Red Mosquito

I was really lucky being able to catch two Aussie bands when they were in town this week. Total Control put on easily one of the better sets I've seen all year. And Blank Realm was even better in person. I loved their last LP and it was really nice to see them perform that material in person.

Just saw Brad Mehldau Trio. Still reeling. It's simultaneously humbling and inspiring to see such a rich, vibrant performance; three masters maneuvering effortlessly through rhythm and melody, expanding outward and shapeshifting throughout the length of a song, pinning ideas down long enough to explore their emotional core before releasing; passion, playfulness and care. A beautiful, beautiful show.

It was great. One of the best shows I've ever been to. I got really good seats, too.

I felt that way the couple times I saw him too. And good seats make a huge difference. The first time I saw him, we were pretty far away in a fairly large hall (The Chicago Symphony Center)--thankfully the sound was good, but it was nothing compared to seeing him in the front row of a tiny auditorium that seated about 1000 people. I'm glad you're enjoying him so much--he's one of my all-time favorites, and I've never had any luck selling other people on him.

I was by Jeff Ballard's side, just a few feet away. He's a beast on the drums.

Yeah, he's amazing--I'd love to see him up close.

This exchange inspired me to throw this beaut of an album on before bed last night:

I haven't been to a show since seeing Guster in January, but I have 4 coming up in the next month (Avett Brothers, Dave Matthews Band, Paul McCartney, and Pearl Jam).

theplatypus wrote:I was by Jeff Ballard's side, just a few feet away. He's a beast on the drums.

just youtubed them, he sure is.

Saw Beach House back in April and they were fantastic.

Mickey wrote:Saw Beach House back in April and they were fantastic.

Seeing them in September! Really excited.

Anyone seen frightened rabbits ? They are coming to charlottesville in October and we are thinking about going.

i just saw edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros. it was fun, but underwhelming.

Saw The Drones, Mono and Boris at this a couple of days ago. One of the best shows I've been to. It just had the best atmosphere. That Boris drummer is a crazy mother fucker. I ttly held him up when he jumped into the crowd for a surf.

theplatypus wrote:

Mickey wrote:Saw Beach House back in April and they were fantastic.

Seeing them in September! Really excited.

I'm biased because I have a personal connection to their last two albums in the context of my last (failed) relationship and I was at the concert with a different date so there were a lot of emotions going on that night--but that said, it was a really great show. I like their albums but at the show, the songs sounded even fuller, more dynamic. They opened with "Wild" and it just fucking rocked.

They're wonderful records, relationship bias or not--though you can definitely hear how the melodic density of some of the songs could really stir that pot if that's what was going on in your head. I hope I can catch them next time they come this direction.

Saw this cat, Nicholas Howard last night on the Lowe East Side. Really enjoyed it. Short set, but kid made the most of it.

Went to AmericanaramA yesterday.

MMJ: No pauses for speaking, went through their hour long set efficiently. I wish they had more than an hour to play, band and Jim sounded great to me. I do not think the set had anything from their fist two albums. I could have done without Out of My System and generally I do not care for Slow Tune, but it was extended and sounded pretty good at the show.

Wilco: I believe several of the songs were played at a slower tempo. More acoustic. Some of the jams featured the futuristic spacy noise effects more prominently (Poor Places, Via Chicago, Impossible Germany, Art of Almost). I Might seemed like it was muscled up a little. For me, the set really was great, but hit a snag when they did a Dead Cover w Bob Weir (this was probably the highlight for many of the folks there). I am not a Dead fan, so I didnt know the song. About an hour and 15 minutes.

Bob Dylan: As documented on this board several times, it was difficult to determine what songs he was playing because of his abandonment of the vocal melody of all songs except those from Tempest. The Tempest songs all sounded pretty close to the way they do on the record (vocally and musically). I thought his band was quite good and I still enjoyed his set. I was able to pick up on the song being played pretty quickly for most because I had a pretty good idea of what he had been playing in his set. I was hoping for Pay in Blood, which was not played. Things Have Changed is one of my favorites but the version played was unrecognizable to me. About an hour and 15 minutes.

I am a big fan of all three acts, and it was my first time seeing MMJ and Bob. Great show. Overall, I cant say I've been to a better one. Jeff Tweety had a couple of brief interactions with the crowd, but that was it, MMJ and Dylan didnt address the crowd at all. I think about 70% of the crowd was there to see Dylan only, so it was appropriate for Dylan to close the show and MMJ and Wilco dialed their sets back enough (not in a bad way) so that Dylan's set didnt seem awkward... though I bet a lot of people were disappointed in Dylan's set.

Kalevi wrote:Went to AmericanaramA yesterday.

MMJ: No pauses for speaking, went through their hour long set efficiently. I wish they had more than an hour to play, band and Jim sounded great to me. I do not think the set had anything from their fist two albums. I could have done without Out of My System and generally I do not care for Slow Tune, but it was extended and sounded pretty good at the show.

Wilco: I believe several of the songs were played at a slower tempo. More acoustic. Some of the jams featured the futuristic spacy noise effects more prominently (Poor Places, Via Chicago, Impossible Germany, Art of Almost). I Might seemed like it was muscled up a little. For me, the set really was great, but hit a snag when they did a Dead Cover w Bob Weir (this was probably the highlight for many of the folks there). I am not a Dead fan, so I didnt know the song. About an hour and 15 minutes.

Bob Dylan: As documented on this board several times, it was difficult to determine what songs he was playing because of his abandonment of the vocal melody of all songs except those from Tempest. The Tempest songs all sounded pretty close to the way they do on the record (vocally and musically). I thought his band was quite good and I still enjoyed his set. I was able to pick up on the song being played pretty quickly for most because I had a pretty good idea of what he had been playing in his set. I was hoping for Pay in Blood, which was not played. Things Have Changed is one of my favorites but the version played was unrecognizable to me. About an hour and 15 minutes.

I am a big fan of all three acts, and it was my first time seeing MMJ and Bob. Great show. Overall, I cant say I've been to a better one. Jeff Tweety had a couple of brief interactions with the crowd, but that was it, MMJ and Dylan didnt address the crowd at all. I think about 70% of the crowd was there to see Dylan only, so it was appropriate for Dylan to close the show and MMJ and Wilco dialed their sets back enough (not in a bad way) so that Dylan's set didnt seem awkward... though I bet a lot of people were disappointed in Dylan's set.

We are going to the va beach show next month, and i can't wait, I've seen mmj and wilco and can't wait to see them again, and though its not the bob Dylan of old, i can't wait to see him for the first time