Friday, April 27, 2007

The Cribs

This week has been a primer in excitement for next week. The cribs played Dimples, a karoake bar in California 8pm PST on Wednesday and it was streamed live. I cut a copy of the audio and it has been spreading over the net like crazy as it is some of the better versions of the new tracks until the album leaks.
The trouble is I feel like a total junkie as the three gigs next week get closer and closer. The music is filtering into my veins until I feel like bursting. Four times I have seen these guys and managed to talk to them however briefly three times. They have NEVER disappointed and moved me from a non-believer to a full-fledged junkie. I am way too old to be in this state of music addiction. guys i dont know what you are pushing but I think it should be a class A drug. Does anyone not absolutely adore Ryan and his hi jinks? I never quite know how to categorise just how he makes a person feel, he is a total spectator sport to watch and his excesse.
I dont think this will be a let down but I am getting a little hyper in anticipation.
Wednesday - the mercury lounge
Thursday - the mercury lounge
Friday - the middle east.
Warning guys do NOT block me from being in front of Ryan it just isnt worth it.
Lets hope we can get to the soundchecks

Saturday, April 07, 2007

MC Lars TT the bears April 6th

Part of a lineup with 4 Nerd-rap bands. We arrived in time to hear the end of Schaffer The Dark Lord. He had some amusing lyrics taht we caught but not impressed with the music.
MC Lars, usual slide show to accompany the music plus he used MC Frontalots band- big mistake they are chronic. But MC Lars, seen him three times in just over a yera different show each time, perhaps a little corny in his idea I love to see this performance.
Played Space Jam, ahab, Download This Song, Generic Crunk Rap, Time Machine, Signing Emo, White Guys aint Hyphy, 21 Concepts, Hot topic is not punk Rock, Hey Thats Me.
I would like to know how to get the last Cd 'Radio Pet Fencing' which I still dont have.
He has a sense of humor, does great graphics and video editing, loves literature , samples music in a meaningful way and always makes time to talk to his fans.
I make time to see him any time he comes to Boston and rightly so.

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Twilight Sad Upstairs at The Middle East April 4th

So A Northern chorus are a Canadian band of the ooh its thoughtful indie sound genre. Read boring as hell, but unfortunately this is what tone deaf really bloody stupid America wants and appreciates! Bands like this are a waste of stage space and venue time as they as SO boring.
But they brought people in and now if people had actually stayed to hear the interesting band. The Twilight Sad hit SXSW and did a pretty great set at The Mohawk Patio which we totally blew Lily Allen off for. and rightly so even though their singer listed as Jaes on their myspace turned his back for a significant part of the gig. They have been slowly driving up from Austin since then playing gigs as they go this such a terribly young band.
The vocal is amazing, the music atmospheric and layered, and the songs have a twisted faction that remind me of Sons and Daughters Repulsion Box which is appropriate as this is the same venue we saw Sons and Daughters at. The personal factor of these lyric lead to the singer not making eye contact and singing to his minds eye but in a matter of weeks he is turning his back less to the audience.
Wonderful- if you weren't there shame on you.
A quick chat afterwards lets me know they actually come from Cumbernauld as near as dammit or as they said a small town with four houses and a shop. My next question was but how many pubs! Ok I am biased I love hearing the Scottish accent again.
Flickr pictures

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Scissors For Lefty Somerville April 3rd

Animal Closet, a local band made up of kids barely out of their teens opened. I have seen a lot worse, would I see them again- well I wont pay to see a full price $10 cover but if it was a $5 or so cover I would consider filling a quiet week.
Ah Scissors For Lefty, I haven't blogged this yet but as we have seen them it seems our understanding of them and their antics grows. Bryan Garza,who for any of you girls who get too freaked out - plays for the other team so it is all harmless fun, tends to come out into the crowd during Private Hotcha and 'Sexx' it up with the girls. As he dances close and stares into their eyes girls tend to back off and get a little nervous. As someone who has been there and seen most things I just find this hilarious and stare right back and dance saying what the heck. So this happened the first time we saw them, when they supported Dirty Pretty Things August 2006. Then they played as headliners at TTs the same night Kasabian played November 2006. So we saw Kasabian and ran across town to get their as fast as we could. Having had a night being primed (Mew then Kasabian) I just wanted to dance so I ran in dumped my bag and started dancing - way more than the present audience. again Bryan came out dancing and had folks back off until he came to me who just laughed and danced right back at him. We then had a long chat with the guys afterwards including buying Bruno and giving them extra for having Underhanded Romance. It was a really great end to the night.
So move on to SXSW, we get out of Air Traffic and talking to Steve Lamacq (other story to tell) and we run across to Spiros when the San Fran party was being held. We run in collecting our commemorative t shirts and get to the back patio as SFL are preparing to start.
As they start I move to get to the front making some girls slightly startle but they could see why later. So SFL start and do a nice set, me dancing like crazy, sound is great, the afternoon is hot. So they start playing Private Hotcha Bryan gets down and starts with the other girls and gets the standard reaction. Then he turns to me, we start dancing then he offers his hand so I take his hand and he gestures and so I twirl under his hand then do a waltz round then he moves on meanwhile most folks are just pretty stunned. Bryan knew I was up for a laugh and he played it accordingly.
Lets just say Bryan recognizes me and knows I take this all as a laugh while appreciating the music.

So Tuesday night we turn up as they are soundchecking (hey the venue was a bar and seemed as good as any to meet up in. Had a quick word with Bryan who totally recognized me, including food recommendations.
So the gig, no sound mix guy so sound was pretty ropey and leads were a bit funky. But Bryan is his normal funny self and was a good show, Private Hotcha was restrained as the mic was playing him up only a minute or two. Embarrassed to say it all seemed a blur where you cant really tell much apart from the fat it kept you dancing. seen them do better sets but the intimacy of this made it special. He got Jesse from Locksley doing vocals on the last song. Robby didn't play bass for this gig so a friend was subbing.

Locksly, a sweet band of class guys, music a bit derivative but fun. Enough for me to buy their CD and add them as myspace friends. SFL and locksley are obviously having a ball on this tour and are so comfortable as mates together the camaraderie shows in a really positive way.
Sound was crap all night, bands were sweet as hell, queen bitch here loved them all

Monday, April 02, 2007

Cold War Kids, Tokyo Police Club 30th March 2007 Middle East

Wow, how often do you get three really good bands in one single concert.
Delta Spirit are Cold War Kid's buddies even if they are unsigned. They do have an EP out but beware if you buy it online it is $7, buy it at the gig and get charged $10. Goodwill seems to be a concept that these guys dont understand though they did respond when I sniped about this.
---------------- Original Message -----------------
From: Delta Spirit
Date: Mar 31, 2007 11:18 PM


hello jane
i am very sorry that you felt that you were taken advantage of. in reality we are a very young band on tour with absolutely no support. we have no label. we get payed $100 a night. this usually barely pays for gas. please don't think that i am complaining... we are so happy and blessed to be on this tour, but the reality is the only way that we could afford to do it is to make money on merch. no one buys our shirts (which are $5 cheaper than cold war kids and tokyo police club's are) cause no one has heard of us. so we survive off of cd sales. considering that cold war kids cd is $15 and the fact that it is hard to always make change we decided to sell our eps for $10. we did not force anyone to buy them and to be honest you are the first to complain. also just so you know you can buy the cold war cd for like $8 at best buy as opposed to $15 at shows. i hope you understand. things will hopefully change and we will be able to afford to sell them for less, but at this point that $10 is the difference between me sitting at home or being on tour living my dreams, so thank you for your support and once again i'm sorry that you felt taken advantage of. i hope this gives you peace.
jonathan

----------------- Original Message -----------------

Point is they do play good music and probably do need supporting despite this. One track had Cold War Kids joining them on stage.

Tokyo Police Club, I have such a soft spot for these young kids. sound was horrible soundman should have been slapped. They played A lesson in crime and I think Box, no set list but distorted angular rough (though not as roughly brilliant as when tehy supported Art Brut)Things would have to be hugely more horrible before I call this anything less than stellar.

The main act Cold War Kids with the religous tint i so want to dislike this bunch of ugly preachers BUT I can't. Third time I have seen these guys and I love the act more and more.
SetList
We used to vacation
Passing the hat
Rubidoux
St. John (with TPC and DS)
Robbers
Hospital Beds
God Make up your mind
Tell Me In the Morning
Every Valley is not a lake
Quiet Please

They also came on and did two other tracks as an encore.
St John was amazing, the stage was full of everyone bashing things all over the place, chaotic satisfying frenetic - I cant imagine ever seeing this being done better. At some point I will try to get some shot up on Flickr.
Yes they live up to the hype, so glad I was in at the ground floor.

The guitarist seemed to appreciate my dancing grining at me (yes It is true I wasnt hallucinating) and me and Peter were the only two he shook hands with.