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My buddies over @ More Cowbell are celebrating their 5 year anniversary by putting on a great show Thursday 4/16. Let's go!
What: More Cowbell 5th Anniversary Party When: Thursday, April 16th, 2009 at 9pm (Doors at 8pm) Where: Turf Club (1601 University Ave, St. Paul, MN) Who: Romantica / The Evening Rig / The Absent Arch Cost | Age: $6.00 21+
Hi, long time no post. Sorry. Saw The Ting Tings Monday night. Great show. Recap, photos, and vids to come Tuesday Wednesday after work. Cheers.
The Ting Tings - "Great DJ" live @ Varsity Theater 8/4/08:
Update 8/6/08:
So, as mentioned earlier I really enjoyed the Ting Tings live. Jules de Martino and Katie White looked and sounded great. My fave part was hanging out with the young fans (and the band):
So yeah, it's been too long since I've updated. I've been pretty busy with work and other extra-curricular activities the past few months so we'll have to see what the future holds for this here blog. Don't worry, I still read your blog, listen to new music, and check out bands around town.
Anyway, here are some shows I checked out recently but never got around to posting on the site:
>> Stars of Track and Field live @ 7th Street Entry 10/19/07
Caught the last 45 minutes of their set in the Mainroom after crossing over from the Entry. I'm not really into Southern Rock, but I was thoroughly entertained by these Georgia rockers. Wow, they really jammed out in true "Skynyrd" style. I haven't seen a Jack Daniels bottle being passed around on stage in quite a while. Poplife has more on the gig.
The Raveonettes have blown me away every time I've seen them. This night was no exception. I still can't believe I got to see them in the Entry. Wow, the new stuff from the forthcoming album "Lust, Lust, Lust" (out 2/19/08) sounded brilliant. More on BRIAT. Rave on.
Nicole and her band opened for The Raveonettes. I was pleasantly surprised by her performance, as I really didn't know too much about her. What did she sound like? I think the description on her MySpace sums it up: "Roy Orbison as a chick fronting a band of elves."
Another very fine performance supporting label-mate Matthew Dear. The new album "Heaven" is great, and live the songs sounded even better. I still can't believe these guys aren't huge yet...
Hmmmm, I don't know, I wasn't that impressed. I liked the DJ-ing and electronica aspect, but really didn't dig the singing and band. I guess the show was ok. To be perfectly honest I missed 1/2 of it as I was talking with the guys in Mobius Band...
What a pleasant surprise this dual CD-release (Stook!, Dan Israel) gig turned out to be. I had a great time and really enjoyed all 3 artists (and all the guest musicians who appeared). HWTS has more. And yeah, being on stage with a bunch of friends and singing backing vocals to final tune of the evening "Rockin' in the Free World" was pretty sweet...
They opened for M.I.A. and their shit was dope. They sounded like a mix between The Beastie Boys and Run DMC... which got the crowd nicely warmed up for the main act.
Saved the best for last... M.I. mutherfuckin' A. simply destroyed sold-out First Avenue. One of my favorite shows of the year. Some highlights:
The audience was totally into it. Kids were dancing their asses off.
M.I.A. was all over the stage and really gave it her all. Singing, dancing, crowd-surfing, climbing into the balcony. That girl really has some energy.
For "Bird Flu" (see photo above and video below) some of the crowd got to join M.I.A. on stage.
The light, stage, and video screen show were really amazing. A complete multi-media experience.
The after-party at Foundation Nightclub was pretty cool as well. What a night...
Here are a couple of live videos from the show.
M.I.A. - "Bamboo Banga" live @ First Avenue 11/20/07: (Opening tune - 4:57)
M.I.A. - "Bucky Done Gun" | "Bird Flu" live @ First Avenue 11/20/07: (Features lots of people on stage during "Bird Flu" - 11:03)
OK, so that about sums it up for now. I think I'm finally caught up. I'll probably try to put up a few more posts before year-end. Maybe I'll do a list of sorts. Actually, probably not. I'm really sick of year-end lists already and it's not even December. Plus you know my top song of the year already (and my top album in a sec)...
I'll conclude with the latest video from my top album of the year (no surprise). Peace, take care.
> T.O.G.P.T.F.F.S.O.T.W.O.T.H.E.A.T.S.Y.O.A.: I know what you're thinking, WTF? OK, here's what the band name means: "Three Old Guys Play the First Five Songs Off the Wipers' Over the Edge Record and the Song "Youth of America"... They were NSFG, "not so fucking good."
> The Ponys: I loved these guys last time I saw them in the Entry. This time they were ok. They started out kinda' average, but once the set got going they really jammed out. Their last couple of tunes rocked.
> Spoon: Wow! Amazing, love these guys. The chronological setlist was brilliant.
I think that's all I need to say. Others have already covered it:
Show of the year!!! Ha ha, just kidding. It was pretty insane, though. YouTube SuperstarTay Zonday was pretty good... for a novelty act. I don't know... my Karaoke version of "Chocolate Rain" would be more entertaining, I think. One thing is for sure, the guy definitely can't dance.
Girl Talk (Greg Gillis) had the mostly intoxicated college crowd going absolutely nuts inside First Avenue. I danced my ass off. I had never seen crowd-surfing at a DJ club show before... All in all, Girl Talk really impressed me. "Smash Your Head" ruled. Boy knows how to mix up the tunes...
Luke's Angels, Maps of Norway, and Ice Palace were pretty cool. Duplomacy, I always like. The rest was so-so. The Kiln, wow, that's definitely not for me...
This was certainly an event for people with ADD. I saw 9 bands in less than 3 hours ;) I had a lot of fun to say the least...
Are the guys in the band about the nicest people you'll ever meet?
Yes, obviously they're all true. What a great and absolutely fun show. And yes, they had never played any song twice in the same set before this gig...
To give you an idea what Birdmonster is like live, here's a (shitty) video I shot at the show:
Birdmonster "Cause You Can" live @ Varsity Theater 3/23/07:
Yeah, I know, worst quality ever... Ok, we'll do one better. Brody has some footage of what it's like being on stage with the band:
> San Francisco's Birdmonster returns to the Twin Cities tonight @ Varsity Theater. To say these guys are fun live, would be a great understatement. I would know, as I wound up playing the drums on stage last time they were here @ 400 Bar. Don't miss 'em; Pulse and Brody agree. Local bands Belles of Skin City, Aneuretical, and Jayber Crow open the show. Birdmonster will also appear in-studio on The Current today between 9:00AM - 11:00AM.
WTF Moz? Milwaukee, but no Twin Cities... You HAVE to be kidding me.
> Solace and I were interviewed as "local music experts" over on the great blog Culture Bully. Read it here. I think it turned out pretty well. I laughed very hard at the picture they used of me... The original photo is up on my MySpace.
> Last but not least. My awesome roomie once again told me "Dude, you gotta' post this!" OK, Brian:
Alex Gaudino - Destination Calabria: (probably NSFW)
Such a sweet video (in so many ways)... The tune is an anthem in Ibiza. I really need to go there soon.
I guess a little "music shing ding" went down last weekend in Austin, Texas. Turns out Pete Townsend joined The Fratellis on-stage for a set-closing rendition of The Who's "The Seeker". Is it considered a "cover-tune" if Pete joins you on stage? I'm not sure ;) Anyway, watch the whole video here. (Thx Solace)
