Sunday, June 10, 2007
Music Stuff
A buddy and I almost flew out to NYC to see The Weakerthans, but we decided to just wait for their CD release in the fall (with a tour, right?)
Hey Marseilles is a really good local Seattle band - the stage at the Skylark was a little crowded last night - 7 people with gear. I thought they were starting at 11, so when I rolled in at 10:10, I was a little sad to see them playing already. (Just like the time I saw them at El Corazon - always starting early!) The Skylark was full, so that's good news.
I was late because I went to Kell's to watch Ockham's Razor - nice folks. I went back to their show after seeing HM.
Earlier that day, I picked up the new Kaiser Chiefs...my only comment so far is that the FBI-Piracy warning is bigger than anything else on the CD. It's kind of like saying...our music isn't really that important. Our band is not that important. WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU DON'T COPY WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS ON THIS CD. YEAH! YOU! STOP! YOU'RE PROBABLY PLANNING TO RIP THIS CD TO YOUR IPOD - WE'D LIKE IT TO BE ILLEGAL, BUT WE KNOW THE COURTS (FOR NOW) WOULD RULE AGAINST US. WE'LL JUST SAY YOU SHOULDN'T, AND SLAP 'UNAUTHORIZED COPYING' ON THERE, AND LET PEOPLE WONDER.
KC? Get some balls.
Hey Marseilles is a really good local Seattle band - the stage at the Skylark was a little crowded last night - 7 people with gear. I thought they were starting at 11, so when I rolled in at 10:10, I was a little sad to see them playing already. (Just like the time I saw them at El Corazon - always starting early!) The Skylark was full, so that's good news.
I was late because I went to Kell's to watch Ockham's Razor - nice folks. I went back to their show after seeing HM.
Earlier that day, I picked up the new Kaiser Chiefs...my only comment so far is that the FBI-Piracy warning is bigger than anything else on the CD. It's kind of like saying...our music isn't really that important. Our band is not that important. WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT YOU DON'T COPY WHATEVER IT IS THAT IS ON THIS CD. YEAH! YOU! STOP! YOU'RE PROBABLY PLANNING TO RIP THIS CD TO YOUR IPOD - WE'D LIKE IT TO BE ILLEGAL, BUT WE KNOW THE COURTS (FOR NOW) WOULD RULE AGAINST US. WE'LL JUST SAY YOU SHOULDN'T, AND SLAP 'UNAUTHORIZED COPYING' ON THERE, AND LET PEOPLE WONDER.
KC? Get some balls.
Labels: hey-marseilles, kaiser-chiefs, ockham's razor
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Life is more than 3 posts a year
I don't log in very often. Hrm.
Anyhow, Mountain Goats was good, but crowded.
KMRIA down in Portland was a GREAT show. Except for the excessively long lines for drinks. That's hardly the band's fault.
MC Lars, Optimus Rhyme, and MC Frontalot played El Corazon last month - I hadn't heard MC Lars until the show, but that was really fun. MC Frontalot was okay, but seemed like a dated show.
Upcoming shows:
Maybe see The Weakerthans - fly out to NYC for one of their few shows in June. Otherwise, they have a new CD coming out this fall - that means tour, right?
Tim Seely is playing in July.
Upcoming not-shows
I skipped Sasquatch this weekend - my right shoulder is horribly screwed up, and I'm on meds for the pain and swelling.
The platinum pass for Bumbershoot is ridiculous. It's now over $400. And you can no longer tote around dSLRs (regardless of the ticket). Anti-camera makes me anti-show. No flash is completely acceptable. I remember a Visqueen show where this tall, fat, old dude had this crappy camera right up in front. He was averaging a flash every 30 seconds, not really caring about the shot. Rachel should have killed him right there. (Hmmmm....I don't remember seeing him at any other show...good goin', R.) -the point is, flash should be banned. Etiquette should be enforced. dSLR cameras are not the problem. (People who spend that much on cameras tend to think more about the effect they have on others....they're not perfect, but a huge step up from the random camera-in-my-pocket types.)
That's all for now.
Anyhow, Mountain Goats was good, but crowded.
KMRIA down in Portland was a GREAT show. Except for the excessively long lines for drinks. That's hardly the band's fault.
MC Lars, Optimus Rhyme, and MC Frontalot played El Corazon last month - I hadn't heard MC Lars until the show, but that was really fun. MC Frontalot was okay, but seemed like a dated show.
Upcoming shows:
Maybe see The Weakerthans - fly out to NYC for one of their few shows in June. Otherwise, they have a new CD coming out this fall - that means tour, right?
Tim Seely is playing in July.
Upcoming not-shows
I skipped Sasquatch this weekend - my right shoulder is horribly screwed up, and I'm on meds for the pain and swelling.
The platinum pass for Bumbershoot is ridiculous. It's now over $400. And you can no longer tote around dSLRs (regardless of the ticket). Anti-camera makes me anti-show. No flash is completely acceptable. I remember a Visqueen show where this tall, fat, old dude had this crappy camera right up in front. He was averaging a flash every 30 seconds, not really caring about the shot. Rachel should have killed him right there. (Hmmmm....I don't remember seeing him at any other show...good goin', R.) -the point is, flash should be banned. Etiquette should be enforced. dSLR cameras are not the problem. (People who spend that much on cameras tend to think more about the effect they have on others....they're not perfect, but a huge step up from the random camera-in-my-pocket types.)
That's all for now.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Rock Shows
I'm currently dialing in from Tokyo - I came over for work, but was able to fit in a Japanese punk rock show.
I've got a list of Japanese bands I'd like to see play, so I check their sites before I come over. The band for this trip was Cherry Coke$ (http://www.thecherrycokes.com/index.html) playing at the ACB Hall (http://www.acb-hall.jp/) in Kabuki-cho. Kabuki-cho is the red-light district northeast of Shinjuku, where I was staying. A little bit less lighting on the streets, dice-ier people, not bad. If you can find the KOMA theater, ACB is on the far side, as you approach it from Shinjuku.
The ACB Hall itself is about 3 floors beneath the street. The event was listed as 2100 yen, but you had to purchase a 600 yen beer/soda as well, as part of getting into the event. The venue MIGHT hold 150, but it's probably more like 100. A small show, with a small bar near the door...bathrooms are in the narrow hallway leading in. It's also got the best air-conditioning for a punk rock show that I've been to. The first band is U CAN'T SAY NO! - they play a good ska-sound, and the guys down in front are doing some standard ska shimmies...not touching anyone, just in place. The next band is the Cherry Coke$, which I was a little down on when they started - lots of posturing from the singer, but it was less bothersome as time went on. (Okay, I'll trash talk St. Bushmill's Choir in the same breath. But! If you have a chance to see them, do it.)
I decide I'm fading, and I've seen the first two bands. I check the merch desk - picked up a CC shirt to show support (already have the 2 cds). 20 minutes to get out. As in, the narrow hallway is a choke point. And apparently there's not enough room for everyone to get in, so they've paid their money to stand in the hallway. I went from airconditioning to sweating through all of my clothes in those 20 minutes.
(thanks for hanging out, dude-from-the-band-playing-on-the-28th)
I get back, I'll catch Rocky Votolato, opening for some guy at the Triple Door.
Maybe Of Montreal
Probably Presidents of the United States of America
Definitely Mountain Goats at the end of Feb (!)
Hopefully KMRIA in Portland on St. Patrick's.
Hope you have better shows than me!
I've got a list of Japanese bands I'd like to see play, so I check their sites before I come over. The band for this trip was Cherry Coke$ (http://www.thecherrycokes.com/index.html) playing at the ACB Hall (http://www.acb-hall.jp/) in Kabuki-cho. Kabuki-cho is the red-light district northeast of Shinjuku, where I was staying. A little bit less lighting on the streets, dice-ier people, not bad. If you can find the KOMA theater, ACB is on the far side, as you approach it from Shinjuku.
The ACB Hall itself is about 3 floors beneath the street. The event was listed as 2100 yen, but you had to purchase a 600 yen beer/soda as well, as part of getting into the event. The venue MIGHT hold 150, but it's probably more like 100. A small show, with a small bar near the door...bathrooms are in the narrow hallway leading in. It's also got the best air-conditioning for a punk rock show that I've been to. The first band is U CAN'T SAY NO! - they play a good ska-sound, and the guys down in front are doing some standard ska shimmies...not touching anyone, just in place. The next band is the Cherry Coke$, which I was a little down on when they started - lots of posturing from the singer, but it was less bothersome as time went on. (Okay, I'll trash talk St. Bushmill's Choir in the same breath. But! If you have a chance to see them, do it.)
I decide I'm fading, and I've seen the first two bands. I check the merch desk - picked up a CC shirt to show support (already have the 2 cds). 20 minutes to get out. As in, the narrow hallway is a choke point. And apparently there's not enough room for everyone to get in, so they've paid their money to stand in the hallway. I went from airconditioning to sweating through all of my clothes in those 20 minutes.
(thanks for hanging out, dude-from-the-band-playing-on-the-28th)
I get back, I'll catch Rocky Votolato, opening for some guy at the Triple Door.
Maybe Of Montreal
Probably Presidents of the United States of America
Definitely Mountain Goats at the end of Feb (!)
Hopefully KMRIA in Portland on St. Patrick's.
Hope you have better shows than me!
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Happy New Year
It'd be sad just to delete everything, for lack of desire.
Nothing held me back from posting, no long hospital stays, work wasn't that crazy, and I didn't acquire a life-long soul mate...or even a temporary one.
Things that happened in the past 7 months....
Amadan turned out to be a weak show - Kell's sound is not that great, and the bass was either bad player or bad system...I went back with a musician for a different show, and he thinks they're still using speakers from 10 years ago.
Mountain Con - seen them multiple times this year - great people. Sad to have missed them at NYE, but the High Dive is tiny.
Mountain Goats in June was good. Not a high-energy band, but a good show.
Aqueduct was a week later - I like Aqueduct...I generally try to get out if they're on the list.
Also went to Columbus OH for a game convention, saw Zydepunks opening for Bloody Irish Boys. (I saw Zydepunks again over Xmas in LA with some of my SoCal friends...great show.)
Catch 22 played in July...fun to finally see them, and they're really good live.
July also had me in Tokyo, sadly, no rock shows that I wanted to see.
August sent me to Iowa for my mom's birthday, and then a work trip to Anaheim - no rock shows, although I almost went to see a band play in DSM, sadly, the flight was late, my luggage was lost, etc...
After a week in both places, I came back for the Mountain Goats, Cracker, and the Decemberists (Zoo!) Fun, although Decemberists are spoiled for me now.
September started with Bumbershoot and Black 47 (those dudes are getting up there in age, but glad to have seen them).
The reasons why I will probably never go to see the Decemberists again:
A couple of buddies and I ditched on our Snow Patrol tickets, to seek out the secret show. We barely got in, and it was a great, personal show. I saw them again in November, but now they play HUGE venues...and Colin's voice was thrashed, but the huge show thing isn't me. (I did see several Decemberists, ex-Decemberists, and misc. people play Pogues all night at the last moment...8-piece band, really...really good covers.)
Cherry Poppin' Daddies - strange. Good, but strange.
MC Chris - great show. I even invited some coworkers from Japan to come out, and we all had a really good time.
Dropkick Murphys - always a treat.
Rocky Votalato - good.
Visqueen - I'm sad. They're good people, and I love the music. I have a good time when they have the fun, almost manic energy, but when they're in a bad groove, it's like they shouldn't come out.
Mooncalf played their (last) show in October, which is sad. Hopefully they'll get back together again. One of the Matts is playing with Tim Seely, so I still see the band sometimes.
Bouncing Souls - not what I expected. I still like their music, but it'll be a different picture. No energy for the crowd.
Ockham's Razor is a new Irish band in Seattle - fun people, fair music. They know Culann's Hounds, better than I.
Devotchka - fun! fun! And I owe a CD to a server at Kell's for her return recommendation of the Balanescu Quartet.
To wrap up the year, I went to the Crocodile and saw Harvey Danger, with openers of Slender Means and Awesome. (I missed Awesome, I really like Slender Means.) HD did Abbey Road, the whole way through. Funny. The original stuff was fair too.
For the new year...
I'm saddened. Showbox is going to use TicketMaster now...ugh! Do they hate their music fans that much? TicketMaster charges a ton, delivers the tickets SUPER_F_ING_LATE, and did I mention how much they overcharge for crap service?
If you go to lots of shows, get your hearing checked. Get professional ear plugs measured too - it's only going to run you 300 or so, but it beats ringing in your ears, possibly permanently. (It doesn't affect talking during shows - I was worried about that too.)
Nothing held me back from posting, no long hospital stays, work wasn't that crazy, and I didn't acquire a life-long soul mate...or even a temporary one.
Things that happened in the past 7 months....
Amadan turned out to be a weak show - Kell's sound is not that great, and the bass was either bad player or bad system...I went back with a musician for a different show, and he thinks they're still using speakers from 10 years ago.
Mountain Con - seen them multiple times this year - great people. Sad to have missed them at NYE, but the High Dive is tiny.
Mountain Goats in June was good. Not a high-energy band, but a good show.
Aqueduct was a week later - I like Aqueduct...I generally try to get out if they're on the list.
Also went to Columbus OH for a game convention, saw Zydepunks opening for Bloody Irish Boys. (I saw Zydepunks again over Xmas in LA with some of my SoCal friends...great show.)
Catch 22 played in July...fun to finally see them, and they're really good live.
July also had me in Tokyo, sadly, no rock shows that I wanted to see.
August sent me to Iowa for my mom's birthday, and then a work trip to Anaheim - no rock shows, although I almost went to see a band play in DSM, sadly, the flight was late, my luggage was lost, etc...
After a week in both places, I came back for the Mountain Goats, Cracker, and the Decemberists (Zoo!) Fun, although Decemberists are spoiled for me now.
September started with Bumbershoot and Black 47 (those dudes are getting up there in age, but glad to have seen them).
The reasons why I will probably never go to see the Decemberists again:
A couple of buddies and I ditched on our Snow Patrol tickets, to seek out the secret show. We barely got in, and it was a great, personal show. I saw them again in November, but now they play HUGE venues...and Colin's voice was thrashed, but the huge show thing isn't me. (I did see several Decemberists, ex-Decemberists, and misc. people play Pogues all night at the last moment...8-piece band, really...really good covers.)
Cherry Poppin' Daddies - strange. Good, but strange.
MC Chris - great show. I even invited some coworkers from Japan to come out, and we all had a really good time.
Dropkick Murphys - always a treat.
Rocky Votalato - good.
Visqueen - I'm sad. They're good people, and I love the music. I have a good time when they have the fun, almost manic energy, but when they're in a bad groove, it's like they shouldn't come out.
Mooncalf played their (last) show in October, which is sad. Hopefully they'll get back together again. One of the Matts is playing with Tim Seely, so I still see the band sometimes.
Bouncing Souls - not what I expected. I still like their music, but it'll be a different picture. No energy for the crowd.
Ockham's Razor is a new Irish band in Seattle - fun people, fair music. They know Culann's Hounds, better than I.
Devotchka - fun! fun! And I owe a CD to a server at Kell's for her return recommendation of the Balanescu Quartet.
To wrap up the year, I went to the Crocodile and saw Harvey Danger, with openers of Slender Means and Awesome. (I missed Awesome, I really like Slender Means.) HD did Abbey Road, the whole way through. Funny. The original stuff was fair too.
For the new year...
I'm saddened. Showbox is going to use TicketMaster now...ugh! Do they hate their music fans that much? TicketMaster charges a ton, delivers the tickets SUPER_F_ING_LATE, and did I mention how much they overcharge for crap service?
If you go to lots of shows, get your hearing checked. Get professional ear plugs measured too - it's only going to run you 300 or so, but it beats ringing in your ears, possibly permanently. (It doesn't affect talking during shows - I was worried about that too.)
Sunday, May 07, 2006
A month is about right...
The Culann's Hounds show was good. I went back on Tuesday to check out some of the 'regular' stuff. Not bad. I picked up a bunch of rock show tickets for the next month. Mountain Con on the 20th, Mountain Goats on June 9th, and Built to Spill on June 14th...1 of three shows. Crazy. Amadan is coming up from Portland, playing at Kell's on the 19th of May.
I went to Easy Street Records at the base of Queen Anne. Amazing prices for new CDs. I picked up a bunch of old Mountain Goats stuff for 11.99 each, Mountain Con's new CD for 7.99, as well as a couple of other CDs that I've been meaning to get. (You also get punches - at 15 new/30 old CDs purchased, you get a new CD for free.)
Mexico was a great time. Enough crazy stuff to be interesting, but not enough that it lacked the qualities of a vacation. I might escape to Sasquatch at the end of the month...you'll find out in the next installment of...
A month is about right.
I went to Easy Street Records at the base of Queen Anne. Amazing prices for new CDs. I picked up a bunch of old Mountain Goats stuff for 11.99 each, Mountain Con's new CD for 7.99, as well as a couple of other CDs that I've been meaning to get. (You also get punches - at 15 new/30 old CDs purchased, you get a new CD for free.)
Mexico was a great time. Enough crazy stuff to be interesting, but not enough that it lacked the qualities of a vacation. I might escape to Sasquatch at the end of the month...you'll find out in the next installment of...
A month is about right.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Lives of the Unfamous
Music recap:
Mooncalf at the Rendezvous - good. Small, intimate setting...cool place.
Fruitbats at Neumo's on Thursday.
Some other band at Neumo's on Friday.
Mountain Con possibly on Saturday.
Mexico for a week's vacation.
Culann's Hounds (sp) at Kell's when I get back.
A friend's wedding on that Sunday.
Mike Doughty's touring again, but not on the west coast yet. I did find one of his new songs on archive.org (live performances, recorded by fans).
Mooncalf at the Rendezvous - good. Small, intimate setting...cool place.
Fruitbats at Neumo's on Thursday.
Some other band at Neumo's on Friday.
Mountain Con possibly on Saturday.
Mexico for a week's vacation.
Culann's Hounds (sp) at Kell's when I get back.
A friend's wedding on that Sunday.
Mike Doughty's touring again, but not on the west coast yet. I did find one of his new songs on archive.org (live performances, recorded by fans).
Friday, February 10, 2006
Mooncalf, or how not to blog
I haven't been posting for awhile, as I kind of forgot. And I've been busy. I set up my new powerbook, and didn't load the bookmarks from my windows machine.
To catch up, I haven't seen a whole lot of rock shows lately. I saw Visqueen last week, and saw a new-to-me band called Mooncalf on Tuesday. Mooncalf reminded me a little of the Weakerthans, a band I kind of like. I'll see them again, I'm sure.
I went to Tokyo for work about three weeks ago, and Chicago for fun last weekend. I look forward to staying home at least a couple of months...but not a whole lot of shows - I have a ticket for Flogging Molly on 3/7.
I've been buying board games like mad lately...one of my other hobbies. Ah.
To catch up, I haven't seen a whole lot of rock shows lately. I saw Visqueen last week, and saw a new-to-me band called Mooncalf on Tuesday. Mooncalf reminded me a little of the Weakerthans, a band I kind of like. I'll see them again, I'm sure.
I went to Tokyo for work about three weeks ago, and Chicago for fun last weekend. I look forward to staying home at least a couple of months...but not a whole lot of shows - I have a ticket for Flogging Molly on 3/7.
I've been buying board games like mad lately...one of my other hobbies. Ah.
