4 posts tagged “live music”

More Jose from me.

Jose Gonzalez = amazing.

Just a guy and his guitar, and an enraptured audience. It's interesting how some performers can create a sense of intimacy even in a large crowd. He barely spoke and didn't engage in any schtick or banter, he was just himself.

Thursday: skipped out on Small Sins (formerly The Ladies and Gentlemen, smooth, warm, sweet electro-pop with synths) and Youth Group (a folksier Aussie Death Cab clone). Friday: sold my Love Is All (Swedes with keyboards and saxophones, very hip, Pitchfork-approved) ticket to Rachael. Saturday: wimped out and didn't go see the Joggers (angular indie rock from Portland) at Rothko.

Just got back from Ted Leo at the Knitting Factory -- bassist Dave's hair is bigger than ever, and he was wearing the most hideous sweater. Ted was losing his voice and rocked harder than I've ever seen him, so much to the point that he gave himself a small head wound during "The Ballad of the Sin Eater" and proceeded not to notice it until the 2nd encore. You know a man's really into the song when he doesn't notice blood dripping out his forehead.

Best performance: Okkervil River and Devotchka, followed closely by The Grates, Boy Least Likely To, and Calla. All of them had sets that seemed half an hour too short.

Most "eh" performance: Field Music.

Best band that I saw without actually seeing them: Most Serene Republic. Apparently they were in Civil War uniform?

Pleasant discoveries: Headlights, the Grates, Belaire, Tiny Steps.

Most iffy use of silly string: Evangelicals (unfocused but moments of awesome, but getting hit in the face with silly string is so not cool).

Most surreal moment: Watching the Shys with Seymour Stein, followed by the Beastie Boys at Stubb's.

Best free shit: Sprout's mini Sharpies on a keychain, handfuls of Luna bars at the iF! Tradeshow.

Best places to sit a spell: Platinum Lounge at the Convention Center, the 18th Floor at Capitol Palace during the KCRW Showcase.

Best "I Need an ATM!" moment: Flatstock. We bought six or seven posters, and cleaned out our wallets; I also bargained down a $30 Wrens poster to $20.

Band whose fashion sense has totally gone down the tube but they're still charming as hell: The Long Winters.

Lamest events: any number of "Blogger Brunch" things. Although the Stereogum party was actually very nice despite guestlist mixups.

Best day party: Jane, sponsored by Diet Dr. Pepper (ew), and Armani Exchange. We got a bunch of CD samplers and four Armani messenger-type bags for free.

I wish I could've seen: Envelopes, The Arm, Peter and the Wolf, Starlight Mints, Islands, Forward Russia, Magneta Lane, Gang of Four on a rooftop.