Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
At long last, I give you Brandaroo...
BRANDAROO
A Sludge Through the Fuzz and Mayhem of a little festival in Manchester, TN, just south of reality
Thursday: Oh, the Water; Let it Rain All Over Me
On the road to Bonnaroo the weather is breaking, or so it seems, but we still have a few more hours and two more companions to join on our adventure. About an hour and a half from Manchester, TN, the site of the greatest American Rock Fest! we locate a MAPCO off the Interstate and wait. Our plan is to allow for Reid and Phil to find us so that they can trail us in a southern monsoon to sit in traffic together for 3 hours and then park next to one another for the wknd. Good planning.
From here to Manchester there is approx 100 miles, 90 of which are spent moving about 65mph through a constant downpour, the remaining 10 spent at about 0.01mph on the shoulder of the Interstate. To help time pass Ben and I place a traffic waiting duration bet. He takes a stab at two hours until we enter the grounds. I stake my claim at three. We draw the halfway point at 2 and a half (we both graduated from really good colleges). Anytime before and I am burdened with the duty of granting Ben the wish of ‘cold beer’ wherever we are, whenever we are. It could be in the middle of the best set of the weekend, right as things are getting crazy and that overwhelming craving for a cold beer just might strike Ben’s fancy. I will have to deliver such deed if this bet goes awry. I give Ben an eat shit look when they check my ticket at 2hrs 49min.
Alberta Cross: 5:30 – 6:30pm, That Tent
Alberta Cross is a perfect band to kick the wknd off with. They are a New York based band that has heavy buzz despite not yet releasing an official album, one to keep an eye on. The lead singer, who I had mistaken with a female until actually putting eyes on the band, has a perfectly scratchy voice and the same look as Modern Age Beck. The show is very laid back and enjoyable. This will lay a nice groundwork for the chaos to come.
White Rabbits: 6:45 – 7:45pm, This Tent
White Rabbits is a six piece outfit also from New York who favors themselves to indie pop the likes of Spoon, but with far more percussion. Their current single Percussion Gun is the perfect intro to their sound, which sounds far better on album. The show is lacking in performance, more theatrics amongst the drummer than true musical abilities of the band. A let down after having enjoyed their first album and pegging them as a band that might surprise me. As Phil so aptly put it, ‘I don’t trust bands with six members.’ Very ‘oh, alright.’
Portugal. the Man: 8:30 – 9:30pm, That Tent
Reid convinces us to give it a shot and he delivers with the best surprise of the weekend. Reigning from Alaska, this unlikely set produces the finest stage presence of any of the tent acts for the entire festival. The sounds are heavy on blues rock with latin flavors and equal amounts world and psychedelic. There are several movements where the band hit its stride and the keys from the synthesizer (second already) are balancing out the high pitched vocals and the guitar/bass combo is thrashing around the stage much like a MMJ show that we all agreed the elements were there for a Santana cover, which is fine by me. With the sun dropped and the stage lights bouncing of the band, the ceiling and the crowd, we took in every bit we could. This performance without a doubt falls into the ‘awesome’ realm.
The Low Anthem: 10:00 – 11:00pm, That Tent
When planning any event that has several different occurrences scheduled for different and overlapping times you run the risk of putting a square in a triangular hole. Unfortunately for The Low Anthem, they are putting a hexagon in a round hole. Blame this on scheduling not the band. Their sound is that of rocking chairs and your grandfather enjoying an August Sunday evening discussing Whiskey and Women. It’s fantastic music, when the time is right. The band do all they can to up the tempo and engage with a raucous and frustrated audience. For me, the ideal time would have say been 8:30. But you can’t change the past, you gotta keep on rockin.
Passion Pit: 11:15 – 12:15am, This Tent
With radio friendly singles such as Moth’s Wings and the widely successful Sleepyhead, this pop-synth heavy band draws the biggest crowd of the night allowing the dance friendly tunes to hop and skip throughout the darkness. As the crowd dances, and claps in lead singer directed patterns, the night begins to turn for the worst. Winds begin to whip and the clouds rush across the sky, dark and menacing. Sprinkles are splattering across the top of the tent and the temperature plummets. The energy is in the air and the crowd pulls off the vibe and the band is all the better for it. Unfortunately, the pull so much energy that they drain the system and the crowd is pulling the band through an awkward silence as techs scramble to get things back…a sign of the storm to come.
Delta Spirit: 1:15 – 2:15am, This Tent
Taking in the full essence of Bonnaroo and the storm, DS deliver a heartfelt rockin’ show. They are honored as the rain pours over the lip of the tent and streams onto the second half of the crowd that us folks are sticking the elements out. Puddles grow so fast that I am soon separated from my group and hang tight on my island until that too washes. If you’re feeling what I’m feeling c’mon (people c’mon) All you soul searching people c’mon! Sadly, my group wasn’t feeling it to the full extend and we bail just as the crank up Trashcan, the stellar track from last year’s Essential list making album. We dash through the sludge and fast flowing streams as the sky pelts us from above, hopping, leaping and sliding our way across the farm back to Han Solo.
Friday: They go we go, and I want you to know, what I did I did
One of the best parts about Bonnaroo is recounting the night’s events the following day. What shows your neighbors went to, what was stellar, who underperformed and what Wookie went on a rampage and ran atop your car in the early morning hours, soaking wet, clad in colorful yarn bundles, muddied, delirious and uncontrollable, and what’s to eat?
We have down time before the shows begin again so we rest up in the shade, let the soothing sounds of Sigur Ros do its’ magic as we eat and hydrate as much as possible. The clouds begin to clear and the sun is soon in full bloom. With a full slate of indie rocks finest, it is going to be a scorcher! The heat index will be up there as well…Zang!
Katzenjammer: 12:00 – 1:00am, That Tent
Katzenjammer is a Norwegian all female funky, pop, zany collaboration with Ukuleles, banjos, giant cat painted bass, kudzu, and wildly fun energy and vocals. The sound is the underscore of a Norwegian female sing-along, but with southern US style and twang. It is a rare thing indeed. We are blown away. Byrne knows his shit. It Ain’t No Thing!
Animal Collective: 2:45 – 4:00pm, Which Stage
Legions of hipsters are gathering on the field to hear the bizarreness, from over a hundred yards away. I am a fan of AC, but this is not how I want to see them. It is HOT. The sound does not travel well over the open field and there are far too many kids. After three songs, we decide to bail out and cool off. I got Summertime Clothes in, my jam of the year, but it did not sound at all like I wanted it to.
Grizzly Bear: 5:00 – 6:15pm, This Tent
The Grizz sweep through on point renditions of songs spanning the full range of their releases and they leave the crowd yearning for more. They just have a precision to them, they treat their music as art and they want it brought to the people as they see fit. It’s rare to witness a band this unabashed about perfection.
They do not disappoint my outrageous expectations. They were to be my ‘it’ band of Bonnaroo and for me they delivered.
TV on the Radio: 6:45 – 8:00pm, Which Stage
I am a huge fan of TVOTR but have of yet seen them live. They are far more engaging live than I predict. Their sound comes off more soulful, more relaxed live. Things do not seem forced or over produced, they just sound right. Their sound is unique and ideal for a setting sun. I am delighted by this show and cannot wait to see them again.
Phish: 11:00 – 2:00am, What Stage
This show is epic and they are cranking out songs I know and like but my attention span cannot adjust to the speed of this show and I take off on my own after about an hour. I did enjoy jogging along the back wall to the sounds of Gumbo in the dark with Phish’s massive light arrangements gone blurry from this distance, pretty cool experience.
Public Enemy: 12:30 – 1:45am, This Tent
This is unlike any show I have ever experienced. It feels like a MTV production. I mean shit, Flav-A-Flav and Chuck D are telling me we must stand as a Nation of Millions to Bring Da Noise! and at the same time they are giving me a sales pitch on buying their albums…it’s kinda ridiculous, but awesome all the same, in a militant kind of way.
Crystal Castles: 12:45 – 1:45am, This Tent
Most will have little idea what or who Crystal Castles is so the easiest way to explain is to think of an Gameboy on crack with a freaked out Eastern European punk grrrl screaming while constant strobe lights flood a tent full of machine produced smoke, smothering a sea of glow stick wielding hipsters. And then multiply that by 5!
I have no real way to put this to words, so I yield to YouTube clips.
Girl Talk: 2:15 – 3:45am, This Tent
Perhaps the only thing crazier than a Gameboy on crack is every pop song and rap song you have ever heard on crack at the most wacked out and largest dance party the state of TN has ever known!
This show defines people’s weekend. There are countless hipsters who waited all day for this at their tent. The energy is unreal, frantic, and borderline out of control. The show is forced to stop on a few occasions to relent on those being crushed by the crowd. I keep my distance but am overwhelmed still.
Saturday: It’s Too Fuckin’ Hot for Santa Claus
Elvis Perkins in Dearland: 12:30 – 1:30pm, This Tent
This is blues and swagger, joy and sorrow. This is a classic showman doing his business as it ought to be done. He is an entertainer, but not a stage act. He plays with the crowd, to the crowd not just before them. He is a treat to listen to.
Misery loves company and company comes in the form of fellow genius odd man singer-songwriter, Bon Iver. They share the stage, providing a brass section a spark that ignites the crowd. Brilliant show.
Heartless Bastards: 1:30 – 2:30pm, Which Stage
They are not a phenomenal band, not even really great. But they are damn good and that’s about all you can ask for from rock n’ roll.
Bon Iver: 3:30 – 4:45pm, This Tent
The live work is brighter, more fleshed out and far more of a full band production than the album would lead one to think. He interacts with the crowd as well as any singer I have seen. Dearland joins Bon Iver as best friends will do and the connection these bands have is pure magic. Bon Iver closes the show will a roof busting rendition of Wolves in which he forces the crowd to sing our stanza louder and louder and louder…it may sound corny, but it was amazing.
What might have been lost
Wilco: 6:00 – 8:00pm, What Stage
Man, what can I say, these guys just deliver. This is what a live show is to be. There is just a perfect balance of showmanship, execution, delivery, crowd interaction, antics, solos, vast sounding catalogue and an overall expertise to the craft.
Tweedy still holds himself as the reluctant star. “If you guys start booing us, it’s ok, we’ll just tell ourselves you’re yelling BRUUUCE! Really, it’s alright.”
As the show rolls along it grew legs, the band warms up to the crowd and before long Tweedy has a cameraman plucking the chords on his guitar, Nels is melting minds with his masterwork and the personality of this band explodes. Any band that can span from a 12min+ Spiders to a rollicking Man Who Loves You and close out with Hoodoo Voodoo is awesome in my book.
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band: 9:00 – 12:30am, What Stage
You may have your own opinion of the Boss, I for one do, but you cannot challenge him in the slightest about the heart he pours into his work. The iconic Hall of Famer works a crowd like he is hosting a backyard BBQ, everyone feels welcome and everyone feels a true connection. That ain’t easy to pull off in front of 60k folks that have been rocking for 3 days in the heat and mud.
The Bonnaroo moment came as thousands of proud Americans from teens to grandparents rang out Santa Claus is Coming to town under the blanket of the smothering June TN night sky and it could not have been more fitting.
Bruce exclaimed, ‘It’s too fuckin’ hot for Santa Claus,’ but it’s never too hot for a classic rock show.
I now know why they call him the Boss.
Yeasayer: 1:00 – 1:45am, This Tent
I am not sure if it is the crowd or the difficulty of adjusting to life after Bruce, but I struggle to connect fully with this show. I dig Yeasayer and the stage setup is pretty stellar, but we are so packed in with kids camping out for MGMT that it is difficult to get the most out of this show.
Nine Inch Nails: 1:00 – 3:00am, Which Stage
They played most all of the major hits, skipping a few, but leaving no one let down. Trent engages in very open dialogue with the crowd. He tells us he has had enough, he’s too old to keep doing this anymore. In an odd way it is kinda sad, well as sad as a NIN show can be. He is after all an understated genius and perhaps one of the most important figures in music since the early nineties. He is part of our culture at this point. I am elated to have taken part in this moment in music history.
A Sludge Through the Fuzz and Mayhem of a little festival in Manchester, TN, just south of reality
Thursday: Oh, the Water; Let it Rain All Over Me
On the road to Bonnaroo the weather is breaking, or so it seems, but we still have a few more hours and two more companions to join on our adventure. About an hour and a half from Manchester, TN, the site of the greatest American Rock Fest! we locate a MAPCO off the Interstate and wait. Our plan is to allow for Reid and Phil to find us so that they can trail us in a southern monsoon to sit in traffic together for 3 hours and then park next to one another for the wknd. Good planning.
From here to Manchester there is approx 100 miles, 90 of which are spent moving about 65mph through a constant downpour, the remaining 10 spent at about 0.01mph on the shoulder of the Interstate. To help time pass Ben and I place a traffic waiting duration bet. He takes a stab at two hours until we enter the grounds. I stake my claim at three. We draw the halfway point at 2 and a half (we both graduated from really good colleges). Anytime before and I am burdened with the duty of granting Ben the wish of ‘cold beer’ wherever we are, whenever we are. It could be in the middle of the best set of the weekend, right as things are getting crazy and that overwhelming craving for a cold beer just might strike Ben’s fancy. I will have to deliver such deed if this bet goes awry. I give Ben an eat shit look when they check my ticket at 2hrs 49min.
Alberta Cross: 5:30 – 6:30pm, That Tent
Alberta Cross is a perfect band to kick the wknd off with. They are a New York based band that has heavy buzz despite not yet releasing an official album, one to keep an eye on. The lead singer, who I had mistaken with a female until actually putting eyes on the band, has a perfectly scratchy voice and the same look as Modern Age Beck. The show is very laid back and enjoyable. This will lay a nice groundwork for the chaos to come.
White Rabbits: 6:45 – 7:45pm, This Tent
White Rabbits is a six piece outfit also from New York who favors themselves to indie pop the likes of Spoon, but with far more percussion. Their current single Percussion Gun is the perfect intro to their sound, which sounds far better on album. The show is lacking in performance, more theatrics amongst the drummer than true musical abilities of the band. A let down after having enjoyed their first album and pegging them as a band that might surprise me. As Phil so aptly put it, ‘I don’t trust bands with six members.’ Very ‘oh, alright.’
Portugal. the Man: 8:30 – 9:30pm, That TentReid convinces us to give it a shot and he delivers with the best surprise of the weekend. Reigning from Alaska, this unlikely set produces the finest stage presence of any of the tent acts for the entire festival. The sounds are heavy on blues rock with latin flavors and equal amounts world and psychedelic. There are several movements where the band hit its stride and the keys from the synthesizer (second already) are balancing out the high pitched vocals and the guitar/bass combo is thrashing around the stage much like a MMJ show that we all agreed the elements were there for a Santana cover, which is fine by me. With the sun dropped and the stage lights bouncing of the band, the ceiling and the crowd, we took in every bit we could. This performance without a doubt falls into the ‘awesome’ realm.
The Low Anthem: 10:00 – 11:00pm, That Tent
When planning any event that has several different occurrences scheduled for different and overlapping times you run the risk of putting a square in a triangular hole. Unfortunately for The Low Anthem, they are putting a hexagon in a round hole. Blame this on scheduling not the band. Their sound is that of rocking chairs and your grandfather enjoying an August Sunday evening discussing Whiskey and Women. It’s fantastic music, when the time is right. The band do all they can to up the tempo and engage with a raucous and frustrated audience. For me, the ideal time would have say been 8:30. But you can’t change the past, you gotta keep on rockin.
Passion Pit: 11:15 – 12:15am, This TentWith radio friendly singles such as Moth’s Wings and the widely successful Sleepyhead, this pop-synth heavy band draws the biggest crowd of the night allowing the dance friendly tunes to hop and skip throughout the darkness. As the crowd dances, and claps in lead singer directed patterns, the night begins to turn for the worst. Winds begin to whip and the clouds rush across the sky, dark and menacing. Sprinkles are splattering across the top of the tent and the temperature plummets. The energy is in the air and the crowd pulls off the vibe and the band is all the better for it. Unfortunately, the pull so much energy that they drain the system and the crowd is pulling the band through an awkward silence as techs scramble to get things back…a sign of the storm to come.
Delta Spirit: 1:15 – 2:15am, This TentTaking in the full essence of Bonnaroo and the storm, DS deliver a heartfelt rockin’ show. They are honored as the rain pours over the lip of the tent and streams onto the second half of the crowd that us folks are sticking the elements out. Puddles grow so fast that I am soon separated from my group and hang tight on my island until that too washes. If you’re feeling what I’m feeling c’mon (people c’mon) All you soul searching people c’mon! Sadly, my group wasn’t feeling it to the full extend and we bail just as the crank up Trashcan, the stellar track from last year’s Essential list making album. We dash through the sludge and fast flowing streams as the sky pelts us from above, hopping, leaping and sliding our way across the farm back to Han Solo.
Friday: They go we go, and I want you to know, what I did I did
One of the best parts about Bonnaroo is recounting the night’s events the following day. What shows your neighbors went to, what was stellar, who underperformed and what Wookie went on a rampage and ran atop your car in the early morning hours, soaking wet, clad in colorful yarn bundles, muddied, delirious and uncontrollable, and what’s to eat?
We have down time before the shows begin again so we rest up in the shade, let the soothing sounds of Sigur Ros do its’ magic as we eat and hydrate as much as possible. The clouds begin to clear and the sun is soon in full bloom. With a full slate of indie rocks finest, it is going to be a scorcher! The heat index will be up there as well…Zang!
Katzenjammer: 12:00 – 1:00am, That Tent
Katzenjammer is a Norwegian all female funky, pop, zany collaboration with Ukuleles, banjos, giant cat painted bass, kudzu, and wildly fun energy and vocals. The sound is the underscore of a Norwegian female sing-along, but with southern US style and twang. It is a rare thing indeed. We are blown away. Byrne knows his shit. It Ain’t No Thing!
Animal Collective: 2:45 – 4:00pm, Which Stage
Legions of hipsters are gathering on the field to hear the bizarreness, from over a hundred yards away. I am a fan of AC, but this is not how I want to see them. It is HOT. The sound does not travel well over the open field and there are far too many kids. After three songs, we decide to bail out and cool off. I got Summertime Clothes in, my jam of the year, but it did not sound at all like I wanted it to.
Grizzly Bear: 5:00 – 6:15pm, This TentThe Grizz sweep through on point renditions of songs spanning the full range of their releases and they leave the crowd yearning for more. They just have a precision to them, they treat their music as art and they want it brought to the people as they see fit. It’s rare to witness a band this unabashed about perfection.
They do not disappoint my outrageous expectations. They were to be my ‘it’ band of Bonnaroo and for me they delivered.TV on the Radio: 6:45 – 8:00pm, Which Stage
I am a huge fan of TVOTR but have of yet seen them live. They are far more engaging live than I predict. Their sound comes off more soulful, more relaxed live. Things do not seem forced or over produced, they just sound right. Their sound is unique and ideal for a setting sun. I am delighted by this show and cannot wait to see them again.
Phish: 11:00 – 2:00am, What StageThis show is epic and they are cranking out songs I know and like but my attention span cannot adjust to the speed of this show and I take off on my own after about an hour. I did enjoy jogging along the back wall to the sounds of Gumbo in the dark with Phish’s massive light arrangements gone blurry from this distance, pretty cool experience.
Public Enemy: 12:30 – 1:45am, This Tent
This is unlike any show I have ever experienced. It feels like a MTV production. I mean shit, Flav-A-Flav and Chuck D are telling me we must stand as a Nation of Millions to Bring Da Noise! and at the same time they are giving me a sales pitch on buying their albums…it’s kinda ridiculous, but awesome all the same, in a militant kind of way.
Crystal Castles: 12:45 – 1:45am, This TentMost will have little idea what or who Crystal Castles is so the easiest way to explain is to think of an Gameboy on crack with a freaked out Eastern European punk grrrl screaming while constant strobe lights flood a tent full of machine produced smoke, smothering a sea of glow stick wielding hipsters. And then multiply that by 5!
I have no real way to put this to words, so I yield to YouTube clips.Girl Talk: 2:15 – 3:45am, This Tent
Perhaps the only thing crazier than a Gameboy on crack is every pop song and rap song you have ever heard on crack at the most wacked out and largest dance party the state of TN has ever known!
This show defines people’s weekend. There are countless hipsters who waited all day for this at their tent. The energy is unreal, frantic, and borderline out of control. The show is forced to stop on a few occasions to relent on those being crushed by the crowd. I keep my distance but am overwhelmed still.
Saturday: It’s Too Fuckin’ Hot for Santa Claus
Elvis Perkins in Dearland: 12:30 – 1:30pm, This Tent
This is blues and swagger, joy and sorrow. This is a classic showman doing his business as it ought to be done. He is an entertainer, but not a stage act. He plays with the crowd, to the crowd not just before them. He is a treat to listen to.
Misery loves company and company comes in the form of fellow genius odd man singer-songwriter, Bon Iver. They share the stage, providing a brass section a spark that ignites the crowd. Brilliant show.Heartless Bastards: 1:30 – 2:30pm, Which Stage
They are not a phenomenal band, not even really great. But they are damn good and that’s about all you can ask for from rock n’ roll.
Bon Iver: 3:30 – 4:45pm, This Tent
The live work is brighter, more fleshed out and far more of a full band production than the album would lead one to think. He interacts with the crowd as well as any singer I have seen. Dearland joins Bon Iver as best friends will do and the connection these bands have is pure magic. Bon Iver closes the show will a roof busting rendition of Wolves in which he forces the crowd to sing our stanza louder and louder and louder…it may sound corny, but it was amazing.
What might have been lost
Wilco: 6:00 – 8:00pm, What StageMan, what can I say, these guys just deliver. This is what a live show is to be. There is just a perfect balance of showmanship, execution, delivery, crowd interaction, antics, solos, vast sounding catalogue and an overall expertise to the craft.
Tweedy still holds himself as the reluctant star. “If you guys start booing us, it’s ok, we’ll just tell ourselves you’re yelling BRUUUCE! Really, it’s alright.”
As the show rolls along it grew legs, the band warms up to the crowd and before long Tweedy has a cameraman plucking the chords on his guitar, Nels is melting minds with his masterwork and the personality of this band explodes. Any band that can span from a 12min+ Spiders to a rollicking Man Who Loves You and close out with Hoodoo Voodoo is awesome in my book.Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band: 9:00 – 12:30am, What Stage
You may have your own opinion of the Boss, I for one do, but you cannot challenge him in the slightest about the heart he pours into his work. The iconic Hall of Famer works a crowd like he is hosting a backyard BBQ, everyone feels welcome and everyone feels a true connection. That ain’t easy to pull off in front of 60k folks that have been rocking for 3 days in the heat and mud.
The Bonnaroo moment came as thousands of proud Americans from teens to grandparents rang out Santa Claus is Coming to town under the blanket of the smothering June TN night sky and it could not have been more fitting.
Bruce exclaimed, ‘It’s too fuckin’ hot for Santa Claus,’ but it’s never too hot for a classic rock show.
I now know why they call him the Boss.
Yeasayer: 1:00 – 1:45am, This Tent
I am not sure if it is the crowd or the difficulty of adjusting to life after Bruce, but I struggle to connect fully with this show. I dig Yeasayer and the stage setup is pretty stellar, but we are so packed in with kids camping out for MGMT that it is difficult to get the most out of this show.
Nine Inch Nails: 1:00 – 3:00am, Which StageThey played most all of the major hits, skipping a few, but leaving no one let down. Trent engages in very open dialogue with the crowd. He tells us he has had enough, he’s too old to keep doing this anymore. In an odd way it is kinda sad, well as sad as a NIN show can be. He is after all an understated genius and perhaps one of the most important figures in music since the early nineties. He is part of our culture at this point. I am elated to have taken part in this moment in music history.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Triumph at Roo
While I am wrapping up my review of the fest (sorry for the delay, been hard to get time to work on it) I'll give you Triumph the Insult Dog's take on the annual fest...the TV on the Radio interview is my favorite.
Enjoy (thanks Stereogum): http://stereogum.com//archives/video/triumph-at-bonnaroo-videos-are-here-for-you-to-poo_074952.html
Enjoy (thanks Stereogum): http://stereogum.com//archives/video/triumph-at-bonnaroo-videos-are-here-for-you-to-poo_074952.html
Monday, June 22, 2009
Whigs Give Back
Via Whigs email:
As many of you may have heard by now, the legendary Georgia Theatre in Athens was destroyed by fire last Friday morning. Employees of The Theatre now unexpectedly find themselves unemployed and we (The Whigs) and our buddies Dead Confederate have decided to help these peeps by hosting a last minute show at the Melting Point this Tuesday night. Tickets are $10 with every cent of the proceeds going to the Ga. Theatre employees. ROCK!
***Georgia Theatre Fundraiser***
***Georgia Theatre Fundraiser***
06-23-09: Athens, GA - Melting Point w/ Dead Confederate
***early show...Dead Confederate at 9:15, Whigs at 10:30
******all proceeds benefit the staff of the Georgia Theatre******
please join us***
Friday, June 19, 2009
FIRE AT GEORGIA THEATRE
It seems a terrible fire broke out at the Georgia Theatre early this morning, the blaze lasted well over an hour, no reports yet on the extent of the damage. I cannot express how sad I am about this, I love that place. I have spent many, many nights on that floor and it holds some of my most fond memories from college and since.I can only hope that there is enough to rebuilt and make it stronger and better for generations to come. As mush as I loved it, I recognize that it was in need of some major renovations. Something tells me some bad wiring or something sparked this thing, I hope it is not some story about a cig falling to the floor and burning the place down.
Article here: http://www.ajc.com/news/content/metro/stories/2009/06/19/athens_fire_georgia_theatre.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab
Monday, June 8, 2009
Essential Albums of the Mid-Point of 2009 (a work in progress and delay)
Well, I certainly have not upheld my end of the bargin thus far, but technically all of June will serve as the half-way point for this blog. That being said, I have taken more interest in the songs that have deemed themselves 'most essential' thus far and the albums, well we will address them again at length at the end of the year.
For now I'll keep the songs working in the playlist on the sidebar here, keep dumping off ideas here if you have anything to share.
I am headed to Bonnaroo this week so I wanted to get something up before I skipped town and checked out of reality for a while. I'll hold off on the 'Acts' of the year until after the fest, but based on the texts I was getting last night from the guys in Atlanta, Bon Iver and Elvis Perkins are going to be tough to top....we'll see.
For now, here is what I have found most Essential in 2009. Note, 'Essential' doesn't nesecarily mean "best" or "most important/amazing," it just take in consideration the hype, the artist, the moment, the feel, the production, the reviews, the worth, etc. Swirl that all up with my reactions and then LTME decides how Essential it is.
So, now LTME gives you the albums of the Mid-Point (Half Way) of 2009. (Yes I know 28 is an awkward number of albums to review, but it's just kinda been one of those years).
1. Veckatimest– Grizzly Bear
2. Merriweather Post Pavillion – Animal Collective
3. Manners – Passion Pit
4. Elvis Perkins in Dearland – Elvis Perkins in Dearland
5. Face Control – Handsome Furs
6. The Mountain – Heartless Bastards
7. Invitation Songs – the Cave Singers
8. Keep It Hid – Dan Auerbach
9. Dark Was the Night – Various
10. Welcome to Mali – Amadou and Mariam
11. Get Guilty – AC Newman
12. Bromst – Dan Deacon
13. Noble Beast – Andrew Bird
14. Lost Channels – Great Lake Swimmers
15. Midnight At the Movies – Justin Townes Earle
16. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix
17. It’s Blitz – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
18. Invisible Cities – Nomo
19. To Willie – Phosphorescent
20. Hold Time – M. Ward
21. Tight Knit – Vetiver
22. Constant Hitmaker – Kurt Vile
23. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic
24. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free – Akron/Family
25. March of the Zapotec and Realpeople: Holland – Beirut
26. Now We Can See – the Thermals
27. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits
28. Wilco (The Album) – Wilco
There will be discussion of these albums once I return from Roo and see some of this live in person.
Albums worth note, but LTME has yet to listen to: Maccabees, St. Vincent, Dirty Projectors, SunO))), Fever Ray, Pink Mountaintops, Sunset Rubdown, Eels, Swan Lake, Manchester Orchestra etc.
Give me some feedback, love to hear some response, maybe even some of those > <.
Wish me luck at Roo.
For now I'll keep the songs working in the playlist on the sidebar here, keep dumping off ideas here if you have anything to share.
I am headed to Bonnaroo this week so I wanted to get something up before I skipped town and checked out of reality for a while. I'll hold off on the 'Acts' of the year until after the fest, but based on the texts I was getting last night from the guys in Atlanta, Bon Iver and Elvis Perkins are going to be tough to top....we'll see.
For now, here is what I have found most Essential in 2009. Note, 'Essential' doesn't nesecarily mean "best" or "most important/amazing," it just take in consideration the hype, the artist, the moment, the feel, the production, the reviews, the worth, etc. Swirl that all up with my reactions and then LTME decides how Essential it is.
So, now LTME gives you the albums of the Mid-Point (Half Way) of 2009. (Yes I know 28 is an awkward number of albums to review, but it's just kinda been one of those years).
1. Veckatimest– Grizzly Bear
2. Merriweather Post Pavillion – Animal Collective
3. Manners – Passion Pit
4. Elvis Perkins in Dearland – Elvis Perkins in Dearland
5. Face Control – Handsome Furs
6. The Mountain – Heartless Bastards
7. Invitation Songs – the Cave Singers
8. Keep It Hid – Dan Auerbach
9. Dark Was the Night – Various
10. Welcome to Mali – Amadou and Mariam
11. Get Guilty – AC Newman
12. Bromst – Dan Deacon
13. Noble Beast – Andrew Bird
14. Lost Channels – Great Lake Swimmers
15. Midnight At the Movies – Justin Townes Earle
16. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix – Phoenix
17. It’s Blitz – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
18. Invisible Cities – Nomo
19. To Willie – Phosphorescent
20. Hold Time – M. Ward
21. Tight Knit – Vetiver
22. Constant Hitmaker – Kurt Vile
23. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic
24. Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free – Akron/Family
25. March of the Zapotec and Realpeople: Holland – Beirut
26. Now We Can See – the Thermals
27. It’s Frightening – White Rabbits
28. Wilco (The Album) – Wilco
There will be discussion of these albums once I return from Roo and see some of this live in person.
Albums worth note, but LTME has yet to listen to: Maccabees, St. Vincent, Dirty Projectors, SunO))), Fever Ray, Pink Mountaintops, Sunset Rubdown, Eels, Swan Lake, Manchester Orchestra etc.
Give me some feedback, love to hear some response, maybe even some of those > <.
Wish me luck at Roo.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
One of dem songs being discussed
Well I first want to thank the handful of you readers that took the time to send a few comments my way. I dig doing this blog on my own and do appreciate when folks take a little effort to give me some form of feedback. A 'you suck' is better than a dead response.
Anyways, there are some obvious picks out in the blogosphere for earlier runners in 2009. That said, LTME ain't listen to no man, he do his pickin' all on his own. So while Grizzly Bear may have one of the best albums of the year, I might not think the infamous "Two Weeks" is the best number (hint: it's not). I do love the video...
If you liked that little ditty be sure to truck it on over to Black Cab Sessions (which I have been pushing for well over a year, but still cannot say enough about), there is a fantastic take on 'All We Ask'
Keep sending comments my way. No one said you are limited to one pick on song/band/album or one comment for that matter.
Thanks for stopping by.
Anyways, there are some obvious picks out in the blogosphere for earlier runners in 2009. That said, LTME ain't listen to no man, he do his pickin' all on his own. So while Grizzly Bear may have one of the best albums of the year, I might not think the infamous "Two Weeks" is the best number (hint: it's not). I do love the video...
If you liked that little ditty be sure to truck it on over to Black Cab Sessions (which I have been pushing for well over a year, but still cannot say enough about), there is a fantastic take on 'All We Ask'
Keep sending comments my way. No one said you are limited to one pick on song/band/album or one comment for that matter.
Thanks for stopping by.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
This Roo's For You
Need some input on Bonnaroo from folks that have been in years of late. I wen the first year, had a blast but did tire, both from heat/no sleep and the endlessness of jam bands. This year I am mentally and physically up for the challenge. Roo has also grown leaps and bounds since it's inception, so I am certainly in for a musical treat across the board.
What kind of stuff do folks suggest bringing? Any tips on how to do the fest the best way? Who should LTME go see?
On my must see list are: White Rabbits, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio, Beastie Boys, Justin Townes Earle, Phish, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Del McCoury Band, Wilco, Andrew Bird and Band of Horses.
There are a few conflicts of note. David Byrne is on during B-Boys, however I saw this Bryne-Eno tour already in '09. Rodrigo y Gabriela are on at the same time as Bon Iver! As if that's not enough, NIN, Yeasayer, MGMT, Ben Harper and moe. all conflict (WTF!). Friday night has a throw down between Girl Talk and Paul Oakenfold, may do half and half there.
Readers, Phil T, Reid and Big Ben are on board. Who else is gonna be ther this year?
What kind of stuff do folks suggest bringing? Any tips on how to do the fest the best way? Who should LTME go see?
On my must see list are: White Rabbits, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, TV on the Radio, Beastie Boys, Justin Townes Earle, Phish, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Del McCoury Band, Wilco, Andrew Bird and Band of Horses.
There are a few conflicts of note. David Byrne is on during B-Boys, however I saw this Bryne-Eno tour already in '09. Rodrigo y Gabriela are on at the same time as Bon Iver! As if that's not enough, NIN, Yeasayer, MGMT, Ben Harper and moe. all conflict (WTF!). Friday night has a throw down between Girl Talk and Paul Oakenfold, may do half and half there.
Readers, Phil T, Reid and Big Ben are on board. Who else is gonna be ther this year?
Whigs to hit the road again
The Whigs, the hard rocking trio from Athens, GA are prepped for yet another run on the road. This time they'll be hitting a few hotspots around the US and across Canada with the biggest band in Europe and former southern rock outfit, Kings of Leon.
Pumped for the band, should be great exposure opening for the likes of KOL. Wish the boys the best on the tour.
Here's a little taste.
TOUR DATES:
06-05-09: Enterprise, AL - BamaJam Music & Arts Festival
06-20-09: Birmingham, AL - City Stages Festival
07-10-09: Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival
NEW DATES....
08-09-09: Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Kings of Leon
08-12-09: Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place w/ Kings of Leon
08-13-09: Calgary, AB - Saddledome w/ Kings of Leon
08-15-09: Vancouver, BC - GM Place w/ Kings of Leon
08-16-09: Vancouver, BC - GM Place w/ Kings of Leon
08-19-09: Sacramento, CA - ARCO w/ Kings of Leon
08-21-09: San Diego, CA - Cox Arena w/ Kings of Leon
08-22-09: Los Angeles, CA - The Forum w/ Kings of Leon
Pumped for the band, should be great exposure opening for the likes of KOL. Wish the boys the best on the tour.
Here's a little taste.
TOUR DATES:
06-05-09: Enterprise, AL - BamaJam Music & Arts Festival
06-20-09: Birmingham, AL - City Stages Festival
07-10-09: Louisville, KY - Forecastle Festival
NEW DATES....
08-09-09: Denver, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Kings of Leon
08-12-09: Edmonton, AB - Rexall Place w/ Kings of Leon
08-13-09: Calgary, AB - Saddledome w/ Kings of Leon
08-15-09: Vancouver, BC - GM Place w/ Kings of Leon
08-16-09: Vancouver, BC - GM Place w/ Kings of Leon
08-19-09: Sacramento, CA - ARCO w/ Kings of Leon
08-21-09: San Diego, CA - Cox Arena w/ Kings of Leon
08-22-09: Los Angeles, CA - The Forum w/ Kings of Leon
Thursday, April 30, 2009
New Video Day!
Stunning new video from Matt and Kim for the song Lessons Learned.
Official video for the new Eels single Fresh Blood
Features a smokin hot chick, not as nude as Kim, but pretty awesome all the same.
Official video for the new Eels single Fresh Blood
Features a smokin hot chick, not as nude as Kim, but pretty awesome all the same.
Share the Love of the Lore of the Mountains
Fleet Foxes are currently on the road with Blitzen Trapper (which I am sure is as awesome as that sounds). Despite their basic differences in sound they do share a lot in way of style and purpose to their music, namely in the art of crafting folk songs of the modern era. The two bands have enjoyed each other's company a few times on the road and have joined one another for the choicest of cuts off their respective LP's of late. BT joins FF for Blue Ridge Mountains and FF joins BT for Furr. Both sound great, video is not the best sadly. Hope we see access to proper recordings of each.
Furr - Blitzen Trapper featuring Fleet Foxes
Blue Ridge Mountains - Fleet Foxes featuring Blitzen Trapper
Furr - Blitzen Trapper featuring Fleet Foxes
Blue Ridge Mountains - Fleet Foxes featuring Blitzen Trapper
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Everybody here thinks this is a lot cooler than it actually is.
Ra Ra Riot, Cold War Kids and Death Cab For Cutie - 04/09/09 Belk Arena, Davidson, NC
We’ve all been sucked into this before. It’s a phase or an identity crisis of sorts. A coming of age when you did not realize that you were not yet of age. Struggling in your teen years or perhaps early stages of college trying to create your niche or discover who you really are. Confidence is not the problem as you truly do not even know you lack confidence, you simply are untested. All you know makes sense and you are comfortable in your own right. You know yourself, you know your friends, you know your peers. You seek out mutual comforts. “I like pizza, you like pizza. We will eat pizza together.” “You wear skinny jeans that hinder circulation and odds of conforming to the norms of society, I too sport my awkward, ‘artsy’ personality by wearing clothes designed for French runway models on steady diets of cocaine and air. Let’s go see Death Cab For Cutie together.”
But it’s not the kids at the Death Cab show liking pizza that makes the experience predictable and bland; it’s that all the kids are trying so hard to be different that they all end up carbon copies of a master mold. These kids hate the black and white photos that line the walls of Banana Republic at the mall, so they embody the antitheists of that look. They wear emo like a bad stink. They hate popular society, but yearn to be popular in their society. They want nothing of you, aside from your undivided attention. They want to be different so that they fit in.
These people give hipsters a bad name.
These people are also a lot like you and me.
In High School I won the ‘Purchase Prize’ for my work in AP Studio Art and had some of my creative writing pieces published; I also started on a State Championship football team and drove a BMW. I know these people. As much as I am different than they, I am much the same. For instance I love tailgating for UGA football games with my fraternity brothers; I blog about a Death Cab for Cutie show. You too are more ‘uncool’ than you think. For instance, you are reading this right now and this is my friend, this is uncool.
I am proud that I am often uncool. In fact, it’s being uncool that more often than not makes me somewhat cool. You see, life is all about finding what is right for you. What makes you happy, what makes you tick. You cannot ever let others keep you from being you. That’s the most important thing. Regardless of the crowd you run in, the clothes you wear or the music you love, if you are yourself you will be happy and people will respect that, if nothing else.
It is this knowledge that makes me comfortable when arriving to the show by shoving teenagers around a parking lot in a blingin’ silver Mercedes.
It is Thursday and B and I have finished our respective desk jobs in time enough to journey to Davidson, NC for a triple header of Ra Ra Riot, Cold War Kids and, of course, Source Identified band, Death Cab For Cutie. B is a bit of a paradox. He loves his job at the bank and his special car, but he also wears a t-shirt promoting local watering hole ‘The Thirsty Beaver’ and has converted himself over from the frat dredges of WSP to blog happy bands that most tag as indie. I take full credit.
Our agenda is as follows: Get ticket, eat crap food, not score beer, be annoyed by teenagers, feel awkward and old, make fun of ourselves for being at said show, enjoy some of the show, regret the venue, debate leaving, suffer through the second act, wish Source Indentified band were not being uncool and then head home for a non beer.
Our ticket connection is to be a shapely Indian girl who will know nothing of cool. She will have two student tickets to the show and no idea what she is talking about. When we pose the crucial question of locale of beer she provides the response a shapely Indian girl who knows nothing of cool ought to provide. She kinda looks around the layout, glances across campus at nothing in particular, shrugs her rounded shoulders under her collegiate ‘study sweatshirt’ and with a somewhat nervous smile – “I am not really too sure. There is one place you passed on the way in but other than that…” I know this person. I do not want to know this person all the same. Moments later I find myself with a stumpy golf pencil bubbling in a specified circle adjacent to “Chicken Philly” on the Davidson Student Center Food Court stationary. The people around me appear to be 16 and love French fries. A lot of the girls seem to enjoy soccer and likely the company of their teammates. Most of the guys are stoked to have green cards and are nervous that the weekend is approaching. I grab a root beer and fumble my way through paying without my student ID. I feel awkward.
The reality of the evening is setting in. The Student Union has reserved the basketball gymnasium to host three bands, two of which are cool, one that is decidedly uncool by nature of trying to be cool, for an all together uncool evening. My sandwich sucks.
As we make our way into the gymnasium I find myself more frustrated that I never came here to see Stephen Curry play than I am interested in the show that is about to commence. I already know the show. I’ve seen it 20 times before. It will consist of one opening act that deserves far more credit than they receive, one band that thought they were cooler than they are but now find themselves eating French Fries with girls in hoodies and Adidas flip flops and finally the headliner that will sound far better on the CD’s you have listened to for the past few years.
To be honest I am already more interested in blogging about this show at this point than I am seeing the bands play anything at all. That makes me decidedly uncool.
WITNESS. That’s the slogan Davidson slapped across the back of red tees for this past basketball season. A promotion to capitalize on the most prolific player the Southern Conference will ever know. Sadly, despite his abilities, WITNESSing Curry and the Davidson basketball team this past season did not yield the rarity of Lebron as a high school phenom. They finished the season with a disappointing 8 losses and saw no return to the NCAA tourney with an early upset in conference championship play. Needless to say the ‘house that Curry built’ needed someone to dust the floors before tonight’s event.
Ra Ra Riot took the stage much like the basketball squad hits the floor for warm-ups; from the side door, not under full lighting and with the stands less than half full. B and I are familiar with the band, reader Noah pushed them on me last year and they made the cut for my 2008 Essential list. They have a sound that is more rock than Vampire Weekend, but of similar breath. They drain a few buckets, knock back a few from well beyond the arch and slam one home before the horn blows and they make their way back to the locker room for pregame analysis.
The bleachers are beginning to take shape, forcing the kids to increase their mouth breathing in nervous anticipation of finding a seat next to someone they do not know and may, under desperate measures, may have to mutter something at. It’s a daunting task, so I’m relieved when a mid-30’s couple dressed for dinner and drinks in uptown Charlotte slide in next to me. I keep a one seat buffer between B and I, I don’t necessarily want everyone to know that I arrived with the guy in the blingin’ silver Mercedes.
The social patterns of these kids amuse me greatly. There are no end of couples that are pudgy, un-athletic, likely into video games, afraid of country clubs and Sports Center, wearing matching t-shirts and not speaking to one another. You know the type. You’ve seen them at the non-chain movie rental store, they fix you coffee at the non-Starbucks you went to by accident and when they aren’t on Twitter discussing the inevitable failure of the new Star Trek movie, they launch spitballs at the sorority girls as they depart Banana Republic in $200 jeans, seasonal shirts and boy toy of the month arm candy. I like asking these kids if they ‘know the score of the big game.’
These kids, by all societal justifications and accepted standards are outcasts. However, as Cold War Kids amps up their suck fest, it dawns on me that B, myself and the blonde to my right who is more hip than her date, obvi!, are the outcasts. We have unknowingly entered dorkdom, paying full price for the ticket and sitting up in the bleachers looking down on all the kids on the floor dancing to the music having a better time than we are. This is their world, I don’t belong. I feel awkward again. I think the guy behind me just Tweeted that ‘there is some guy in a Lacoste shirt texting on his cell phone while his buddy reads about the bands he is here to see on Wikepedia. Suckers. LMAO!’ B leans over to tell me ‘this reminds me of my alarm clock.’ We both laugh and offend the non talking, mouth breathing couple in front of us.
Cold War Kids would be lucky to go .500 in Div III and would get their ass handed to them in PS2 NCAA College Basketball by the guy two rows up, stage left in the black rim glasses and frustrated half grin. This band is uncool. They were cool, then they realized they were cool and did more to be more cooler and lost what was cool and now find themselves uncool and oddly seem cool with it. The blonde likes the songs as she obviously read blogs and downloaded the first album as we all did, but you can sense uneasiness with her as she wants more from the band but realizes its not going to be there. Her boyfriend is apparently European or trying too hard. She explains the lyrics of one of the songs to him. He smiles, asks if they sell beer here and texts his buddy that he’s likely not getting ass tonight. The blonde turns to me and inquires as to why everyone here dresses the same. I know right, it’s like they all get discounts at Urban Outfitters that gives them black Chuck Taylor’s and a shitty attitude. We laugh in agreement of how ridiculous these kids are and how much cooler shows are in NY. She’s wearing $200 jeans and a seasonal shirt.
I decide this is going on the blog.
Source Lost.
By the time the main event takes place I feel like I’ve already WITNESSed three overtime games. I don’t fit in with this crowd, but we are all here for the same reason as we all like the same bands. I don’t like this venue because the acoustics suck and the indie bands don’t sound great here, but I like this venue because I dig Davidson’s basketball program and would like to see a game here. I want a beer, but feel awkward about drinking around a bunch of underage kids. I feel dumb for being up in the stands, but don’t want to suffer the ensuing social discomfort of being on the floor in my seven jeans. I think I’m ready to be done with this show before the Source Questioned band even plays their first chord. I relax and tell myself it’s likely just a phase or an identity crisis of sorts.
Soon it becomes painfully apart that Source Disappointment band is struggling in their teen years or perhaps early stages of college trying to create their niche or discover who they really are. Confidence is not their problem as they truly do not even know they lack confidence, they simply are untested.
Death Cab For Cutie are a bit of a paradox. They are a Seattle bred indie band with a sound that never should have made it big. They write amazing lyrics, construct beautifully arranged songs and have a unique vocal in their lead. Plenty of bands have this though. Where they allowed themselves to separate from the pack is in their ability to market themselves. They float the indie, emo, pop genre description. They have street cred with many of the true music enthusiasts even amongst the oft difficult to breach indie snobs. They also are favs among the tweensters, who liken to Panic at the Disco just as easily as they do Death Cab. And then there’s the ultimate paradox. They blew up primarily because they became the flagship band plugged on FOX’s The OC. The comic book loving, emo, nerd loved the band and had the posters on his wall shamelessly pushing the band on viewers and when that wasn’t enough they began to pump out The OC soundtracks. Now the indie band that enjoyed rave critical reviews and had the adoration of the hipsters found itself enjoyed by the very girls who flipped through the pages of the Banana Republic catalog eyeing their next wardrobe.
DCFC is now a band of lost identity and lost Source.
It happens all the time. Band spends years building a sound, mastering their craft, organically growing fans and winning over critics. Then one day the awake from the fringes of cool to find themselves on FOX TV shows, commercials, movies, winning Grammy’s and seeing their fanbase explode to the point where they never imagined. Then they need to revamp their sound to fit the larger venues so they go bigger and louder (the U2 mold). Problem is, bigger and louder doesn’t always work for these bands (Modest Mouse, KOL) sometimes they are best served in the moderate sized venues and second stages of festivals. But it’s not always the fought of the band. As artists they must grow, the industry demands such. Problem is when bands don’t know how to make it work they end up a carbon copy of themselves.
Source Defined.
Source Accepted.
Source = Growth.
B and I make the decision to bail early, missing the sure monster ballad to close the show. It is unnecessary, unwarranted. It will seem awkward.
Death Cab and bands of all stature should take note from the kid in the green Lacoste leaving early to go have a non beer, and think of how he’ll blog about the show. It’s great to be uncool, that’s what makes you cool. Like character, possessing the signification of being ‘cool’ comes from the person you are when no one is watching just as much as it does when all eyes are on you.
You see, life is all about finding what is right for you. What makes you happy, what makes you tick. You cannot ever let others keep you from being you. That’s the most important thing. Regardless of the crowd you run in, the clothes you wear or the music you love, if you are yourself you will be happy and people will respect that, if nothing else.
For every great shot Stephen Curry has ever or will ever make, plenty more rim out. The difference comes in his ability to fight for the rebound, post up and slam it home. That's why this time next year he'll have a blingin' silver Mercedes of his own and be as cool as he wants to be.
Dying is Fine - Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line
Note: Song inspired from the loss of band's orignal drummer, a story B discovered on Wikepedia when us uncool kids were trying to feel normal.
We’ve all been sucked into this before. It’s a phase or an identity crisis of sorts. A coming of age when you did not realize that you were not yet of age. Struggling in your teen years or perhaps early stages of college trying to create your niche or discover who you really are. Confidence is not the problem as you truly do not even know you lack confidence, you simply are untested. All you know makes sense and you are comfortable in your own right. You know yourself, you know your friends, you know your peers. You seek out mutual comforts. “I like pizza, you like pizza. We will eat pizza together.” “You wear skinny jeans that hinder circulation and odds of conforming to the norms of society, I too sport my awkward, ‘artsy’ personality by wearing clothes designed for French runway models on steady diets of cocaine and air. Let’s go see Death Cab For Cutie together.”
Source identified.
But it’s not the kids at the Death Cab show liking pizza that makes the experience predictable and bland; it’s that all the kids are trying so hard to be different that they all end up carbon copies of a master mold. These kids hate the black and white photos that line the walls of Banana Republic at the mall, so they embody the antitheists of that look. They wear emo like a bad stink. They hate popular society, but yearn to be popular in their society. They want nothing of you, aside from your undivided attention. They want to be different so that they fit in.
These people give hipsters a bad name.
These people are also a lot like you and me.
In High School I won the ‘Purchase Prize’ for my work in AP Studio Art and had some of my creative writing pieces published; I also started on a State Championship football team and drove a BMW. I know these people. As much as I am different than they, I am much the same. For instance I love tailgating for UGA football games with my fraternity brothers; I blog about a Death Cab for Cutie show. You too are more ‘uncool’ than you think. For instance, you are reading this right now and this is my friend, this is uncool.
I am proud that I am often uncool. In fact, it’s being uncool that more often than not makes me somewhat cool. You see, life is all about finding what is right for you. What makes you happy, what makes you tick. You cannot ever let others keep you from being you. That’s the most important thing. Regardless of the crowd you run in, the clothes you wear or the music you love, if you are yourself you will be happy and people will respect that, if nothing else.
It is this knowledge that makes me comfortable when arriving to the show by shoving teenagers around a parking lot in a blingin’ silver Mercedes.
It is Thursday and B and I have finished our respective desk jobs in time enough to journey to Davidson, NC for a triple header of Ra Ra Riot, Cold War Kids and, of course, Source Identified band, Death Cab For Cutie. B is a bit of a paradox. He loves his job at the bank and his special car, but he also wears a t-shirt promoting local watering hole ‘The Thirsty Beaver’ and has converted himself over from the frat dredges of WSP to blog happy bands that most tag as indie. I take full credit.
Our agenda is as follows: Get ticket, eat crap food, not score beer, be annoyed by teenagers, feel awkward and old, make fun of ourselves for being at said show, enjoy some of the show, regret the venue, debate leaving, suffer through the second act, wish Source Indentified band were not being uncool and then head home for a non beer.
Our ticket connection is to be a shapely Indian girl who will know nothing of cool. She will have two student tickets to the show and no idea what she is talking about. When we pose the crucial question of locale of beer she provides the response a shapely Indian girl who knows nothing of cool ought to provide. She kinda looks around the layout, glances across campus at nothing in particular, shrugs her rounded shoulders under her collegiate ‘study sweatshirt’ and with a somewhat nervous smile – “I am not really too sure. There is one place you passed on the way in but other than that…” I know this person. I do not want to know this person all the same. Moments later I find myself with a stumpy golf pencil bubbling in a specified circle adjacent to “Chicken Philly” on the Davidson Student Center Food Court stationary. The people around me appear to be 16 and love French fries. A lot of the girls seem to enjoy soccer and likely the company of their teammates. Most of the guys are stoked to have green cards and are nervous that the weekend is approaching. I grab a root beer and fumble my way through paying without my student ID. I feel awkward.
The reality of the evening is setting in. The Student Union has reserved the basketball gymnasium to host three bands, two of which are cool, one that is decidedly uncool by nature of trying to be cool, for an all together uncool evening. My sandwich sucks.
As we make our way into the gymnasium I find myself more frustrated that I never came here to see Stephen Curry play than I am interested in the show that is about to commence. I already know the show. I’ve seen it 20 times before. It will consist of one opening act that deserves far more credit than they receive, one band that thought they were cooler than they are but now find themselves eating French Fries with girls in hoodies and Adidas flip flops and finally the headliner that will sound far better on the CD’s you have listened to for the past few years.
Source Realized.
To be honest I am already more interested in blogging about this show at this point than I am seeing the bands play anything at all. That makes me decidedly uncool.
WITNESS. That’s the slogan Davidson slapped across the back of red tees for this past basketball season. A promotion to capitalize on the most prolific player the Southern Conference will ever know. Sadly, despite his abilities, WITNESSing Curry and the Davidson basketball team this past season did not yield the rarity of Lebron as a high school phenom. They finished the season with a disappointing 8 losses and saw no return to the NCAA tourney with an early upset in conference championship play. Needless to say the ‘house that Curry built’ needed someone to dust the floors before tonight’s event.
Ra Ra Riot took the stage much like the basketball squad hits the floor for warm-ups; from the side door, not under full lighting and with the stands less than half full. B and I are familiar with the band, reader Noah pushed them on me last year and they made the cut for my 2008 Essential list. They have a sound that is more rock than Vampire Weekend, but of similar breath. They drain a few buckets, knock back a few from well beyond the arch and slam one home before the horn blows and they make their way back to the locker room for pregame analysis.
The bleachers are beginning to take shape, forcing the kids to increase their mouth breathing in nervous anticipation of finding a seat next to someone they do not know and may, under desperate measures, may have to mutter something at. It’s a daunting task, so I’m relieved when a mid-30’s couple dressed for dinner and drinks in uptown Charlotte slide in next to me. I keep a one seat buffer between B and I, I don’t necessarily want everyone to know that I arrived with the guy in the blingin’ silver Mercedes.
The social patterns of these kids amuse me greatly. There are no end of couples that are pudgy, un-athletic, likely into video games, afraid of country clubs and Sports Center, wearing matching t-shirts and not speaking to one another. You know the type. You’ve seen them at the non-chain movie rental store, they fix you coffee at the non-Starbucks you went to by accident and when they aren’t on Twitter discussing the inevitable failure of the new Star Trek movie, they launch spitballs at the sorority girls as they depart Banana Republic in $200 jeans, seasonal shirts and boy toy of the month arm candy. I like asking these kids if they ‘know the score of the big game.’
These kids, by all societal justifications and accepted standards are outcasts. However, as Cold War Kids amps up their suck fest, it dawns on me that B, myself and the blonde to my right who is more hip than her date, obvi!, are the outcasts. We have unknowingly entered dorkdom, paying full price for the ticket and sitting up in the bleachers looking down on all the kids on the floor dancing to the music having a better time than we are. This is their world, I don’t belong. I feel awkward again. I think the guy behind me just Tweeted that ‘there is some guy in a Lacoste shirt texting on his cell phone while his buddy reads about the bands he is here to see on Wikepedia. Suckers. LMAO!’ B leans over to tell me ‘this reminds me of my alarm clock.’ We both laugh and offend the non talking, mouth breathing couple in front of us.
Cold War Kids would be lucky to go .500 in Div III and would get their ass handed to them in PS2 NCAA College Basketball by the guy two rows up, stage left in the black rim glasses and frustrated half grin. This band is uncool. They were cool, then they realized they were cool and did more to be more cooler and lost what was cool and now find themselves uncool and oddly seem cool with it. The blonde likes the songs as she obviously read blogs and downloaded the first album as we all did, but you can sense uneasiness with her as she wants more from the band but realizes its not going to be there. Her boyfriend is apparently European or trying too hard. She explains the lyrics of one of the songs to him. He smiles, asks if they sell beer here and texts his buddy that he’s likely not getting ass tonight. The blonde turns to me and inquires as to why everyone here dresses the same. I know right, it’s like they all get discounts at Urban Outfitters that gives them black Chuck Taylor’s and a shitty attitude. We laugh in agreement of how ridiculous these kids are and how much cooler shows are in NY. She’s wearing $200 jeans and a seasonal shirt.
I decide this is going on the blog.
Source Lost.
By the time the main event takes place I feel like I’ve already WITNESSed three overtime games. I don’t fit in with this crowd, but we are all here for the same reason as we all like the same bands. I don’t like this venue because the acoustics suck and the indie bands don’t sound great here, but I like this venue because I dig Davidson’s basketball program and would like to see a game here. I want a beer, but feel awkward about drinking around a bunch of underage kids. I feel dumb for being up in the stands, but don’t want to suffer the ensuing social discomfort of being on the floor in my seven jeans. I think I’m ready to be done with this show before the Source Questioned band even plays their first chord. I relax and tell myself it’s likely just a phase or an identity crisis of sorts.
Soon it becomes painfully apart that Source Disappointment band is struggling in their teen years or perhaps early stages of college trying to create their niche or discover who they really are. Confidence is not their problem as they truly do not even know they lack confidence, they simply are untested.
Death Cab For Cutie are a bit of a paradox. They are a Seattle bred indie band with a sound that never should have made it big. They write amazing lyrics, construct beautifully arranged songs and have a unique vocal in their lead. Plenty of bands have this though. Where they allowed themselves to separate from the pack is in their ability to market themselves. They float the indie, emo, pop genre description. They have street cred with many of the true music enthusiasts even amongst the oft difficult to breach indie snobs. They also are favs among the tweensters, who liken to Panic at the Disco just as easily as they do Death Cab. And then there’s the ultimate paradox. They blew up primarily because they became the flagship band plugged on FOX’s The OC. The comic book loving, emo, nerd loved the band and had the posters on his wall shamelessly pushing the band on viewers and when that wasn’t enough they began to pump out The OC soundtracks. Now the indie band that enjoyed rave critical reviews and had the adoration of the hipsters found itself enjoyed by the very girls who flipped through the pages of the Banana Republic catalog eyeing their next wardrobe.
DCFC is now a band of lost identity and lost Source.
It happens all the time. Band spends years building a sound, mastering their craft, organically growing fans and winning over critics. Then one day the awake from the fringes of cool to find themselves on FOX TV shows, commercials, movies, winning Grammy’s and seeing their fanbase explode to the point where they never imagined. Then they need to revamp their sound to fit the larger venues so they go bigger and louder (the U2 mold). Problem is, bigger and louder doesn’t always work for these bands (Modest Mouse, KOL) sometimes they are best served in the moderate sized venues and second stages of festivals. But it’s not always the fought of the band. As artists they must grow, the industry demands such. Problem is when bands don’t know how to make it work they end up a carbon copy of themselves.
MMJ exploded a few years back and their most recent LP was a mix of undercooked songs and spillover’s from Z. These abnds want to achieve the bigger and better so that they can all be in the same breath as i.e. Radiohead, but don’t always know how to get there. So bands take the risk. They change a look, a sound an angle. Wilco got big so they dumbed their sound down to appeal to the masses. MMJ went funky to get locked in the ‘best live show’ nod and Modest Mouse attempted to raise the bar with guitar legend and smash mouth rock songs that go to 11. All of these bands are talented enough to find their groove again. Having ups and downs is part of growing up. Stephen Curry didn’t want his team to slump and miss the NCAA tournament this year, but he is likely a stronger person and a more tested player because.
If you want to write bigger songs go ahead, Narrow Stairs is a quality album, also made the 2008 Essential list, just don’t feel the need to revamp all of your old material as well. It’s what got you here. DCFC’s best moments came when they slowed things down, found the piano and let the music do the work. I Will Follow You In the Dark was perfect solo acoustic by Gibbard; the slashing guitar arena rock treatment to the rest of their back catalog, a poor decision. They’ll learn.
Source Defined.
Source Accepted.
Source = Growth.
B and I make the decision to bail early, missing the sure monster ballad to close the show. It is unnecessary, unwarranted. It will seem awkward.
Death Cab and bands of all stature should take note from the kid in the green Lacoste leaving early to go have a non beer, and think of how he’ll blog about the show. It’s great to be uncool, that’s what makes you cool. Like character, possessing the signification of being ‘cool’ comes from the person you are when no one is watching just as much as it does when all eyes are on you.
You see, life is all about finding what is right for you. What makes you happy, what makes you tick. You cannot ever let others keep you from being you. That’s the most important thing. Regardless of the crowd you run in, the clothes you wear or the music you love, if you are yourself you will be happy and people will respect that, if nothing else.
For every great shot Stephen Curry has ever or will ever make, plenty more rim out. The difference comes in his ability to fight for the rebound, post up and slam it home. That's why this time next year he'll have a blingin' silver Mercedes of his own and be as cool as he wants to be.
Dying is Fine - Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line
Note: Song inspired from the loss of band's orignal drummer, a story B discovered on Wikepedia when us uncool kids were trying to feel normal.
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