Posters just went up saying Sufjan Stevens is playing(? - "a conversation with") in the cafe (= very small space) at my college for free this evening. If I am still awake maybe I'll go along.
Saw Rocket From The Crypt last night in DC. About what I expected: very tight, high energy, loud and fast, not much down time between songs. It was a late show by my current standards (started after 11, over before 12:30) but I managed to stay awake and had a blast. Had not seen RFTC before. The Black Cat is an awesome venue, show was sold out but never felt uncomfortably crowded, and I was probably 20 feet from the stage the whole night.
If they had only played for 15 minutes, though, I'd have been pissed. They played for 75, which felt about right.
Wow, that is sad about King. I saw him perform three times in the late 60's - early 70's in the NYC area and can still vividly recall the shows. If you've never heard his album "Live at the Regal" give it a listen to see what he was capable of in his prime.
Yes, I saw him probably first half of the seventies, when he was absolutely brilliant, leaving many of his young pretenders way behind. It must be a balance between seeing such a star even for just 15 or so minutes and remembering what he was like.
Phantogram last night. They were excellent. A great light show, very good (not great, but very good) stage presence, and fantastic tunes. Only real issue was her vocals. She is a much weaker singer than I'd have guessed and simply doesn't project. The mic saves her, but I don't think they can take the next step without her improving.
I'm a little late in posting this... but 27-28 years ago I was at this 7-Seconds show. That may or may not be me standing in front of the stage with the de rigueur flannel over white t-shirt at the 0:44 mark. Here's a link to the 2nd half of that same show. Even with the sound issues they had it was a pretty decent show IIRC. Good times. I'm amazed that this video even exists.
I dearly want to download a copy of that video to my own harddrive... any suggestions as to how to go about doing that?
Very cool, luddite! Would love to find video footage of a show I was at years ago. Sadly, I have idea how to rip video down.
Anyone seen Paul McCartney recently? He just announced a date in town and I'm pretty sure I'll go, but I'm trying to determine what price level I'm willing to go on the tickets. I've seen him do single songs at various things over the last few years and he seems in pretty good shape, but I don't want to spend a lot and then have him turn into a pumpkin after a few songs.
So apparently at his last show, McCartney played 40 songs. Accordingly, I just got my tickets for August. Plus I got some insider info today that the concert I've most wanted is set for September (not announced yet so I shouldn't say who, but I will be a puddle of emotion during the show). Both are going to be amazing!
@luddite There are various extensions and widgets for downloading videos from youtube. In my experience a bit hit and miss so you might have to try a couple. I would google 'youtube download [your browser]' and see what pops up.
James Cotton was excellent last night. 80, sat down the whole show but still very animated, throat cancer means he can't sing and his speaking is a bit hard to understand sometimes but the harp playing is still there. And the band was great, probably the best bass player I've seen in a fairly traditional electric blues band.
When you can introduce a song with "I played this with Muddy at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960" into "Got My Mojo Working" - well, blues fans have got to be happy.
James Cotton is a great sideman. I haven't listened to much he's done as a leader (the only one I own is an Alligator release called Harp Attack, which is fun if you'd like to hear FOUR incredible harp players trying to outdo each other), but his work with Muddy Waters is well worth checking out. My favorite late-period Muddy release, and one of my favorite blues albums, period, is Hard Again, where Cotton is given plenty of room to blow. I'm sure others can give a more comprehensive overview, but definitely check out Hard Again.
That Replacements show sounds awesome. I'm jealous. I blew off a couple chances to see them back in the day, for fear they'd be too wasted to play (after a bad experience with another band and too much reading about the hit-or-miss nature of their shows), but I'd love to catch them now. Even if they suck, it'd still be great. And they won't suck.
In addition to Hard Again, Muddy at Newport 1960 album is an absolute classic. His most recent release Cotton Mouth Man from 2013 is really, really good. Has a bunch of famous people (Keb Mo, Ruthie Foster, Joe Bonnamassa, an Allman, Delbert McLinton) sitting in doing the singing but if you like straight ahead electric blues it's top shelf. eMusic has a bunch of his Alligator stuff, I like "Live From Chicago - Mr Superharp Himself" but if you like blues there's not much to go wrong with. There's also his Sun Records sides, which aren't essential but interesting historically - he recorded them in 1953 so obviously not many from that era still around.
And last night I saw Lindi Ortega who is an an excellent, very charismatic Canada-now-Nashville country singer who manages to do a retro thing with a definite distinct look in a way which could be grating but isn't, it's sincere and fresh. Incredible voice and quality songs.
Then tomorrow is Booker T and Valerie June. April is always a busy gig month in Sydney because a lot of artists are out for the Byron Bay Bluesfest up the coast.
I discovered both Lindi Ortega and Valerie June just browsing on eMusic so it's always a reminder it's still worthwhile even though its not at all what it once was.
Saw The Pains of Being Pure at Heart last night with Fear of Men and Ablebody opening. It was a perfect indie pop Tuesday night. Definitely check out Fear of Men's new album Loom if you haven't.
Oh, and I just officially got my tickets for The Replacements. I will be useless until September 14...better make that 15.
Acquaintance of mine's band (Pony the Mustang (yeah I'm not a fan of the name)) played their first public show on Saturday with three other local bands (Hunting Club and Tyte Jeff (both get thumbs up) and Prozac Rat (thumbs not up)). I knew they would be enjoyable because a mutual friend had been to a private house show and said they were really good, but honestly they were fantastic. I'm kind of dumbfounded they could be that good at their debut show. They have a couple more shows on the calendar and then are going into the studio. Once they do that I'll let folks know where they can grab the music.
They also gave me one of their limited run gig prints, which is quite cool:
Mogwai last night. Holy cow, they absolutely live up to the volume hype. I believe that is the loudest concert I've ever been to. Thankfully, I recently purchased some higher end earplugs and they really came through for me. No loss of fidelity, but my ears didn't ring at all afterwards. Oh, and the show itself was amazing. Probably my favorite set thus far in 2014.
Re: Mogwai
- I went to a show some years ago where they "proudly presented" white noise. I left imediately because I didn't want to get permanent damage to my ears.
- It's a pity that they apparently have no awareness about what risk they are exposing their audience to.
Minneapolis now requires clubs to provide free earplugs to concert goers, so anyone who didn't have at least some protection did so by their own choosing.
- It was 10+ years ago so maybe they have eased down the level.
At the show I'm talking about, the level was so grotesque that me and others rushed out covering the ears.
Craig, just curious, what kind of earplugs do you have? I have some good Westones but I could use an extra set to protect what's left of my hearing.
Loudest show I can recall attending was Living Colour at a small club in Atlanta, at some point in the 90s. That was the show that convinced me to wear earplugs. Unfortunately, a few years ago I developed a bit of tinnitus in my right ear. It sucks. Kids, protect your hearing.
Comments
Craig
ETA, traced it back to facebook, it's a prank.
Craig
If they had only played for 15 minutes, though, I'd have been pissed. They played for 75, which felt about right.
http://www.examiner.com/article/concert-fiasco-underscores-need-for-b-b-king-to-retire
Craig
Craig
I dearly want to download a copy of that video to my own harddrive... any suggestions as to how to go about doing that?
Anyone seen Paul McCartney recently? He just announced a date in town and I'm pretty sure I'll go, but I'm trying to determine what price level I'm willing to go on the tickets. I've seen him do single songs at various things over the last few years and he seems in pretty good shape, but I don't want to spend a lot and then have him turn into a pumpkin after a few songs.
Craig
Craig
James Cotton was excellent last night. 80, sat down the whole show but still very animated, throat cancer means he can't sing and his speaking is a bit hard to understand sometimes but the harp playing is still there. And the band was great, probably the best bass player I've seen in a fairly traditional electric blues band.
When you can introduce a song with "I played this with Muddy at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960" into "Got My Mojo Working" - well, blues fans have got to be happy.
It has been announced. September 13, 2014 will be The Replacements day.
Hell. Yes.
Craig
That Replacements show sounds awesome. I'm jealous. I blew off a couple chances to see them back in the day, for fear they'd be too wasted to play (after a bad experience with another band and too much reading about the hit-or-miss nature of their shows), but I'd love to catch them now. Even if they suck, it'd still be great. And they won't suck.
I'd be surprised if they suck, but like you said, that's The Replacements so it will still be amazing.
Why can't it be September 13 now!?!
Craig
Then tomorrow is Booker T and Valerie June. April is always a busy gig month in Sydney because a lot of artists are out for the Byron Bay Bluesfest up the coast.
I discovered both Lindi Ortega and Valerie June just browsing on eMusic so it's always a reminder it's still worthwhile even though its not at all what it once was.
Oh, and I just officially got my tickets for The Replacements. I will be useless until September 14...better make that 15.
Craig
They also gave me one of their limited run gig prints, which is quite cool:
Craig
Tonight it's right back to First Avenue for HAIM.
Craig
- I went to a show some years ago where they "proudly presented" white noise. I left imediately because I didn't want to get permanent damage to my ears.
- It's a pity that they apparently have no awareness about what risk they are exposing their audience to.
Craig
- It was 10+ years ago so maybe they have eased down the level.
At the show I'm talking about, the level was so grotesque that me and others rushed out covering the ears.
Craig
Loudest show I can recall attending was Living Colour at a small club in Atlanta, at some point in the 90s. That was the show that convinced me to wear earplugs. Unfortunately, a few years ago I developed a bit of tinnitus in my right ear. It sucks. Kids, protect your hearing.