Category Archives: Tunes

Best of April.

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I’m not sure why I did so little in April as according to my calendar, I should have had three weekends free with only one weekend out of town, and one weekend with a house guest. Hmmmph. Procrastination reaches new heights!

I only saw one movie in April. And it wasn’t very good.

I read a few books in April and I’d have to say that Haven Kimmel’s latest memoir and the conclusion to Justine Larbalestier’s Magic or Madness trilogy were probably the best two, although I enjoyed all my reads that month.

Wow, I went to five concerts in April, I guess that’s what I was doing with my time. The Decemberists and Youth Group were probably the performances I just outright enjoyed the most, but seeing Josh Rouse a second time was definitely worth my while: he’s a lot of fun live.

I really didn’t buy as much music during April as I did in prior months of 2007. I listened a lot to “She’s About to Cross My Mind” from The Red Button which I bought after reading about them here. I bought Vandaveer “Grace & Speed” after reading that he played at Number 4‘s wedding (!!). And after Golden Smog made my top 10 last year, it wasn’t like I could pass up “Blood on the Slacks” with its Dylan teasing title. Singles-wise, I cannot stop listening to “Walk Over Me” Dirtie Blondie and the Like Rebel Diamond remix of The Killer’s “Read My Mind” (both featured on Friday Night Lights, of course). I made a mix last month that’s pretty damn fantastic if I don’t say so myself. I might send you one. Give me a good reason…

Random personal highlights: a) How came to visit!; b) Cezanne/Picasso “Vollard” show at the Art Institute was v. cool; c) FINALLY!! eating at Mas again and having my favorite drink in all the world: Pisco Sour. YUM!; d) trip to NY for Amy’s yarn inventory. Nuts.; e) brunch with the McCains and spending time with Clark’s dad again, planning our some-day hike through Colorado!; f) Lollapalooza tickets go on sale = Done!

Lowlights? I remember being really, really, really tired. Just cannot catch up.

Finally Giving In to Elvis Perkins

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After receiving multiple recommendations of Elvis Perkins “Ash Wednesday” and somehow never being convinced by the 35 second previews on iTunes, I was finally in just the right mood for it and now I just can’t stop listening. It may be elegiac in some of its lyrics and imagery, but it’s not a downer: the overall feeling is one of hope. It’s got a real twangy folky feel to it, lots of acoustic guitar strumming with crooning vocals on top.

Next to the new Travis, which I canNOT stop listening to over and over and over again, it’s probably my most played music in May.

In Concert: Arcade Fire.

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A complete 180 from the first time I saw them. Then: Huge outdoor venue, dusty field, no sound control (Lolla 2005); now: small indoor space with lights show, intense acoustics, assigned seats much closer to both the band and the speakers. This is a great band to see live: consistently better live than on the albums. Best when all 10 (11?) of them are completely rocking out.

Totally enjoyable enervating evening. But not entirely thrilled: current favorite song “Intervention” = not as powerful live as it should have been (better on the album! sacrilege!)! Need to pump up the amps on the organ!! My co-attendee: liked “Funeral” much better than the current album so enjoyed the concert but wasn’t thrilled with the song selection. But given that it’s a tour for the second album, had to expect that.

Opener: Electrelane. Four rockin’ chicks. Mostly music / only some lyrics. Loud, intense, sassy. I’ll be buying their album.

In Concert: Morrissey

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Positives: His voice is fucking just as amazing and gorgeous as it was 20 years ago. His backing band was pretty damn good.

Negatives: Oh, the ridiculous stage contortions. The ultimate drama queen. The vogueing with the mike. The incessant playing with the mike chord: was he practicing his ribbon routine for rhythmic gymnastics?

Apparently, in my old age, I am even more cranky and judgemental than I realized. I’m all about the tunes, and not so much about the ‘tude. Found it kinda laughable in fact, in those few moments when I didn’t find it annoying.

That said, I have never forgotten exactly where I was and who I was with the very first moment I ever heard the Smiths. And seeing Morrissey live, even now, even with all that, brought it all screaming right back. And that’s something.

Live Tunes for June.

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15th: Morrissey – I’m hoping for a few Smiths appearances. “Frankly, Mr. Shankly” anyone?
19th: Arcade Fire – Concert of the season, no? second time seeing them. Will accept nothing less than being blown completely away.
24th: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – I have no idea what to expect.
31st: Dinosaur Jr. with Lou Barlow doing some solo stuff also or so the flyer suggests. “Mary kissed me and we lost control / The oldest story never told / Crazy Mary you’re forever divine /
They’ll never know the baby’s mine…”

Crap!

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Great Lake Swimmers are playing Schuba’s June 30…but waaaaaah I am already going to Ravinia that night to see Lyle Lovett (and I’m the glue between the two other people going, so I can’t really back out w/o it being very awkward all ’round). I’m not a huge Lyle Lovett fan but he, his music, and his banter are really the perfect Ravinia concert. You’re outside, you’re eating olives and hummus and chips and drinking wine and you have a citronella candle and a chair and there are blankets and tables and people and you’re chatting with friends, and there’s music and talk coming from the speakers and the HAPPY is just all around, and it’s just lovely. And Lyle does a great show for that type of venue.

But daaammmmmmmmn. I have missed GLS a few times now. Once I had tickets and didn’t go. Once I bought tickets not realizing I had already bought plane tkts to NY that weekend. Ugh. Will it ever happen? Their albums are just beautiful.

In Concert: The Decemberists

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Fifth concert in seven days, I was super tired by the time this one rolled around, so made sure we got there early enough to get seats. But then the Decemberists started and I forgot all about my tiredness, and the sonic assault I’d just been through, and the travails of the week. They were Tony the Tiger great. Great! SO GREAT!!!

Amazing stage presence, every song sounded gorgeous, some better than what’s on the albums. Consummate musicians, clearly good friends. The right amount of serious versus goofy. Great lyrics, great atmosphere. I am officially in love with Colin Meloy if I wasn’t already.

One of the best shows of the year. And they’re playing a free show in Chicago July 18 if you’d like to crash at my place.

In Concert: Salif Keita

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One of the most widely known African vocalists, but unknown to me: I was invited to this, and had no idea what to expect or what kind of music it would be.

Super high energy show. Band was great, backup singers were fun, Salif Keita’s voice was amazing, and I lovedlovedloved the way he led the band with hand motions/gestures/body language.

That said, it was hard to listen to vocals in a language I will never know. I have no way of telling you which was my favorite song, (you know, the one where he sang “xxx?????”), I kept wondering what he was singing about, I felt a little in the dark…

It all SOUNDED really great though.

In Concert: Youth Group

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I really wanted to see these guys and it was their last night in America, so I’m glad I went. But lordie, what a bad idea when it comes to my SLEEP needs, which are MIGHTY. Third concert of five in a seven day period; I had to work at 6 a.m. that day, and 7 a.m. the following day, and the concert didn’t start until 9:30 and there were two openers, and the venue was so filled with smoke that when I got home at 1:30, I had to take a shower and wash my hair seven times in order to be able to breathe… Yup, it was a long night.

That said, they sounded GREAT. Very put together / accomplished band. One of the opening bands (more on that below) kept talking AS IF Youth Group was just accompanying them on the road, rather than the other way around. But sonically it was quite clear who was the REAL hit of the evening. Thought they were great, like them even more now.

Kind of a hilarious look to them, though. Four boys. Three all ’70s-styled and hirsute, one beard, one white ‘fro, one mustache, disco-y shirts, denim, etc. And the fourth? Could be a Calvin Klein model. Tall, lanky, clean cut (!!), and oh so very very pretty. Chiseled cheek and chin bones. Smooches to you, bass player! You’re hot!

Openers:

What Made Milwaukee Famous: Not bad, not bad. Didn’t seem quite comfortable on stage but some of their songs were good. Pretty enjoyable.

Aqueduct: Wow, what an ego. Their first song was GREAT but sadly they set the bar a BIT too high and it was downhill from there. The lead singer seemed to feel his band was the highlight of the night. Unfortunately for his band, I’d say his vocals are their weak link. (But I will concede the song of theirs that was on the OC Mix 4 also sounded good.)