresome for me. But, I looked forward to it since it was a great day outside last Sunday. And Midlake is a great band. When I saw them open up for Flaming Lips, they just blew me away. The video that accompanied each song definitely helped with the mellow songs, but the songs themselves were pretty strong.
So, we went to Bottom of the Hill and it was packed. The opener, Mini Pop, were pretty good but I wished I saved my energy for Midlake. The cool thing about Mini Pop is that they sound good, but that's pretty much it. The little kid on the stage who introduced them and mimicked their actions was cute and entertaining though.
Midlake had problems with their visuals, so that was a big minus to their show. The songs were good, but they played what seemed like a lot of stuff that's not from Van Occupanther. When they did though, like "Young Bride," they were good. But I was way in the back and I could barely see anything. And it was like a sauna inside the venue, so that further annoyed me.
It was an okay show at best. But it would've helped if I wasn't so tired.
Beer Rating:
So, we went to Bottom of the Hill and it was packed. The opener, Mini Pop, were pretty good but I wished I saved my energy for Midlake. The cool thing about Mini Pop is that they sound good, but that's pretty much it. The little kid on the stage who introduced them and mimicked their actions was cute and entertaining though.
Midlake had problems with their visuals, so that was a big minus to their show. The songs were good, but they played what seemed like a lot of stuff that's not from Van Occupanther. When they did though, like "Young Bride," they were good. But I was way in the back and I could barely see anything. And it was like a sauna inside the venue, so that further annoyed me.
It was an okay show at best. But it would've helped if I wasn't so tired.
Beer Rating:
Autolux, Snowden & Malajube (The Independent, 2 March 2007)
Hello. It's been a while.
So, let's get down to business. Very promising night (or at least so I thought) last Friday with three pretty good bands in this Noise Pop bill.
First, Death of a Party. Didn't like them too much, although I have to hand it to the lead singer's theatrics.
Second, Malajube. These guys stole the show. They were fantastic from start to finish. The intensity was all there and the songs were just spot on. Although I don't understand much French, the songs were just strong and the band was really energetic and amusing on-stage. These French Canadians sounded really "foreign" when they spoke. "Le Crabe" was the definite highlight for me, but I was expecting a bit more yelping.
Third, Snowden. From Atlanta, they have a pretty good album but the only songs I like are the first three. And the first three were good. "Like Bullets" and "Anti-Anti" sounded like the album. But that was pretty much it for this band. I was not impressed and they were boring, to be perfectly honest.
Finally, Autolux. I can't say much about them because I had to cut out and I only saw the first song. But I've seen them a couple of times, and they put on a decent show. Their first song was a new one from their upcoming LP, but the song was too long for a starter. But, maybe they got better. I don't know.
Malajube are fantastic and they are worth seeing. So go for it!
Beer Rating:
So, let's get down to business. Very promising night (or at least so I thought) last Friday with three pretty good bands in this Noise Pop bill.
First, Death of a Party. Didn't like them too much, although I have to hand it to the lead singer's theatrics.
Second, Malajube. These guys stole the show. They were fantastic from start to finish. The intensity was all there and the songs were just spot on. Although I don't understand much French, the songs were just strong and the band was really energetic and amusing on-stage. These French Canadians sounded really "foreign" when they spoke. "Le Crabe" was the definite highlight for me, but I was expecting a bit more yelping.
Third, Snowden. From Atlanta, they have a pretty good album but the only songs I like are the first three. And the first three were good. "Like Bullets" and "Anti-Anti" sounded like the album. But that was pretty much it for this band. I was not impressed and they were boring, to be perfectly honest.
Finally, Autolux. I can't say much about them because I had to cut out and I only saw the first song. But I've seen them a couple of times, and they put on a decent show. Their first song was a new one from their upcoming LP, but the song was too long for a starter. But, maybe they got better. I don't know.
Malajube are fantastic and they are worth seeing. So go for it!
Beer Rating:
24 February 2007
Cold War Kids (GAMH, 23 February 2007)
I still don't know sometimes how "indie" bands these days get so much publicity and sell out shows. Before, it was all about radio airplay. Now, it's about blogs, word of mouth, MySpace and Pitchfork to make you famous. Take the Cold War Kids for example. An awesome band of four from Los Angeles whose soulful songs and rather amusing live show who were relatively "small" just a few months ago and now have sold out GAMH.
I first saw Cold War Kids open up for Tapes 'n Tapes at Cafe du Nord last June (review). I was really surprised of how great they were, and I even thought that they were better than Tapes 'n Tapes. Like most bands that come through this city, the more popular you get, the more likely you'll play a bigger venue. So, Cold War Kids played the Independent when they opened up for Apollo Sunshine, of all bands (review). Now, they're selling out their own headlining shows.
GAMH was packed and the crowd was really into Cold War Kids as well as opener, Delta Spirit. Cold War Kids played the usual songs off their LP, with classics like "Hang Me Up to Dry," "Hospital Bed," "We Used To Vacation" and "Saint John" getting the most reaction. They even did a cover of a John Lennon song, which totally escapes me at the moment.
As usual, Cold War Kids were energetic on-stage. They were even more so when the rest of Delta Spirit joined them for three songs, with the Delta Spirit guys just banging every percussion instrument imaginable.
And I think the best line of all is when the lead singer said, "San Francisco is our favorite Western city. Just don't tell that to L.A."
Take that L.A.!!
Beer Rating:
I first saw Cold War Kids open up for Tapes 'n Tapes at Cafe du Nord last June (review). I was really surprised of how great they were, and I even thought that they were better than Tapes 'n Tapes. Like most bands that come through this city, the more popular you get, the more likely you'll play a bigger venue. So, Cold War Kids played the Independent when they opened up for Apollo Sunshine, of all bands (review). Now, they're selling out their own headlining shows.
GAMH was packed and the crowd was really into Cold War Kids as well as opener, Delta Spirit. Cold War Kids played the usual songs off their LP, with classics like "Hang Me Up to Dry," "Hospital Bed," "We Used To Vacation" and "Saint John" getting the most reaction. They even did a cover of a John Lennon song, which totally escapes me at the moment.
As usual, Cold War Kids were energetic on-stage. They were even more so when the rest of Delta Spirit joined them for three songs, with the Delta Spirit guys just banging every percussion instrument imaginable.
And I think the best line of all is when the lead singer said, "San Francisco is our favorite Western city. Just don't tell that to L.A."
Take that L.A.!!
Beer Rating:
12 February 2007
Arcade Fire (Federation Nationale Ukrainienne, Montréal, QC 10 February 2007)
I haven’t seen Arcade Fire in over a year and I longed to see them again. When an opportunity arose to see them in their home town at a small church, I just couldn’t pass it up. Regardless of the cost. So, I took a Friday night red eye flight to Montréal to see Arcade Fire perform on Saturday.
My friend and I waited anxiously outside the Ukrainian Federation amongst about a hundred and fifty other persons ahead of us. The night was cold, with temperatures hovering around 10°F. I could barely feel my hands. To pass the time, we drank some beers, which actually kept us warm, and plotted how we were going to get in the front of the stage. Shortly before 8pm, the line started to move and people were being let in.
We immediately rushed downstairs. There, we split up. I went to coat check with our coats while he stood in the entrance line. Once we accomplished our mission downstairs, we ran upstairs where we found a row of seats, an upstairs balcony and a small area in the front where a small group gathered. We went up front and were ecstatic as to how front and centre we were. We were beyond belief. To celebrate, we took turns buying drinks.
The stage set up was simple, yet spoke volumes. There were numerous instruments all over the place. More so than usual. A bright and big neon bible adorned the center of the stage. I couldn’t find the set list, but didn’t care for it that much.
At approximately 8:45pm, Arcade Fire came on. The crowd went absolutely ballistic! The fans sitting on the seats immediately went up. The crowd in the front where I was didn’t push or shove, but instead clapped hysterically. A welcome relief to the usual.
They opened up with "My Body Is A Cage", which is a fantastic song from Neon Bible! The video captures the song at its peak, where Win's slow, melancholy voice then resonates with the "thud" of electric organs:
“Black Mirror” then followed which was a lot stronger live than in the album. “Keep the Car Running” was a tremendous surprise to me as well, with the energy just resonating throughout the song. “Antichrist Television Blues” was next, followed by a revived version of “No Cars Go.”
“Haiti” was next and Regine was as playful as ever:
She was even doing the whole “cowboy roping the cattle” motion with her arms. She was just delightful to watch. She sang again during “Black Wave/Bad Vibrations” but Win took the limelight in this one.
“Windowsill” has that tremendous line about not wanting to live in America no more. After visiting Montréal twice and just experiencing the greatness that is this city, that is this country, Canada, and the people that reside there, I actually shouted “I don’t want to live in America no more.” Montréal is a fabulous city, with some of the nicest people around. I love people greeting me “Hello, bonjour.”
After “Ocean of Noise,” my friend and I shouted “Come back to San Francisco!” Win gave a puzzled look, and Richard asked to repeat what we said. I then said, “We flew all the way from San Francisco to see you guys!” And my friend said, “Come back to San Francisco!” Richard got a kick out of it. Regine then asked Richard what we said. After Richard repeated it, Regine gave us a smile.
Anyways, “Ocean of Noise” was a decoy to the insanity that is “Power Out” (video). At this point, Win went down from the stage and into the crowd. My friend and I were just going berserk at this point, and the video captures that insane moment.
We went even crazier during “Rebellion (Lies)”:
Win was again down with us and my friend and I were taking turns blindfolding one another. We shouted our hearts out as we yelled out “LIES! LIES!”
“Intervention” was just brilliant and I think this is when Win started ripping out the strings from his guitar. I hopped around like mad during the last song, “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” and just shouted my heart out. Granted, I wasn’t the only one singing and shouting, the nearly 650 people in the audience were doing the same. I may have jumped the highest out of everyone though.
At this point, I knew that Arcade Fire was playing either the back of the venue or the basement. My friend and I immediately escaped the crowd in the front and tried to go to the back. However, our effforts were futile since security didn’t let us pass. Instead, we waited and listened to the security guard, in French, tell us what to do (video). I knew they had to go back up, so I wasn’t too worried. Apparently, they did “The Well and the Lighthouse” acoustically.
I was standing near the stairs when Win and the camera guy came up. In my hysteria, I put my camera on video and captured a good majority of Win, Richard and one of their trumpet players play an acoustic version of “Wake Up” (video).
At this point, with sweat running down my clothes, voice nearly gone from all the singing and aching joints from the icy cold temperatures and hopping around, I was in bliss. I can’t believe I’m this close to Win and here he is asking me for a guitar pick, laughing at me because of my horrible singing and patting him on the back every now and then. Richard told me to watch out since I almost got hit by the bow of his viola. It was just amazing. Purely amazing. Look how close I was:
After the show, I went downstairs to get a poster. As we left the Ukrainian Federation and walked outside the cold night, dripping in sweat and just plain exhausted from the concert, we couldn’t get the smiles off our faces. Maybe the cold had something to do with it, but we just couldn’t stop smiling and just recapping every minute of that show. When we found a nice bar to go to, we talked some more about Arcade Fire and how wonderful Montréal is.
If you want to see all my photos of this show, you can see them here.
Best show of the year so far.
Beer Rating: 0 Beer
My friend and I waited anxiously outside the Ukrainian Federation amongst about a hundred and fifty other persons ahead of us. The night was cold, with temperatures hovering around 10°F. I could barely feel my hands. To pass the time, we drank some beers, which actually kept us warm, and plotted how we were going to get in the front of the stage. Shortly before 8pm, the line started to move and people were being let in.
We immediately rushed downstairs. There, we split up. I went to coat check with our coats while he stood in the entrance line. Once we accomplished our mission downstairs, we ran upstairs where we found a row of seats, an upstairs balcony and a small area in the front where a small group gathered. We went up front and were ecstatic as to how front and centre we were. We were beyond belief. To celebrate, we took turns buying drinks.
The stage set up was simple, yet spoke volumes. There were numerous instruments all over the place. More so than usual. A bright and big neon bible adorned the center of the stage. I couldn’t find the set list, but didn’t care for it that much.
At approximately 8:45pm, Arcade Fire came on. The crowd went absolutely ballistic! The fans sitting on the seats immediately went up. The crowd in the front where I was didn’t push or shove, but instead clapped hysterically. A welcome relief to the usual.
They opened up with "My Body Is A Cage", which is a fantastic song from Neon Bible! The video captures the song at its peak, where Win's slow, melancholy voice then resonates with the "thud" of electric organs:
“Black Mirror” then followed which was a lot stronger live than in the album. “Keep the Car Running” was a tremendous surprise to me as well, with the energy just resonating throughout the song. “Antichrist Television Blues” was next, followed by a revived version of “No Cars Go.”
“Haiti” was next and Regine was as playful as ever:
She was even doing the whole “cowboy roping the cattle” motion with her arms. She was just delightful to watch. She sang again during “Black Wave/Bad Vibrations” but Win took the limelight in this one.
“Windowsill” has that tremendous line about not wanting to live in America no more. After visiting Montréal twice and just experiencing the greatness that is this city, that is this country, Canada, and the people that reside there, I actually shouted “I don’t want to live in America no more.” Montréal is a fabulous city, with some of the nicest people around. I love people greeting me “Hello, bonjour.”
After “Ocean of Noise,” my friend and I shouted “Come back to San Francisco!” Win gave a puzzled look, and Richard asked to repeat what we said. I then said, “We flew all the way from San Francisco to see you guys!” And my friend said, “Come back to San Francisco!” Richard got a kick out of it. Regine then asked Richard what we said. After Richard repeated it, Regine gave us a smile.
Anyways, “Ocean of Noise” was a decoy to the insanity that is “Power Out” (video). At this point, Win went down from the stage and into the crowd. My friend and I were just going berserk at this point, and the video captures that insane moment.
We went even crazier during “Rebellion (Lies)”:
Win was again down with us and my friend and I were taking turns blindfolding one another. We shouted our hearts out as we yelled out “LIES! LIES!”
“Intervention” was just brilliant and I think this is when Win started ripping out the strings from his guitar. I hopped around like mad during the last song, “Neighborhood #1 (Tunnels)” and just shouted my heart out. Granted, I wasn’t the only one singing and shouting, the nearly 650 people in the audience were doing the same. I may have jumped the highest out of everyone though.
At this point, I knew that Arcade Fire was playing either the back of the venue or the basement. My friend and I immediately escaped the crowd in the front and tried to go to the back. However, our effforts were futile since security didn’t let us pass. Instead, we waited and listened to the security guard, in French, tell us what to do (video). I knew they had to go back up, so I wasn’t too worried. Apparently, they did “The Well and the Lighthouse” acoustically.
I was standing near the stairs when Win and the camera guy came up. In my hysteria, I put my camera on video and captured a good majority of Win, Richard and one of their trumpet players play an acoustic version of “Wake Up” (video).
At this point, with sweat running down my clothes, voice nearly gone from all the singing and aching joints from the icy cold temperatures and hopping around, I was in bliss. I can’t believe I’m this close to Win and here he is asking me for a guitar pick, laughing at me because of my horrible singing and patting him on the back every now and then. Richard told me to watch out since I almost got hit by the bow of his viola. It was just amazing. Purely amazing. Look how close I was:
After the show, I went downstairs to get a poster. As we left the Ukrainian Federation and walked outside the cold night, dripping in sweat and just plain exhausted from the concert, we couldn’t get the smiles off our faces. Maybe the cold had something to do with it, but we just couldn’t stop smiling and just recapping every minute of that show. When we found a nice bar to go to, we talked some more about Arcade Fire and how wonderful Montréal is.
If you want to see all my photos of this show, you can see them here.
Best show of the year so far.
Beer Rating: 0 Beer
Lily Allen (GAMH, 6 February 2007)
Lily Allen is one of those guilty pleasures I have. She's a darling of the blog world, and even self-proclaimed "indie" websites like Pitchfork, Brooklyn Vegan and Product Shop NYC love her. I've always been a sucker for pop music, and Lily Allen is no exception. After missing her first two visits in San Francisco, I finally had my chance to see her at Great American last Tuesday night.
It was an MTV sponsored event, so I braced myself for the prospect of all these young kids romping around. Fortunately, that wasn't the case from my vantage point. Unlike her past performances, Lily Allen looked like she just stepped out of the tour bus. She didn't wear one of her trademark dresses. Instead, she wore jeans and a t-shirt. She even acknowledged that this was probably the only show she's ever done where we can "see her fat ass." She occassionally smoked a fag every now and then, despite her acknowledgement of California's law banning such behavior indoors. But whatever. Oh, and she had a cool gun necklace.
Show wise, she was top notch. Her backing band sounded great. She sounded great. She entertained the crowd with some funny banter.
She opened up with "LDN" which I missed. But all the songs I wanted to hear she did play...and more. "Littlelest Things" was played, and it sounds a lot like Radiohead's "Karma Police." At least the keyboard bits. Otherwise, this song is nothing close to Radiohead. She even covered Keane with "Everybody's Changing." Her cover sounded like a reggae tune. And, for the encore, The Specials' "Blank Expression." Her musical taste is diverse, and these covers proved it.
Best reaction from the crowd was when she played "Smile" and the last song, "Alfie." She remarked about how the venue smelled like weed, which then reminded her of a little brother of hers.
Overall, great show. Nothing wild or spectacular, but a good way to spend a Tuesday night.
Beer Rating:
It was an MTV sponsored event, so I braced myself for the prospect of all these young kids romping around. Fortunately, that wasn't the case from my vantage point. Unlike her past performances, Lily Allen looked like she just stepped out of the tour bus. She didn't wear one of her trademark dresses. Instead, she wore jeans and a t-shirt. She even acknowledged that this was probably the only show she's ever done where we can "see her fat ass." She occassionally smoked a fag every now and then, despite her acknowledgement of California's law banning such behavior indoors. But whatever. Oh, and she had a cool gun necklace.
Show wise, she was top notch. Her backing band sounded great. She sounded great. She entertained the crowd with some funny banter.
She opened up with "LDN" which I missed. But all the songs I wanted to hear she did play...and more. "Littlelest Things" was played, and it sounds a lot like Radiohead's "Karma Police." At least the keyboard bits. Otherwise, this song is nothing close to Radiohead. She even covered Keane with "Everybody's Changing." Her cover sounded like a reggae tune. And, for the encore, The Specials' "Blank Expression." Her musical taste is diverse, and these covers proved it.
Best reaction from the crowd was when she played "Smile" and the last song, "Alfie." She remarked about how the venue smelled like weed, which then reminded her of a little brother of hers.
Overall, great show. Nothing wild or spectacular, but a good way to spend a Tuesday night.
Beer Rating:
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