Official 930 Club Belle and Sebastian Echostage June 11 Show

bearman wrote:

Sidehatch wrote:
So got a free tix if anyone wants to go

Actually, I would love it!

This is why this board is awesome.  Bearman's in my top 3 people to go see B&S with….

Thanks Smackie!

Alright, I'll be the first to chime in.

1) Echostage was INFINITELY more bearable than the Replacements show. Great sound, fewer people and lots more space…but still felt like a pretty full show.

2) The setlist…wow. Other than 1 weak song in the encore and the wrong song to end the show with (that honor should have gone to "Judy and the Dream of Horses"), I'd say it was pretty friggin' awesome.

3) The band really seemed to enjoy themselves. Stuart was funnier and more charming than he's been in a while. I'd say this ranked as the best show I've seen since the Hollywood Bowl in 2006.

Highlights: "Expectations", "I'm Waking Up To Us", "Fox in the Snow" (where even all the chatty Cathys in my area finally shut up and realized that they were witnessing something really special), "My Wandering Days Are Over", "Electronic Renaissance", "Jonathan David", "Dog on Wheels"…and even the newer songs fit in well for some nice variety. I'm so very, very happy and I'm glad that my work schedule allowed me to see this. I would have been so disappointed if I saw that setlist and I hadn't been there.

^^^ Nice review, obviously you are a true fan.

Is there anyone cooler in the world than Stuart? Quite simply one of the most brilliant minds and likable people in music. He's always engaging and always in a great mood. It must be hard to do that EVERY SINGLE NIGHT because it is difficult for me to act like that at ALL. Plus he still writes amazing pop songs. Stuart, and the band, have a lot left in the tank. Stuart seems to like DC, he always makes heartfelt observations about the District.

Band was in great form. I disagree with the criticism of Dear Catastrophe Waitress at the end, I was impressed with how well they played it. It seems like a very difficult song to play and they rarely perform it. Setlist was great overall, the band still comes up with surprises, even if you have seen them live a few times. Their setlists are always varied and diverse. I also noticed they played a lot of old stuff for you whiners at the expense of Write About Love, which I love and didn't have any songs played.

I forget how great and underrated the Life Pursuit songs are. Blues are Still Blue is an all time classic live, they should play it more often. Videos on the high-def screen behind the band were a nice touch too, and a little outside the box for B&S, who usually goes with the more staid backdrops at shows, which are fine too.

Oh and Echostage: Get some god damn A/C. Jesus. It was pretty warm in there early on, I'd hate to see how hot the place gets packed with people dancing their asses off and drinking and taking substances. Plus bottled water was $5. Either get A/C or drop the cost of water.

Place has good views and aesthetics, and I thought the sound was great, but the location stinks. I'd trade venue appearance and cleanliness for better location near Metro and dumpier building. Now does Seth own Echostage, or how does that work? I saw a co-owner mentioned in the "Molly death" the other night.

bearman wrote:
best show I've seen since the Hollywood Bowl in 2006.

Was that the show with both the Shins and LA Philharmonic? Oh man, I was huge into the Shins at the time, would have been Greatest Show Ever (TM) for me. Plus the orchestra, what could be better?

Apparently if you didn't like the setlist I'm partially to blame…through the magic of social media I threw some requests to Stevie, and he showed the list to Stuart…among them were "I'm Waking Up to Us", "Electronic Renaissance" and "Jonathan David". I should have asked for "I Love My Car"…but there's NO way that'll ever get played live. Too many horns. And thanks for saying I'm a true fan…they're one of my all-time favorites. Don't get me wrong, I love "Dear Catastrophe Waitress", I think I'm just used to seeing them end with something like "Sleep the Clock Around", "Judy" or "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying" (which I'm sorta over).

Thousand wrote:

bearman wrote:
best show I've seen since the Hollywood Bowl in 2006.

Was that the show with both the Shins and LA Philharmonic? Oh man, I was huge into the Shins at the time, would have been Greatest Show Ever (TM) for me. Plus the orchestra, what could be better?

That was the one. There's no way I can forget that show. They opened with "Fuck This Shit", then Stuart walked out and started singing "I Fought In A War". When the orchestra started playing I just couldn't believe it. The sound in that place was flawless. The audience stayed seated for most of the show until they played "I'm a Cuckoo". During "Your Cover's Blown" Stuart ran into the audience, and after that it was a free-for-all. People came running down from the nosebleed seats and people were dancing everywhere. It started off like a classical performance and turned into a full-on dance party. And the Shins were good too. Uneven at first, but by the end they really were great. B&S sold out the Bowl.

And most of all, thank you Sidehatch for the ticket…so good to meet you and your friends. I hope you had as much fun as I did.

bearman wrote:
I should have asked for "I Love My Car"…but there's NO way that'll ever get played live. Too many horns.

I want to hear that most as well. There is a youtube video of them playing in Singapore recently. They can do it, I just want to see it myself. I know they like upbeat shows, but it would be nuts to hear them play Beautiful or Put the Book Back on the Shelf.

In a strange train of events, I was able to go and see them for the first time.  Oddly, every time they've been in DC prior I haven't been able to go.

They did not disappoint at all. Fantastic show.

And the sound was pristine. I was concerned it would bounce around that space too much considering the design.

(Thanks Bearman! And Sidehatch lovely to meet you!)

I'm looking at the written setlist and Stuart made the right decision to choose "Expectations" (over "Another Sunny Day") and "I'm Waking Up To Us" (over "Allie" and Sukie in the Graveyard")  ;D

Me and the Major was also on the setlist as the other choice for the set opener but they ended up playing Judy instead. I wish they had settled for Me and the Major but oh well.

Great and highly enjoyable show. DC got the better crowd and dancers than the NYC show the night before. Echostage is fine if you get there early and you're in first 5 rows. Otherwise, forget it.

Hutch wrote:
i havent seen them in like forever..seriously…

these days what would the likelihood be of them playing My Wandering Days Are Over?

So for some reason Hutch turned down a free ticket and door to door service….and they played "My Wandering Days are Over"
Stuart talked a little bit about how that it was the first song he wrote as B&S
He said he penned it in Jan of 96 was joking how some in the front weren't even born then
as he was staring 50 in the face (although he is only 46)

I thought it was a great set list
I would have liked Get me away, Sleep away, Me and the Major or I want the world to stop
but Wandering days, Dog On Wheels and Expectations made up for that in spades

Thought the sound was great
Crowd size was perfect, enough to feel like the place was not empty, but perfect to move around and get up front if you wanted to

Stuart was definitely hamming it up as was Stevie
What was up with that bit about the West Wing? 
Stuart Loves Seth…said everytime they come to DC 9:30 hooks them up

AC could have been better
Since the crowd at a B&S show tend to lean female and twee men…sight lines weren't a problem with my towering 5'9" stature…
quite the opposite at the Mats

I can't believe there wasn't even a water fountain!

Also…Parking was a breeze, just go over that little bridge past the club and there was boatloads of street parking.  They were charging $30 in front of the club

Also that 'free shuttle' seems like a joke.  you have to walk down to the McD's and then then I saw at least 50 people waiting close to 1 hour after the show ended (it's only 1.5 miles people!)

All in all a great experience, was more than  happy to grant elite boardie like Bearman a 'miracle ticket'
It was nice to meet him and Lily and hope to see them at future shows

So my echohatin isn't as high anymore, but there is room for improvement

last thought…loved the horn player…his part on Dog on Wheels was a highlight for me

I saw Belle and Sebastian 3 times this week and I don't regret. Each show had 7-10 unique songs. For some reason them seem to never play my favorite songs (Like Dylan in the Movies, Me and the Major, A Century of Fakers – they did a few times this year), but that's only a minor complaint after watching more than 45 songs this week.

the new songs are pretty weak but the good thing is that they probably won't do them next tour.

Vas wrote:
the new songs are pretty weak but the good thing is that they probably won't do them next tour.

I don't mind one or 2 for variety. I like them in small doses. But when you go from "Perfect Couples" to "Fox in the Snow", you know just how good they're capable of being. I've been seeing them for 17 years and the nice thing is that there are very few songs they're guaranteed to perform. They're good at delving into their repertoire. That's what makes seeing them a couple times per tour worth it.

Sidehatch wrote:


All in all a great experience, was more than  happy to grant elite boardie like Bearman a 'miracle ticket'
It was nice to meet him and Lily and hope to see them at future shows

I wonder how many other cities have a community like the 9:30 BB…truly awesome folks. Sidehatch, you qualify as elite boardie before me for sure. Sure we're elitist snobs, but at least we like good music.

Sidehatch wrote:

Hutch wrote:
i havent seen them in like forever..seriously…

these days what would the likelihood be of them playing My Wandering Days Are Over?

So for some reason Hutch turned down a free ticket and door to door service….

That would've cleared you for at least 10 beers hutch has purchased you.

Some dancing ensued.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRVu6W2cXH4

Yada wrote:

Sidehatch wrote:

Hutch wrote:
i havent seen them in like forever..seriously…

these days what would the likelihood be of them playing My Wandering Days Are Over?

So for some reason Hutch turned down a free ticket and door to door service….

That would've cleared you for at least 10 beers hutch has purchased you.

…I KNOW!
I think the offer at least holds some weight too…at least 3 or so beers off my hutch-debt

Sidehatch wrote:

Yada wrote:

Sidehatch wrote:

Hutch wrote:
i havent seen them in like forever..seriously…

these days what would the likelihood be of them playing My Wandering Days Are Over?

So for some reason Hutch turned down a free ticket and door to door service….

That would've cleared you for at least 10 beers hutch has purchased you.

…I KNOW!
I think the offer at least holds some weight too…at least 3 or so beers off my hutch-debt

no credit i'm afraid.. :)

huh? i am really confused.. didn't you email me about how you wanted face value a couple of days ago even though it was selling below face on stubhub and then post about selling it everywhere you could? even below face, presumably rather than give it to me? next time just say i have an extra cause my spouse backed out why don't you take it? i mean you couldn't seriously expect me to give you face value when you tell me its selling below face value on stubhub, right? i'm not going to ask for a freebie if you want money for it…but if you want to invite me to a show particularly belle and sebastian i'm hardly the guy to say no! 

i opened an email yesterday at 5 -that you sent at 1130-or so saying you thought you had placed your ticket but a friend of yours had an extra if i wanted it…. by that point there was no way

anyways, glad people had fun! looks like an awesome time.. and i love boardies helping out boardies……

got to get back to weedwacking…

oh glad to see Seth post on the board..been a while..

I emailed you saying I had a free ticket and a ride the day of the show

you can interpret it how ever you like