Live Baby Live, Part 1
Over Spring Break, I decided to spend/waste my free time listing all the concerts I had been to in my lifetime. This was partially inspired by an absolutely brilliant set by Belle & Sebastian, but mostly because I completely blanked on certain shows and as an amateur historian, I couldn't let some of my most treasured memories fade without a fight. So, I thought I would share some of my favorite concert experiences from the past five years.
Most Intimate Show:
Thanksgiving/Vetiver/Joanna Newsom/Devendra Banhart, Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, 7 June 2004
Before Lindsay Lohan and the crack-addled albums which that relationship is sure to inspire, Devendra Banhart played Kilby Court, a garage that barely qualifies as a concert space. Nell and I (and Andy Nelson randomly) spent a beautiful summer evening listening to hushed folk narratives with a handful of other audience members circled around a firepit. Absurdly intimate, and absolutely magical.
Runner-Up:
Dresden Dolls, Eclectic Ballroom (!), Middletown, 6 February 2004
Who knew Amanda Palmer was a Wesleyan graduate and that she would perform two pieces she described as "bad" and "Wesleyan-specific" about her terrible time at our alma-mater? A year later the piano and drum duo would be playing omni-domes opening up for Nine Inch Nails, but somehow I don't think the parody of the Wesleyan Fight Song was a regular on their setlist.
Most Disappointing Concert:
Flaming Lips/Beck, Beacon Theater, New York, 31 October 2002
This was one of those ridiculous lineups that could only have been dreamt up in some indie-rock enthusiasts dirtiest masturbatory fantasy: not only were the Flaming Lips going to be opening for Beck, but they were going to be his backing band. My mind was set afire: what crazy variations and mutations was Wayne Coyne going to unleash on our young Beck Hanson's music? The answer: very little. The set was disappointingly routine and the momentum of the show was killed every time Beck played another one of his tiredly morose Sea Change tunes. For every "Devil's Haircut" there was at least a dozen songs of the "I Made A Mistake And Now I Want To Kill Myself" vein. No irony, no credibility - but, more importantly, no fun.
Runner-Up:
Sufjan Stevens, Lo-Fi Cafe, Salt Lake City, 28 July 2005
The only concert I have ever walked out on. Not because of Sufjan (although his soporific cheerleading routines didn't help) but due to the sweltering Lo-Fi Cafe. Imagine listening to Casimir Pulaski Day while steaming in a sauna. Sound pleasant?
Best Opening Band:
IMA Robot, Irving Plaza, New York, 11 October 2003
Okay. So perhaps IMA Robot are not going to bust-up the place like Rebecca and I thought they were, but fuck if they didn't absolutely blow Hot Hot Heat and the French Kicks (thanks for the hot tip Andrea!) completely out of the water. By 'Black Jetta' I was sold, jumping and dancing with two drunk Germans who were obviously on the know as they bolted after Alex Ebert and company left the stage. For about a half hour, I believed I was watching a musical revelation. I later saw IMA Robot open for Duran Duran, but the frenetic energy had all but evaporated. What happened?
Runner-Up:
Stereo Total, La Riviera, Madrid, 16 March 2002
Hint: If you are opening band, just play synth-laden tunes and you will probably get me dancing in no time. "Take Me To A Holiday Inn..."
Best Bookend to a Concert:
Slow Life and The Man Don't Give a Fuck, Super Furry Animals, Webster Hall, New York, 9 February 2004
53 utterances of the word 'fuck' and a 15 minute rave interlude. Good times.
Autographs Collected:
Two. Sahara Hotnights (ask Mark, they were really hot), The New Pornographers
Worst Audible Request at a Concert:
Fur Elise. Kronos Quartet, Crowell Concert Hall, Middletown, 28 April 2001
Concert Where I Feared For My Physical Well Being:
March of the Pigs. Nine Inch Nails, Coachella Music Festival, Indio, 1 May 2005
I don't think I have ever felt so much sheer force of pressure against my sternum. I have been to a lot of physical shows, but nothing will match the complete lack of control I felt when Trent Reznor incited the crowd to "STEP RIGHT UP MARCH PUSH" - and oh did the audience ever.
Times Taken Down At A Concert:
Once. Jimmy Eat World, Arena, Madrid, 31 January 2002
What was I doing at a Jimmy Eat World concert and how was I taken down by a rabid 13-year old girl? Please, don't ask.
Most Bizarre Marvel-Style Team-Up:
Yo La Tengo + Daniel Johnston, The Sundance Music Cafe, Park City, 26 January 2005
Artists I Am Still Dying to See:
Björk, Massive Attack, Underworld, Primal Scream, Gorillaz
Best Line-Up:
Mogwai/Rapture/Interpol/The Cure, Curiosa Festival, USANA Ampitheater, Salt Lake City, 18 August 2004
Best Single Song:
Transmission, New Order, Coachella Music Festival, Indio, 1 May 2005
DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, TO THE RADIO.
Most Intimate Show:
Thanksgiving/Vetiver/Joanna Newsom/Devendra Banhart, Kilby Court, Salt Lake City, 7 June 2004
Before Lindsay Lohan and the crack-addled albums which that relationship is sure to inspire, Devendra Banhart played Kilby Court, a garage that barely qualifies as a concert space. Nell and I (and Andy Nelson randomly) spent a beautiful summer evening listening to hushed folk narratives with a handful of other audience members circled around a firepit. Absurdly intimate, and absolutely magical.
Runner-Up:
Dresden Dolls, Eclectic Ballroom (!), Middletown, 6 February 2004
Who knew Amanda Palmer was a Wesleyan graduate and that she would perform two pieces she described as "bad" and "Wesleyan-specific" about her terrible time at our alma-mater? A year later the piano and drum duo would be playing omni-domes opening up for Nine Inch Nails, but somehow I don't think the parody of the Wesleyan Fight Song was a regular on their setlist.
Most Disappointing Concert:
Flaming Lips/Beck, Beacon Theater, New York, 31 October 2002
This was one of those ridiculous lineups that could only have been dreamt up in some indie-rock enthusiasts dirtiest masturbatory fantasy: not only were the Flaming Lips going to be opening for Beck, but they were going to be his backing band. My mind was set afire: what crazy variations and mutations was Wayne Coyne going to unleash on our young Beck Hanson's music? The answer: very little. The set was disappointingly routine and the momentum of the show was killed every time Beck played another one of his tiredly morose Sea Change tunes. For every "Devil's Haircut" there was at least a dozen songs of the "I Made A Mistake And Now I Want To Kill Myself" vein. No irony, no credibility - but, more importantly, no fun.
Runner-Up:
Sufjan Stevens, Lo-Fi Cafe, Salt Lake City, 28 July 2005
The only concert I have ever walked out on. Not because of Sufjan (although his soporific cheerleading routines didn't help) but due to the sweltering Lo-Fi Cafe. Imagine listening to Casimir Pulaski Day while steaming in a sauna. Sound pleasant?
Best Opening Band:
IMA Robot, Irving Plaza, New York, 11 October 2003
Okay. So perhaps IMA Robot are not going to bust-up the place like Rebecca and I thought they were, but fuck if they didn't absolutely blow Hot Hot Heat and the French Kicks (thanks for the hot tip Andrea!) completely out of the water. By 'Black Jetta' I was sold, jumping and dancing with two drunk Germans who were obviously on the know as they bolted after Alex Ebert and company left the stage. For about a half hour, I believed I was watching a musical revelation. I later saw IMA Robot open for Duran Duran, but the frenetic energy had all but evaporated. What happened?
Runner-Up:
Stereo Total, La Riviera, Madrid, 16 March 2002
Hint: If you are opening band, just play synth-laden tunes and you will probably get me dancing in no time. "Take Me To A Holiday Inn..."
Best Bookend to a Concert:
Slow Life and The Man Don't Give a Fuck, Super Furry Animals, Webster Hall, New York, 9 February 2004
53 utterances of the word 'fuck' and a 15 minute rave interlude. Good times.
Autographs Collected:
Two. Sahara Hotnights (ask Mark, they were really hot), The New Pornographers
Worst Audible Request at a Concert:
Fur Elise. Kronos Quartet, Crowell Concert Hall, Middletown, 28 April 2001
Concert Where I Feared For My Physical Well Being:
March of the Pigs. Nine Inch Nails, Coachella Music Festival, Indio, 1 May 2005
I don't think I have ever felt so much sheer force of pressure against my sternum. I have been to a lot of physical shows, but nothing will match the complete lack of control I felt when Trent Reznor incited the crowd to "STEP RIGHT UP MARCH PUSH" - and oh did the audience ever.
Times Taken Down At A Concert:
Once. Jimmy Eat World, Arena, Madrid, 31 January 2002
What was I doing at a Jimmy Eat World concert and how was I taken down by a rabid 13-year old girl? Please, don't ask.
Most Bizarre Marvel-Style Team-Up:
Yo La Tengo + Daniel Johnston, The Sundance Music Cafe, Park City, 26 January 2005
Artists I Am Still Dying to See:
Björk, Massive Attack, Underworld, Primal Scream, Gorillaz
Best Line-Up:
Mogwai/Rapture/Interpol/The Cure, Curiosa Festival, USANA Ampitheater, Salt Lake City, 18 August 2004
Best Single Song:
Transmission, New Order, Coachella Music Festival, Indio, 1 May 2005
DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, TO THE RADIO.
posted by d l wright at 3/27/2006 03:19:00 PM
6 Comments:
AND WE COULD DANCE.
no, mark, i believe it's AND WE COULD DAAAAAAAAAAAANCE!!
also, for the record, i concur with logan's analyses, at least for the shows at which i was present (IMA Robot, what happened??)
Logan, I'm not saying you deserve getting taken down for attending a Jimmy Eat World concert, but it does seem fitting - especially considering it was a gaggle of tiny fourteen-year-olds wearing wifebeaters that had "PUNK" written on them in sharpie.
You forgot to mention the Award for Best Foreign Emo Band Name: Unfinished Sympathy opened up the Jimmy show - breaking hearts in broken English.
Perhaps it was karma for lying and saying I was a Spainard. And don't forget that Unfinished Sympathy also holds the award for worst bass solo (never let your brother in the band, dudes!). Or, now that I think about, that Weezer was the opening band for Dover and the Cranberries! Lolz.
New Category - Best Post-Concert Food:
VIP's Patatas Bravas. Why lie?
Soy como un vino tinto.
Oh, and Dave Lievens getting ejected from a Jimmy Eat World concert? Classic!
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