From: demhopkins
Date: Sun Sep 28, 2003 5:23 am
I wasn't going to go to this show but their sophmore release is so strong I had to check them out. What I have heard for the past year+ was that they were boring on stage and dangerously close to a shoegazer band (in spite of the brilliant songs). They played the Metro which had sold out an earlier hardcore show. Doors were supposed to be 11PM and opening act at 11:30. After well over an hour in the cold waiting in line (yeah, it's cold in Chicago right now) the doors opened at midnight. I've been in this situation before--and at least this time I got to hear the soundcheck while shivering on the street. 12:30 on the dot--BRMC took the stage. The club decided to have BRMC play immediately and the opening act (Stratford 4 play after them--don't think many stayed for that—I sure didn't).
I expected to be into the music but not the band. These kids must have grown up quickly. Absolute confidence from the moment they took the stage. In your face guitar work with the heads held high. A friend I was with said that head down=boring and head up=rock star. Based on this show, it would be unimaginable that BRMC would be lumped into the shoegazer category ever again. They did a nice balance between the 1st and 2d album. I know from their Yahoo group that a lot of their fans dislike "Whatever Happened to My Rock n’ Roll." It was absolutely amazing as the last song before the encore. Their set was so well-paced and they played an hour and a half. The most striking thing about them was not the trade off on vocals. What blew me away was that they were able to trade vocals off within the songs--and able to do it with out playing off each other. I just don't see many bands writing material where vocalists go back and forth within a song anymore. Second highlight--the absolute best encore since The Datsuns!! Granted, this band is never going to be the most exciting visual band that you will ever see--but rock solid drumming and some awesome guitar work that included bass work from Robert that was very unfamiliar to me. Rhythm coming out of the bass that was unbelievable. And when Robert jumped into the crowd and worked the room--the crowd parted to give him the space to show his stuff. Catch them if you can. Their new release is a must have!
--Dem
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
Sunday, September 28, 2003
Saturday, September 20, 2003
Interpol
From: demhopkins
Date: Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:52 pm
Interpol played the sold-out Riv Theatre (about 1800, I think). The Stills opened and had an amazing knack for starting every song (just a few notes) as if it were an Interpol song and then they took it somewhere completely different. They played a very solid set with keyboards that didn't overpower the guitar work. Drums were set off to the right and the five mebers spaced themselves so that all of their work was plainly in view. They were, at times, borderline shoegazers but seemed to catch themselves and reconnect with a very appreciative crowd. They have a 4-song EP out that I tried to buy-- but they had sold out of them (not good for a band on the road that needs merch sales to survive).
Interpol did the (now typical delay) before coming out. The room was packed and I was bitching at the delay--until they took the stage. It was definitely the most animated that I have seen them. Carlos playing off Paul and using the entire stage. He also played off the drummer. Paul talking a little and actually smiling at the response the band received. The boys seemed very comfortable. The laser light show enhanced the music and was never a distraction. Two new songs. The second (Love something?) has a great riff to start off and the song returns to it throughout. I'm not sure that they were more polished than the last three times I've seen them this year--but they were definitely having more fun. I guess the year-long tour ends next month in NYC and then they head back to the studio. This tour is doing a lot for their sales. 50+ weeks after the release—it is back in the Billboard top 25 charts for both Heatseekers and Indies. My highlight--Stella was a diver. A friend said that if all they had done was play that song all night--it would have been worth it. Second highlight--seeing the boys getting along so well.
--Dem
Date: Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:52 pm
Interpol played the sold-out Riv Theatre (about 1800, I think). The Stills opened and had an amazing knack for starting every song (just a few notes) as if it were an Interpol song and then they took it somewhere completely different. They played a very solid set with keyboards that didn't overpower the guitar work. Drums were set off to the right and the five mebers spaced themselves so that all of their work was plainly in view. They were, at times, borderline shoegazers but seemed to catch themselves and reconnect with a very appreciative crowd. They have a 4-song EP out that I tried to buy-- but they had sold out of them (not good for a band on the road that needs merch sales to survive).
Interpol did the (now typical delay) before coming out. The room was packed and I was bitching at the delay--until they took the stage. It was definitely the most animated that I have seen them. Carlos playing off Paul and using the entire stage. He also played off the drummer. Paul talking a little and actually smiling at the response the band received. The boys seemed very comfortable. The laser light show enhanced the music and was never a distraction. Two new songs. The second (Love something?) has a great riff to start off and the song returns to it throughout. I'm not sure that they were more polished than the last three times I've seen them this year--but they were definitely having more fun. I guess the year-long tour ends next month in NYC and then they head back to the studio. This tour is doing a lot for their sales. 50+ weeks after the release—it is back in the Billboard top 25 charts for both Heatseekers and Indies. My highlight--Stella was a diver. A friend said that if all they had done was play that song all night--it would have been worth it. Second highlight--seeing the boys getting along so well.
--Dem
Thursday, September 04, 2003
Andrew W.K.
From: demhopkins
Date: Thu Sep 4, 2003 4:13 am
Brilliant show. I'm not sure I'd buy the album--but one of my top 5 shows of the year. A 950 person mosh pit and when I went falling on my ass the kids that knocked me over quickly picked me up and said "that's not good." I actually went into the crowd to get thrown around for a while and laughed throughout the night. It was massive amounts of fun from the moment A.W.K. took the stage. Highly recommended for the entire family. :)
--Dem
Date: Thu Sep 4, 2003 4:13 am
Brilliant show. I'm not sure I'd buy the album--but one of my top 5 shows of the year. A 950 person mosh pit and when I went falling on my ass the kids that knocked me over quickly picked me up and said "that's not good." I actually went into the crowd to get thrown around for a while and laughed throughout the night. It was massive amounts of fun from the moment A.W.K. took the stage. Highly recommended for the entire family. :)
--Dem
Friday, August 29, 2003
Magnus
From: demhopkins
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:43 pm
I refrained from posting about Magnus after their August 21 headlining gig in Chicago at Beat Kitchen because I have a bit of a bias. Don't we all. After not playing out for many months—Magnus justified all of their recent bravado-speak with one of the best musical shows of the year. Keyboards firmly in place--not swirling. Great guitar work. Confident vocals. And drums that held this very intense band together. Certainly some room to tighten up--but the material is as good as any band I've seen this year. Magnus is pushing pop in the way that Mars Volta has pushed "prog." They see the possibility and seize it. Terminus Victor was on the bill—and said after the show that "we have almost nothing in common with Magnus--but we can't wait to play with them again." Terminus is setting up some gigs for Magnus (very nice of them). What this leads to is that Magnus is HEADLINING at the Abbey Pub on Saturday, September 6. This is almost unheard of for a Chicago band that has been away from the clubs and in the studio for so many months.
--Dem
Date: Thu Aug 28, 2003 10:43 pm
I refrained from posting about Magnus after their August 21 headlining gig in Chicago at Beat Kitchen because I have a bit of a bias. Don't we all. After not playing out for many months—Magnus justified all of their recent bravado-speak with one of the best musical shows of the year. Keyboards firmly in place--not swirling. Great guitar work. Confident vocals. And drums that held this very intense band together. Certainly some room to tighten up--but the material is as good as any band I've seen this year. Magnus is pushing pop in the way that Mars Volta has pushed "prog." They see the possibility and seize it. Terminus Victor was on the bill—and said after the show that "we have almost nothing in common with Magnus--but we can't wait to play with them again." Terminus is setting up some gigs for Magnus (very nice of them). What this leads to is that Magnus is HEADLINING at the Abbey Pub on Saturday, September 6. This is almost unheard of for a Chicago band that has been away from the clubs and in the studio for so many months.
--Dem
Sunday, August 17, 2003
The Strokes/ The Barbs/ Miscellaneous
From: Neil
Date: Sun Aug 17, 2003 4:56 am
The Strokes have been getting plenty of UK press lately... Last week's NME had an eight page glossy centrespread full of Strokes pics, all seen before in the paper but never pulled together or printed on glossy paper.
This week's mag gives a review of on of the Japan gigs, and a review of a few rough mix versions of tracks that are to be on the new album due in Oct (yeah....right! Christmas appears on record company release schedules Nov 2!). Mojo magazine has The Strokes on the cover - dunno about the actual content yet cos I didn't pick up a copy, but will do soon.
Spent Saturday at "Parklife", a local free festival put on by Medway Council. You might have heard of King Adora, Easyworld, Sexton Ming and Chumbawumba, all of whom performed. However, the stars of he show were The Barbs, whose singer is a local lad. I'll post a snippet of their soon-to-be-released debut single so you can make your mind up. Kinda B52s meet Pixies via the Rezillos, if you ask me.
All the best,
NeilM
Date: Sun Aug 17, 2003 4:56 am
The Strokes have been getting plenty of UK press lately... Last week's NME had an eight page glossy centrespread full of Strokes pics, all seen before in the paper but never pulled together or printed on glossy paper.
This week's mag gives a review of on of the Japan gigs, and a review of a few rough mix versions of tracks that are to be on the new album due in Oct (yeah....right! Christmas appears on record company release schedules Nov 2!). Mojo magazine has The Strokes on the cover - dunno about the actual content yet cos I didn't pick up a copy, but will do soon.
Spent Saturday at "Parklife", a local free festival put on by Medway Council. You might have heard of King Adora, Easyworld, Sexton Ming and Chumbawumba, all of whom performed. However, the stars of he show were The Barbs, whose singer is a local lad. I'll post a snippet of their soon-to-be-released debut single so you can make your mind up. Kinda B52s meet Pixies via the Rezillos, if you ask me.
All the best,
NeilM
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