Post Show Banter >>>>

azaghal1981 wrote:
Oh you were at that? Guess I missed you. Fun time! Who knew Richard Youngs was such a funny guy?

Yeah - i saw you across the room but then got so caught up talking to other people after the show that I didn't get a chance to say hi– so many awesome people there last night!

Here's a video i shot of one of his songs (the really long one) –> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJYFcOlnyiA

and yeah, he was definitely a funny guy!

that's the long song I saw at Hopscotch…

stevewizzle wrote:

K8teebug wrote:
They don't usually perform encores.

i'm aware.  they have 11 songs.

either flip the lights immediately, or bask in the encore demand for 1 or 2 minutes and get back out there.

You mean they didn't play Watchtower?

Last night's Okkervil River show was SO good– best I've seen them.  Were my eyes deceiving me, or was the drummer sporting a Skins t-shirt?

Last Saturday's Dan Deacon/Future Islands/VideoHippos show was a real treat.  VideoHippos played a fun, short set of tracks, their first set since 2010.  The rain didnt keep anyone away, and by the time i got to the Ottobar (a couple songs into VideoHippos set) the place was already packed.  I watched from the back, and moved towards the front while Future Islands set up. 

Between sets, poetry was read.  It was a benefit show for Ben O'Brien (a Wham City member, poet, video artist, and member of Nuclear Power Pants), who is sick, but I didnt catch what it actually was.  While the poetry was read, hecklers were active.  It was exceedingly disrespectful.  It was so bad the poetry reader (i forget his name) and to stop and confront the women.  They screamed "Why the F#c* is this happening?"  Why is it happening?  Because this is for Ben.  This is to show support.  Show some respect.  Well, the idiots finally got their wish, as Future Islands took the stage. 

This was the third time I saw Future Islands this year (and maybe the 6th time total).  They sounded great (at Hopscotch the mix was horrible and almost everything was drowned out by a too-loud kickdrum) and continued their tradition from this year, playing new songs.  If the crowd had been to the Metro Gallery show this year (an amazing 90 minute set) they would have known what to look forward to, new songs (also a lot of what they did at Hopscotch).  Why new songs?  Because they need to play these songs (currently being mixed in NYC for a new album) in front of live audiences.  Some didn't have names, and all continued the Future Islands tradition of great music.  They only played for around 45 minutes, and left the crowd wanting more (they did throw in a couple of old ones, which of course got the best crowd reactions, but all the old tunes were from In Evening Air (Long Flight, Tinman, and maybe one more) and none from their last, On the Water).  The poet returned, but this time sans hecklers.  It seemed the ladies (and about 20% of the crowd) were only there for Future Islands, and left before Dan Deacon got on the stage. 

With a thinned out crowd, I grabbed one last IPA, and made my way to the stage.  This was the first time I had seen Dan Deacon since Whartscape 2010 (RIP), and this was my first time seeing him solo (the Whartscape set was with the Dan Deacon Ensemble).  Technically, it wasn't him solo, as he had dual drummers (including the VideoHippos drummer and someone else who I didn't recognize); one on either side of Dan's setup.  And then the rocking started.  I was glad a lot of people left, (though it was far from empty) as the energy immediately picked up, and the dancing started.  Dan seemed to mostly be running tracks through a laptop (looked like he was using Live), with the drummers supplying the beat, and his twisted vocals courtesy of two different mics, of which he sometimes used both at once) running through various effects.  The crowd was more than willing to go along with all of the activities.  He split the crowd in the middle and sent out two dance leaders (Lizz King and someone else).  Everyone hit the ground (I refused to kneel because i knew there was broken glass around there, so i squatted) and then mimicked the moves of their dance leaders.  The whole affair had a fun air about it, like it was some kind of weird Disney program catering to Baltimore music nerds.  I captured some great images from it, and need to upload them soon.  This was one of my favorite nights of the year, and I am grateful I was able to get tickets before it sold out.  Not just because it was so much fun, but because I was able to help out with Ben and his medical expenses (none of the musicians took a cut of anything, it was all for Ben). 

That is a good review.  I don't Dan Deacon's recorded work but his live shows are fun.  Future Islands are always amazing live.  "Nuclear Power Pants" is a fun band as well. I am sorry that one of their members is sick.

Thanks!

I fixed the name, I wrote this really quickly during my lunch break.

I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know. What a joy it is to see him perform.  I saw him at a 200 person theatre in Gettysburg this weekend and was completely blown away.

^ Bill Callahan?

How was Sam Amidon?

Robbie Fulks>Josh Ritter
Jason Isbell>Josh Ritter

Robbie Fulks>Josh Ritte: Will investigate, never heard of him.
Jason Isbell>Josh Ritter: LOL

Vas wrote:
^ Bill Callahan?

How was Sam Amidon?

Didn't catch his set.

Yada wrote:
I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.

Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?

Vas wrote:
^ Bill Callahan?

How was Sam Amidon?

Amidon reminded me of a contemporary Steve Martin.  A bit quirky with a dry sense of humor.  Talented musician-played  guitar, fiddle, banjo….  Told the audience that he recently discovered a band called the Grateful Dead and that he was amazed by the fact that all that do is jam.  He won me over at that point.  He covered a traditional folk/blues tune Cold Rain and Snow that was a staple in the Dead's repertoire for years.

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.

Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?

I like singer-songwriter.  When I hear singer-songwriter it makes me know to stop paying attention to the discussion.  

Bagley wrote:

Vas wrote:
^ Bill Callahan?

How was Sam Amidon?

Amidon reminded me of a contemporary Steve Martin.  A bit quirky with a dry sense of humor.  Talented musician-played  guitar, fiddle, banjo….  Told the audience that he recently discovered a band called the Grateful Dead and that he was amazed by the fact that all that do is jam.   He won me over at that point.  He covered a traditional folk/blues tune Cold Rain and Snow that was a staple in the Dead's repertoire for years.

were you at the Gettysburg show? What a treat!

atomic wrote:

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.

Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?

I like singer-songwriter.  When I hear singer-songwriter it makes me know to stop paying attention to the discussion.  

Thank you for your participation in this thread, nozzle.

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.

Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?

Agree that we need some clarification here.  Folk singer/songwriters under the age of 40 perhaps? Otherwise I'd have to say no one comes close to Costello or Dylan.  
I was very impressed with Ritter's showmanship and stage presence, his endearingly warm smile draws you right in.   Yes, I do think he's a tremendous songwriter for his age.  His song structures are complex, he has quite a vocabulary, weaves good stories and virtually no piece is linear.

His two backup musicians were very talented as well.
Yada,  what was that metal box that his guitar player used on a couple songs?

Bagley wrote:

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.

Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?

Agree that we need some clarification here.  Folk singer/songwriters under the age of 40 perhaps? Otherwise I'd have to say no one comes close to Costello or Dylan.  
I was very impressed with Ritter's showmanship and stage presence, his endearingly warm smile draws you right in.   Yes, I do think he's a tremendous songwriter for his age.  His song structures are complex, he has quite a vocabulary, weaves good stories and virtually no piece is linear.

His two backup musicians were very talented as well.
Yada,  what was that metal box that his guitar player used on a couple songs?

Unfortunately, other than a layman's description of some sort of effects box, I have no clue?

Is that the first time you've seen him? I'm approaching seeing him 10 times or so since 05' and that was definitely one of my favorite evenings. The mustache'd man is a fixture in his back up band.

Bagley wrote:

Julian, wrote:

Yada wrote:
I know it's not too cool to like singer song writers on this here board… but if anyone can name a  better American singer song writer than Josh Ritter, please let me know.

Singer-songwriter is such a weird term. Like, isn't Billy Corgan technically a singer-songwriter? He sings and writes the songs. Can't we come up with a more specific term for "someone who plays acoustic guitar, generally unaccompanied"?

Agree that we need some clarification here.  Folk singer/songwriters under the age of 40 perhaps? Otherwise I'd have to say no one comes close to Costello or Dylan.  
I was very impressed with Ritter's showmanship and stage presence, his endearingly warm smile draws you right in.   Yes, I do think he's a tremendous songwriter for his age.  His song structures are complex, he has quite a vocabulary, weaves good stories and virtually no piece is linear.

His two backup musicians were very talented as well.
Yada,  what was that metal box that his guitar player used on a couple songs?

Is Elvis Costello considered a singer-songwriter?  I thought he was part of a band.  Saw him at Newport Folk Festival a couple of years ago and though his show was supposed to be acoustic he played with electric guitars and had a band.  He was pretty bad.  I never cared for him so maybe I am not the best judge but my wife thought he was pretty bad as well.