White Denim:
Prepubescent bass
And daring rhythm changes
Arrestingly good.
British Sea Power:
Loud? Check! British? Check!
But distinct vibes of something
Unnecessary.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Stellastarr* at The Troubadour, 2/27/08
Spittin' attitude
Warbling through the flu, he
Poured out all he had.
Warbling through the flu, he
Poured out all he had.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Meat Puppets and Built to Spill at the EchoPlex, 2/23/08
The Meat Puppets:
Ugly Kirkwood bros.
Make scathing, scintillating,
Raw, joyful, true rock.
Built to Spill
A rare smile from Doug
As honest and lovely as
"Carry The Zero".
I know that this is a haiku site and you did not come here for my long diatribes on the Los Angeles concert scene. I could not let this show go without a few more than 17 syllables, however. The Meat Puppets and Built to Spill reminded me why I love music last night. Damn right, it was sweaty and old and hairy and experimental. It was not post-punk Italian boots and asymmetrical hairstyles. It was not a display of one's American Apparel wardrobe. It was without pretension, without glamor, without insecurity.
The Kirkwood brothers produced tempo-changes, bass-thumping and effortless, that will haunt my dreams. With every finger moving, they produced notes and layers of melodies that I could barely keep up with from the front row. Their faces shone with maturity, with a sage understanding of the beauty they were creating.
Doug Martsch was not be outdone, so after carefully soaking in the Meat Puppet's performance from the side of the stage, he unassumingly emerged and began his opus. He does not give too much of himself via stage banter... no, he saves his expression for the breathless music that seeps from his guitar, all the guitars. Every now and then, while sharing a harmony with his bandmates, a subtle smile would creep across his face and one could not help but appreciate how much he loves what he is doing. The show was not about us, the self-centered crowd always heckling for more. It really wasn't about him either. The show was about the anthemic moment at then end of "Carry The Zero" when everyone shouted along at the top of their lungs, knowing every damn word and hearing nothing but Doug, guards down, eyes closed, souls free,
"fractions of the sum."
That's the shit for which one bleeds... for which I bleed. I remember that now.
Ugly Kirkwood bros.
Make scathing, scintillating,
Raw, joyful, true rock.
Built to Spill
A rare smile from Doug
As honest and lovely as
"Carry The Zero".
I know that this is a haiku site and you did not come here for my long diatribes on the Los Angeles concert scene. I could not let this show go without a few more than 17 syllables, however. The Meat Puppets and Built to Spill reminded me why I love music last night. Damn right, it was sweaty and old and hairy and experimental. It was not post-punk Italian boots and asymmetrical hairstyles. It was not a display of one's American Apparel wardrobe. It was without pretension, without glamor, without insecurity.
The Kirkwood brothers produced tempo-changes, bass-thumping and effortless, that will haunt my dreams. With every finger moving, they produced notes and layers of melodies that I could barely keep up with from the front row. Their faces shone with maturity, with a sage understanding of the beauty they were creating.
Doug Martsch was not be outdone, so after carefully soaking in the Meat Puppet's performance from the side of the stage, he unassumingly emerged and began his opus. He does not give too much of himself via stage banter... no, he saves his expression for the breathless music that seeps from his guitar, all the guitars. Every now and then, while sharing a harmony with his bandmates, a subtle smile would creep across his face and one could not help but appreciate how much he loves what he is doing. The show was not about us, the self-centered crowd always heckling for more. It really wasn't about him either. The show was about the anthemic moment at then end of "Carry The Zero" when everyone shouted along at the top of their lungs, knowing every damn word and hearing nothing but Doug, guards down, eyes closed, souls free,
"fractions of the sum."
That's the shit for which one bleeds... for which I bleed. I remember that now.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
No Age and Liars at the El Rey, 2/22/08
No Age:
Piss and vinegar
But long, fuzzy noodling
They're starstruck, methinks.
Liars:
Greasy Nick Cave mug
Drum & bass straight out of hell
The night's word: sweaty.
Piss and vinegar
But long, fuzzy noodling
They're starstruck, methinks.
Liars:
Greasy Nick Cave mug
Drum & bass straight out of hell
The night's word: sweaty.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Dean & Britta at The El Rey, 2/19/08
H. Potter on drums
Much smarter music than the
Bland album implies.
Much smarter music than the
Bland album implies.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
What Made Milwaukee Famous at Spaceland, 2/18/08
Billy Joelish vibes
On tape, but live, they channel
Freddy Mercury!
On tape, but live, they channel
Freddy Mercury!
The First Half of the Month (Jan. 31- Feb. 15)
Ryan Adams at Royce Hall, January 31, 2008
On/off the wagon
With his Rufus-like antics
Ryan steals my heart.
Your Vegas/The Switches at the Crash Mansion, February 2, 2008
UMG bands both
"The poor man's Franz Ferdinand"
But accents abound!
Dawes at the Hotel Cafe, February 5, 2008
Braless Malibu
Bitches yap the whole show through
But Taylor is gold.
Dave Barnes at Safari Sam's, February 8, 2008
WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY?
I have to be polite though...
Georgia friends are fans.
Dawes at the Hotel Cafe, February 12, 2008
Sixth time I've seen them
Blood and Guts ev'ry damn time
Best small band in town
Hayes Carll at the Hotel Cafe, February 13, 2008
Whiskey-soaked, he charmed
Espec'ly when he challenged
Jesus to a duel.
The Black Lips at the El Rey, February 14, 2008
Comical mustache
Crowd-surfers and stage-divers
Made me want to MOSH!
St. Vincent at the EchoPlex, February 15, 2008
She is damn cute, but
I love her because she shreds
LIKE A METALHEAD!!!
On/off the wagon
With his Rufus-like antics
Ryan steals my heart.
Your Vegas/The Switches at the Crash Mansion, February 2, 2008
UMG bands both
"The poor man's Franz Ferdinand"
But accents abound!
Dawes at the Hotel Cafe, February 5, 2008
Braless Malibu
Bitches yap the whole show through
But Taylor is gold.
Dave Barnes at Safari Sam's, February 8, 2008
WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY?
I have to be polite though...
Georgia friends are fans.
Dawes at the Hotel Cafe, February 12, 2008
Sixth time I've seen them
Blood and Guts ev'ry damn time
Best small band in town
Hayes Carll at the Hotel Cafe, February 13, 2008
Whiskey-soaked, he charmed
Espec'ly when he challenged
Jesus to a duel.
The Black Lips at the El Rey, February 14, 2008
Comical mustache
Crowd-surfers and stage-divers
Made me want to MOSH!
St. Vincent at the EchoPlex, February 15, 2008
She is damn cute, but
I love her because she shreds
LIKE A METALHEAD!!!
Concert Haikus: The Idea
Once long ago, during a bygone era, I was a concert reviews editor (in chief, damnit!) for www.UCLAradio.com and it was awesome. I was a frequent concert goer here in Los Angeles, and I would scratch down little notes in my brain as I danced the night away. I have not since been able to break myself of this habit.
This has been the bane of my existence these days, for I am working the music industry and I am finding myself at more shows than my little brain can bear to record. I need an outlet. However, being as I am no longer in college, I find that I am at least 50% stupider and less attentive than I used to be. I need a compact form of expression, release. Something that gets the point across while being short enough for me to get away with at work.
I do greatly enjoy making myself laugh, and haikus are hilarious regardless of context. Their brevity is also attractive....
Needless to say, that is the origin of the brilliance of this project. I give you, ladies and gentlemen, ConcertHaikus.com. Please enjoy.
This has been the bane of my existence these days, for I am working the music industry and I am finding myself at more shows than my little brain can bear to record. I need an outlet. However, being as I am no longer in college, I find that I am at least 50% stupider and less attentive than I used to be. I need a compact form of expression, release. Something that gets the point across while being short enough for me to get away with at work.
I do greatly enjoy making myself laugh, and haikus are hilarious regardless of context. Their brevity is also attractive....
Needless to say, that is the origin of the brilliance of this project. I give you, ladies and gentlemen, ConcertHaikus.com. Please enjoy.
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