Interpol Rollcall

[skonster]

I really enjoyed the Secret Machines set too - the Bob Dylan cover sort of sealed the deal for me.  
 
 And I'm not sure if anybody's ever picked up on it, but it seems like Interpol sometimes reminds me a bit of Joy Division.  Has anyone else noticed this?  Ever?  
 
 Anyway...What is the history of standing completely still at shows?  I watched the movie Blow Up recently, and there's a scene where the Yardbirds are playing and the crowd is completely motionless (for most of the scene, anyway), so I'm thinking it's not exactly a recent development.

[tpw]

crowds at indie shows suck.  Why?... nobody does drugs or gets really drunk.  I did both last night and had a great time.  I don't get why people pay so much for these shows just to tap their pocket and stare at their shoes.  
 
 It's too bad you can't smoke in DC venues.  This town is very uptight about pot in general.  A show on the west coast has a completely different vibe.

[HoyaSaxa03]

did anyone else see the secret machines open up for the fire theft earlier this year at black cat?
 
 i seem to remember them just having 2 guys in the band then (the one stage left who sits and the drummer). but it doesn't seem possible to make their sound without the lead guitarist.
 
 anyway, towards the end of their set they turned off the klieg lights and toned it down for an amazing shoegazey cover of dylan's "girl from the north country". it's one of my favorite dylan songs and they did a fucking awesome version, i nearly creamed myself. i really wanted the drums to kick in though and for them to really rock out on the last verse/chorus, but it was still great.

[HoyaSaxa03]

Originally posted by tpw:
 
 This town is very uptight about pot in general.  A show on the west coast has a completely different vibe.

where do you live/hangout? rich white areas?
 
 i pass guys on the street smoking blunts outside at 8am every day on my way to work. you can buy a dime bag on every corner around my house (in adams morgan), roll it up and smoke it on the street without anyone caring.
 
 agreed though on the smoking at shows. it amazes me that the state theatre brings these uber-crusty bands like umphrey's mcgee in or big reggae bands and they're so hard on weed. strange.

[Bartelby]

The crowd did seem really bored.  Were those the 18-24 set who registered to vote, but "forgot" to?  They seem a little complacent about music too...
 
 There were several potential fights.  During Interpol's set, Brandon from Secret Machine got hassled by some "guests" in the VIP section who were threatening to beat him up - and he had no idea why.
 
 FOR THE VERY DRUNK COLLEGE GIRLS WHO ARRIVED AT 9:15 AND TRIED TO JAM UP TO THE FRONT OF THE STAGE, THEN SCREAMED THRU THE WHOLE FRIGGIN' SET, TRYING TO BE HEARD OVER THE SECRET MACHINES:  WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT A CONCERT, YOU RUDE, IGNORANT, ARROGANT LITTLE TWITS? IF YOU'RE NOT THERE FOR THE MUSIC, GO BACK TO THE BARS IN ADAMS MORGAN.  BTW:  I COULD HEARRRRR YOU... AND IF I EVER SEE YOU AGAIN, I'LL MAKE SURE YOU GET TO WEAR HOME EVEN MORE DRINKS THAN YOU SPILLED ON US LAST NIGHT).
 
 I thought Interpol would draw a  sophisticated, edgier crowd - of people more into the music than the "party"  ...altho there's nothing wrong with BOTH if you show a little respect for others! My mistake.
 
 Sigh...back to important things:  I  really liked Secret Machine, especially their rather unusual Bob Dylan cover!
 
 I suppose we could vote with our wallets - but miss a lot of great music...and hanging out with the interesting and funny people who work at the 930.  I think they're the guys I really feel sorry for...they have to deal with the bullshit  almost every night.

[TomJaworski]

I'm pretty sure the Secret Machines have always been a three-piece.

[redsock]

Anyone else wanna comment on On!Air!Library! I have heard good thigns but am curious about their live sound...

[SalParadise]

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
   an amazing shoegazey cover of dylan's "girl from the north country".  

i knew i had heard those lyrics somewhere else. their entire set was excellent.
 
 i thought it might be different live, but i still can't get into interpol's 2nd album. "NYC" was brilliant though.
 
 i think i was spoiled by los amigos invisibles on sat. night (possibly the best, funnest show i've witnessed at the black cat).

[eltee]

Originally posted by LonnieBeale:
  I'm pretty sure the Secret Machines have always been a three-piece.

<img src="http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/images/palmuppets2animal8.jpg" alt=" - " />

[bearman🐻]

Yet again, another reason why I got there early, got up front, and was SO grateful not to have to deal with the audience. Of course, I am also lucky to have the time to do that. I managed to meet Sam and he was incredibly cool. Too bad he doesn't smile more, it makes him look like less of a thug when he does.
 
 The girl up front from NYC was annoying as all hell. She wouldn't shut up, and it amazed me how much loot she got...drum sticks, setlists, guitar picks, posters, etc. Maybe they were just hoping she would shut up and go away. Anyway, Secret Machines were decent, I enjoyed their set for the most part. I thought Interpol was amazing, though I enjoyed them a bit more at Curiosa for some reason. They seemed to have a little more spark. Last night was awesome, but I agree with Lily that it was too short. I am glad I missed the fight at the bar, sounds like it would have been interesting though. Meeting Bobby Schayer from Bad Religion was cool as hell, too, he was a great guy. It was so neat to talk to him, he told me he had dinner with Dee Dee Ramone a week before he died. When I told Bobby that Bob Mould was upstairs he practically took off running. All in all, a VERY fun evening.

[ggw]

I had tickets for the show but decided that it wouldn't be worth the hassle to go to the show.
 
 Last time Interpol played 9:30 they were excellent, but they had already started turning into an "it" band that would attract too many people who were there to make the scene and talk incessantly to their friends, either in person or on their cell phones.
 
 I would have liked to see Secret Machines though.

[eltee]

Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
  I agree that the crowd was ridiculously still and quiet (not that I was any different).  Then again, I wasn't all that impressed with Interpol.  I thought they lacked energy and weren't terribly interesting to watch.  They weren't doing anything to get the crowd very excited and the crowd wasn't doing anything to rev-up the band. I liked their Curiosa show a lot better than this one.
 
 The last 4-5 songs were terrific though. Not a bad show - just not a very exciting one.

I'd pretty much agree with your summary. I noticed more head nodding and foot tapping during SM's set. There was some deafening silence in the crowd last night. Reclusive intellectuals is what I summised. SM is pretty cool. I definitely dug the song w/ the keyboardist singing lead vocals.

[Random Citizen]

I guess it really depends on where you're standing when it comes to movement. I was on the balcony and the group around me were enjoying the show a lot.
 
 Didn't see the fight, but yikes.
 
 I had to watch "Blow-Up" (too many times) for a freshman college screening literature class.

[chaz]

Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
   

Originally posted by tpw:
 
 This town is very uptight about pot in general.  A show on the west coast has a completely different vibe.

where do you live/hangout? rich white areas?
 
 i pass guys on the street smoking blunts outside at 8am every day on my way to work. you can buy a dime bag on every corner around my house (in adams morgan), roll it up and smoke it on the street without anyone caring.
 
  [/b]

People sell pot in Hoya's hood!  He's got street cred!  Since pot is sold at Flawd's high school, does that mean he's got street cred too?
 
 Having attended G'Town University, I'm assuming Hoya grew up in one of those rich white neighborhoods he's mocking.

[sonickteam2]

Originally posted by chaz:
 
 Having attended G'Town University, I'm assuming Hoya grew up in one of those rich white neighborhoods he's mocking.

and last night probably wasnt the first time he's had to ask bar security to help him out with "douchebags"