Category Archives: Tunes
Best of May.
Better late(r) than never, oui?
The best movie I saw in May BY FAR was Grindhouse!!! It was a completely satisfying, entertaining and exhilarating trip to the theater and shame shame shame on those of you who didn’t go it!!! The studios will just keep on putting out mediocre bullshit movies if people don’t go see the ones that are actually good!
The best book I read in May was Love Is a Mix Tape which I loved, loved, loved. I mean, LOVED.
The best concert I went to in May was a close one but I’m going to have to give the nod to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Arcade Fire was also good, but not quite as good as the first time I saw them, so I’m giving them a close second.
My favorite tunes in May were: the Buffy: “Once More, With Feeling” soundtrack (who can resist???); the new Travis album, which I am listening to incessantly and hello I get to see them Live in about a week!!!; and Elvis Perkins. I also really enjoy the singles “Mama Who Bore Me” and “Totally Fucked” from the Spring Awakening soundtrack; “Find Love (Let Go)” a new single by Kyle Andrews, “Ordinary Days” new single by Dolores O’Riordan (who’s a Cranberries member I think); and “Broken Radio” by Jesse Malin which features Springsteen.
Random personal highlights: Maryland!; three nights at Second Story; The Strizzy wedding!!! and wandering DC with Ame.
Lowlights? Thankfully after a month between, I don’t remember what any of them were! Woot! Here’s to forgetting the bad!
Late-Summer Live Tunes
Jul 14-15 Pitchfork*
Jul 21 Travis
Aug 3-5 Lollapalooza
Aug 9 Bishop Allen
Sept 12 Midlake
Sept 20 Common
*If you, like me, are busy trying to figure out which bands you want to see at Pitchfork, shoot me an email (link below “Say what?”) — I made an excel grid of the schedule, as well as a written out version that includes Chicago Innerview’s descriptions of each band.
In concert: Bishop Allen !!!
Yay! I’ve been trying to see these guys for ages and it’s just never worked out. They do quirky, melodius, good-natured pop with fun lyrics and great harmonies.
They put out 12 albums last year, a 4-song EP for every month except August, which had 13 live songs instead. And they were lots of fun in concert!
Are they playing near you? GOOOOOOOOOOOO!
It’s not Snow Patrol. But can you tell the difference?
The song “Life is Beautiful” by Vega4 is lovely and heart-pounding and anthemic and a real pleasure to listen to BUT it …SOUNDS so much LIKE… Snow Patrol. And by “so much” I mean seriously, is this Snow Patrol just putting out a song under another name for kicks and giggles? Because if I were to find out that was the case, I would TOTALLY believe it!!!
In concert: The Pinks (FINALLY!!)
I’ve been trying to see this band for so long it’s not even funny. Once I was out of town, once I had to work, and once I got there 20 minutes late and they had already played! Waah! So it was great to finally see them and I was highly impressed. The bass player Wendy is the wife of Mike who is the brother of Nan, one of my best friends from New York. I went to the concert with Cathy and Paul: Paul who cuts my hair, who cuts everyone mentioned here’s hair (except Nan, but also Nan and Mike’s mom); Cathy who was one of Mike’s best friends growing up… Wendy’s sister is one of the lead vocals/guitarists…
Yeah, I was sort of predisposed to enjoy this concert, eh? They haven’t been a band that long, but they’re writing their own stuff, and I thought it was all quite fun, both musically and lyrically. They sounded polished and together and rocked the place out. Yay, the Pinks!!
In concert: The Fray.
Huh, I guess I never told you about this one and I forgot to put it on the list too. I’ll have to fix that tonight.
Not sure why I bought these tickets. If you only have two decent songs, even if they are REALLY good (which I do think those two songs are, and you know them if you watched Grey’s Anatomy), you’re really a fairly middle of the road band. No shame in that, maybe your album/tours shouldn’t have happened until a bunch of better songs on down the road. I realize the industry is not run for long-term success, it’s their fault more than the band’s I’m sure. Years from now, they could be a good band. Right now, not so much.
Opener: OK Go. Third time I’ve seen them. Technically they are the better band but I guess they haven’t made as much money. A much calmer set than their usual. No dancing. But sounded good.
Banterwise for both bands: Dudes. What is up with constantly telling the audience about how they are different/better/worse than the previous night’s audience? a) who fucking cares about the idiots who came to last night’s show? and b) to us, this is the ONLY concert. Tonight. You/Us. That’s it. You should pretend that too.
Album: Electrelane “No Shouts, No Calls”
These girls just plain rocked out when they opened for Arcade Fire. But I don’t think this album represents them very well. It’s a bit sedated. (Buy tickets to one of their shows instead!!)
“After the Call” and “Between the Wolf and the Dog” sound the most like they sounded live. “Cut and Run” has great lyrics.
À la Super Eggplant, currently, I am…
Making: I’m doing the quilting on Mariko’s quilt. And pretty much nothing else.
Reading: Finally breaking into my Mark Helprin stash with “Freddy and Fredericka.” It’s got a good dose of irreverence and I am quite enjoying it.
Watching: I finished Buffy and Angel…and then I started all over again, but much slower this time (only one a day!). Also just rewatched season 1 of Bones: the Emily Deschanel/David Boreanaz commentary on disc 3 is a LOT of fun. I don’t usually listen to those on movies, but I got into them on Buffy (although on Buffy, they give away MAJOR MAJOR plot points from future seasons. You’ve been warned. My dad, sadly, was caught unawares by a couple of doozies).
Listening: I bought a boatload of new music in the past couple of days and am just slowly making my way through it. So far the White Stripes “Icky Thump” is really rockin’ out.
Lonely lyrics, with a bit of hope.
I just want to feel / something more than this;
I just want to have / all the things i miss(ed?);
I just want to learn / all there is to know;
I just want to hold on to / all that I let go.
I don’t want to let you down.
I don’t want to let you down.
I don’t want to let you down, let you down again.
I just want to sing / every single song;
I just want to fix / everything that’s wrong;
I just want to be / safe inside the love;
I just want to give and give and give / enough to fill you up.
I don’t want to let you down.
I don’t want to let you down.
I don’t want to let you down, let you down again.
And I’ve been walking the universe and waiting for worlds to align;
Until I heard your exit wounds were healing better than mine.
–“Exit Wounds” Shane Nicholson