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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: grotty on June 07, 2005, 02:13:00 pm
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So I started pulling out some tickets I have for upcoming shows and just realized I've got this 10 day endurance event coming up:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
Thursday 6/9 Pixies
Friday 6/10 Jon Dee Graham
Saturday 6/11 Drive-by Truckers
Wednesday 6/15 Bloc Party
Friday 6/17 The National
Sunday 6/19 Aimee Mann
I'm not complaining, but that has to be my all-time high for a non-festival time period.
If anyone can empathize with my plight, it's this asylum.
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Could never do it. Walkmen, Doves, Snow Patrol in 5 days about killed me...Maybe if the first 2 were a bit better I would have ejoyed it more. Doing all of that w/ a 9 to 5 job is admirable.
You folks are dedicated.
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Saturday 6/11 Drive-by Truckers
is this the pittsburgh show?
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Saturday 6/11 Drive-by Truckers
is this the pittsburgh show? [/b]
Yes. These Arts Fest shows are actually really great. Wilco did this Saturday night slot the last 2 years. You get there a little early - throw down a blanket- And then pull out your contraband cocktails. Plus it's everyone's favorite flavor: FREE
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Uh huh...I feel your pain. Between July 11-25, I'm seeing shows on 10 different days, including the Intonation Festival in Chicago and the Hillside Festival in Chicago.
But honestly - would you have it any other way? I love the fact that there is so much great music out there. A day will eventually come when I'm saddled with kids and I can't run off to Philly or even Baltimore/DC for a show because of parental responsibilities. So you make the best of it while you can.
If only my liver holds out...
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hardcore.
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Did I know about the National show? Is that in DC?
Wow, just looked it up. NYC. Grotty, not only are you hitting a bunch of shows, but you're hitting a bunch of cities! More power to you....
I've had weeks like that, but I have found that I have a *really* hard time with three nights in a row. I can do two in a row if need be, but three is tough...
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the national is NY, Mercury Lounge, right?
I wish they were playing here.
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Yeah - the National show is @ Mercury.
I think it's only about a 250 seat venue.
That's the one I'm most excited about.
They've been near the top of my fav band list since Markie & Pollard turned me onto them prior to one SXSW. I managed to miss them multiple times so I'm amped up to catch them in their new adopted town.
Funny thing is I just picked the NYC weekend randomly to visit some friends - then I had to pull up Pollstar of course. Lucky Me.
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Markie
Here!
I signed up for their mailing list so as to not miss a show.
Mercury Lounge is all standing, not seating. I thought it was a great venue.
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Markie encouraged me to listen to them as well and I loved "Sad Songs...", but then he wouldn't let me request "Murder Me Rachel" for a second time when they played 9:30 Club.....Markie's so mean.
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Originally posted by canker-blossom:
Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Markie
Here!
I signed up for their mailing list so as to not miss a show.
Mercury Lounge is all standing, not seating. I thought it was a great venue. [/b]
I knew that was you. You're about the only one I can keep track of.
I meant seats=capacity. Chairs would be very bad. One review I read of this year's SXSW picked The National gig as the best & most passionate.
And Bags - it's odd - Murder Me is probably my least fav song of theirs. Not sure why - I dig the harder songs on Alligator. I would have restrained you too.
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Yeah - the National show is @ Mercury.
I think it's only about a 250 seat venue.
That's the one I'm most excited about.
it's a fantastic venue, my favorite in NYC ... great location for after-partying too ...
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
great location for after-partying too ...
keep going...
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
So I started pulling out some tickets I have for upcoming shows and just realized I've got this 10 day endurance event coming up:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
where is marah playing? im guessing somewhere in PA? would love to catch them sometime.
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Originally posted by xneverwherex:
Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
So I started pulling out some tickets I have for upcoming shows and just realized I've got this 10 day endurance event coming up:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
where is marah playing? im guessing somewhere in PA? would love to catch them sometime. [/b]
The best small venue in Pittsburgh - 120 capacity Club Cafe on the SouthSide. If you are ever in town - check it out for shows.
Tho Marah's last 2 records have been less than stellar, they are still an incredible live act.
This is what Nick Hornby (High Fidelity) had to say about Marah in a monthly column he writes about books:
marah (http://www.marah-usa.com/PressMarah.php?ID=18)
Nick Hornby | 2004-03-30
?This month the cultural highlight was a rock and roll show??two shows, actually, one of which took place in a pub called the Fiddler??s Elbow in Kentish Town, North London. The Fiddler??s Elbow is not somewhere you would normally expect to find your most memorable drink of the month, let alone your most memorable spiritual moment, but there you go: God really is everywhere. Anyway, against all the odds, and even though they were fighting above their weight, these shows punched the books to the floor. And, they were good books, too. Five or six years ago, a friend in Philly introduced me to a local band called Marah. Their first album had just come out, on an indie label, and it sounded great to me, like the Pogues reimagined by the E Street Band, full of fire and tunes, and soul and banjos. There was a buzz about it, and they got picked up by Steve Earle??s label E-Squared; their next album got noticed by Greil Marcus and Stephen King (who proudly wore a Marah T-shirt in a photo shoot) and Springsteen himself, and it looked like they were off and away. Writing this down, I can suddenly see the reason why it didn??t happen for them, or at least, why it hasn??t happened yet. Steve Earle, Stephen King, Greil Marcus, Bruce, me?none of us is under a hundred years old. The band is young, but their referents, the music they love, is getting on a bit, and in an attempt to address this problem, they attempted their ancient fans with a noisy modern rock album. They succeeded in the alienation, but not in finding a new audience, so they have been forced to retreat and retrench and rethink. At the end of the Fiddler??s Elbow show they passed a hat around, which gives you some indication of the level of retrenchment going on. They??ll be OK. Their next album will be spectacular, and they??ll sell out Madison Square Garden, and you??ll all be boasting that you read a column by a guy who saw them in the Fiddler??s Elbow. Anyway, the two shows I saw that week were spectacular, as good as anything, I??ve seen with the possible exception of the Clash in ??79, Prince in ??85 and Springsteen on the River tour. Dave and Serge, the two brothers who are to Marah what the Gallaghers are to Oasis, played the Fiddler??s Elbow as if it were Giants Stadium, and even though it was acoustic, they just about blew the place up. They were standing on chairs and lying on the floor, they were funny, they charmed everyone in the pub apart from an old drunk sitting next to the drum kit (a drummer turned up halfway through the evening with his own set, having played a gig elsewhere first), who put his fingers firmly in his ears during Serge??s extended harmonica solo. (His mate, meanwhile, rose unsteadily to his feet and started clapping along). It was utterly bizarre and very moving: most musicians wouldn??t have bothered turning up, let alone almost killing themselves. And I was reminded-and this happened the last time I saw them play, too ?? how rarely one feels included in a live show. Usually you watch, and listen, and drift off, and the band plays well or doesn??t and it doesn??t matter much either way. It can actually be a very lonely experience. But I felt a part of the music, and a part of the people I??d gone with, and, to cut this short before the encores, I didn??t want to read for about a fortnight afterwards. I wanted to write, but I couldn??t because of the holidays, and I wanted to listen to Marah, but I didn??t want to read no book. I was too itchy, too energized, and if young people feel like that every night of the week, then, yes, literature??s dead as a dodo. (In an attempt to get myself back on course, I bought Bill Ehrhardt??s book Vietnam-Perkasie, because he comes Marah-endorsed, and provided the inspiration for ??Round Eye Blues?, one of their very best songs. I didn??t read a thing, though. And their next album is tentatively entitled 20,000 Streets under the Sky, after a Patrick Hamilton novel- I??m going to order that and not read it, too).
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
great location for after-partying too ...
keep going... [/b]
well, the lounge itself is really cool, i'd kinda compare it to DC9, with a long bar right when you walk in, but the concert room is towards the back of the place (not upstairs like DC9) ... it fits a couple hundred people, much smaller than the black cat but a little bigger than DC9 and definitely bigger than velvet
and you're on E Houston, close to tons of other bars and crap ... i don't remember names, i just remember the hangover the next day =)
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
psst...they are playing in VA too...
Anyhow, I hear ya. Past two Saturdays I've had 4 shows to choose from. This weekend not much different. Infact, the whole month I have a bunch of shows. Too bad I don't have moohlah for all of them.
Late show Sunday = 3 hours sleep...I need to pace myself...
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Originally posted by xneverwherex:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
[/qb]
where is marah playing? im guessing somewhere in PA? would love to catch them sometime. [/QB][/QUOTE]
Marah is playing at Jammin' Java on 6/18
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Originally posted by twangirl:
[/b]
Ever catch Jon Dee Graham while @ SXSW?
I'm betting you can can testify to his brilliance
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Originally posted by twangirl:
Originally posted by xneverwherex:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
[/b]
where is marah playing? im guessing somewhere in PA? would love to catch them sometime. [/QB]
Marah is playing at Jammin' Java on 6/18 [/QB][/QUOTE]
good to know! ill try and make it out to that show :)
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when i lived in pittsburgh, i swear it was 3 awesome shows in a month and then nothing good for 4 months. have fun, used to see karl hendricks at club cafe every now and again. i know you're traveling for some of these, but enjoy it while you can. oh and i hear the brewery is pretty sweet too. byob, and i used to live 5 blocks from the place
the one time i went to mercury lounge i got way too drunk :(
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty::
[/b]
Ever catch Jon Dee Graham while @ SXSW?
I'm betting you can can testify to his brilliance [/QB]
Yes. he's at Iota this Saturday but I don't think I can make it.
He is opening for Alejandro [and playing in his band] here though in Sept...something to look forward to.
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
So I started pulling out some tickets I have for upcoming shows and just realized I've got this 10 day endurance event coming up:
Wednesday 6/8 Marah
Thursday 6/9 Pixies
Friday 6/10 Jon Dee Graham
Saturday 6/11 Drive-by Truckers
Wednesday 6/15 Bloc Party
Friday 6/17 The National
Sunday 6/19 Aimee Mann
I'm not complaining, but that has to be my all-time high for a non-festival time period.
If anyone can empathize with my plight, it's this asylum.
How you holding up?
Btw, Pharmacy Prophets added to the Marah @ Jammin Java gig this Saturday.
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With many thanks to the mighty might el Tee for the help with the show. It's all ages which could be cool and early, we start at 8:00 so there's plenty of time for later shenanigans.
Come on out, rock away, head across the street after the show and lace your blood with chili dogs and beer at the Vienna Inn.
I will.
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<img src="http://www.viennainn.com/images/LOGO.gif" alt=" - " /> I'm in
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i've done 6 shows in 7 nights on more than one occasion and it's not too fun, especially when a lot of the shows involve quite a bit of travelling.
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Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
With many thanks to the mighty might el Tee for the help with the show. It's all ages which could be cool and early, we start at 8:00 so there's plenty of time for later shenanigans.
Come on out, rock away, head across the street after the show and lace your blood with chili dogs and beer at the Vienna Inn.
I will.
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Sorry, dup: Pharmacist! That is great news - happy I got a prepaid ticket. BTW: JamminJ's ticketing system is really good:fast/forgiving/complete...but still includes a ridiculous "handling fee" for willcall on a handwritten list. Whatever! See you there!
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Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Come on out, rock away, head across the street after the show and lace your blood with chili dogs and beer at the Vienna Inn.
I thought I heard that the Vienna Inn had been turned into some foo-foo wine bar?
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Originally posted by BadSushi:
but still includes a ridiculous "handling fee" for willcall on a handwritten list. Whatever! See you there!
? I assume you mean online? $1 if you call and buy a ticket. Nothing in person. Dunno how much online for "handling". Can't be as ridiculous as ticketbastarder.
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Originally posted by El Tee:
Originally posted by BadSushi:
but still includes a ridiculous "handling fee" for willcall on a handwritten list. Whatever! See you there!
? I assume you mean online? $1 if you call and buy a ticket. Nothing in person. Dunno how much online for "handling". Can't be as ridiculous as ticketbastarder. [/b]
Don't say that.
Sob.
No idea, if so it's off to one of the several Fairfax crapholes to choose from.
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Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Originally posted by El Tee:
Originally posted by BadSushi:
but still includes a ridiculous "handling fee" for willcall on a handwritten list. Whatever! See you there!
? I assume you mean online? $1 if you call and buy a ticket. Nothing in person. Dunno how much online for "handling". Can't be as ridiculous as ticketbastarder. [/b]
Don't say that.
Sob.
No idea, if so it's off to one of the several Fairfax crapholes to choose from. [/b]
Prophet you misquoted. heh. Just want to clarify any fees for JJ are minimal from what I understand.
And re: Vienna Inn, it looks the same from the outside, we'll make it the same inside. ;) We're not going to Clyde's near Tysons. Got it?
;)
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::::sigh of relief:::::
Got it!
Tickets are supposedly going pretty quick, should be a fun show.
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Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Come on out, rock away, head across the street after the show and lace your blood with chili dogs and beer at the Vienna Inn.
I thought I heard that the Vienna Inn had been turned into some foo-foo wine bar? [/b]
uh, no, last time i was there...2 weeks ago, it was still chili dogs and beer
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Maybe he/she was thinking of Whitey's. That has indeed become a foo foo wine bar.
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Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Maybe he/she was thinking of Whitey's. That has indeed become a foo foo wine bar.
Well, actually, that might be a positive change.
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Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Maybe he/she was thinking of Whitey's. That has indeed become a foo foo wine bar.
Somebody in my office told me the Vienna Inn had gone over to the yuppie darkside.
Glad to hear they were wrong. It's an institution.
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Bump for the Marah show.
Bump.
Do it for Marah!
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Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Maybe he/she was thinking of Whitey's. That has indeed become a foo foo wine bar.
i thought the term was "froo froo"
i guess I'm wrong. so is Dave Grohl against these kind of wine bars then?
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The only show I'm going to in the next 10 days is this one (and maybe Jonathan Richman):
Canada in New York!
Saturday, June 25
7:30pm
NEW PORNOGRAPHERS / STARS / THE SADIES
A host of indie rockers descends on the Bandshell for an early Canada Day fete, led by Vancouver supergroup the NEW PORNOGRAPHERS. Fresh off the release of its extraordinary third album Set Yourself on Fire, Montreal's STARS is one of the Great White North's hottest bands. THE SADIES come from Toronto with a distinctive sound that incorporates everything from traditional country to surf music to garage rock. Presented with major support from the Canadian Consulate General in New York.
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He sponsors a kids soccer team in my neighborhood. They're like the coolest kids soccer team on earth.
Kid 1 - "We're sponsored by Lee's Drycleaners"
Kid 2 - "We're sponsored by the Foo Fighters"
Kid 1 - "I HATE MY PARENTS...WHERE'S THE HEROIN!"
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Originally posted by sonickteam4:
Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Maybe he/she was thinking of Whitey's. That has indeed become a foo foo wine bar.
i thought the term was "froo froo"
i guess I'm wrong. so is Dave Grohl against these kind of wine bars then? [/b]
nah, I think you are right sonick. anyhow either term works.
I recall now that Vienna Inn did cause a stir a few years back. There were rumors of becoming a wine and cigar bar. Dunno what it's like now. I'm sure Pharmacist will bring in his gear & amp and set them straight.
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Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by the Pharmacist:
Maybe he/she was thinking of Whitey's. That has indeed become a foo foo wine bar.
Somebody in my office told me the Vienna Inn had gone over to the yuppie darkside.
Glad to hear they were wrong. It's an institution. [/b]
I was also at Vienna Inn a few nights ago: It's even WORSE than before the fire. They went out of their way to do repairs with what looks like salvaged plywood; found HORRIBLE pock-marked tables which your elbows either stick to or pick up splinters from, and covered the walls with more shit than my parent's old refrigerator. Have no fear: Pickled eggs and warm beer survive! No Prada in sight.
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Ms Sushi, are you going to be at JJ tomorrow? Will be nice to see you again. We have the new guitarist up and running. I like it.
Glad to hear the Vienna Inn has kept their minimalist Sanford and Son school of architecture vibe going.
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Pharmacist: Glad you survived the Pizza boy/Playa wars. I'm there with bells...maybe Mr. White will show. The sound guy for JJ is one talented dude too....you'll be in good hands, and among friends and fans.
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The Pharmacy Prophets played a great opening show last night at JamminJ. Their stepped-up rehearsal/show schedule has them really sounding "tight"; the new lead guitarist is incredible; and the Pharmacist sang some great songs: the vocals and harmonies were awesome. Their fans turned out enmass, which was good to see for an opening act - and I think the JJ staff/bookers took notice too. The only complaint was the set was too short...BTW: Unlike a few other shows at JJ last week, their drummer handled the squirrely acoustics fabulously...backing way down - which paid off on the overall sound balance. The crowd - many of whom showed up for the Prophets were really well behaved - obviously concert vets., and their merch. staff were the best looking girls in the place!!
Marah? Well, I'll let their fans critique their show. As a newbie, I thought they were good; interesting harmonies - with EVERY band member singing, but I found their set a little monotonous...of course, it could be CRAZED CONCERT CALENDAR syndrome...seven concerts/eight days. ZZZZZZZ eh?
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Twas a fine old time, had fun with Marah and their crowd was super cool. Thanks to you and the mighty El Tee for a good old night.
The merch girls had a blast.
Whee!
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Twas a fine old time, had fun with Marah and their crowd was super cool. Thanks to you and the mighty El Tee for a good old night.
The merch girls had a blast.
Whee!
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Well...I survived my concert binge.
To paraphrase the great Patterson Hood: "I've lived to tell about it & hopefully do a whole lot more crazy stupid shit."
As if to prove that I do indeed have some sort of masochistic bent - I added another show into the mix: we stayed in Manhattan an extra night to catch the 2nd National show.
It actually wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought...after the first couple nights it just felt like a festival...one of my own creation.
I'd rate the gigs as:
#1 The National - Thursday night 6/16 @ The Mercury Lounge. One of the most passionate performances I have ever seen in my new favorite venue. They played nearly every hard song they have. You'd never believe how generally mellow their cds are if you had seen this show.
#2 Jon Dee Graham - Thursday 6/10 @ Club Cafe Pittsburgh. Only 8 people in the crowd. The band played like there was 400. Jon D is a SERIOUSLY underappreciated talent. It was like a personal VH1 Storytellers. He talked directly with us after every song - asked for requests and played everyone. Played for 2.5 hours. Definitely one of my shows of the year & one of the most unique concert experiences I've ever had.
#3 Bloc Party - Wednesday 6/15 @ Webster Hall NY.
Haven't seen a crowd that into a band since The Hives @ the Black Cat. They ended their encore - turned the house lights/music on - then a sound man came out & said: "If you are interested, they want to come back out." The remaining crowd got to hear 2 new songs - one as good as anything they played all night.
#4 The National - Friday 6/17 @ Mercury Lounge.
Mostly the same set - mostly the same crowd - but still so very good. The singers parents were there causing it to be just a little more restrained than Thursday.
#5 Drive-by Truckers - Saturday 6/11 Free @ Point State Park in Pittsburgh. Probably somewhere in my mid teens seeing them & maybe the most fun I've ever seen them have. A good crowd waiting through thunderstorms. I miss the sloppy bar band they used to be but there's no overlooking the potent rock n roll machine they've become...so tight with so much talent.
#6 Pixies 6/9 @ Chev Amp in Pittsburgh. A short & sweet set. Shamefully to a 1/2 full house. Not as good as Coachella, but in this case - the standard for #6 is still very high.
I ended up skipping Marah. Something about some overdue reviews I had. :D
And I had to endure some pretty horrific opening acts during this little stretch. None worse than the Linkin Park Jr band that opened for Bloc Party.
You know it's bad when:
*You see the same opener twice in one week opening for different bands - the surprisingly decent Engineers,
*The bartenders start buying you drinks @ the Mercury because you spent so much money there the night before, and
*Even after all this you find yourself wishing you had another show to go to tonight! ;)
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is chevy the former ic light tent?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
is chevy the former ic light tent?
Yep - one of the lamest venues in America. Standing around on a parking lot.
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i was in the front row for a ben folds five show there...in lawn seats. couldn't see a damn thing
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
and you're on E Houston, close to tons of other bars and crap ... i don't remember names, i just remember the hangover the next day =)
You couldn't have been more accurate with this.
We left the Mercury on Saturday morning (Friday night show) @ about 1:30.
Didn't want to go home yet. Found a groovy little bar on the corner with good atmosphere & tunes.
At about 3:30 a.m. we realized they hadn't closed yet.
At about 4:00 a.m. the bar was crowded again with one of the weirdest yet coolest crowds you could imagine.
At about 5:00 a.m we headed for the front door only to find that we were locked in. Rather than bother the bartender, we went back for more drinks.
At about 6:00 a.m. the bartender pulled all the blinds. We thought he was closing. Rather he was just shielding us from the rising sun.
At 7:00 a.m. we finally burst through a fire door - free at last: Dawn of the Dead June 2005.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i was in the front row for a ben folds five show there...in lawn seats. couldn't see a damn thing
Lawn? Are you thinking of Starlake... the Merriweather type amphitheatre outside of town?
Chevy (IC Light) is over in Station Square. It's all concrete.
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Originally posted by The Artist Formerly Known As grotty:
Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
and you're on E Houston, close to tons of other bars and crap ... i don't remember names, i just remember the hangover the next day =)
You couldn't have been more accurate with this.
We left the Mercury on Saturday morning (Friday night show) @ about 1:30.
Didn't want to go home yet. Found a groovy little bar on the corner with good atmosphere & tunes.
At about 3:30 a.m. we realized they hadn't closed yet.
At about 4:00 a.m. the bar was crowded again with one of the weirdest yet coolest crowds you could imagine.
At about 5:00 a.m we headed for the front door only to find that we were locked in. Rather than bother the bartender, we went back for more drinks.
At about 6:00 a.m. the bartender pulled all the blinds. We thought he was closing. Rather he was just shielding us from the rising sun.
At 7:00 a.m. we finally burst through a fire door - free at last: Dawn of the Dead June 2005. [/b]
I think that bar is called "Eleven", benches around the outside of the main room; downstairs party area - kinda creepy; VIP room behind the stage...?? Lots of after party action there so you'll see cab loads of musicians arrive around 3:00. I left when they reopened and let us out - the sun was up - rush hour just starting.
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Originally posted by BadSushi:
I think that bar is called "Eleven", benches around the outside of the main room; downstairs party area - kinda creepy; VIP room behind the stage...?? Lots of after party action there so you'll see cab loads of musicians arrive around 3:00. I left when they reopened and let us out - the sun was up - rush hour just starting.
You'd think after all the time I spent there I'd know the name...but no luck.
Your description sounds spot on though.
I can't wait to go back!
You know you are in NYC when you are walking down the street & here comes Carlos D from Interpol. All decked out like he just came from a gig. I asked to see his gun holster. He wouldn't oblige so we warned the girls he was with about his rumoured STDs. He was not pleased. Luckily he had no posse and couldn't run very fast in all those fancy threads.