thanks to bags for the ticket hookup, hope the bonus prize works out for ya. twas a good show, plently of people happily bopping along. i would have probably liked it a bit more had i been a tad bit more familiar with the material. but i did hear a couple songs which are dj wren friendly. anyone seen a setlist for the show?
Shins Roll Call
The first night was good, last night was absolutely phenomenal. Not sure if anyone agrees, but it just seemed that the band were more "with it" last night. They probably had a day to rest (hadn't they just flown out from California on Tuesday?), but overall I thought it was more polished, more together, better pacing throughout the set. Better sound too. Overall, just a better production. Gotta say I knew that band had it in them to do that kind of performance, glad I wasn't wrong. They're still funny as hell too…a lot of talent there. I hope they go places.
really good show - I was very impressed - damn that guy can sing!
and I thought the opener was decent as well
thanks for the ticket Bags!
and I thought the opener was decent as well
thanks for the ticket Bags!
Are you guys serious? I am SO not trying to be a contrarian nay-sayer, and I really love the Shins' music, but I've seen them live three times now, and would probably not see them again.
So Celeste and I arrived around 10:15, and when she took a trip to the bathroom, I bet her 20 bucks that I could pick out the Bagster in the crowded Red Room (she had mentioned she would be hanging out there) before Celeste came out of the bathroom. After a quick scan of the crowd, my eyes focused on one woman who fit my mental image of the Bagster to a T. She had mentioned she would be wearing a Marion BARRY t-shirt, so I went and got a closer look at her t-shirt, overheard her swearing like a sailor, and noticed that this particular woman was wearing a red Amoeba Records t-shirt. Well, do I win the $20?
As for the show itself…don't get me wrong, Chutes Too Narrow was one of my top two or three from 2003…but is this band the indie rock version of the Jayhawks, or what? While their recorded music sounds wonderful, live, they simply run through it note for note, and sound pleasant enough, but yet there is still something off…
Maybe it's the fact that they position Alfred E. Newman centerstage. Why they do this, and how that guy gets to date a model, I'll never know. Why they give him a microphone, and let him speak, I'll never know. It's hard to believe that someone as brilliant as James Mercer puts up with this guy. Earth to Shins: put your lead singer centerstage. Take the spotlight off of Newman and give more of it to Mercer and the cute guitarist.
Rumor has it that Newman and the guy in the back pogo-ing, making dog yelps, and random handclaps will form a duo called the Morons. They thought of inviting me into the band, but they couldn't think of the word for three man band.
As for the show itself…don't get me wrong, Chutes Too Narrow was one of my top two or three from 2003…but is this band the indie rock version of the Jayhawks, or what? While their recorded music sounds wonderful, live, they simply run through it note for note, and sound pleasant enough, but yet there is still something off…
Maybe it's the fact that they position Alfred E. Newman centerstage. Why they do this, and how that guy gets to date a model, I'll never know. Why they give him a microphone, and let him speak, I'll never know. It's hard to believe that someone as brilliant as James Mercer puts up with this guy. Earth to Shins: put your lead singer centerstage. Take the spotlight off of Newman and give more of it to Mercer and the cute guitarist.
Rumor has it that Newman and the guy in the back pogo-ing, making dog yelps, and random handclaps will form a duo called the Morons. They thought of inviting me into the band, but they couldn't think of the word for three man band.
Originally posted by bunnyman:ditto to everything bunnyman just said……….
The first night was good, last night was absolutely phenomenal. Not sure if anyone agrees, but it just seemed that the band were more "with it" last night. They probably had a day to rest (hadn't they just flown out from California on Tuesday?), but overall I thought it was more polished, more together, better pacing throughout the set. Better sound too. Overall, just a better production. Gotta say I knew that band had it in them to do that kind of performance, glad I wasn't wrong. They're still funny as hell too…a lot of talent there. I hope they go places.
tuesday's show was good but wednesday was great………..at first i couldn't decide if it was just where we were standing that made the sound better………but i am fairly sure they just worked out the acoustics better………
and brennser are you deaf? the support was painful……….both nights.
I thought the show was great. Hardly a note-for-note rendition of their albums. No sound problems where I was. Talking was a bit annoying, but it either subsided as the set went on or I successfully tuned it out.
So for those who were at both Beulah and the Shins, how would you compare their live shows?
I though Beulah was far superior live, though I prefer the Shins most recent release to Beulah's.
I though Beulah was far superior live, though I prefer the Shins most recent release to Beulah's.
Only saw some of Cass McComb – it was dreadful.
The show was very good; I didn't go both nights after all, so am psyched to hear that I saw the better of the two. I thought the energy was good, band was tight, crowd was fine (yeah, it was noisy, but only if you were on the outskirts of the crowd – it was much better when I moved in a bit). I wasn't blown away, but I think there was too much hype so I was expecting 'spectacular.' A couple songs in the middle were great…I must find my copy of "Oh, Inverted World"
Good to see the boardies I know, and pass on a few tickets! Will listen to my power pop mix tonight, Kosmo (I am SO psyched!).
The show was very good; I didn't go both nights after all, so am psyched to hear that I saw the better of the two. I thought the energy was good, band was tight, crowd was fine (yeah, it was noisy, but only if you were on the outskirts of the crowd – it was much better when I moved in a bit). I wasn't blown away, but I think there was too much hype so I was expecting 'spectacular.' A couple songs in the middle were great…I must find my copy of "Oh, Inverted World"
Good to see the boardies I know, and pass on a few tickets! Will listen to my power pop mix tonight, Kosmo (I am SO psyched!).
I think beulah are better suited to a larger club than the shins, especially when there is a lot of chit-chat. Beulah just have a much fuller sound.
I dont like the shins recordings as much as beulahs, but I thought the shins put on two fine shows, last night the louder songs were better, the first night the quiet songs were better. But that could just be because we were much further back last night.
But although I thought the shins and beulah were good live, I dont think either would be worthy of my top ten concerts of the last 12 months.
I dont like the shins recordings as much as beulahs, but I thought the shins put on two fine shows, last night the louder songs were better, the first night the quiet songs were better. But that could just be because we were much further back last night.
But although I thought the shins and beulah were good live, I dont think either would be worthy of my top ten concerts of the last 12 months.
Cass McComb were awful. Aids in Africa or whatever it was, repeated ad infinitum……
Sam Jayne (sp?) the first opener seemed like a good guy. I think he would be great in a small quiet club, where there were people who actually liked music.
Sam Jayne (sp?) the first opener seemed like a good guy. I think he would be great in a small quiet club, where there were people who actually liked music.
come on. .give ol cass a break. . i don't think he knows how to tune a guitar.
excellent show by the shins last night. their stage presence has increased each time i've seen them, as they become more comfortable with playing live and on stage.
excellent show by the shins last night. their stage presence has increased each time i've seen them, as they become more comfortable with playing live and on stage.
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:THAT I believe…
come on. .give ol cass a break. . i don't think he knows how to tune a guitar.
sam jayne was the guy that opened for les savy fav a couple weeks back, right? kinda good, but not suited as an opener in the district of talkstoomuch. missed him last night, the other opener had horrible sound. but the shins were quite good, was well satisfied with the show despite sweating my ass off.
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:I sort of agree with this, although I think I enjoyed it a little more than you. I had a great time on Tuesday, but I came away thinking that these guys are just a good band that makes great records. I'd see them again though.
While their recorded music sounds wonderful, live, they simply run through it note for note, and sound pleasant enough, but yet there is still something off…
He also opened for James Mercer/Rosie Thomas/Iron and Wine at Iota. Wasn't too impressed with hime then, but then again the competition was tough.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
sam jayne was the guy that opened for les savy fav a couple weeks back, right? kinda good, but not suited as an opener in the district of talkstoomuch. missed him last night, the other opener had horrible sound. but the shins were quite good, was well satisfied with the show despite sweating my ass off.
Maybe it's the fact that I've seen the Shins three times and James Mercer solo once in less than a year and a half that I wouldn't see them again anytime soon. Just seemed like the exact same show I saw four months ago in NYC.
Again, I'm not really complaining about their performance (other than the lame stage banter of the keyboard guy). Good show (6.5 out of 10), but not great. Certainly not worth the price some people were paying for scalped tickets.
Again, I'm not really complaining about their performance (other than the lame stage banter of the keyboard guy). Good show (6.5 out of 10), but not great. Certainly not worth the price some people were paying for scalped tickets.
Originally posted by Skeeter:
Originally posted by Rutherford J. Balls:I sort of agree with this, although I think I enjoyed it a little more than you. I had a great time on Tuesday, but I came away thinking that these guys are just a good band that makes great records. I'd see them again though.
While their recorded music sounds wonderful, live, they simply run through it note for note, and sound pleasant enough, but yet there is still something off…
Yeah,
Sam Jayne, I agree, I dont think he was the greatest thing ever, but he was good. He definitely deserved more attention than the audience was returning.
For the shins, well I had high expectaions Tuesday night and was disappointed. It was a struggle making it out Wednesday, but having lower expectations and avoiding Cass McCombs meant I had a much better time.
Plus the ride home in GGW's G(GW) Wagon completed the night perfectly.
Sam Jayne, I agree, I dont think he was the greatest thing ever, but he was good. He definitely deserved more attention than the audience was returning.
For the shins, well I had high expectaions Tuesday night and was disappointed. It was a struggle making it out Wednesday, but having lower expectations and avoiding Cass McCombs meant I had a much better time.
Plus the ride home in GGW's G(GW) Wagon completed the night perfectly.
Any idea what tickets were going for outside? I had an extra (a lawyer friend stuck at the office over a brief – eeewwww) and sold it for face. I don't have the balls to ask for lots for a ticket. But, I'm curious…
I wonder how much GGW sold his tickets for?
There are two pairs on ebay for the NYC show Saturday currently at $207 and $202 per pair.
There are two pairs on ebay for the NYC show Saturday currently at $207 and $202 per pair.