i AM IRRITATED WITH MYSELF.
I haven't been to any shows in a long time. I went to LBLB with Roo (of course) a couple weeks ago in an attempt to see Leugo, but was so distracted by actually being out and about that i forgot to watch the shows (of course). Not so soon after, I wandered up to King's to see some low-fi deepthrashmetal band I have actually never even heard of, but i got in for free, so i went. and everyone was wearing black. and i was wearing a bright white U2 WAR shirt (of course). so I felt slightly out of place before suddenly realizing it was after midnight and i had to be up for work the next morning and bolting.
then i was sitting here on a Saturday night with $7 in my checking account and listening to my morrissey pandora station, feeling slightly sorry for myself, re-reading past entries and being frustrated with myself for not going to more shows. i miss shows.
then i had this crazy revelation. Imagine...! imagine if i had been writing reviews since the beginning; I was 15 years old the first time i saw U2 in 1992 when the Pixies were the opening act. And you know, in a weird way, i almost did. I have been a writer my whole life, to be honest. I made a list the moment we got home and stuck it inside the $25 ZOOtv program i bought that night in Hampton, VA and entitled it "THINGS I WILL NEVER FORGET ABOUT TONIGHT" ... there were things like "the screaming pixies guy" and "the guys with the big papier-mache heads wandering through the crowd before the show" and "BP Fallon in the Trabant before the show" and "the guy on the bus on the way home that kept softly calling out the "woo-woooooo"'s from BAD". I don't know why i felt it necessary to write that list, i apparently have a memory like a steel trap. i could tell you pretty much 99% of the occurrences, start to finish, of that whole evening despite the fact that, yes, it was 20 years ago.
and i'm suddenly realizing I've been a super duper mega-ultra U2 superfan for 20 years.... NICE. *self-high-five*
SO... I'm listening to the Moz Pandora, and we got a little "disappointed" popping up right now and I start thinking about wow... what if i had known what to do back then? If i had known that i could have written this sort of thing instead of hoarding NMEs and Selects and Spin magazines? I saw moz for the first time in 1995 at the Ritz (now Disco Rodeo) in Raleigh. he played three or so songs before storming off stage because of his discontent with the security at the show. (he said "Gently, Gently... It's not World War Three" before walking off stage. le sigh!) I was not disappointed. I was a weepy mess. I am a morrissey-cryer. He comes out, I sob like a baby until he walks away. that's how it goes. I have seen him several times since, including Dublin, Ireland, and the same thing happened... weepy mess.
So If i start listing it all out, from the early onsets of Raleigh's own Johnny Quest, to Elbow, or Moz, or James, or Tricky, or Beck, or Moby... If I really let myself think about it; i may not have the world's most impressive resume, you know? I don't have a degree from a super prestigious school and I've been in mostly administrative accounting positions for the majority of my adult career... but, man oh man, if you start listing out the shows... the bands... the amazing shows I have seen... the incredible musics that have gone in these slowly failing ear-holes, I do not know many who can top it, except my baby boomer friend at work who went to Woodstock... The ORIGINAL Woodstock. bad-ass.
So here is my idea. I am going to list out a few shows. Some real goodun's that I've had the absolute privilege to see, and let you guys vote, via comments as to which 'blast from the past' review i shall write for my next review. bearing in mind however, unless i find shit online, there will be no pics or proof of my attendance. it will be strictly a first person narrative and you will have to assume i really went. I am promising you now... I did.
here are the choices:
Midnight oil and Ziggy Marley - 1992
Johnny Quest - 1991
Hopscotch fest year one
Hopscotch fest year two
El Ten Eleven - 2011
Lollapalooza - circa 1995/1996
YES - 1992
OK GO - 2010
The Who - 1993
Major Lazer/Rusko - 2010
U2 - 1992, 2005, 2009 - (will probably be a MEGA post, whichever one, if not all. which i would happily do, btw)
Celine Dion - 2009 (HA!! FOR REAL!!)
David Byrne - 2001, 2009 and like, a few other times i can't think of right now.
Vienna Teng - 2010
Ozomatli - 2010 (includes real good heartbreak story and awesome video)
Muse - 2010
Any others you're thinking of you know I went to and I'm forgetting right now... bring it on... mama loves a challenge.
(ps - re-watching all kinds of U2 vids from shows i went to on the youtubes, getting all kinda sentimental... so if i can sway any sort of "vote", imma tell you right now; you want real me/all passion... pick the U2sers.... http://youtu.be/87Xl5GAzuBo - YOU GUISE.)
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2010. Show all posts
11 August 2012
22 December 2010
a break from regularly scheduled programming
My top ten albums of 2010
A gift to all my friends who didn’t get individual song dedications. (more are coming before xmas, don't worry!)
This is my personal list of albums that rocked my world in 2010. This list isn’t necessarily built upon popularity, sales, merit, integrity, talent or professional opinion. These are just the albums that got the most playtimes on my ipod and the shows I went to and enjoyed the most this year.
10) Vampire Weekend – Contra
It’s entirely possible that it is just not cool to like Vampire Weekend anymore. Especially now with the awkward use of the song “holiday” in the car commercial, but I played this album a lot this past year. It made me happy when I was down and it made me wiggle when I was wiggly. It is a fun album. It was a fun show.
9) The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Not a song on this album that I didn’t fantasize I was singing. If I could start any band, I would go back in time and I would be Alison Mosshart and I would be in the Dead Weather. There are a million and one things I love about this band. Barring the fact that I am somehow madly in love with Jack White (don’t judge, he is heaven on earth to me,) I honestly really like this album and I want to be in a band just like this.
8) Javelin – No Más
Had the privilege of seeing these guys twice this past year, the second time saw an impromptu stagecrash party at King’s. This album is a massive amount of fun, if you are in the mood for it.
7) Glasser – Ring
Mind. Blown. Another one of those bands/sounds I wish I was a part of or knew how to do. This is opposite end of the spectrum from Dead Weather, but I can’t listen to this album without imagining I AM this album. When I get lost and put myself into the sound, that’s when I know an album or an artist has really got me hooked.
6) Gauntlet Hair – (Miscellaneous 7” releases… I dunno.)
This is a wildcard. There are no actual album releases for Gauntlet Hair. They are on the Forest Family label (along with Cults) which was founded by members of Gorilla vs. Bear (see over on the right at the blogroll for a link to GvB). Mp3s have leaked out one at a time and each one blows my mind harder and harder. Nothing I have ever heard sounds anything like these guys. I haven’t been able to see them live yet, but I am dying to do so. I can never listen to one of their songs once; they always get put on perpetual loop. I deafen myself constantly with these guys. (click image for a few downloads!)
5) Caribou – Swim
For as much “electronica” music as I listen to, as I peep over this list, I am seeing a really eclectic list… Caribou is probably the only group I would classify as straight electronic, maybe Javelin, but I would almost put them as hip-hop or something. Caribou is science. Caribou is amazing. Probably one of my top 5 shows of the year.
4) Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
My goddess. My hero. Erykah Badu is all that is good and glorious on the earth. Her music has defined me and saved me more times than I can count. This album was so good I bought the actual CD. Window seat made me cry so hard first time I heard it. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt exactly what she describes.
3) Future Islands - In Evening Air
A newer obsession, but maybe only because I got to see them play live so many times this year and the crowds that love Future Islands MAKE you love Future Islands. Sam is beyond description, he is a firestorm of amazing.
2) Gray Young – staysail
How much have I talked about Gray Young in real life or on facebook to my friends? They are probably sick of it. If Gray Young is playing, I am there. After months of a close friend whose musical opinions I trust implicitly (which is VERY RARE, trust me) telling me how much I would love these guys, suddenly Hopscotch rolled around and GY happened to be the first band on the first night that I saw. And within moments I realized 2 things: I see the lead singer guy almost every day at my lunchtime coffee shop – funny! We have sat across from each other, headphoned and ignoring the world, about a million times. That is appropriate and a good sign, such kindredish behavior can only result in something I would like… and then yes. I very much like. I have told my friends that when I see GY play live it’s like I got in a time machine and went back to witness the rebirth of U2 if they were born in like… Portland or something. These guys kicked off a very healthy and robust Post-Rock obsession for me. The more EITH, Caspian, or El Ten Eleven I listen to and love, the more I thank Gray Young for blowing my mind. This album and subsequently every show I have seen of theirs this year has been the best show ever. I finally, recently after a show at kings and a shot of Jamesons, broke "the Fourth Wall" and hugged the crap out of Dan, the bassist, and gushed about how much i love them. He probably thinks I am nuts now. Or a massive drunk. Either way... Gray Young is amazing. Go See Gray Young!
1) Menomena – Mines
This was a hard decision. But I ultimately went with not so much the album I rocked out the hardest to (staysail) or the album I danced my ass off the most to (in Evening Air) or felt the most obligated to worship (New Amerykah) as my number one… I went with the album that broke my heart and spoke my language so hard I almost wanted to sue for copyright infringement of my inner dialogue. Mines, from beginning to end, is so completely fantastic and raw. When I finally got to see them live this year, everything I had heard about how staggeringly perfect their live performances could be was proven to be true; flawless and outlandish. Sometimes the right song can hit you in the right way and it changes you forever. If you don’t understand this sentiment, you are certainly reading the wrong blog. When Menomena played “Dirty Cartoons” live, I wept openly. I have only cried at U2 and Morrissey shows; this phenomenon has now lifted Menomena into the upper echelon of bands I respect and adore. Make me cry live, I love you forever. Menomena made me their bitch that night.
A gift to all my friends who didn’t get individual song dedications. (more are coming before xmas, don't worry!)
This is my personal list of albums that rocked my world in 2010. This list isn’t necessarily built upon popularity, sales, merit, integrity, talent or professional opinion. These are just the albums that got the most playtimes on my ipod and the shows I went to and enjoyed the most this year.
10) Vampire Weekend – Contra
It’s entirely possible that it is just not cool to like Vampire Weekend anymore. Especially now with the awkward use of the song “holiday” in the car commercial, but I played this album a lot this past year. It made me happy when I was down and it made me wiggle when I was wiggly. It is a fun album. It was a fun show.
9) The Dead Weather – Sea of Cowards
Not a song on this album that I didn’t fantasize I was singing. If I could start any band, I would go back in time and I would be Alison Mosshart and I would be in the Dead Weather. There are a million and one things I love about this band. Barring the fact that I am somehow madly in love with Jack White (don’t judge, he is heaven on earth to me,) I honestly really like this album and I want to be in a band just like this.
8) Javelin – No Más
Had the privilege of seeing these guys twice this past year, the second time saw an impromptu stagecrash party at King’s. This album is a massive amount of fun, if you are in the mood for it.
7) Glasser – Ring
Mind. Blown. Another one of those bands/sounds I wish I was a part of or knew how to do. This is opposite end of the spectrum from Dead Weather, but I can’t listen to this album without imagining I AM this album. When I get lost and put myself into the sound, that’s when I know an album or an artist has really got me hooked.
6) Gauntlet Hair – (Miscellaneous 7” releases… I dunno.)
This is a wildcard. There are no actual album releases for Gauntlet Hair. They are on the Forest Family label (along with Cults) which was founded by members of Gorilla vs. Bear (see over on the right at the blogroll for a link to GvB). Mp3s have leaked out one at a time and each one blows my mind harder and harder. Nothing I have ever heard sounds anything like these guys. I haven’t been able to see them live yet, but I am dying to do so. I can never listen to one of their songs once; they always get put on perpetual loop. I deafen myself constantly with these guys. (click image for a few downloads!)
5) Caribou – Swim
For as much “electronica” music as I listen to, as I peep over this list, I am seeing a really eclectic list… Caribou is probably the only group I would classify as straight electronic, maybe Javelin, but I would almost put them as hip-hop or something. Caribou is science. Caribou is amazing. Probably one of my top 5 shows of the year.
4) Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh
My goddess. My hero. Erykah Badu is all that is good and glorious on the earth. Her music has defined me and saved me more times than I can count. This album was so good I bought the actual CD. Window seat made me cry so hard first time I heard it. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt exactly what she describes.
3) Future Islands - In Evening Air
A newer obsession, but maybe only because I got to see them play live so many times this year and the crowds that love Future Islands MAKE you love Future Islands. Sam is beyond description, he is a firestorm of amazing.
2) Gray Young – staysail
How much have I talked about Gray Young in real life or on facebook to my friends? They are probably sick of it. If Gray Young is playing, I am there. After months of a close friend whose musical opinions I trust implicitly (which is VERY RARE, trust me) telling me how much I would love these guys, suddenly Hopscotch rolled around and GY happened to be the first band on the first night that I saw. And within moments I realized 2 things: I see the lead singer guy almost every day at my lunchtime coffee shop – funny! We have sat across from each other, headphoned and ignoring the world, about a million times. That is appropriate and a good sign, such kindredish behavior can only result in something I would like… and then yes. I very much like. I have told my friends that when I see GY play live it’s like I got in a time machine and went back to witness the rebirth of U2 if they were born in like… Portland or something. These guys kicked off a very healthy and robust Post-Rock obsession for me. The more EITH, Caspian, or El Ten Eleven I listen to and love, the more I thank Gray Young for blowing my mind. This album and subsequently every show I have seen of theirs this year has been the best show ever. I finally, recently after a show at kings and a shot of Jamesons, broke "the Fourth Wall" and hugged the crap out of Dan, the bassist, and gushed about how much i love them. He probably thinks I am nuts now. Or a massive drunk. Either way... Gray Young is amazing. Go See Gray Young!
1) Menomena – Mines
This was a hard decision. But I ultimately went with not so much the album I rocked out the hardest to (staysail) or the album I danced my ass off the most to (in Evening Air) or felt the most obligated to worship (New Amerykah) as my number one… I went with the album that broke my heart and spoke my language so hard I almost wanted to sue for copyright infringement of my inner dialogue. Mines, from beginning to end, is so completely fantastic and raw. When I finally got to see them live this year, everything I had heard about how staggeringly perfect their live performances could be was proven to be true; flawless and outlandish. Sometimes the right song can hit you in the right way and it changes you forever. If you don’t understand this sentiment, you are certainly reading the wrong blog. When Menomena played “Dirty Cartoons” live, I wept openly. I have only cried at U2 and Morrissey shows; this phenomenon has now lifted Menomena into the upper echelon of bands I respect and adore. Make me cry live, I love you forever. Menomena made me their bitch that night.
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