litigious hipster

You keep me comin' home again...

Sonic Youth totally killed it in the pool last night.  Their show was beautiful, rocking, energetic, and experimental all in one.  They opened with Teenage Riot, which I never, ever expected to hear (even though I'm not sure how often they actually play it).  I was uncontrollably dancing, pumping my fist, and having a great time.  Too bad most of those surrounding me were content to bob their heads.  Which is OK, I suppose.  It was an interesting crowd - lots of parents with their teenagers in tow.  Sometimes it was obvious that the teen was into the YYY's (as evidenced by the girl next to me in homemade garb who clearly wanted to be Karen O), and sometimes the teens were into Sonic Youth (as evidenced by the group next to me with washing machine T-shirts). 

I loved all of the new straightforward stuff - Reena, Incinerate, and What a Waste. Eric's Trip was totally unexpected as well, and again most of the people around me didn't seem to know the song.  Weird.  Do You Believe in Rapture was delicate bliss  100% was incredible, especially Thurston's guitar god antics throughout.  He was definitely playing to the audience (as well as a camera).  Maybe the show will be released in some form in the future.  Turquiose Boy and Rats were pretty middling to me, unfortunately, but things picked up again with Jams Run Free.  Pink Steam and Or were even more blissful than Rapture.  Encore Shaking Hell was OK - fun to hear, but I wanted to rock out a la Sugar Kane some more.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs opened the show.  Throughout my disposition ranged from totally bored to sort of bored.  Karen O is a great performer, and Zinner is a great guitarist, and even though the band was gellin' I just wasn't that into it.  Perhaps its because I kept imagining Karen and Zinner better in separate contexts.  I won't get too snotty here since I think that the YYY's music is a lot better than most out there, but its too bland for repeat listens or concert-goings by me.

The Enthusiast

Here is a short (harsh sounding) clip of Mission of Burma playing the Enthusiast at the Warsaw a few weeks ago.  I took it from the front row.  When I'm over 50, I want to be as cool as Roger Miller.

Yawn Yawn Yawn

Postcards from Italy

So I haven't posted in about a month since I started this, but I have been busy moving in and enjoying NYC while I still have free time (I haven't started work yet - my first day is 2 weeks from tomorrow). 

Some short reviews:

Mission of Burma exceeded my expectations, and I loved my first concert at the Warsaw.  I got in the very front and rocked out with my you-know-what  out, and never looked back.  They played 2 long sets, and a big encore after that.  I think the songs from the Obliterati were much stronger live than on the record, and I was very surprised they played '13' (my favorite). I enjoyed Death Vessel as the first opener, although watching him play is an experience right out of a David Lynch movie (woman's voice coming out of a man).  Second opener Major Stars sucked - their sound mix sucked, and more importantly their front-women sucked.  She's trying way too hard to be a Karen-O type.  A shame, as I enjoy Syntoptikon now and then.

The Siren Fest has been covered ten thousand ways to Sunday through other sources.   I had an OK time - I got stuck in front of the main stage from Stars on and regrettably missed Art Brut.  Tapes N Tapes was fun, but the sound wasn't too great.  The act that really killed my good time was She Wants Revenge.  Don't get me started.  Scissor Sisters were entertaining, although not my cup of tea, so me and little litigious hipster left mid-set to catch the subway back before the crowds.  The only surprise of the day for me was The Stills, who were really entertaining.  I was jaded about them before, but they impressed me with their showmanship and best sound mix of the day (probably wasn't due to the band, but it helped get their performance across).

Jens Lekman at the Bowery Ballroom was a great time all around, of course.  I was sort of let down by how loose his band was, and how that translated into carefree performances of the older material.  I guess I expected Black Cab to be as powerful live as when I first heard it on record, which may or may not be a reasonable expectation.  The new songs though were stellar, as was the acoustic performance of Maple Leaves that my fellow hipsters got all quiet to listen to.  I thought Jens' set  a bit short, so I hope to catch him again in the future.  Next time with more beautiful Swedish girls.  Oh, and after the show Jens hung out downstairs, drank some brew, and talked to fans.  Awesome.

Openers at the Jens show:  Beirut really impressed me.  It just floored me how many musical choices they (or the lead guy, I guess he does most of the writing(?)) make and how good their stage performance is.  Hopefully they won't be a one trick pony, and that their discography will grow. Jeremy Barnes' presence can't hurt.  Frida Hyvonen was excellent as well.  I liked the song she sang about NYC (called N.Y. I think).  Too bad I didn't have the balls to go up and ask her out...hehe.

Upcoming shows

And now for the music portion of my posts for the day!

Here is a list of the upcoming shows that I'm currently planning on attending:

July 14 - Mission of Burma @ The Warsaw in Brooklyn
July 15 - The Siren Festival @ Coney Island
July 21 - Jens Lekman (and Beirut!) @  Bowery Ballroom

August 02 - Sleater-Kinney @ Webster Hall
August 12 - Sonic Youth and the Yeah Yeah Yeah's @ McCarren Park Pool

Some Tuesday - Mingus Big Band @ The Iridium

Shows that I might attend:
July 06 - Broken Social Scene @ Prospect Park Bandshell 
July 09 - Les Savy Fav, Beans w/ Holy Fuck, Dragons of Zynth @ McCarren Park Pool
July 22 - Eagles of Death Metal and Peaches @ Roseland Ballroom

At the Siren festival I'm looking forward to Tapes 'N Tapes, Art Brut, and Man Man.  The schedule looks like it will work out for me to see them all. 

I love jazz too, and the Mingus Big Band is the best band I have seen live hands down.  Its ironic that I've seen them twice, but both times were the 2 times I have been to London.  Anyway, I get to see them any Tuesday night I want now!

In regards to the BSS show:  $30! WTF?  Maybe if it is nice weather and I feel like making the trek. I just remembered that my first LSAT class is that night.  Nevermind.

I really want to go the free pool party (and more in the future), but I'm hesistant about going by myself. 

Oh, and I wanted to see Belle and Sebastian today @ Battery Park but:
1) I don't have tickets, and
2) I think Manhattan is probably mobbed with people today, and its gonna pour soon.