DOLL and Interpol

From: demhopkins
Date: Sat Jan 25, 2003 1:43 am

Division of Laura Lee were really shown up by the opening act-- Burning Brides. It was smart billing because neither band could have sold out the house--but a lot of people left after Burning Brides. Burning Brides were very tight and also very good when they weren't trying to be Kurt Cobain--and the singer's voice resembling Kurt may have been more accidental than it seemed. DOLL is definitely a work in progress and they must have either not shown up for soundcheck or pissed off the sound people because they got no favors. When the front man brought the vocals down--they were buried and at times they looked confused about what was happening (perhaps no monitors?). The Double Door is capable of doing great sound (and they did for Burning
Brides) but you wouldn't know it from DOLL's performance. I spent a lot of time checking out the sound booth and watched them completely sitting on their hands during the DOLL set. What most impressed me about DOLL is that other Swedish bands have taken so much of the MC5 Detroit sound and DOLL is clearly in the Iggy and Stooges camp. Not a huge difference to be sure--but very obvious on stage. I recommend seeing them--but they do need some work. Second Interpol gig in Chicago at Empty Bottle. It was a much more intimate venue on their second night here. Carlos was in the front room until time to go on stage shooting pool with fans (and if you get the chance to shoot pool with him --take it--he's not very good). Paul came out and mingled a bit and even talked to Carlos. The sound at the Empty Bottle that night was the best that I have ever heard it. Beyond what I thought the room was capable of. Paul's vocals were crystal clear--as fine as on the two concerts from France. The stage required them to interact some--and they did minimally. It was especially cool seeing Carlos working with the keyboard player (who I did not realize was not a part of the band). The set was the same as the night before with two songs reversed. They are clearly refining and selling a "set" set. Instead of letting down from playing a much larger venue the night before--they reached back and turned it up a notch. More conversation with the crowd and they were clearly much more comfortable on a smaller stage in a smaller venue. I don't see Paul as being one to warm up any room--he really is all about business--but the other guys really enjoyed being able to play it in our faces. As of today, Interpol has started hitting the "A" list on some commercial alt. stations and the odds of ever seeing them again in a venue that holds about 300 is slim. But they showed total integrity putting out as hard, if not harder, in a small room. It seems that they are beginning to transcend their own music and earn some stripes as a great band to see live. A few months ago it was only the music--they were something akin to shoegazers. Not anymore. They are committed to creating a live performance that captures the recording but also surpasses it. A couple months ago I was sure they would break up soon. I think they have found a great way to coexist.

They may not love each other--but on stage they are a unit. I can't wait to hear other members at this group post about the upcoming shows.
--Dem

Datsuns

From: melanie
Date: Sat Jan 18, 2003 2:53 pm

woohoo, they played Sydney last night and 'twas wonderful!!!!! Think there was only one new song in the set Cherry something, started with the Cheap Trick cover, which I love, but it left the crowd a bit puzzled because they didn't know it :) but then they got into the album stuff and it went off! God they were good - there is a newish review of them live on www.nme.com and I really have nothing to add. Had a very quick word with Dolf afterwards, and it's another very polite guy, though I have a terrible habit of touching peoples arms sometimes, and he was touching mine back, usually if I do do it (I try not to!), they look a bit stunned, and he just acted like touching this complete stranger on the arm was totally normal, and did it back. And he's a lot taller than I thought, considering how narrow shouldered he is, he's about 6ft, which isn't Strokes/TCTC height, but still a lot taller than musicians are in my memory, they sure must eat better than in my day (I always think back to The Cure who were just past my waist). The Casanovas supported and I am getting more and more impressed by them each time I see them. I think they are doing some UK dates before and after the Euro tour they are doing with the Datsuns, and then some US dates (not sure if that is with the Datsuns), might be the right timeframe for SXSW? Check 'em out! They have an EP out in Australia, which is fantastic - you like The Datsuns, You'll like these guys.
--Melanie

When I Was Cruel

From: demhopkins
Date: Tue Jan 14, 2003 3:09 pm

The album is a little inconsistent but definitely one of my favorites by Elvis going all the way back to This Year's Model. I think at times Costello recaptures some of the magic that made This Year's Model one of my all time favorite albums and, by far, my favorite Costello album. That being said, I don't particularly like Funny Valentine either. He may have wanted to avoid being slammed for trying to completely revert to the 1977 version of Costello. But it is the songs that sound like they belong on This Year's Model that got me very excited about the album. I asked almost the identical questions about When I Was Cruel when I first bought it. It came highly recommended to me--and convinced me to really give it a chance (I'm very glad I did).
--Dem

Elvis

From: Liz
Date: Tue Jan 14, 2003 2:32 pm

Just bought When I Was Cruel. I really want to love it and I do like some of it. Writing, vocals, production, all wonderful. Great band, although I prefer his vocals with a sparcer sound behind him. I think he's using his voice more instrumentally and I think quite successfully at times, but also pushing it at times. Even that's ok, if you don't take chances, no forward movement. I guess it was Smile and Funny Valentine that I thought were a touch self indulgent. My Funny Valentine is actually my fave song to to sing, but I wouldn't make people actually listen to me, unless intoxicated. I guess he's entitled. I stopped buying Costello after Blood and Chocolate and have always considered him a master song crafter, in any genre.
--Liz

The Used

Buddyhead does it again, very funny. Neil, didn't mean to use Christianity against Creed--it is the bible-thumping that pisses me off. POD and Creed are very big on "counseling" their fans (although POD is much worse--spending
hours after shows seeking to convert and save members of the audience). Creed has made a point of toning down some of their Christian rhetoric--but they come out of the right-wing southern Baptist movement which is notoriously homophobic, bigoted, anti-Semitic and I have yet to hear Creed say anything to separate themselves from those traditions. What Creed, POD, Lifehouse and others are doing isn't benign in a Bono/U2 sort of way. The crossover of Evangelist-type Christian bands into the mainstream worries me because young kids looking for a place to fit in are easily influenced, especially by rock star idols. I didn't mean to come across as bashing all Christians, just the bible-thumpers. :)
--Dem

Creed implodes!

This is probably old news--but Creed (especially Scott Sapp (Stapp)) imploded in Chicago. Class action lawsuits have already been filed by attorneys demanding that ticketgoers get their money back--and Scott got booed throughout the concert and then off the stage. Seems Scott isn't quite the Christian role-model he holds himself out to be. Instead of posting all the nasty stuff being written by press and posted by ex-fans--just do a search with the words "Creed" and "Chicago." I never thought Creed would have anything to do with starting my new year just right! His performance would be unacceptable by any band--but remember--he is a disciple of Jesus. It is early in the year--but already the second funniest story—after the buddyhead reviews!!
--Dem