Wherein I gush to Vicky about seeing John Darnielle last night

Setting matters so much in concerts. I think the thing is that, up until this point, the "transcendental" moments for me have been with HUGE amounts of people, or big settings, stuff like that. Daft Punk 07 and Kanye West 09 were both at Lollapalooza, which was, of course, gigantic. Wilco at the Pavilion in 09 and at the Riviera in 08 were both rather large settings. The Riviera is much cozier than the UIC Pavilion, but we're still talking 2500 people. Every time I've seen the Flaming Lips it was in a huge crowd. The Hold Steady/Drive-By Truckers show at the Riv in 08 was pretty big. Springsteen was at the United Center. So I mean, these things...they're big. Sometimes they're outright big, other times they're relative big, but still, big.

Last night with John Darnielle was small. Like, almost tiny. It was at the American Theater Company, which doesn't really have a big space to begin with. I would say there were, tops, 130 people in the room. Before the first song he passes this little notebook around the audience, and everyone who wants to can write down a request. He didn't really prepare a set-list except for maybe six or seven songs. After he finishes those six or seven he starts going through the requests.

I requested Golden Boy. Apparently there was a note at the top of the first page where John wrote that he was not going to play Golden Boy. I didn't read that part, but I wrote it down anyway. After I passed the notebook away he started talking about how no matter how many people want to hear Golden Boy, and no matter how badly they want to hear it, he wasn't going to play Golden Boy. Dammit. Juan requested Cubs in Five. Also a great song, but it's depressing as hell.

So after Going to Georgia (amazing song) he gets the notebook back and starts going through the requests. Some of the songs are super old and he didn't remember the words/chords, but someone in the audience knew how each song went, and he gave some of those a try. There were songs that only one person in the room remembered, and then there were singalong songs that were absolutely amazing. After he started doing requests he moved off the microphone and unplugged his amplifier. He asked the audience to move down, and everyone in the first three rows went and sat on the floor, while everyone behind them moved up into vacant seats. It was like a campfire thing where John Darnielle was our slightly drunken scout leader singing his songs about love, hate, rock and roll, and people from Texas. He also did a cover of The Sign by Ace of Base, which up to this point I've only seen on YouTube.

It was an amazing set, and then came the encore. He comes out, and he does a couple of songs on the piano, one of them new and one of them a cover. Then he does a cover of a Dio song because Ronnie James Dio died yesterday, and John Darnielle loves Black Sabbath. He also played Cubs In Five, which in and of itself was amazing, and made my night. It's a song that contains, in the chorus, "and the Chicago Cubs will beat every team in the league," but it's basically mentioning things that the singer knows will never happen. It's like "well, if these things happen then I'll love you again, but I won't love you again because there's no way in hell these things will ever happen." However, the hook is still "and the Chicago Cubs will beat every team in the league," which means every time he's in Chicago people yell for it.

But then, Vicky. But then. Then he played Golden Boy. HE FUCKING PLAYED GOLDEN BOY OH MY GOD. EVEN THOUGH HE EXPLICITLY SAID THAT HE WOULD NOT. AND I REQUESTED GOLDEN BOY IN THE BOOK AND OH MY GOD. IT WAS LIKE ONE OF THE BEST MOMENTS AND TIMES AND THIS AND THAT AND OK I'M TAKING OFF CAPS LOCK now. He said he played it because we didn't yell for it, and that at every one of his other shows there's always someone in the audience who shouts "Golden Boy!" after every song, which makes him not want to play it. He has a theory that some people only want him to play Golden Boy because they know he'll yell at them if they shout for it. I just wanted him to play it because 1. I know that he never plays it, and 2. I really like the song.

It seemed like it went on forever but at the same time there's no way I wanted it to stop. It ended with a singalong to The Best Ever Death Metal Band From Denton, complete with a chorus of HAIL SATAN at the end, sung by everyone in the crowd.

Because it was a fundraiser there were raffle prizes and stuff. After the encore they were drawing more raffle prizes and John came back out to pull some. (I won tickets to a theater production earlier in the night, which was cool. Who knows when that'll get used) He then said "if we raise $100 I'll sing Houseguest a-capella." So then we raised $100, and he sang Houseguest a-capella, walking around the audience, singing into their faces, exaggeratedly pushing people. It was an absolutely incredible way to end the night, and oh my god.

Intimate vs. Gigantic. It's so rare that something like this comes up. The last time Mountain Goats were in Chicago they played the Metro. There's also the difference between a full band and a solo performance. The full band has to be tighter and the singer can't ramble on about whatever he wants for five minutes.

But anyway, I'm still on a high from this. Absolutely amazing. Thanks for reading, Vicky, if you managed to make it all the way through.

Do You Realize??

Gets me every time.

Every.

Time.

An Aural Arms Open Wide

[setlists via Via Chicago]


Night One, Sunday, October 18:
Wilco (the song)
A Shot in the Arm
Bull Black Nova
You Are My Face
I Am Trying to Break Your Heart
One Wing
Misunderstood
At Least That's What You Said
Deeper Down
Impossible Germany
It's Just That Simple
I'll Fight
Handshake Drugs
Sonny Feeling
Jesus, Etc.
Theologians
I'm Always in Love
Hate It Here
Walken
I'm the Man Who Loves You
-------
You Never Know
Heavy Metal Drummer
Just a Kid
Kingpin
Monday
Outtasite (Outta Mind)
Hoodoo Voodoo
I'm a Wheel



Night Two, Monday, October 19:
Via Chicago *
Bull Black Nova
A Shot in the Arm
Side with the Seeds *
You Are My Face
One Wing
I am Trying to Break Your Heart
Kamera *
I'll Fight
Impossible Germany
Country Disappeared *
Handshake Drugs
Far, Far Away *
Sonny Feeling
Box Full of Letters *
Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) *
Jesus, Etc.
Can't Stand It *
I'm the Man Who Loves You
Hummingbird *
-------
The Late Greats *
You Never Know
Hate it Here
Walken
Heavy Metal Drummer
Poor Places *
Spiders (Kidsmoke) *
Passenger Side *
Casino Queen *
Outtasite (Outta Mind)

*'s indicate that new songs not played on the first night.

Yes, I'm utilizing the tag "life affirming occurrences." Maybe it's because I haven't seen them in 14 months, but I still know for damn sure that they brought it. One Wing KILLS live, absolutely KILLS. Misunderstood on night one made me melt on the inside, and so did Via Chicago opening night two. Night two also had the best encore/second set ever. Poor Places into Spiders (Kidsmoke) was every bit as omgworthy as I thought it would be. Far, Far Away is, like, my UIC song, even though it's not that far away from the city lights at all, but it's totally my UIC song, so to hear that played was amazing. I have an incredible new appreciation for Hoodoo Voodoo, which is completely different when seen versus heard on record or heard on bootleg at this point. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is probably the best song of the 2000s, I ain't gonna lie.

I know it's a week later, and that last paragraph was really just a series of thoughts strung together, but let me tell ya, it was just that great.

Don't stay away too long, guys.

Feel the pain of everyone

Dinosaur Jr.
The Vic
October 15, 2009



Setlist, via Consequence of Sound (who also have a great write up) :

Thumb
In A Jar
I Want You To Know
Imagination Blind
Get Me
Pieces
Plans
Feel The Pain
Over It
Forget the Swan
Back To Your Heart
The Wagon
Freak Scene
---
Just Like Heaven (The Cure cover)
The Lung

From Feel the Pain to Freak Scene was just...wow.

I think Dinosaur Jr. is in that realm of bands that I have to see every time they're in town now. Drove to Dekalb to see them earlier this year. Don't want to go to Dekalb ever again, but oh man, that night at Otto's was a great couple of hours.

Transparence

Loney, Dear, Asobi Seksu, Anna Ternheim
Bottom Lounge
October 10, 2009

I called out your name

Alejandro Escovedo
Chicago Country Music Festival
October 4, 2009



This is the fourth time I've seen Alejandro since last July 4, and I think this is also the fourth backing band variation I've seen.

Also, for the record, I believe this is the first time I saw him play with Nicolas Tremulis.

It's ok, Mirah. I can read your handwriting.

Mirah, Norfolk & Western
Schubas
October 3, 2009



It's going to be a long time before I forget the night that I saw Mirah play "Cold Cold Water."

Among the dust and the microfiche

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Depreciation Guild, Cymbals Eat Guitars
Logan Square Auditorium
September 8


"I think this is the first time anyone has been kicked out for moshing at a Pains of Being Pure at Heart show"

Between them, the combined p4k score for Pains of Being Pure at Heart and Cymbals Eat Guitars is 16.7. Dang, that's better than any one Beatles album! [but my math could be off...and also Rubber Soul is likely still better]

[and wow, that's an awful picture...sorry.]

thepainsofbeingpureatheart.com
TheirSpace

thedepreciationguild.com

Cymbals Eat Guitars on MySpace

Your Life Is Over

Titus Andronicus, The So So Glos, Cococoma
Bottom Lounge
September 7


"You're cool and everything, but this guy's wearing the shirt. It's not even written on with sharpie or anything, it's a real fucking shirt. This song's for him."

titusandronicus.net
TheirSpace

It took me a while to actually get into Airing of Grievances, but oh my god, it's really, really fantastic.

Bring the good boys home

The 1900s
Pritzker Pavilion
September 4


TheirSpace

Wait, this doesn't sound like a love song

"This is an awful song to dedicate to a woman."

Van Ghost
Wells Park Gazebo
September 1


vanghost.com
TheirSpace

Hm, this is called a "pick?"

Robert Bobbert and the Bubble Machine and Bunny Clogs
Pritzker Pavilion
August 31, 2009




"Jump," you say? With a soft "g" sound? Hm. I think I like "gump" better, but ok.

Also, for future reference, the next time I'm in Minneapolis: Midtown Greenway

Play "Where Do You Run To!"

Vivian Girls, acoustic set
Permanent Records In-Store
August 30, 2009

"No, we don't play that song live."

This one is for the '88 Oilers

Red Red Meat and Rural Alberta Advantage
Pritzker Pavilion
August 24, 2009
RAA = my new favorite "new" band



"WOOOOO!"
"Hey, you're from Alberta?"
"Absolutely not, but I love that song!"

How many gazebos do you shemales need?

Tom Schraeder.
Wells Park Gazebo.
August 18, 2009.
Great way to spend a summer evening.


'Cause every night is like our first date.

Going to concerts without a phone

Brandon: Oh shit, I forgot my phone in the car.
Barb: Oh. Do you think you'll need it?
Brandon: ...nah.

and guess what, I didn't!

It was cool not holding on to it to feel for vibes, it was cool not looking at it every five minutes during a less-than-exciting opening act, it made everything go by a bit faster, and I didn't even know what time the show ended (turned out, about 2 am[!!]).

I was able to answer a couple of texts when I got back to the car, and no harm was done.

There was a part where Jamie Lidell wanted to try this experiment where everyone takes out their cell phones and everyone makes them ring all at the same time. I wasn't able to participate but it didn't really work anyway.

Liberating experience.

Wilco will love you, baby

Scored my Wilco tickets via presale today. Gonna be on the floor for Wilco (the concert) at the UIC Pavilion. I can't speak to the sound at the Pavilion, as I've only been there for basketball games, commencement, and Barack Obama, none of which really needed to have great sound. Someone who saw Aretha Franklin at the Pavilion said that the sound isn't that bad, so we'll see. More info at the UIC Pavilion website.

In other news, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs are officially on the bill and on the schedule for Lollapalooza.

Brandon, via text: "yeah yeah yeahs replacing Beastie Boys"
Juan, via text: "meh"

We missed their set two years ago when they were slotted between The Hold Steady and Spoon on a different stage and we opted not to move from our spot. I'd probably rather watch the Yeah Yeah Yeahs than go home early, but I ain't gonna lie, I really wanted to see Beastie Boys. Like, really. Like, "if I didn't get the gold rush tickets I would have gotten a single day pass just to see them"-really-wanted-to-see-them. So, any "replacement" is going to feel like a let-down, but I'll deal. It just means I can take my time coming back from Animal Collective.

And all your bad days will end

Supposedly there are people out there who don't like the Flaming Lips' show. Well, obviously there are people out there who don't like the Flaming Lips' show, there are a lot of people out there who don't like a lot of things. Hell, not even Pitchfork liked the Flaming Lips set at Lollapalooza 2006, saying they were a big "flop," and even going so far as to say that Wayne Coyne is "indie rock's Carrot Top." Like whoa, Carrot Top?

Lollapalooza 2006 was my first Flaming Lips show, and it was really a religious experience. Then I saw them again in September 2007 at the Aragon, which conjured up all of the same good feelings all over again. Now here they are, headlining the Pitchfork Music Festival, and playing the songs that the fans voted on, which turned out to be, largely, the songs they play anyway.

Yeah there was a lot of confetti, and yeah there were lots of balloons, Wayne was riding on someone in a gorilla costume, and generally speaking there was incredible sensory overload, but that all comes with the territory when you're talking about the Flaming Lips. Then you have the music. This was the first time I saw them where they deviated a bit from the pool of songs the normally play, dusting off "Bad Days" from Clouds Taste Metallic, "Mountain Side" from In a Priest Driven Ambulance, and a Fearless Freaks number that they said Wayne said they've never played live before and will never play again, in addition to the normal tracks from which they pull. [though, in their defense, they dusted off a Zaireeka song at the Aragon] But, basically, people love the singles from Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, and don't we all? [full setlist is posted at setlist.fm]

There's nothing quite like 15,000 people experiencing the Flaming Lips together, singing along at the top of their lungs to "Do You Realize???" I completely forgot about the song, and after they played "She Don't Use Jelly" I, stupidly, didn't know what would come next. "Wait, what's number one?" Then they did the countown.

1!
2!
3!
4!
:guitar strum:

...oh, that's right. Holy SHIT.

Then the confetti, and the smoke, and the singing along. At least from where I was standing, everyone seemed to be on the same page. I can't speak for the people in the back, or the people who seem to be too cool to care. There aren't too many bands I really badly want to see every time they come to town, but the Flaming Lips are one of them. Even if they play the same songs every time, and do the same performance every time, I still need to be there. It's less a concert and more of an experience. I'm out there, tearing up and singing along at the top of my lungs like some sort of weirdo dope, but then I look around and everyone else was doing the same thing.

It was an incredible 80 minutes. Damn right it's a religious experience, and I know I'll be right there the next time they roll through Chicago.

I don't know what separated this time from the last two times I saw them. I don't want to use terms like "better" because I know that I can probably find more appropriate descriptions, but this time seemed...different, but in the best way possible. "I rocked my ass off with the Flaming Lips and it was the best night of my life" is basically the truth. I saw the Flaming Lips at Pitchfork Music Festival, and it made me a better person. Insert another t-shirt superlative here. That's how it basically was.


A final note: one of the balloons had a wedding proposal written on it. People seemed to be trying to get it passed to the front so Wayne could read it, but someone kept hitting it backwards. Later it showed up again with "YES" written under the proposal. Way to go, Dan and Amy, I hope you guys are together 4ever!

I posted my picture set up there. Here's a video of the end of "She Don't Use Jelly" and "Do You Realize???" that's surfaced on YouTube.

Burns bein' broke [soon]

Springsteen's coming to town.
Phoenix is coming to town.
Wilco is coming to town.
Son Volt, Dinosaur Jr., Moby, too.
Pitchfork this weekend.
Lollapalooza in three weeks.

So, not broke yet, but it certainly looks like I will be.

Reminders

Very Truly Yours



Juno and Jupiter

Let the record show:

- Free shows are pretty rad.
- There was a Thax Douglas sighting, but he didn't read, and I don't think he was really into Very Truly Yours
- Juno and Jupiter is worth checking out. They use a xylophone, and a violin. Just knowing that you know they're a winner.
- Very Truly Yours is still really cool. Picked up a copy of their new EP, Reminders. Looking forward to listening.
- By 12:00 there were, maybe, 30 people at the Double Door, and maybe 15 of us were watching the band. It's gonna be one of those nights about which you'll tell your friends when one of the bands ends up selling millions of records. "I SAW THEM FOR FREE AT THE DOUBLE DOOR AND LIKE, NOBODY WAS THERE AND ONLY 10 OF US WERE PAYING ATTENTION!!!1" Now whether either of these bands end up being that band is up for debate, but it would be pretty cool. Sorry for the caps.

Juno and Jupiter
Very Truly Yours