930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: frostytheswami on October 14, 2005, 02:29:00 pm
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Anyone? Anyone?
This should be a good show if reviews are any indication.
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there is a remote chance of me DJing this show...
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
there is a remote chance of me DJing this show...
lucky bastard!
I'll be at the new Pornos w/ my hipster posse
:)
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my excitement for this show has increased exponentially over the past few days. "twin cinema" has grown on me a ton, as expected. still don't think it's as strong as "mass romantic," but it's pretty great. and then i was perusing the merge message boards and it seems that destroyer will only be playing songs from "thief" and "streethawk," which is just marvelous news.
here's a review of the boston show from a few nites ago. (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2005/10/13/new_pornographers_dont_hold_back/)
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review from fluxblog:
The New Pornographers @ Webster Hall 10/13/2005
Twin Cinema / Use It / Three or Four / Mass Romantic / Jackie Dressed In Cobras / These Are The Fables / The Bleeding Heart Show / Testament To Youth In Verse / The Laws Have Changed / The Fake Headlines / It's Only Divine Right / Stacked Crooked / All For Swinging You Around / The Body Says No / Sing Me Spanish Techno // Streets Of Fire / Slow Descent Into Alcoholism / Electric Version /// Execution Day / Letter From An Occupant
The New Pornographers "These Are The Fables" - When am I ever going to learn to be a normal person and not keep tabs on band's setlists before I see them live, thus leading to an inevitable reaction of "that was good, but we kinda got shafted in terms of song selection compared to ______"?
Though this was certainly not the most fun I've ever had at a New Pornographers show, it was undoubtedly the finest performance by the band that I have witnessed, mostly thanks to an inflated line-up featuring every member of the band aside from the elusive Nora O'Connor. The band took full advantage of the situation, giving extra strength to the harmonies on "Three Or Four" (they totally nailed that middle eight) and the rounds at the end of "Testament To Youth In Verse," and giving "The Laws Have Changed" the sort of punch that it can sometimes lack in a live setting.
Predictably, "Sing Me Spanish Techno" was a highlight of the set, and though it satisfied my desire to hear the song with more prominent backing vocals from Neko Case, it ended up reinforcing my recent realization that the song makes more thematic sense when sung by a single voice, and of the vocalists in the band, good-natured, affable Carl Newman is the best choice. Neko would give the song too much confidence; Kathryn would make it seem too fragile; and Dan Bejar's voice can't help but seem cynical and sarcastic, which is all wrong for a song that switches from the character earnestly declaring "I won't let this happen to you" to castigating himself for refusing his call and being punished by the passing of time.
Of the five songs peformed last night that I've never seen played live (sob, no "Jessica Numbers" or "Bones Of An Idol" for me!), "These Are The Fables" shined the brightest, fully realizing its Andrew Lloyd Webber-ness with a modified arrangement that gave plenty of space for Neko's gorgeous voice, but added extra emphasis to the bombastic bits. The first time the rest of the band joined in and sang the words "my street!" in unison, I had to laugh to myself, because they were seriously *this close* to throwing out some jazz hands. Needless to say, t was a great moment.
my review of their 10/8 show in kalamazoo MI:
it rocked.
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My review from this summer:
They sucked.
Someone else on the board who was there also agreed.
But to be fair, they were without the services of Neko Case at that show.
And I tend to agree with the City Paper. Their albums contain two or three gems, and the rest really tails off.
I suppose if they stay at it long enough, they'll have a full concert's worth of good material. Then they could put a bag over Alfred E. Newman's head, and have themselves a good show.
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I'll be there. looks like a great setlist from the other night. Saturday: New Pornos, Wed: Rolling Stones in Tampa, should be a good next couple of days!
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Originally posted by P.J.:
I'll be there. looks like a great setlist from the other night. Saturday: New Pornos, Wed: Rolling Stones in Tampa, should be a good next couple of days!
Which ticket was cheaper??.......let me guess......did you have to go to the bank to get a loan so you could attend the Stones show??....I know they are charging quite a sum these days.....Uncle Keith's annual blood cleansing is getting very pricey!.... :D
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Originally posted by Jonas Grumby:
Which ticket was cheaper??.......let me guess......did you have to go to the bank to get a loan so you could attend the Stones show??....I know they are charging quite a sum these days.....Uncle Keith's annual blood cleansing is getting very pricey!.... :D
post of the month!! hi-larious!!!!
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yes, yes, I know. Stones tickets are not cheap, even in the nosebleed section. What can I say, I'm a sucker...
Originally posted by Jonas Grumby:
Originally posted by P.J.:
I'll be there. looks like a great setlist from the other night. Saturday: New Pornos, Wed: Rolling Stones in Tampa, should be a good next couple of days!
Which ticket was cheaper??.......let me guess......did you have to go to the bank to get a loan so you could attend the Stones show??....I know they are charging quite a sum these days.....Uncle Keith's annual blood cleansing is getting very pricey!.... :D [/b]
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If you're under 21, howdy, my name's vansmack.
Originally posted by P.J.:
I'm a sucker...
Originally posted by Jonas Grumby:
Originally posted by P.J.:
I'll be there. looks like a great setlist from the other night. Saturday: New Pornos, Wed: Rolling Stones in Tampa, should be a good next couple of days!
Which ticket was cheaper??.......let me guess......did you have to go to the bank to get a loan so you could attend the Stones show??....I know they are charging quite a sum these days.....Uncle Keith's annual blood cleansing is getting very pricey!.... :D [/b]
[/b]
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Originally posted by P.J.:
[QB] yes, yes, I know. Stones tickets are not cheap, even in the nosebleed section. What can I say, I'm a sucker...
>> I wouldn't say that....I just know that they are high rent..the last time I saw them was "Steel Wheels" and that was quite a while ago...and I thought they were pretty steep then!.....I've got some friends that just saw them recently in Pittsburgh & Durham.....the folks that went to Durham had special "on stage" seating........whatever the hell that is......they were too scared to tell me what they paid even after much prodding.....I gotta feeling it was outlandish as hell......I can only imagine.......I'm thinking between 500 to 700 a pop....wow!
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Actually, will be home for a wedding, so it worked out conveniently. Taking my father for his birthday. We don't have great seats, but should be a fun time. I have my limits on ticket prices, but it is the Stones. I imagine that is what a lot of people say when they fork over all of their hard earned pay for a ticket, and how the Stones continue to get away with it.
Originally posted by Jonas Grumby:
Originally posted by P.J.:
[QB] yes, yes, I know. Stones tickets are not cheap, even in the nosebleed section. What can I say, I'm a sucker...
>> I wouldn't say that....I just know that they are high rent..the last time I saw them was "Steel Wheels" and that was quite a while ago...and I thought they were pretty steep then!.....I've got some friends that just saw them recently in Pittsburgh & Durham.....the folks that went to Durham had special "on stage" seating........whatever the hell that is......they were too scared to tell me what they paid even after much prodding.....I gotta feeling it was outlandish as hell......I can only imagine.......I'm thinking between 500 to 700 a pop....wow! [/b]
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Originally posted by Xavier Bush, Power Forward:
My review from this summer:
They sucked.
Someone else on the board who was there also agreed.
Xavier- I think you are refering to the Canada Day show in B'klyn- I was there and I recall haveing the same feeling as you. I was willing to chalk it up to Case being absent. But I also don't think you can underestimate how stupid it is for bands to try to follow Stars in the line-up. They are a very tough act to follow.
About a month before the Canada Day show I saw Stars at the Black Cat "open" for some band that is somehow connected to Fountains of Wyane- lets just say that about 70% of the crowd left after Torvil and Co. finished and they heard two songs from the headliner. Poor bartenders that night.
All that being said, I will be at the NP show on saturday- but only because DCist says I am an insider prick who reads his email and likes to go to sold out shows that the "real fans" can't get tickets to. Thank god for blogs that are finally speaking truth to power.
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i'm not djing :( shame as i was beginning to work a fun set, to bad i can't legally podcast such a thing to those who might be interested in what could have been spun.
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possibly...depending on what time im done with the weddding...
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Originally posted by SalParadise:
possibly...depending on what time im done with the weddding...
congratulations Sal!!! won't the missus be a bit, um, peeved that your catching a gign on your wedding night? :p
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I'll be at tonite's show. Saw them last night in Philly and it was a great show. I was impressed with Kathryn Calder's voice - she's no Neko but then who is? And Neko...what can you say? She totally takes over the stage when she sings.
Good mix between the last two CDs. Songs like Bleeding Heart Show and Sing Me Spanish Techno really stood about because of the strength of the vocals. Have Dan Bejar for his songs was interesting, too. He makes for an interesting visual counterpart to the rest of the band (I think that's the polite way to put it).
Enjoy everyone! It'll be a fun night.
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Originally posted by brennser:
Originally posted by SalParadise:
possibly...depending on what time im done with the weddding...
congratulations Sal!!! won't the missus be a bit, um, peeved that your catching a gign on your wedding night? :p [/b]
haha. im gonna pull a benjamin braddock.
"hello darkness my old friend..."
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No post-show comments yet? What is this forum coming to? Well, I thought it was "just OK." Wasn't the worst concert I've been to in the past couple of weeks, but it wasn't the best either.
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really? I thought it was good - had a lot of fun - sound seemed reasonable - Neko's voice soared - damn, but they're kinda geeky, aren't they!
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yeah, it was just pretty good. neko case gets on my nerves a little bit. it's like, ok, you're this great chanteuse, but it gets to be a bit much sometimes. that said, she provided the unquestioned highlight, which was the last couple minutes of "the bleeding heart show." that's a great song. some of the old songs sounded a bit flat. they should've done more of dan's songs. i'm probably the only person in the world who would prefer more dan and less neko.
destroyer was awesome in that total-lack-of-any-stage-presence way. the last six or seven songs they played are some of my favorite songs, so i'm a bit biased. immaculate machine was one of the worst bands i've seen in the past five years or so. but that kathryn chick is rather cute.
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Originally posted by BookerT:
i'm probably the only person in the world who would prefer more dan and less neko.
but that kathryn chick is rather cute.
I'll second both of those, I enjoyed the show quite a lot, couldn't imagine seeing them w/out Neko would be much fun at all though.
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i quite enjoyed the show. sorta wished i had been on the floor, since my dance-dance-dance antics weren't so appreciated by the balcony-goers. i really enjoyed Sing Me Spanish Techno. I'm super-glad they played My Slow Decent and Mass Romantic. The crowd was OK, nobody annoyed me too much.
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i'm not sure i understand the lack of neko lovin'. she's got pipes and she uses them well. i'm guessing you're saying she uses them too much, but i've always admired that she comes across as strong live as she does in the studio. maybe she's too celinne dion, but i think it works well in context.
i was a bit disappointed at the selection of 'breakin the law' at first, but it sounded great live.
as for the crowd, the guy next to me was jumpin up and down with his arm in the air and was NOT wearing deodorant.
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I'm going to disagree on that one. She so homely she looks like she could be AC Newman's niece.
Originally posted by BookerT:
but that kathryn chick is rather cute.
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hardy har ... i'd be willing to accept the possibility of "wizards dancer syndrome" (good from far, but far from good), but homely seems a bit much.
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Originally posted by brennser:
really? I thought it was good - had a lot of fun - sound seemed reasonable - Neko's voice soared - damn, but they're kinda geeky, aren't they!
I thought the sound wasn't very good actually, but I enjoyed the show nevertheless.
I didn't particularly care for Destroyer or Dan. Dan seemed pissed off at the audience for not appreciating his greatness or something. I'll be unpopular (nothing new there) and say I actually liked Immaculate Machine's set more. Well, just the songs Kathryn sang lead on really. But did the IM's drummer really need to take his shirt off? My eyes... Ze goggles do nuthing...
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This isn't the post you're looking for. Move along.
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I didn't particularly care for Destroyer or Dan.
neither did I
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did anyone read the cover story on the new pornos in this (month's? quarter's?) magnet?
the writer was really trying to stir some shit up between the band and neko ... i'm guessing she'll be around maybe for another album, if that ...
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and just as i say that, i'm watching subterranean with carl, neko, and blaine (or is that dan?) ... neko has not said a word yet, looking very uncomfortable between the two ...
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Originally posted by HoyaParanoia:
and just as i say that, i'm watching subterranean with carl, neko, and blaine (or is that dan?) ... neko has not said a word yet, looking very uncomfortable between the two ...
This clearly isn't Neko's first love. I'm sure she's in this for the paycheck and then it's back to her solo career. I predict that she'll eventually have an album break out like kd lang's Ingenue and this whole Porno thing will be a distant memory.
I thought Immaculate's set was great. They could really use a bass player, but all were fairly strong and I think the songs were good. The drummer doesn't really fit with the other two, and I'll bet he defects to L.A. sooner rather than later to hook up with more like-minded dudes.
Destroyer left me pretty dry. As stated, Dan seemed a little pissy and disgruntled.
The Pornos were great, but there's nothing hungry or edgy about them. Everything sounded great but it seemed more competent and professional than anything. So I liked it, but it didn't transcend like Black Mountain did a couple weeks ago.
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Originally posted by Relaxer:
I thought Immaculate's set was great. They could really use a bass player, but all were fairly strong and I think the songs were good. The drummer doesn't really fit with the other two, and I'll bet he defects to L.A. sooner rather than later to hook up with more like-minded dudes.
Ha! Yeah, they reminded me of Lane's band on Gilmore Girls, bunch of 18-year-olds with 37-year-old Sebastian Bach as their lead guitarist. The IM's drummer definitely seemed like he should have been in a different band.
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I don't get Dan Bejar or Destroyer at all. I wish I had spent his set in the Backbar, the washroom, anywhere but watching him.
I enjoyed Immaculate Machines more. I'm not fond of their songwriting but they at least had really good vocals. Oh, and the drummer did take off his shirt in Philly, too. He's well cut and likes to show it off, I guess. My wife was certainly appreciative of the view.
:roll:
And what can you say about the Pornos? F**king amazing. Totally agree with BookerT that Bleeding Heart Show was the highlight of the night (Sing Me Spanish Techno was a close second). Their set left me exhilarated.
As for the supposed split with Neko and NP, I'm not sure I believe all of it. AC Newman *has* made comments that lead me to believe that Neko's future with the band will be limited. But I'm not sure there's outright animosity. They were kibbitzing alot on stage in Philly.
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I wasn't that happy with the sound, but I've been more unhappy than happy with the sound at most of the non-TMBG shows I've seen since the "1st Annual Music Against Brain Degeneration Revue" a few years ago, the Flaming Lips portion of which was the Loudest Concert I've Ever Attended, Bar None. I thought that Immaculate Machine got the worst sound, but it cleared up a bit towards the end of their set. I noticed a definite frequency boost (it's been too long and I wasn't paying close enough attention for me to say "between X and Y Hz") in the guitar solos, which could also have explained why the keyboard was so muddy. You also could barely hear Kathryn's vocals although that got slightly better towards the end of the set as well.
Destroyer was amusing in that no-stage-presence way (I leaned over to my girlfriend and said, "you know, I like his songs, but what I really love is his banter") but there wasn't exactly the energy level you'd expect between the other two acts (if you didn't know who Dan Bejar was, anyway).
I gave the Pornos a shot without earplugs but it was too loud (and/or I'm too old, as the saying goes). I didn't notice that anything actually sounded any better without them, either (except my chances for tinnitis later in life). The 9:30 isn't as bad as most clubs these days, but they still seem to be boosting bass and drums a little too much. The keyboards probably could have been turned up a bit, as could Blaine's mic. Overall you could hear vocals clearly enough but the instrument mix was muddy.
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POP MUSIC
Monday, October 17, 2005; Page C05
The New Pornographers
When the New Pornographers first got together in 1997, the project was about as serious as its name. With three key members -- alt-country chanteuse Neko Case and singer-songwriters Carl Newman and Dan Bejar -- already entrenched in their individual careers, the Vancouver-based pop maestros practiced sporadically, took three years to release their debut and never planned on touring. The success of 2000's "Mass Romantic," however, motivated Newman & Co. to devote a little more energy to this off-hours enterprise, and at a sold-out 9:30 club Saturday night their fans seemed grateful.
Seven contributors to this often-dubbed supergroup -- whose roster fluctuates from six to nine -- crowded the stage, including newest member (and Newman's niece) Kathryn Calder on synthesizer and vocals. Occasionally, the usually non-touring Bejar made them eight, taking a microphone on tracks such as "Breakin' the Law" and the new "Streets of Fire" off their just-released third album, "Twin Cinema." (Handily, Calder and Bejar's full-time groups, Immaculate Machine and Destroyer, opened the show.)
With four-part harmonies, fizzy melodies and a handful of tambourines, the New Pornographers often came off like the indie equivalent of the Partridge Family. Cheery, anthemic singalongs dominated the 75-minute set, including favorites "The Laws Have Changed" and "The Electric Version," with Case's gorgeous voice soaring on each uplifting trademark chorus. The part-time group played into the wee hours of yesterday morning, but the club was filled with pure sunshine.
-- Tricia Olszewski
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101700294.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101700294.html)
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i skimmed through that Magnet story on the band, they definitely made neko out to be a heinous bitch! i don't know whether or not its true. maybe the writer was just mad about having his computer confiscated on account of the band's name.
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Originally posted by P.J.:
yes, yes, I know. Stones tickets are not cheap, even in the nosebleed section. What can I say, I'm a sucker...
Originally posted by Jonas Grumby:
Originally posted by P.J.:
I'll be there. looks like a great setlist from the other night. Saturday: New Pornos, Wed: Rolling Stones in Tampa, should be a good next couple of days!
Which ticket was cheaper??.......let me guess......did you have to go to the bank to get a loan so you could attend the Stones show??....I know they are charging quite a sum these days.....Uncle Keith's annual blood cleansing is getting very pricey!.... :D [/b]
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We had nosebleed seats, behind the stage at MCI, and the Stones' tour manager picked my friends out of the crowd and gave us Row Q center floor seats, next to the runway they come down. I just about died. Would never have paid 400+ dollars for them, but the free tickets made it one of the best concerts I've ever been too. Those guys can still rock.