I'm hitting myself over the head today for not posting a review for the Spoon show I saw Saturday night at Webster Hall. Looks like some people have already beaten me to it, but no matter - here is my take:
This was my second time seeing Spoon. The first time was in Boston last fall. I was interviewing for a job in town at the time, and I somehow had the balls to ask the company who flew me in to extend my stay in the hotel an extra day just to see the concert. I was insanely busy with school at the time, so I really don't know how I managed to pull it off. This time seeing Spoon there was much less of a buildup for me - I hopped on the subway and walked to Webster Hall. No planes or rental cars or finding parking on Mass Ave in a rental car necessary. And for the most part, this Spoon concert was much better than the last.
Unlike some consensus I am seeing on the web (ie the stuff on the brooklynvegan post above), I loved the setlist - at least the beginning. Within the first 3 or 4 songs I got to hear Me and the Bean, They Never Got You, and Utilitarean - pretty much my favorite cuts from their respective albums. I know this puts me in the minority, as they are 'odd man out' cuts (except for maybe Utilitarean). On these songs Spoon was on fire. Britt nailed "you-OOOOO tilitarean" falsetto part perfectly. His voice was in great shape, and unlike when I saw them in Boston, it wasn't road weary. This doesn't mean it was perfect - it started getting a little fatigued later in the set, which Britt noted. However, I don't think it mattered that much.
They played two new songs - the first, "Rhythm and Soul" I'll call it, was a catchy tune. Lyrics were in the vein of "Take the Fifth" from Girls can Tell. Unapologetically singing the praises of rock and roll, rhythm and soul. Excited to see how it turns out on the record. The second new song they played wasn't too memorable for me - and sadly right now I can't really come up with any good descriptors.
As for the crowd, they didn't really lap up the show. They were mostly stoic as is the status quo with NYC crowds nowadays. However, I didn't think people were not focused on the show - there were some toe tapping, head bobbing, and dancing in place involved. I think part of the problem was that Webster Hall was packed to the gills. Unlike the Rapture show I saw a few weeks ago, this show was sold out - and many in the crowd couldn't watch the show from a decent angle or with good sound. I was originally front and center - about 5-8 rows of people from the barrier. Sound was great, and so was the crowd. I went to the bathroom when they started playing "I Turn My Camera On", and couldn't really get a good spot back after that for the last few songs or the encore. Something else of note was that people in the back were dancing much more than people in the front. Maybe it was because they were near the bar.
Sure, the setlist didn't flow, and I still hate how they predictably embellish "Paper Tiger" - a song I think is pretty weak to begin with. However, I still think is was a pretty good show - certainly one of the best if you had to see a show last weekend.
One more thing: I'm sure its been said before other places but the roaming beer dude at Webster Hall has to go. Its impossible to enjoy yourself in the packed crowd as it is, let alone with a guy with a recycling bin full of beer trying to push through. Sure, it might provide convenience for some, but it sure as hell detracts more than it adds from the 2 concerts I've seen at Webster Hall so far.
Next stop for my Webster Hall concertgoing - the Clipse? We'll see.
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