From: Suzel
Date: Mon Nov 18, 2002 6:41 am
Last week, I finally saw The Liars who really rocked the Casbah! Very good stuff. another album to get ... The Coral cancelled :( .. Sparklehorse was a bit shitty. Well, very disappointing. But the highlight of this evening was a French band.. even The Liars were not as good performers as this band called Dionysos. 6 on stage, happy to be there, all smiling and joking :) The band didn't want to leave the stage, neither did we. I already saw them about 6 years ago, we were about 50 in the venue and they rocked it the same way. So if you ever got the chance to see them (they tour outside France too), they really worth it. Half of their songs are in English so you shouldn't be too lost. ;)
GVSB yesterday was really cool. a nice gig.. less energy though than in 95 in Reading. But hey this was a gig in a little French city, nothing comparing to Reading .. They played their whole new album, their 2 famous tracks (Kill the Sex Player and I forgot the other one title) and covered "She's lost control" of Joy Division.
My gigs of this week should be Guitar Wolf (a Japanese garage band who is said to be completely crazy on stage), Division of Laura Lee, The peepshows, Bombshell rock, Raised fist. I'll let you know.
Know anything about Le Tigre? I heard a title and really like it. Now, Interpol.. here are the dates of their tour in US and the first European dates beginning with UK.
--Suzel
USA 2002
05.12. Philadelphia, PA - Gasoline
06.12. Washington, DC - Black Cat
07.12. Richmond, VA - Alley Katz
08.12. Atlanta, GA - Cotton Club
09.12. Carrboro, NC - Cat's Cradle
11.12. Boston, MA - Middle East
19.12. New York City, NY - Bowery Ballroom --sold out
20.12. New York City, NY - Bowery Ballroom --sold out
21.12. New York City, NY - Bowery Ballroom --sold out
UK 2002 - NME Brats tour w/the datsuns (headliners) + the polyphonic spree
+ the thrills
26.01 Glasgow - Barrowlands
27.01 Newcastle - Northumbria University
28.01 Birmingham - Birmingham Academy
30.01 Sheffield - Sheffield University
31.01 Liverpool - Liverpool University
01.02 Manchester - Manchester University
03.02 Leeds - Leeds Metropolitan University
04.02 Nottingham - Notthingham Rock City
05.02 Norwich - Norwich UEA
07.02 Portsmouth - Pyramid
08.02 Cardiff - Cardiff Univeristy
09.02 London - Astoria
The owner of the original legendary Chicago punk bar, OZ, and producer of the infamous punk album Busted at OZ comments on music along with others. Visit Busted At OZ
Monday, November 18, 2002
Saturday, November 16, 2002
TSOOL show in Chicago
From: demhopkins
Date: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:19 am
Cato [Salsa Experience] was fucking amazing. Very much a Mooney Suzuki type sound but occasional keyboards added a dimension to the sound. TSOOL is another band (like The Strokes) that have made huge strides in a short time. Nice long performance focused on "Behind the Music" and two great encores that incorporated some of the older stuff. A much more visual show from the whole band than the gig a few months ago. We had a chance to meet them at the pre-show party for them--and they were very nice guys conversing with us in English--but all Swedish between each other. Their distribution company laid out some bucks for the party (open bar and order off the menu--they paid). Spoke with a couple of the reps from the company and the goal is to give "Beyond the Music" a major radio push after the first of the year. They admitted that "Behind the Music" is getting old in many parts of the world--but still fresh in the USA and so there are no plans for TSOOL to record a new album for awhile (a little disappointing to hear I thought). Lots of free tickets were floating around for this show--but TSOOL's performance converted any one with doubts. They are ready for the bigger venues and like The Strokes a few weeks back—they have turned their entire performance up a few notches. It was much more of a band performance than a few months back--I didn't appreciate then how talented all these musicians are! Some extraordinary guitar work.
--Dem
Date: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:19 am
Cato [Salsa Experience] was fucking amazing. Very much a Mooney Suzuki type sound but occasional keyboards added a dimension to the sound. TSOOL is another band (like The Strokes) that have made huge strides in a short time. Nice long performance focused on "Behind the Music" and two great encores that incorporated some of the older stuff. A much more visual show from the whole band than the gig a few months ago. We had a chance to meet them at the pre-show party for them--and they were very nice guys conversing with us in English--but all Swedish between each other. Their distribution company laid out some bucks for the party (open bar and order off the menu--they paid). Spoke with a couple of the reps from the company and the goal is to give "Beyond the Music" a major radio push after the first of the year. They admitted that "Behind the Music" is getting old in many parts of the world--but still fresh in the USA and so there are no plans for TSOOL to record a new album for awhile (a little disappointing to hear I thought). Lots of free tickets were floating around for this show--but TSOOL's performance converted any one with doubts. They are ready for the bigger venues and like The Strokes a few weeks back—they have turned their entire performance up a few notches. It was much more of a band performance than a few months back--I didn't appreciate then how talented all these musicians are! Some extraordinary guitar work.
--Dem
Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Soledad Bros/ The Kills
From: Neil
Date: Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:15 pm
I managed to get to see the Soledad Bros supported by The Kills at the Metro, Oxford St, London last night. Both acts were enjoyable, and I'll certainly be seeing them again.
The Kills are a two piece boy/girl guitar duo with backing tapes providing drum/keyboard noise etc, who do a "VU meets the White Stripes" kinda thing. The Soledad Bros (for those of you who have yet to hear them) are essentially a "blues trio with a punkish/garage edge".
Although I like both, I can see how people might dislike them - the obvious unfavourable comparisons to the White Stripes, a bit of a "been there/done that" feeling. But for me both put enough of their own personalities across for that to be no problem. Anyone who refers to either as "the next WS/Strokes/Hives/whatever" I think would be mistaken. I can't see much potential for cross-over into the mainstream, but whadda I know?
I'd be interested to hear what others think - I'd esp like to see your version of the ten-words-or-less encapsulations in quotes above. I know the people involved hate being pigeonholed, but jeez, if we had to listen to every album ever issued before making a decision about whether we've wasted our cash we'd have no time to sleep and no cash to pay for the bed anyway!
--NeilM
Date: Tue Nov 12, 2002 1:15 pm
I managed to get to see the Soledad Bros supported by The Kills at the Metro, Oxford St, London last night. Both acts were enjoyable, and I'll certainly be seeing them again.
The Kills are a two piece boy/girl guitar duo with backing tapes providing drum/keyboard noise etc, who do a "VU meets the White Stripes" kinda thing. The Soledad Bros (for those of you who have yet to hear them) are essentially a "blues trio with a punkish/garage edge".
Although I like both, I can see how people might dislike them - the obvious unfavourable comparisons to the White Stripes, a bit of a "been there/done that" feeling. But for me both put enough of their own personalities across for that to be no problem. Anyone who refers to either as "the next WS/Strokes/Hives/whatever" I think would be mistaken. I can't see much potential for cross-over into the mainstream, but whadda I know?
I'd be interested to hear what others think - I'd esp like to see your version of the ten-words-or-less encapsulations in quotes above. I know the people involved hate being pigeonholed, but jeez, if we had to listen to every album ever issued before making a decision about whether we've wasted our cash we'd have no time to sleep and no cash to pay for the bed anyway!
--NeilM
Simple Kid/ Mùm/ The Raptures/ The Streets
From: Suzel
Date: Tue Nov 12, 2002 5:28 am
Yesterday and today there's a little festival here, so I saw yesterday those 4 bands. Simple Kid is a kind of Ben Kweller. Quite nice actually. a bit too pop for me, but he played first and managed to make everybody moves their little asses :) he has been the only one who managed that !!
Then was Mùm which is a kind of ambient, relaxing music. They are something like 6 or 7 on stage playing. They come from Island I think. Take the instrumental relaxing songs of Bjork and you'll imagine how they sound. I really enjoyed them. The Rapture are totally different. They reminded me sometimes of The Clash and sometimes of Mars Volta. The singer has really the same kind of voice that Mars Volta. They were really good and I'll get their CD as soon as I have some money.
Then, The Streets, which is more hip-hop. I really like their lyrics and the way the singers sing. The audience which was more independent rock wasn't really warm for them. Moreover, Mike Skinner arrived on stage saying "hello onions" HAHA little wanker haha… As people hardly understood cockney English, they fortunately didn't understand half of what he said like "Bordeaux, city of ghosts"… They did a good show though, there was excellent videos but the audience was really crap yesterday and not open-minded.
Tonite, I'll see Sparklehorse, The Liars, The Coral and a French band. I really hope the audience will be warmer. Haven't you noticed hat most of good gigs are good because the audience let itself go? Moreover, you're less tired when you dance than when you stand without moving? think about your lovely back which hurt you so much last time. ;)
--Suzel
Date: Tue Nov 12, 2002 5:28 am
Yesterday and today there's a little festival here, so I saw yesterday those 4 bands. Simple Kid is a kind of Ben Kweller. Quite nice actually. a bit too pop for me, but he played first and managed to make everybody moves their little asses :) he has been the only one who managed that !!
Then was Mùm which is a kind of ambient, relaxing music. They are something like 6 or 7 on stage playing. They come from Island I think. Take the instrumental relaxing songs of Bjork and you'll imagine how they sound. I really enjoyed them. The Rapture are totally different. They reminded me sometimes of The Clash and sometimes of Mars Volta. The singer has really the same kind of voice that Mars Volta. They were really good and I'll get their CD as soon as I have some money.
Then, The Streets, which is more hip-hop. I really like their lyrics and the way the singers sing. The audience which was more independent rock wasn't really warm for them. Moreover, Mike Skinner arrived on stage saying "hello onions" HAHA little wanker haha… As people hardly understood cockney English, they fortunately didn't understand half of what he said like "Bordeaux, city of ghosts"… They did a good show though, there was excellent videos but the audience was really crap yesterday and not open-minded.
Tonite, I'll see Sparklehorse, The Liars, The Coral and a French band. I really hope the audience will be warmer. Haven't you noticed hat most of good gigs are good because the audience let itself go? Moreover, you're less tired when you dance than when you stand without moving? think about your lovely back which hurt you so much last time. ;)
--Suzel
Monday, November 11, 2002
JSBX & Interpol
From: Suzel
Date: Mon Nov 11, 2002 11:11 am
I was amazed when I arrived in JSBX gig cuz there was a huge queue and the venue seemed already quite large. I managed to come in finally and the show began. You can feel JSBX is used to stage and loves it. They don't stop between songs and improvise to switch from one song to another according to what John Spencer decides. I heard so many times talked about JSBX but I didn't know very well what they did so it was a big slap in the face!! A garage blues rock that I really enjoyed.
The next day was Interpol's gig. Their sound was really close to what the album sounds like. I had the feeling the concert has been fast whereas they played their whole album plus 2 extra songs. I can get the setlist if some are interested. Everybody enjoyed it. David a friend who is used to see many gigs told me they were awesome. The bass player looks incredible and the others were really in their stuff. Paul's voice was as deep and nice as on the album.. They did 2 encores, one of which was unplanned. The venue was very small. The smallest they did according to Sam, the drummer. He also told me none of their shows has been disappointing. The audiences have always been amazing, so feel free to show you enjoy their gig. They spent some time then in the venue talking with people. I had the chance to join Sam and Paul, the singer, for a relaxing extra backstage. Then I became the driver of Sam downtown until 4:30am … I was exhausted.
They are really nice and clever guys. Carlos and Sam really enjoy meeting people and are really easy going. Paul is more discrete, not shy but he just doesn't go to speak on his own to fans. As far as Daniel, the guitar player, I haven't met him. They'll go back next week or something like that to USA, so don't miss them!!!
--Suzel
Date: Mon Nov 11, 2002 11:11 am
I was amazed when I arrived in JSBX gig cuz there was a huge queue and the venue seemed already quite large. I managed to come in finally and the show began. You can feel JSBX is used to stage and loves it. They don't stop between songs and improvise to switch from one song to another according to what John Spencer decides. I heard so many times talked about JSBX but I didn't know very well what they did so it was a big slap in the face!! A garage blues rock that I really enjoyed.
The next day was Interpol's gig. Their sound was really close to what the album sounds like. I had the feeling the concert has been fast whereas they played their whole album plus 2 extra songs. I can get the setlist if some are interested. Everybody enjoyed it. David a friend who is used to see many gigs told me they were awesome. The bass player looks incredible and the others were really in their stuff. Paul's voice was as deep and nice as on the album.. They did 2 encores, one of which was unplanned. The venue was very small. The smallest they did according to Sam, the drummer. He also told me none of their shows has been disappointing. The audiences have always been amazing, so feel free to show you enjoy their gig. They spent some time then in the venue talking with people. I had the chance to join Sam and Paul, the singer, for a relaxing extra backstage. Then I became the driver of Sam downtown until 4:30am … I was exhausted.
They are really nice and clever guys. Carlos and Sam really enjoy meeting people and are really easy going. Paul is more discrete, not shy but he just doesn't go to speak on his own to fans. As far as Daniel, the guitar player, I haven't met him. They'll go back next week or something like that to USA, so don't miss them!!!
--Suzel
Saturday, November 09, 2002
The Datsuns threw a party tonight
From: demhopkins
Date: Sat Nov 9, 2002 3:05 am
Not much print PR and the show must have been scheduled recently. The crowd was about 1/3 familiar with the band (the Empty Bottle gets a regular crowd that just hangs there no matter who is playing). The Datsuns were stunning from the moment they took the stage. Rarely do you get to see a band that is right at the cusp--where they have made a big break through (UK buzz and recent acclaim) that gives them an extra shot of adrenalin that allows them to confidently take the stage and give everything they have in a manner that says this is who we are and we know you are going to like it. No rock star attitude anywhere in this band--they know they can play with the "big" boys without becoming the parody. They had no set list--but it all just flowed without time to catch a breath. They were tight--but not slick. The last few months I have noticed a lot of bands with a bass player or drummer or one musician that really stands out. Not the case with this band. Four riveting musicians, and it is impossible to take your eyes off of any of them. The lead singer has the best scream I have heard in a very long time--and he does it with his eyes not just open--but fucking wide eyed. If you dig their album--the concert is ten-fold. If you only kind of like the album--this band will convince you. From song one it was obvious that they truly love playing out. This is the band that The Music should strive to be. I liked The Music--but it was so rehearsed that I felt that I saw the best that they had--and they have no place to go. The Datsuns were a fucking tidal wave that occasionally brought it down, made you relax for a second, only to come back with a fierceness that was three notches higher than I thought they could go. And they are only going to grow. Occasionally they give each other a glance on stage--but they each have such complex things to bring to the whole that they don't interact a lot (mostly knocking into each other). It seemed like four brilliant musicians doing what they individually do best--creating a unit that provided one of the best shows of the year. I've said that a few times this year--but this is definitely in my top 5. I was expecting great things--and I got steamrolled by 4 guys from New Zealand that are at the absolute top of their game--and they know it. So did the crowd. Encore of Goodnight Ladies and Gentleman (Cheap Trick--who I don't particularly dig) was the perfect closer. They are heading to the UK--this is definitely the tour to see--I'm not sure they can ever really recapture this breakthrough moment in their career. But I wouldn't put it past them. This is a band creating an awesome party.
--Dem
Date: Sat Nov 9, 2002 3:05 am
Not much print PR and the show must have been scheduled recently. The crowd was about 1/3 familiar with the band (the Empty Bottle gets a regular crowd that just hangs there no matter who is playing). The Datsuns were stunning from the moment they took the stage. Rarely do you get to see a band that is right at the cusp--where they have made a big break through (UK buzz and recent acclaim) that gives them an extra shot of adrenalin that allows them to confidently take the stage and give everything they have in a manner that says this is who we are and we know you are going to like it. No rock star attitude anywhere in this band--they know they can play with the "big" boys without becoming the parody. They had no set list--but it all just flowed without time to catch a breath. They were tight--but not slick. The last few months I have noticed a lot of bands with a bass player or drummer or one musician that really stands out. Not the case with this band. Four riveting musicians, and it is impossible to take your eyes off of any of them. The lead singer has the best scream I have heard in a very long time--and he does it with his eyes not just open--but fucking wide eyed. If you dig their album--the concert is ten-fold. If you only kind of like the album--this band will convince you. From song one it was obvious that they truly love playing out. This is the band that The Music should strive to be. I liked The Music--but it was so rehearsed that I felt that I saw the best that they had--and they have no place to go. The Datsuns were a fucking tidal wave that occasionally brought it down, made you relax for a second, only to come back with a fierceness that was three notches higher than I thought they could go. And they are only going to grow. Occasionally they give each other a glance on stage--but they each have such complex things to bring to the whole that they don't interact a lot (mostly knocking into each other). It seemed like four brilliant musicians doing what they individually do best--creating a unit that provided one of the best shows of the year. I've said that a few times this year--but this is definitely in my top 5. I was expecting great things--and I got steamrolled by 4 guys from New Zealand that are at the absolute top of their game--and they know it. So did the crowd. Encore of Goodnight Ladies and Gentleman (Cheap Trick--who I don't particularly dig) was the perfect closer. They are heading to the UK--this is definitely the tour to see--I'm not sure they can ever really recapture this breakthrough moment in their career. But I wouldn't put it past them. This is a band creating an awesome party.
--Dem
Friday, November 08, 2002
McLusky at Metro in Chicago
From: Sky
Date: Fri Nov 8, 2002 9:55 am
The McLusky show at Metro last night was really great if not a bit of really weird billing.
These guys really put their hearts into it and they do rock right! They blend a great sense of humor with a true joy of playing out. Fun lyrics and a tight stripped down power groove. (3 piece, drums, guitar and bass) I got a big kick out of the masterful (and completely hilarious) way their bass player handled a real flaming asshole who was heckling them in a most unkind manner. ("I suck? Just me personally? Or all of these guys?? DO they suck too or is it just me?") Their standout player has to be the drummer! He sat really straight up and high on his drums, and just bashed the skins and cymbals for all they were worth. (His drumhead obviously was not up to the task as it was bashed off on the last song of the night and flung Frisbee style into the crowd.) A real heavy duty battery. But the group is really comfortable together and plays off each other perfectly. The fun they are having really comes off to the audience. "Don't fuck in the barn cause the barn’s on fire!" still rings through my ears and makes me smile.
We met the tour manager and the drummer after the show and they were really super! Very appreciative and seemed to not believe that people had not only heard of them here, but really liked them and liked them enough to come out on a Wednesday night. The drummer was totally psyched about being here and was just so fab! According to their tour manager, they will be returning to the States sometime in February. They are playing a few shows here now so the label can see them play out.
The weird part was that the "headliners" were a band called "NYR". All we could find about a band called NYR was an Israeli guy who lives in Paris now and plays R&B. We knew we wouldn't stay for that, but we were curious when we saw that most of the nyr fans hugging the stage area were literally between the ages of 10 and 16. (I kid you not) We couldn't make the connection between these fans and an Israeli R& B guy so we stuck around. Turns out they were a 20 something 4 piece where every one of them had a different crayon color hair, the lead guitarist had a "British Invasion/Union Jack/ REALLY bad aping of young Pete Townsend costume schtick" thing going on and they sounded like 50,000 other anonymous bands. They seemed to be a totally pre-packaged homogenized boy band based off a cartoon "punk bad boy" template. When the guitarist switched to a cherry red "Flying V" I grabbed the boys and headed for the exit.
--Sky
Date: Fri Nov 8, 2002 9:55 am
The McLusky show at Metro last night was really great if not a bit of really weird billing.
These guys really put their hearts into it and they do rock right! They blend a great sense of humor with a true joy of playing out. Fun lyrics and a tight stripped down power groove. (3 piece, drums, guitar and bass) I got a big kick out of the masterful (and completely hilarious) way their bass player handled a real flaming asshole who was heckling them in a most unkind manner. ("I suck? Just me personally? Or all of these guys?? DO they suck too or is it just me?") Their standout player has to be the drummer! He sat really straight up and high on his drums, and just bashed the skins and cymbals for all they were worth. (His drumhead obviously was not up to the task as it was bashed off on the last song of the night and flung Frisbee style into the crowd.) A real heavy duty battery. But the group is really comfortable together and plays off each other perfectly. The fun they are having really comes off to the audience. "Don't fuck in the barn cause the barn’s on fire!" still rings through my ears and makes me smile.
We met the tour manager and the drummer after the show and they were really super! Very appreciative and seemed to not believe that people had not only heard of them here, but really liked them and liked them enough to come out on a Wednesday night. The drummer was totally psyched about being here and was just so fab! According to their tour manager, they will be returning to the States sometime in February. They are playing a few shows here now so the label can see them play out.
The weird part was that the "headliners" were a band called "NYR". All we could find about a band called NYR was an Israeli guy who lives in Paris now and plays R&B. We knew we wouldn't stay for that, but we were curious when we saw that most of the nyr fans hugging the stage area were literally between the ages of 10 and 16. (I kid you not) We couldn't make the connection between these fans and an Israeli R& B guy so we stuck around. Turns out they were a 20 something 4 piece where every one of them had a different crayon color hair, the lead guitarist had a "British Invasion/Union Jack/ REALLY bad aping of young Pete Townsend costume schtick" thing going on and they sounded like 50,000 other anonymous bands. They seemed to be a totally pre-packaged homogenized boy band based off a cartoon "punk bad boy" template. When the guitarist switched to a cherry red "Flying V" I grabbed the boys and headed for the exit.
--Sky
Thursday, November 07, 2002
The Music
From: demhopkins
Date: Thu Nov 7, 2002 10:11 am
A very slick precision guitar performance. Probably the best bass player I have seen this years--really magic fingers. The voice took some getting used to. All in all a good, not great, show. The instrumentals they did showed off how great they are with guitar interplay. After seeing a very raw The Audreys--this was a complete contrast. The Music gave me the impression that there was no room for error and that tends to take some of the fun out of shows (at least for me).
--Dem
Date: Thu Nov 7, 2002 10:11 am
A very slick precision guitar performance. Probably the best bass player I have seen this years--really magic fingers. The voice took some getting used to. All in all a good, not great, show. The instrumentals they did showed off how great they are with guitar interplay. After seeing a very raw The Audreys--this was a complete contrast. The Music gave me the impression that there was no room for error and that tends to take some of the fun out of shows (at least for me).
--Dem
Saturday, November 02, 2002
The Music
From: Heidi
Date: Sat Nov 2, 2002 8:59 am
Thought I might add a tidbit: At the 11/8 show in San Fran, a terrific local band called The Please will be opening for The Music. Their web site is here, if you're curious: http://www.theplease.com It has sound clips, photos, and other cool stuff. :)
--Heidi
Date: Sat Nov 2, 2002 8:59 am
Thought I might add a tidbit: At the 11/8 show in San Fran, a terrific local band called The Please will be opening for The Music. Their web site is here, if you're curious: http://www.theplease.com It has sound clips, photos, and other cool stuff. :)
--Heidi
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