Jealousy Got Us This Far

Islands - Great American Music Hall - 11/9/06

2006-11-13T11:09:00.000-08:00

I thought things had changed since last time. For almost the entire show, Nick Diamonds (of Islands) was fun and sweet and very different from the guy who admonished me during the last show. But then towards the end, his true nature came out. After this one outburst, he returned to the lovable facade he had shown for the previous hour, but it felt really hollow after that. We knew he was a good showman, but now it is obvious that he's also a good actor, but can slip out of character from time to time.

Islands started out their show in their matching all-white attire (as per usual).

Nick had his back facing the audience for the first verse of Humans, and when he spun around, you could see that he had a mannequin's head under his head, looking a little like Kuato from Total Recall. He also put a noose around his neck and rolled around on the floor a bit during the song. The theatrics continued after Humans when Nick left the stage to apply white make-up to his face. After that, however, things progressed in a typical fashion. I guess he didn't feel the need to go full tilt towards Of Montreal territory.

Highlights of the show were Where There's A Wish There's A Whalebone, which had Subtitle come on stage to rap, the rubber-band coffee can thing for Jogging Gorgeous Summer, an amazing set closing rendition of (potential song-of-the-year) Rough Gem, and a strong Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby to start the encore.

The unfortunate aspect of this otherwise rather enjoyable experience was an interaction with a guy in the audience. Some time in the middle of the set, someone yelled out "Jellybones," requesting a Unicorns song. Nick heard this and asked, "Who said 'Jellybones?'" The guy responded by raising his hand and repeating his request. Nick then yelled, "Say 'Jellybones' one more time! I triple-dog dare you!" And when the guy didn't respond, Nick said, "That's what I thought. Now shut the fuck up, motherfucker!" I need to stress that Nick was very serious. I'm glad the guy didn't say anything since Nick seemed a bit unhinged and could have gone Tweedy on him. All I could do is give a knowing look to the kid next to me that I told the story about the time Nick yelled at me.

I don't know what was more disturbing: the immediate reaction to someone who was just requesting a song (imagine if he had requested Freebird!) or the way he went right back to the cucumberesque indie rock frontman. I can only conclude that Nick Diamonds is a dick and maybe a bit unstable. And since Nick reads Jealousy, I just hope he doesn't come after me one day. He should know that I do think his music is amazing and Islands is one of the best bands making music now. Listen to the tracks below. They're all poppy and accessible but still have a great deal of complexity.

Here is the set list from the show. I think when I can, I'll try to grab a picture of the set list for the sake of history.

Islands - Rough Gem

Islands - Abominable Snowman

Islands - Where There's A Wish There's A Whalebone

Voxtrot - Great American Music Hall - 11/4/06

2006-11-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

Ramesh, the lead singer of Voxtrot, is stalking me. It started on the 2nd when for about an hour he was yelling at me. Then on the 3rd, he followed me to The Knife's show. Finally, he was at Great American on the 4th, barking at me again. I wasn't expecting him to be at The Knife's show, but I did know that there were going to be two Voxtrot shows in 3 days. Ambitiously, I decided to go to both. Totally check out my my previous review so you don't miss any inside jokes.

Really, having seen them two days earlier, I think all I can do is compare and contrast the two performances, in list form.

Popscene	GAMH
Crowd was young and oh-so indie	Crowd was tall
Set was really short	Set was covered just about everything they play
The sound was typical	The guitars sounded fucking amazing; the best I've heard in a while
Went with Annie	Went with Danielle, Jason, Jon

I think both venues have their pros and cons, but really the intimate setting and short set list of Popscene helped Voxtrot. They just came off better there. But they did sound really good at Great American. So I hesitantly give the nod to the first show.

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, & Wives

Voxtrot - Trouble

Voxtrot - The Start Of Something

The Knife - Mezzanine - 11/3/06

2006-11-09T09:03:00.000-08:00

The Knife is really hyped right now. Elbo.ws shows this duo as one of their hottest artists. And the combination of blog buzz and the fact that they had played a dozen shows ever (and only 1 in America) when they rolled into San Francisco made a ticket to the show more valuable to a hipster than a prenup to Britney.

When I got into the venue, the stage was already set with their various contraptions, and the floor was full of the hippest of hipsters (one guy was dressed like the dude from Thunderdome... I don't remember if he was Master or Blaster). The show itself was the "band" behind a semi-transparent screen wearing Planet of the Apes masks (I think they were actually just ski masks with extra holes) smeared with black-light paint. Various geometric shapes and cartoons were projected onto the screen and also on the wall behind them. As for their playing, I don't know if they actually did any of that. The guy, Olof, had some hot orange drum sticks that he would bang on things occasionally. This might have affected some of the drum beats, but I doubt it. The girl, Karin, moved her mouth with the words. Some times it looked like she was singing, and others it looked like lip-synching.

The think you should know about The Knife is that you can't see anything. The stage is incredibly dark and there's that stupid screen in front of them. And the band (other than a few times when Olof went to town with the fake drumming) just stood there. For all the hype about how amazing the live show is, I don't get it. There were certainly points when the music was really good and the crowd was really into it and there was dancing and I'm sure someone felt it was magical/spiritual/life-changing. Of the people I saw the show with (Jason, Jon, Ian, Aida, Danielle, Amy), some liked the show a lot more than I did. Ultimately, I just felt like it was a DJ set where everyone was looking in the same direction.

The Knife said that they originally didn't tour because they had a hard time making a live version of their music compelling. Well, I think they still need to work on that a bit. But listen to the track below. These guys certainly got something.

The Knife - We Share Our Mother's Health

Voxtrot / Love Is All - Popscene - 11/2/06

2006-11-07T20:18:00.000-08:00

"Charming" was the theme for the night. Both Voxtrot and Love Is All are quite charismatic and have the ability to win over people who come to their show but don't know their music. Annie and I got to Popscene early enough to watch Love Is All, hearing ahead of time that they put on a kick-ass live show. The studio versions of Love Is All's songs are okay and definitely have merit, but they're not really enjoyable in the normal sense.

Their live act, on the other hand, is quite enjoyable. The staccato yell-sing words over the crowded background of guitars, drums, and sax seems to resonate in your body. Apparently these Swedes have tapped into the alligator portion of our brains. It's difficult not comparing them to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I mean they both have strong female leads with convoluted, noisy, artsy music. Listen to Talk Talk Talk Talk (below) and tell me that you couldn't see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs playing that. In short, despite their harsh sound, they won me over.

Voxtrot didn't need to win me over, they had me at hello. Ramesh is one of the best frontmen around. He makes girls swoon and boys question their sexuality. His playful style and bad dance moves are very enduring. His personality perfectly matches the light and hooky (yet still complex and interesting) music the band plays. The set was short (as all Popscene sets are), but they played enough new stuff to make me have doubts about their full-length debut. Their first two EPs are magical, but Your Biggest Fan seems to be a little too repetitive. I think a good producer could point them in the right direction though.

But don't think that I didn't like their performance. But I've seen them 4 times in the last year (my review from May and I'll have another review up shortly). I want them to evolve, and I think they're trying to move forward, I just think they need a little help.

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, & Wives

Voxtrot - Trouble

Voxtrot - The Start Of Something

Love Is All - Talk Talk Talk Talk

Love Is All - Busy Doing Nothing

Beirut - Great American Music Hall - 10/20/06

2006-11-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

Damn, Beirut is good. Maybe it's because they are young and haven't been jaded by the constant touring needed to support a fringe indie-rock band, but Beirut is still willing to comply to fans' requests and still enjoy performing. This has been one of the best shows of the past year, with lots of energy, a few surprises, and a crowd that was putty in the muscular hands of Zach Condon and his Orkestar.

When I saw them in Cambridge, MA, back in June, they still had their training wheels on. But now that they're playing places like Great American, and bringing their Eastern-European influenced rock to the masses (by the way, did anyone catch Siki, Siki Baba in Borat?). From adorable Kristen to cracked-out Paul, the band has a lot of personality and it comes through during the performance.

As they pushed through a lot of their album material, they pleased every person around me (and presumably everyone in the place, it felt like I knew about half the people at the show, too many to name). But the reason people will be talking about this show a year from now is that the encores were impromptu, having members jump into the audience. They tried to close the night with their version of Siki, Siki Baba, with half the band in the audience playing trumpets toward the ceiling. But the crowd demanded more. They came back to play one more song, Carousels, and it looked like they wanted to keep playing all night, but Zach proclaimed, "We have no more songs" before leaving the stage for good.

Please buy the album, go to the shows, and tell your friends about Beirut. We need more music and more musicians like this.

Beruit - Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)

Beirut - Postcards From Italy

Beirut - Siki, Siki Baba (live in Cambridge, MA) Read the excellent review at Bradley's Almanac and download the whole set.

The Decemberists - Warfield - 10/19/06

2006-11-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

I've seen The Decemberists more than any other band. Or at least I think I have. I've seen them 8 times, give or take. Essentially every time they have come through San Francisco, I've been able to watch Colin and gang. My first Decemberists show was in a cafeteria at UC Santa Cruz. It looked like a high school talent show. Well the beans don't burn on the grill any more for the Decemberists. (As an aside, once on the way out of a Decemberists show, Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, grabbed my ass... or maybe he just bumped into me. But it felt like there was some cupping.)

With a big record contract, the Decemberists got a touring budget that allowed them some Chinese lamps. But really, they seem like they're doing the same-old show, which is good and bad. Other than the really cool grab-someone's-cell-phone-and-sing-to-the-dude-on-the-other-side bit, there really wasn't anything new. And definitely nothing that really grabbed me. Without Petra Haden along for the ride (or Rachel Blumberg beating the skins), I felt like there wasn't as much personality on stage. Or maybe it's just becoming the Colin Meloy show and the rest of the band is taking a back seat.

I'll keep seeing the Decemberists when they pass through (even if it's at a bad venue like the Warfield), even if they're sliding down my live bands ranking. But there is a point when listening to the albums and remembering the shows is enough. I just hope the Decemberists break up or I get old before that happens.

The Decemberists - July! July!

The Decemberists - Shiny

The Decemberists - The Soldiering Life

The Hold Steady - Great American Music Hall - 10/17/06

2006-11-01T18:38:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

People keep calling The Hold Steady a bar band. I think that's a little off. They certainly play blue collar music. But in every one of their songs there's a bridge or a play on words or some other indication that these guys can really write and play music. And that what makes these guys special. They can play the three-chord verse, the three-chord chorus, and then blow you out of the water with some tempo change between them.

At the show, Danielle (who I convinced to go since their new album got a mind-blowing 9.4 at Pitchfork) and I were sandwiched between the sorts of people that would see a bar band. Maybe that isn't clear since you might be thinking these people were drinking alcohol or were wearing leather jackets: the crowd smelled. Really bad. Sex Panther bad. And the crowd was taller than normal. Maybe the two things are related with my nose being closer to the collective armpits and ass of the audience.

The one thing that really came through is that The Hold Steady really enjoy playing live. And they really love their own music. The lead singer's signature move is to sing a line into the microphone then move over to an audience member and re-sing that line directly to him. Kind of in that that-last-line-was-so-fucking-cool-that-I-have-to-say-it-again way. You know the girl at a My Chemical Romance (or similar mall punk music that is prepackaged for angsty tweeners) concert that treats the liner notes like the Bible and thinks the lead singer wrote that song just for her, that's the lead singer about his own band!

For the last song, the band brought a significant portion of the audience up onto the stage with them. Danielle and I stayed back in fear of an even more concentrated odor. The most mind-blowing part of the show was before everyone got up on stage, the guitarist asked a kid in the audience if he could play guitar. The kid said he could and was promptly pulled up on stage and given the guitar. Here's the crazy part: he could actually play! And not just chords, the guy was doing some impressive solos. I've been to plenty of shows where the band will hand someone a tambourine and the chosen one can't even tap out some quarter notes. Having a crowd member playing guitar is like finding out that your toddler can drive a manual-transmission car.

The Hold Steady - Your Little Hoodrat Friend

The Hold Steady - Swish

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - Warfield - 10/13/06

2006-10-30T18:28:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Is Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! the prototype of how bands operate and music is created in the next decade? Their internet savvy and lack of label (in the US at least) makes you think that this model of self-publishing and promotion might just work. But CYHSY is a different beast than most bands. For starters, they make truly excellent and innovative music. People who like their music are willing to put some effort into finding it. This isn't the model with which Ashlee Simpson could succeed.

But I shouldn't get too involved in the economics of the music industry. I won't stray too far from the formula: concert reviews and bad pictures. I hope you agree that the picture on the side is bad. As for the concert review, I suggest you read my review of the last time I saw them. Having seen them before and feeling conflicted about their live show, I didn't exactly know what to expect. But apparently CYHSY reads Jealousy because this time around they kept the best, high-energy parts of their show and dropped the slow snoozers. Almost every song was fast and that allowed everyone to sway/dance/shake that ass during the show.

The best part of the show had to be the encore where they turned the Christmas lights on and played some favorites. They finished with Satan Said Dance. That really is a great finisher. It isn't anything particularly special other than being a rocker that everyone can sing along to. Putting it in the middle of a set would just be a waste an probably disrupt the flow of said set. But putting it at the end lets you leave the shithouse that is the Warfield with a good taste in your mouth. I didn't take a straw poll, but I think Danielle, Jon, and Jason (who saw the show with me) would agree.

As a postscript, I ponder how a band that owes its success to the internet doesn't have a single song to download on its website.

Thunderbirds Are Now! - Bottom of the Hill - 10/12/06

2006-10-29T12:41:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

If you like live music (and I know you do!), you like Thunderbirds Are Now!. (As an aside, was I supposed to put a period after the exclamation point? I feel like all of this extra punctuation is making my third grade teacher spread the jam.) TAN! gives the best basic live show out there. Sure, bands like the Flaming Lips and Of Montreal can put on a good show, but it really is a lot of theatrics combined with the music. TAN! is just raw energy.

But when you've got a guy doing hand stands and the jumping-over-his-own-leg dance move, you know you've got something special. I've seen TAN! twice now, and they've killed both times. They have a new album out, which might not be quite as good as their last one, but still has many solid (and a few excellent) tracks on it.

The recipe for a TAN! show is 1) Start with a typical rock show 2) Increase the energy to as high as you've seen 3) Throw in a bunch of danceable beats 4) Get the audience involved by dancing in the audience and/or giving audience members tambourines 5) Have one band member walk that knife's edge of stage antics and real insanity. I think the only thing that could have made the show better is if there were more people there. The place was maybe half full. I don't understand that, but maybe the next time they come through town we can give them a better welcoming.

A big bonus is that these guys hail from Detroit. And the bass player graduated college with me (although I didn't know him then).

Thunderbirds Are Now! - Eat This City

Thunderbirds Are Now! - Eat This City (Video)

Cold War Kids - Mezzanine - 10/7/06

2006-10-22T21:50:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

The Cold War Kids are a unique band. Their sound is hard to explain. I feel like they're a jam band without jamming. They're a blues/soul band from LA. Really the best thing to say is that the music is strong and pierces through you, like if Bruce Springsteen wrote gospel music.

The kids are true performers too. I think there are some people who understand that being in a band is a job and you have to work when you're on stage. It doesn't mean you have to be mechanical, but you need to put effort into it. CWK understands this. Between the emotional singing, slightly odd setup (piano facing the wall, loose cymbal on a wooden box), and requisite dancing, there was always something that caught your eye and kept you involved.

I went with Amy, Vania, Brittany, Melissa, and Melissa's brother (and his friends). Melissa apparently grew up with the band members and went to church with them. Hopefully that means that no matter how big they get, I'll always have a ticket.

Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds

Cold War Kids - Tell Me In The Morning

Cold War Kids - The Soloist In The Living Room

Cold War Kids - Heavy Boots

We Are Scientists / Art Brut / Spinto Band - Fillmore - 10/2/06

2006-10-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Finally a show that I wanted to see everyone performing. As anyone who goes to shows knows, you typically get some band you've never heard of opening for the band you're going to see. This can be a good thing when you discover someone new. But more likely it's just something you have to wait through. But when three bands you want to see play on the same stage, you're just getting more bang for your buck. And that's my first concern when it comes to concerts: value.

Performing at the Fillmore was The Spinto Band (who I saw twice in March), Art Brut, and We Are Scientists. I've been a fan of The Spinto Band for about a year now. I first heard Art Brut through Rock Club (a little mix tape exchange I'm a part of), and have heard through friends that they put on a good show. Nora at I Rock, I Roll pumped the band, which is where I first heard Lousy Reputation, and enticed me to buy the album. And after reading YANP's enthusiastic review of one of their shows, I was hyped.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I showed up at the show with Susan and met up with John, Ian, Marissa, and a few others. I also ran into this couple that I've seen at a bunch of shows, including the last Spinto Band show. The crowd seemed to like Spinto Band okay, and although I thought they were really good, it wasn't quite the performance as the last time I saw them. Maybe it was the crowd didn't know them or because the Fillmore stage is so high, but it just wasn't like Cafe du Nord. Art Brut, however, had no problem with the crowd or the stage. This was a commanding performance, and you had no choice but compliance. They were high energy during the songs and funny between, saying stuff like

"If Jay-Z were here, he'd say 'Eddie, you've got 99 problems, but the bitch ain't one.' And I'd say 'Jay-Z, I don't appreciate your misogynistic words, but you are correct.'"

Stuff like that makes people into fans. That and jumping into the crowd to sing a song. And proclaiming yourself and the rest of your tour "top of the pops" several times.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

We Are Scientists are a really entertaining band. They won't change your life; their music just isn't that introspective or complicated. But the music is fun and the banter is pretty good. I'll try to recount one of the many sessions

Keith: I know Eddie told you that he got his wisdom teeth pulled a week ago and now because of the medicine he's taking this is the first sober show Art Brut has done in years. And he says it's the "real" Art Brut. But let me tell you something, a few months ago we tried a sober show, and it sucked!

Chris: That's our guarantee: always drunk.

Keith (lifting his glass): I'll drink to that.

Chris (lifting his glass): It's all a lie. This is non-alcoholic. That was an unexpected twist to that anecdote.

The real downside to We Are Scientists is that their catalog is kind of small. But maybe after their next release, they'll have the depth necessary to really be more about the music and less about the banter.

We Are Scientists - Inaction

Andrew Bird - Great American Music Hall - 9/22/06

2006-10-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Andrew Bird is simply amazing. Then why did I not stay for the encore?

Ben, Jason, Annie, Danielle, and I met up at Great American to see the creator of my favorite album of last year. The first thing you notice when hearing him is that he has complete control over ever sound that emanates from his body. His whistling is incredible. At first I didn't even think it was real, it came so effortlessly.

And despite his mastery of stringed instruments, I was still disappointed by the show. The place was really hot, so being physically uncomfortable didn't help anything. But the big issue is that he played mostly new material. I hadn't heard this stuff and although it sounded pretty good, I didn't appreciate it the same way I did when he sang the songs I've listened to a hundred times, dissecting the lyrics, and hearing the subtle inflections in his voice. And the smaller issue is that when he sang his "classics," he sang them erratically, as if the album versions bored him so much that he wished he didn't have to sing them at all.

So after he finished his set, my group decided to take off, leaving the sweaty room for some party. I'm sure the encore was everything I was missing during the normal set, but I had had enough.

As one last note, Andrew Bird can actually use looping pedals, unlike Feist who sucks at looping even more than she sucks at playing guitar.

Andrew Bird - A Nervous Tic Motion Of The Head To The Left

Listen to the entire album here

Ratatat - Sproul Plaza - 9/19/06

2006-10-05T12:20:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Thank you Superb! They keep bringing great concerts to Berkeley. I've seen Ozma (twice), Matt Sharp, and a bunch of other concerts for free or cheap because of them (and they're bringing Sufjan to Berkeley next week). This time I saw Ratatat for free. The free shows are out in Sproul Plaza where students can meander down for a quick glance.

Since I saw Ratatat a year or two ago and left the show early (there stuff is good to listen to, but in a live show, with no vocals, it just doesn't do it for me) and since I got a free ticket to an early screening of Science of Sleep, I left after only a few songs.

They have a new album out, and it seems to be strong from the tracks I've heard. But that doesn't get away from the fact that in concert they just sort of noodle around on guitars while swaying back and forth.

What ever happened to these guys being the next big rap producers?

Ratatat - Seventeen Years

Missy Eliot (Ratatat Remix) - Hot

Under the Influence of Giants / Dirty Heads - Cafe du Nord - 9/14/06

2006-09-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I like to think that I'm a pretty good concert buddy. As the list of shows to the left suggests, I'm interested in a lot of shows, even if I don't go to them all. But if someone invites me to a show, I'll typically go.

So when Lisa asked me to go see a reggae-rap band called the Dirty Heads, I went (despite not being a reggae, rap, or reggae-rap listener). Lisa thinks that they're going to be the next Linkin Park, so take that however you want. Regardless of their musical taste, I have to say that they were fun to watch. They put on an energetic show. And I spent a lot of the time trying to figure out if the DJ was Mexican or Asian (I'm pretty sure he's Asian).

Neither of us had heard of the headliners, but we decided to stick around to see what they were like. Under the Influence of Giants is a glammed-up rock band that somehow rests in the middle of the Rapture and Junior Senior. They've got the look and feel of a major-label band. And they're signed to a major label (Island), making them labelmates with the Killers. I'd be a poor judge of music if I didn't suggest that if cards are played correctly, these guys will follow in the Killers' footsteps.

I grabbed the CD after the show. I have this ongoing mix in my iTunes for danceable indie rock and figured I could put a song or two from UTIOG on there. And who knows, a year from now these guys will be claiming their sophomore record is the best in 20 years.

Wolf Parade / Frog Eyes - The Fillmore - 8/24/06

2006-08-26T18:54:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I have it too good. Most of the bands I want to see live play small venues and allow me to get up close to the stage. When I go to shows at places like The Fillmore or the Greek, its a struggle to even get within 50 feet. Luckily I've already had my U2 concert experience and don't need to worry about which section of the stadium my seats are in until Ted Leo starts playing MSG.

Despite the distance, the Wolf Parade / Frog Eyes show was rather good. It's a natural pairing with keyboardist Spencer Krug in both bands. In case you haven't heard Frog Eyes before, you need to know that the music is weird. It's not experimental, but they ride the razor's edge between experimental and pop music. There isn't much variety between songs, so if you like one, you'll probably like them all, and likewise, if you hate one, you'll hate them all. Sort of like Julia Roberts movies. I like Frog Eyes (and the Destroyer / Frog Eyes collaboration that produced Notorious Lightning and Other Works is truly amazing), so I had a good time watching their enthusiasm spill out onto guitar strings and piano keys.

Another issue with bigger places is that when you're in a large group and people leave your hard-earned spot in the crowd for a drink or smoke, it's nearly impossible for them to get back. So despite being at the show with Ben, Enrico, Jeni, Andrea, Sam, Bethany, and Kristen, and watching Frog Eyes with Julia and Mike, I ended up watching Wolf Parade surrounded only by the coke fiend girls on my right, the bushy-haired tall duo directly in front of me, and the girls who mistook Frog Eyes for Wolf Parade on my left.

Wolf Parade played some new stuff during the set, and it sounded fine, but nothing sounded as good as their older material. I'm confident they'll be putting out great music for a while since they're all amazing musicians and Krug has proven himself with both Frog Eyes and Sunset Rubdown. The interesting thing about the show was that these guys played almost too well. The You Are A Runner / Fancy Claps sequence in the middle of the set was so good and polished, it was almost U2-esque. Coming full circle, I believe if I would have been assigned to row 54 in section KK, I still would have been rocked. I doubt Wolf Parade will ever have that sort of following, but if they do get to Radiohead status, don't fret about the live show.

Frog Eyes - The Oscillator's Hum

Wolf Parade - You Are A Runner

Wolf Parade - Shine A Light

The Mountain Goats - Amoeba Music - 8/22/06

2006-08-25T15:32:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

On the same day as the record release of his new album, Get Lonely, John Darnielle passed through town for a free show. The simple setup, just him and a guitar, made all the songs sound more like his old recordings, before his switch to 4AD records.

I personally prefer the stripped, lo-fi, early recordings to the new, polished ones. But both are great, and The Mountain Goats are easily my number one listened-to band, according to last.fm. So take the rest of this post with the same amount of salt you'd take if I were reviewing Dennis Kucinich for President.

I went to the show alone, but Mike, Karin, Evan, and Amber were there and somehow spotted me in the crowd. A phone call later and I was within 20 feet of the stage.

I think the most praised aspect of The Mountain Goats is the literary song writing. It certainly isn't the production value or honey dew singing. And although the tunes are subtly complicated (if that makes any sense... they're complicated, but you might not notice all of the references or that little key change right away), I always thought the best aspect of The Mountain Goats was the passion and truth behind the words. Years ago, I might have called it emo. But it is distinct. Much like Destroyer or the Decemberists, The Mountain Goats make stories with musical accompaniment.

In the middle of No, I Can't, which is essentially a list of things given to a man by an ex-lover, you really understand the meaning behind the words when he yells Thanks for the filing cabinet / I don't know what I did without it. And this came through incredibly well in the live show. When John stopped playing guitar for a few measures in the middle of a song and just let his strained, somewhat sour voice carry through the record store, you understand the (perceived) importance of the words.

The set was predictably short. And for an artist with several hundred songs, it was painfully short. Most of the set was off the new album, which isn't what the die-hards beg for. But I can't really complain. It's like asking for the Canterbury Tales to shoot up to the top of the best-sellers' list.

Some older tracks. He played Goldenboy at the show.

The Mountain Goats - Cubs In Five

The Mountain Goats - Goldenboy

Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos - Popscene - 8/3/06

2006-08-04T19:03:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Why is the percussionist (not to be confused with the drummer) always the most interesting person in the band to watch? My current theory is that as children these were the kids that constantly goofing off in class to get the teacher's attention. And now they get to bang on loud things to get attention.

Anyway, Annie, Thea, and I went to Popscene to catch Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos (which may be the worst band name by a good band ever). Popscene is the place in San Francisco to show off your leg warmers and bullet belt. It's also the place to go if you're indie and under 21. It's gotten to the point where I feel pretty old going there. How long do I have before I feel old at bars?

As far as the music, MatNSaS (which should be pronounced "mat-an-sass") played a relatively long set for Popscene. They have a very full sound, which one might expect with eight members. The overlapping male and female vocals add even more depth. Most of their songs are pretty mellow, which is nice, but the venue is really best for bands that bring the rock (Hot Hot Heat killed there). But a couple of the songs swapped acoustic for electric guitar and really kicked things into gear. Those were the songs that made me think this was a good show. With only the slower stuff, I'd forget about this show in a couple of months.

Maybe I'm just in the mood for a band that can get me jumping and dancing. Wolf Parade is in a couple of weeks and that should be the fix I desire.

Here is a pretty good video of one of their rockin' songs.

An Epic Experience

2006-07-25T01:59:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

The Flaming Lips. They're consistently considered one of the best shows around. And show is the right word. When you have a half dozen Santas, alien groupies, superhero roadies, and monstrous sing-a-longs, you can't just call this a concert.

I went to the show to celebrate Mike's birthday. So he, Cheryl, Connie, Ben, and a bunch of Mike's friends and I arrived at the show together. Most of them wanted to go up to the grass and chill, but Ben and I wanted a closer view. We ended up pretty close, but still above the pit, which allowed me to get these amazing pictures without arms and heads framing the pictures.

The show started with Wayne giving instructions on what was about to happen. He told the crowd that he was about to descend from the heavens in a giant bubble, landing gently in the open arms of the crowd below. He them proceeded to fulfill his promise. After walking on the crowd, he returned to start the show with Race for the Prize, one of my favorite songs (it's about scientists, for crying out loud).

They continued their nonsense for quite a while, shooting confetti and streamers into the crowd during songs. Twice they had us sing along to a song; after Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1 and before The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song. They played She Don't Use Jelly, which I didn't need to hear, but was nice because the crowd was so excited to hear it live.

A friend of mine once said, "The best show I've ever been to has to be the Flaming Lips. Of course that's not really fair since during the show I was tripping on acid." The Flaming Lips are a great show, really giving you what they promise when you put down $40+ to see them. I'm sure this will be one of my favorite shows of the year, but with the giant venue, it didn't feel intimate enough. Maybe next time they travel through, I'll be on stage dressed as a vampire holding a flashlight and I won't care so much about the size of the venue.

Here are the majority of my pictures from the show.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

And for those who weren't there, here is Wayne in his bubble:

Top 5 Shows of First Half of 2006

2006-06-28T18:00:00.000-07:00

Everyone likes to make top 10 lists at the end of the year. But why wait until then to arbitrarily rank things? I figured I could do a brief ranking of the best shows I've seen so far this year. One bonus of doing this now is that this is happening when things are easier to remember. From my memory, I've been to 19 shows in the last 6 months. So this does have some merit. But enough pontificating!

Birdmonster - Mezzanine - 4/19

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.
This was the record release party for Birdmonster's new album, No Midnight. There weren't many people there, but they still rocked. And those that did show up were true fans, singing along and yelling the whole time. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin also opened (something I didn't mention in the original posting). It was a nice bonus.
Helio Sequence - Mezzanine - 4/1

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.
I think the main reason I went to this show was to see Band of Horses. They were getting a lot of buzz and I figured I'd see if they could hold up to the hype. Turns out that they couldn't. I'd like to see them again just to see if it was an off night. But the real show came from the boys in Helio Sequence. If you're looking for a show to remove the socks from your feet, go see these guys. It's just pure fun from start to finish.
Beirut - Lily Pad - 6/24

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.
Maybe it's because I just saw them, but I sure liked the Beirut show. Sure, it wasn't the cleanest show I've ever seen. But I wasn't expecting U2. The music is good, and the intimate setting really made for an excellent time. And the band was quite approachable. They're coming to San Francisco in October, playing at Great American. That should be quite a difference.
Spinto Band - Cafe du Nord - 3/13

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.
The Spinto Band's album has been one that I keep coming back to. The songs are really poppy, but still retain the complexities and subtleties of great music. And their live show is similar. It's juvenile in some regards (the guys are all young), using kazoos and funny dance moves, but it is subtle and complex with excellent solos and a genuine rapport between band members. Simply put, I enjoyed myself.
Islands - Slim's - 5/6

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.
Boy, that's a small picture I have of Islands. But I think that is actually a good thing. I really enjoyed the show. And I really like the music played (if I were making a similar list of songs, Rough Gem would have probably been at #1). But Nick Diamonds is a dick (which is seen in full effect during a Pitchfork interview). The real reason I enjoyed this show so much was the energy and the events that unfolded during the concert. So having a small picture of the guy, with his band mates, might be the kind of blow to his ego that he could use. But more likely, he'll think "some people are just bitter that they ended up reviewing the show rather than playing the show, perhaps." Yes, Nick, jealousy got us this far...

Postcards from Italy

2006-06-26T18:33:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I was hanging out in Beantown this last week. It's one of my favorite towns in America, and it didn't disappoint this time either. I'm lucky that I get to visit at least once a year.

Before going, I emailed my friend Geoff, saying, "Geoff, so far, our time in Cambridge has been nothing but trouble. And I'm happy to report that I'm a bigger dick now than ever." Geoff was quite the host, bringing me to a cool bar one night and having me over for a party at his house another.

The bad part about this trip is that it was scheduled exactly when Built to Spill and Radiohead were in San Francisco. But I made up for missing those "mainstream" bands by seeing one of the internet's most hyped artists, Beirut. This band is fronted (and formed) by a 19 year old from New Mexico. He plays almost all the instruments on the album (which doesn't contain a single pluck of a guitar string). His instrumental knowledge goes from piano to accordion to ukulele. The eclectic instruments combined with his strong, vibrato voice, and Eastern European influences leads to a very full and interesting sound.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

While waiting in line for the show, I met two cool Bostonians, Debbie and Dan. We chatted and occasionally overheard the conversation of the group behind us, who were idiots. There were many examples of this, but the best came when one engaged me in conversation. It went a little like this.

Idiot (pointing at my shoes): Hey, did you get those at Nordstrom's?

Me: Nope.

Idiot: Oh, well I tried them on at Nordstrom's. I was going to get them, but my Mom wouldn't let me.

Me: Wait, did you just say you Mom wouldn't let you?

Everyone around: LOL

Me (pointing at the idiot's feet): So are those Mommy approved?

Idiot's cute girlfriend: Ha! Mommy approved!

Anyway, once we got into the small room of the Lily Pad in Cambridge (which could fit about 50 people), we saw the band hanging out, drinking beer. No stage, and definitely no back stage.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Despite the lousy sound system (the PA blew out before the show, causing them to pipe everything through their back-up keyboard amp), the show was excellent. The 19 year old was a bit shy, singing with his eyes closed and generally avoiding the crowd, but he sounded great. All of the band members were great musicians, but I was especially impressed by the cello player and drummer. And there was a ukulele player/general percussionist that was a great show. He looked pretty nerdy, but had a lot of energy. Without him, I feel that the stand-back-and-listen-without-moving-an-inch crowd would have pushed the atmosphere of the show into the doldrums.

Beirut is planning on touring the West Coast this Fall. If I can get a ticket (I can only imagine how hard it'll be), I'll be there.

Beirut - Postcards from Italy

Beirut - Mount Wroclai (Idle Days)

Fastest Man Alive

2006-06-25T01:20:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I've been in Boston this last week chumming with work people, seeing a college friend, and going to one show. That'll be my excuse for why it's taken me over a week to post about the Sound Team / Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin show at the Independent. I went to this show by myself, knowing that it was going to be great, but unable to convince others of that fact.

I got to the venue a few minutes before SSLYBY started up, The band is a laid-back rock outfit. I want to compare them to a band, but nothing is really coming to mind. They're sort of like Rogue Wave or OK Go or Razorlight or Spinto Band. It's pretty simple music, but very solid. They were also pretty fun to see live. I'll probably try to see them next time they're around (caught them before when they opened for Birdmonster a few weeks ago).

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

As for Sound Team, one of the internet's favorite bands, they really performed well. It's a group of really good musicians with some very good songs. They're not going to be the next Radiohead, but I think they'll be pretty big in the indie scene. During the set, something went wrong with one of the keyboards, forcing some quick fixing and a couple of songs with two guys working over each other (like in the picture).

After the show, I talked to Phillip from SSLYBY for a while. He sounds like a really good guy just trying to make it in this business. But he seems to understand that you need to work your way up slowly, gaining fans along the way.

Sound Team - Fastest Man Alive iPod-ready Video- Highly Recommended

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - House Fire

Steady, As She Goes

2006-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Last week I saw two "shows." I use the ever-popular quotations because they were unlike most shows I go to. The first was of music I know and like, but it was in a record store, and I couldn't really see the band at all (a photo from Ben's camera shows our distant view). The other was a band I didn't know at all and I ended up mostly talking to friends during the set. I'm normally opposed to that, but I made an exception.

Early on Thursday, Ben and I went to Amoeba to catch the Raconteurs, a combination of two of my favorite Michigan musicians, Jack White and Brendan Benson.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Their music isn't quite what I was hoping for when I heard of the collaboration. It sounds more like Jack wrote some songs and Brendan wrote the others. There isn't as much of a merge of sounds. Anywho, Prasad met us at Amoeba and we took in the set from about a football field away. Jack White is a good musician to see live since he actually changes the songs a little. Not like the new David Lee Roth version of Jump, but just a few new notes thrown in.

After that show finished, the three of us met up with Andrea and Jeni to see the Skygreen Leopards.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Billed as "Band of Horses if they weren't dicks" by Ben, I figured I'd give them a try. Band of Horses? No. They had a solid laid-back sound. The highlight was running into Udi, a really nice and cool guy I met a couple of weeks earlier. Not a very eventful night overall.

Check out the new video for the Raconteurs single, Steady, As She Goes.

And if you want to hear the Skygreen Leopards, check out their myspace page.

Rise Up In The Dirt

2006-05-30T18:05:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

If you were wondering if the recent lack of posts was because of my indifference to blogging or my lack of interest in music, you were wrong! I was just in China for two weeks away from any live music I could understand.

But less than 4 days after getting back, I saw a show. I saw Voxtrot at Bottom of the Hill Sunday. I went with a whole mess of people (Ben, Rose, Kristin, Bethany, Jeni, Andrea, SEP, Stacy, Guy, Siobhan's aunt, Sionhan's aunt's friend), ran into a few people I hadn't seen in a while (Peter, Mike, Amy, Meredith, that high school kid from the last Voxtrot show), and met some cool new people (Brian, Annie, Andrea, Suzie, Curtis, Udi). Like the last Voxtrot show, this group of people enjoyed the set and had the most energy of anyone in the crowd. Unlike last time, we didn't ruin the show for everyone else aroun us by running into them.

Voxtrot is a really solid band with lots of good songs. And I'll keep going to their SF shows. But last night I was aching for some new material. They played some covers (New Order, Springsteen), but that didn't quite satisfy me. Maybe if they would have played some Flock of Segulls, like I requested (their response: "I wish!") I would have felt better.

Anyway, after the show, the crew went to Rotox for free Sparks and to hear Ramesh spin. It was a good time and the Sparks washed any lingering bad taste out of my mouth.

Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives

Voxtrot - The Start of Something

Rough Gem

2006-05-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Have you ever had a band yell at you before? Have you ever had the entire crowd pissed at you? I have.

I went to see the Islands (some Unicorns remains plus Jim Guthrie) with a pretty big crowd (Prasad, Ben, Julia, Bethany, JoJo, Alissa, Jeni, SEP, Josh). We started the night off by lying to the ticket booth to get some tickets to the sold out show (I bought my ticket the night before, only about half of the group didn't have tickets).

We got there right before Islands came on, so we were pretty far back. Ben and I wanted to get closer, so we moved along the bar until we hit a dead end. But there's one sure-fire way to get up to the front: be a small, cute girl.

Since neither Ben or I are small, cute girls, we did the next best thing; we followed two small, cute girls. After a few songs, we were 5 feet from the stage jumping up and down with all of the high school kids.

Here's where things go pear. Some of the bad members drink some water. People in the crowd start yelling for water (the A/C was off). I yelled back telling the band not to throw water into the crowd. I've been to enough shows to know that a bottle of water might as well be a brick when tossed, and the last thing I wanted was blood on the floor.

Despite my pleas, the band handed out a bunch of water. A few people around us (a guy I called Prefontaine, and CJ, a kid we talked to a little) started pouring the water on other people and getting it all over. During this time, I tell CJ to take his shirt off. He does and throws it onto the stage.

After the song ends, Ben and I are yucking it up about how great the show has been, how young the girls we snuck up with were, and how silly CJ was. And we couldn't hear it, but the lead singer was yelling at us because some water got on his guitar pedals and they weren't working.

When eventually realized that something had gone down, we thought that it was CJ's shirt that hit an amp switch or something. But because we were loud and a foot taller than all the 15 year olds, we were singled out immediately. I think Nick (the lead singer) called me a "party guy" sarcastically. And I'm pretty sure he called me out.

Anywho, the pedals weren't broken, and the show went on. Of course everone still thought we were jackasses. And of course we were jackasses, but just because we were near the trouble (I think Prefontaine did the damage, since he was only a foot from the pedals), we were blamed.

The show was actually really good. They're a good band with a lot of talent. I also think the Chow brothers (playing strings and some keyboards) really added a lot.

But here's the thing I don't get. Nick was seriously pissed about the pedals. I understand that they cost a good deal of money. I understand that without them the show wouldn't have sounded the way he wanted it to, but they could have kept playing (not like a broken amp). So if the problem was the cost of replacing the equipment, why did he trash three guitars at the end of the set? He's probably just an asshole. An asshole who makes damn good music.

Check out their video for Rough Gem:

Game Over

2006-05-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

There are a lot of things a band can do to make me happy. These include (but are not limited to)

Chatting before/after the show
Playing the old stuff
Making that squealing noise when you run a pick up/down guitar strings
Jumping in unison
Playing for free
Having a hot keyboard player
Getting back together after calling it quits too early

Ozma did all of these things on Friday. I saw two of their shows that day. The first was a free one in Sproul Plaza on Berkeley's campus. The second was at Slim's.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Ozma broke up a couple of years ago (not shortly after I saw them play the Bear's Lair in Berkeley), and I guess they realized that all of their new projects weren't as good (two notes: 1) "Yes, Dear" is probably the worst band name ever 2) the Elected rock and are the exception to the above).

Their brand of rock is exactly what makes me want to get back in a band. The music is just a lot of fun, and you can tell that they're loving every minute playing those songs.

Commenting on the above list, before the Slim's show, I ran into Ryen on the street. We got to chat for a little before I jumped in. Unfortunately, even though the rest of the band is really accessible, I've never talked to Star.
Between the two shows, they played two new songs (one at both shows). The rest was old songs that everyone loves. Taking a hint from the Pixies, they're just playing what the crowd wants to hear.
It felt like some member of the band did that squealing thing every 30 seconds. And I can't complain. It's a gimmick that I fall for.
I also fall for synchronized jumping. (That sounds weird... oh well.)
The Berkeley show was free, put on by SUPERB.
Star is way hot (check out the photo). She now has white hair. I don't know about the white hair.
Hopefully they'll stick around. And even though I think each of their records has gotten progressively worse, maybe they can buck that trend.

Check out a bunch of videos of Ozma at Berkeley.

Resurrection

2006-05-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I'm really slipping with the posting. But I'm going to try to get up-to-date today (and then immediately fall behind again).

Anyway, a couple of weeks ago, Michelle and I saw Birdmonster at Mezzanine for their record release party. In case you haven't heard the buzz, this SF band is getting a lot of attention from their new album. I've been listening to it about once every other day, and so far it still keeps my attention.

But where these guys really do their best in live. They have a lot of fun on stage and are energetic. A hometown crowd and a new record will probably add a little extra energy too.

In the spirit of catching up, I'm just going to say that they're one of the better live acts out there right now, and if you get a chance, go see them. And here is a song off their EP that rocks pretty hard. The anticipation for the vocals is really the best part of it.

Birdmonster - Resurrection Song

More Harmonica!

2006-04-24T02:36:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. But I've been to a few shows in the last few weeks and haven't blogged about any of them. Maybe if I knew if anyone was reading this I'd be more dedicated.

Anyway, way back on the 1st of April, Ben, Amy, and I went to Mezzanine to see Band of Horses and labelmates Helio Sequence. Remember a few weeks ago when Band of Horses was being hyped into outer space? I think it was based solely on their song The Funeral. This song is straight-up amazing. It's a very well-crafted song with a lot of interesting guitar work and some pretty haunting vocals.

When you hear a song that good, you think you've stumbled on the next big thing. So getting to see these guys live was supposed to be a treat. Instead, they gave a pretty mediocre performance with technical problems sprinkled in.

Imagine this: a four-piece band (guitar, bass, drums, singer/guitar). The guitar player only looks at his guitar neck, the bass player only looks at the drummer, and the drummer is hidden by his kit. This leaves a lot to be desired in a live show. But, what about the singer/guitarist? Well he's got a baseball cap on that covers most of his face. And when he's not knocking over equipment because he's pissed that the sound system is sucking, he's mumbling.

Disappointing.

Then, take the Helio Sequnce. I've seen these guys before, and when I did, I was amazed that it was only two guys. They make a whole lot of noise for two guys. The drummer is one of the most entertaining drummers out there. From the moment he raises his hand for the first beat of the opening song until the crowd is yelling for an encore, the dude's mouth is wide open.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

The singer/guitarist is also amazingly talented. He's a great guitarist and a pretty decent singer. His lyrics are also good, although I don't know what most of them mean.

Ben hadn't ever heard Helio Sequence before, but was immediately taken in. If you get the chance to see these guys live, do it.

And I'm also going to try something new here. I'm going to link to songs from these guys. They're available on the bands' websites, so hopefully nobody will sue me.

Band of Horses - The Funeral

Helio Sequence - Everyone Knows Everyone

Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights / Every Moment

2006-04-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I had the perfect plan. I drove to the airport so that when I got back from Hawaii, I could go directly to Bimbo's to catch Aqueduct and Rogue Wave. What I hadn't planned on was that the people with my tickets might not be there when I got there. Luckily, cell phones were put to use and I only waited outside for about 10 minutes.

I went with Annie, Karin, her sister Erica, Susan, and her boyfriend Jason. Since this was a Noise Pop show, I feel like there weren't as many hard-core fans as normal. But up front, you always get the crazies.

So I got there just as Aqueduct was starting. This is really one of the best live acts out there. They're fun and energetic. Unfortunately, the only times I've seem them is as openers, so the sets are much shorter than what I want.

They played a good mix of old songs and some off an upcoming LP. The new songs sounded pretty good, but nothing really hooked me like the old stuff. I guess we'll have a real verdict in a few months when the new album comes out.

After that, Rogue Wave put on another solid show. Dressed all in white, I think they are starting to move toward larger indie-rock status. At least large enough to worry about their wardrobes.

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

The interesting thing about Rogue Wave is that they make some pretty significant changes to their songs when playing them live. If you're a fan and know the music, I think this is a pretty big plus, but my guess is that for newcomers, it isn't that great. The album versions are simply better songs. But we see live shows for the things that aren't on the album, so that's why I like the changes.

As a minor note, Annie got them to play a Buddy Holly cover. I wish they would have player March, which is a great song that was on a Comes with a Smile disk.

Arab Strap

2006-04-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

Last week I was hanging out in the Haight with Ben. We bought some books, I got my hair cut, he looked at my ass while I tried on jeans, and we saw a free show at Amoeba.

The show was Arab Strap. In case you don't know what an arab strap is, check out the Wikipedia.

Anyway, I hadn't heard much of their music before the show, so I was open to what they had. It was pretty mellow stuff. It wasn't exactly what I typically like in a live show, but it was nice for a lazy afternoon.

You Look Like David Bowie

2006-03-26T17:34:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

On Friday, while the cool kids were at the Strokes concert and the really cool kids were at the Metric concert, the scenesters were watching Clap Your Hands Say Yeah!. The show was at the Great American, which is my favorite SF venue.

The openers were the Brunettes. I saw them open for Rilo Kiley before. They're a really odd band using a lot of percussion and hand claps int their songs. The problem with them is that the songs aren't that great and their voices don't help the cause. I don't know how this band has opened for both Rilo Kiley and CYHSY, but I'm going to assume they have some incriminating photos.

Before CLHSY went on, Annie decided to take advantage of some concert newbies and we jumped from the third row of people to the first. You might think that it doesn't make that much of a difference, but it really does. For instance, if I weren't right up front I couldn't have told you that all of the band members (save one) had really bad shoes. In fact, none of them were really good dressers. Or are corduroy pants and silk vests coming back?

So if anyone out there is on the fence about CYHSY and the one thing holding you back is the strained vocals, don't go to a live show. Apparently recording equipment has not been invented that can capture the full strain of CYHSY vocals since the album is dramatically easier on the ears. That said, I like the strained vocals and after a couple of songs I got used to the difference. I might even like it more strained.

The show was really polarized. During their faster songs, they really rocked and looked like they were having fun doing it. But during the slower ones I started to get bored. They wouldn't move from their designated spots. I still appreciated the songs, but I go to shows for more than what I can get off the album.

After the show I dropped Annie and Susan off and grabbed a burrito. That's the best way to end any night.

Love is a Number

2006-03-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

I had intended to see Tapes 'n Tapes on Thursday. Even though they've got the hype machine that is the interweb pushing them forward, I still dig them. They're not the next Radiohead or anything, but a good band that I wanted to see.

Unfortunately, by the time we got to Du Nord, the show was sold out. I don't get it. Just a week prior I saw Spinto Band and didn't have any ticket problems. Is Tapes 'n Tapes bigger?

Anyway, we were planning on going to Popscene after the show, so we just went a little early. And White Rose Movement was there. I didn't realize that I had one of their songs in the old iTunes until I heard them play it (actually, I thought that they were maybe playing a cover).

So WRM (as I'm going to call them from now on) is the right type of band to play Popscene: British. That and their music is very danceable. I don't know if it would work in a larger venue or if people weren't in the mood to dance.

Anyway, like all Popscene sets, WRM's was short. But they rocked pretty hard while they were on stage. The singer was energetic enough to keep me interested. And the keyboard player was way cute.

When the set ended, the crowd devolved into the normal under-age indie dance party.

I Love You Jon!

2006-03-15T15:41:00.000-08:00

Originally uploaded by ryanfoley.

After seeing The Spinto Band the previous night at Cafe Du Nord, I got to see them open for the Arctic Monkeys at Great American. At Du Nord, I was right up front, beyond the main speakers, so I was listening to the set through the monitors. The second show had dramatically better sound.

The Spinto Band is pretty young (19-22), but they really put on a good live show. There sound is tight and they have fun up there. I also created a connection between one band member (Jon). His cousin's friend was in the audience at Du Nord. So I cheered for him exclusively. I also got to give a shout out to Delaware (where they're from).

The Arctic Monkeys are, as expected, mostly hype. I thought they were supposed to be good live? They barely said two words to the audience, and hardly moved around. That combined with all of the 15 year olds pushing around up front caused me to move to the back (how old am I?).

In the back I ran into Jon. We talked briefly before the show, and while watching the Arctic Monkeys he tried to convince me that they were good. I think he was just being nice. After we were done talking he went to the merch table. A minute later he gave me a handful of stickers.

It's that sort of thing that gets you die-hard fans. Jon, and the Spinto Band as a whole, expect to see/hear me the next time you're in town.