This week rollcall

How was Phoenix? Did anyone go to last night's show as well as the Rock'n'Roll Hotel? Just curious how they compared.

i went last night and was at that RNRH show last year, and RNRH was far better.  even though i was front row last night, there was that inevitable loss of intimacy being in the larger room.  i?m not sure how well the show translated higher up & farther back, but the band seemed to have pretty good command of the stage.  it was fun watching thomas run around the stage, climb into the boxes, and out into the crowd.  show was short?maybe an hour and a half.  there were lots of younguns; i could rant about the drunk ass sitting next to me who elbowed me HARD on the top of my head and screamed ?partytime? incessantly, but i?ll bite me tongue.

looking forward to frightened rabbit tonight.

phoenix was amazing.  they're such a great live band, great stage presence, cute and humble to boot.  crowd was really in to the show and everyone was dancing around me.  The 930 got a shout-out: Thomas said that they loved the 930 but that performing in this bigger space was the right decision (let more people attend the show).  they did their usual gimmicks of thomas climbing and running around the room, and having the crowd pour on stage for the finale while the band sneaks out the back.

i wasn't at the RnR so i can't compare.  one thing i've fairly certain of is that from where i was sitting (front half of orchestra), the sound was better at DAR.  i say this based on the fact that i've never heard RnR sound good, and last night DAR was downright impressive from our spot.  no idea what it sounded like at the back of the hall.  intimacy of the RnR might have been nice, but i appreciated the energy and facilities that DAR provided (space, better sound, stuff for thomas to climb on, etc).  less scene points, better show?  :P

pix: http://picasaweb.google.com/sweetcell/PhoenixDAR

vids:
playground love: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTtvKzqPR3s (check out the crowd shot at the end)
1901 (part): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B8UDHK1Mbk (crap sound but ok visuals)

I was disappointed that they didn't have that arab-lookin' drummer they've used in the past.  Turns out he's the highlight of the band as far as instrumental ability, even though he's not officially in the band.  The drummer they had last night didn't get near that level of technical ability or energy

edbert wrote:
The drummer they had last night didn't get near that level of technical ability or energy

i wasn't paying particular attention to the drummer, but i thought he did just fine.  phoenix isn't exactly rush or the who…. 

it was his first time playing with phoenix, maybe he was nervous and/or holding back.  it looked like it was the same drummer from the opening band, Two Door Cinema Club (who were really good, by then way).

If it wasn't the same drummer, it definitely wasn't the same show. I'm sure it was great, but he truly did have some of the most amazing natural musical ability that I've seen by a backing musician in a long time. Thanks for the updates!

I thought it was great. First show at Shithole Hall in about 3 years. From the sixth row sound was very good….

Security was out of hand hassling people about videos/cameras.. I mean they were detracting from the show… Not that I care but never seen such long lines for alcohol..it was insane.

Thomas said something about how drummer couldn't make it but I would guess he'll be at future shows…

Seth should book them at Merriweather this fall.. Lots of people I know got shut out on tickets and didn't want to deal with Craigslist.

Enjoyed getting on stage with band…. That Guy was there too..

Of course I wish I'd seen them at RNRH but you can't win them all.

Oh and it was nice to see a crowd really into a show in DC….

Are there still flight restrictions? Because he's from a Scandiavan country and when I last looked him up he must be the only drummer in his home town as he was in at least a half dozen bands there.

I prefered this drummer.  His use of the hi-hat was less disco-y than on the album.  He was the drummer with the first band, or so the lead singer said, wasn't sure if he was joking as he flubbed the start of one of the songs.  I liked the show, great sound, though I couldn't really make out the bassist's keyboard lines.

American Idiot @ St James Theatre

Gossip tomorrow at T5
Sharon Jones on Saturday at Apollo
Peter Gabriel on Sunday at Radio City

That's a triple-header win.

Squelchers at Velvet was scary. Like "holy shit I'm gonna get run over  by that amp if I don't run over to the side now!" scary.
Live music needs more of that nowadays.


Video from another show on the tour

Weezer and Ben Folds tonight. Worth the $5 for a student ticket.

My last Art Attack as a UMD student.  :(

How was Weezer? The Echo & the Bunnymen show was a lot of fun. Really glad that I went to that.

Anyone going to see The Album Leaf tonight at RNR?

Shit I cant believe I just remembered I had Talib tickets for last night… Damn visiting parents and their keeping my mind off of shows…

Oh well i guess this week is just SVI + Post rock bands at Basement Speakesay on Saturday.

Saturday - Broken Social Scene @ Music hall of Williamsburg

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
Anyone going to see The Album Leaf tonight at RNR?

did you make it to this, hoya?  if so, how was it?

i'm currently listening to the new album and kicking myself for not going to the show.  i had plans, but i should have dropped them. 

vansmack wrote:

sweetcell wrote:
- tuesday: Frightened Rabbit @ BC if my ticket materializes

Let me know on this one.  I have a ticket for next month…

goin allllll the way back to last week on this one cause you made my day in that goldfrapp presale thread.

the frightened rabbit show was quite good.  it was the first time i'd seen them, and as a newish/casual FR fan, it was a treat hearing those midnight organ fight songs live.  it was more than worth the effort and $18.  enjoy the show!  (wish i could muster a better review, but i?m workin on 2 hrs of sleep? and i hate writing reviews.)

heather wrote:
the frightened rabbit show was quite good.  it was the first time i'd seen them, and as a newish/casual FR fan, it was a treat hearing those midnight organ fight songs live.  it was more than worth the effort and $18.  enjoy the show!  (wish i could muster a better review, but i’m workin on 2 hrs of sleep… and i hate writing reviews.)

Thanks Heather!  I have tickets for May 19 and am looking forward to it.  I think you are about the same FR fan that I am - I have never seen them live, only recently got back into them, and was really hoping to hear a lot of Midnight Organ over the new stuff, though I like both albums.  I was excited about the show before, but now I'm really looking forward to it.

I would also like to point out that The Fillmore offered a 4 pack for this show which reduced the costs by about a third.  I was so impressed that I bought 4 tickets at $16.70 each ($24.60 with surcharge) rather than $22.50 each ($32.50 with surcharge) and even if I have to give the 4th ticket away, it will be worth it to me and the venue (for those bad at maths, I spent $98.40 on four tickets instead of $97.50 on three, and the venue will have one more drinker in the house).  Just sayin….