Category: rock Page 12 of 20

Catching up on the week of rock

On November 7, 2009

My week of rock culminated in a night seeing Guster at the Madison with Wonder Boy and some good friends. The show was a surprisingly early one, starting at 8 pm with no opening acts, so we had to hustle to make it on time. We all agreed to meet out front at 7:45 but it was a cold night and the line was a block long. A line a block long 15 minutes before the show. It should have been a sign.

When we walked into the Madison it was packed. We couldn’t make it out of the lobby! So we all sat there drinking our beers ($5 PBR tallboys), standing in a lobby and not seeing the $35-per-ticket show we were there to see. After about 45 minutes of b!tch!ng, we took advantage of the people on the main floor leaving for bathroom breaks and rushed to take their spots in the crowd. We couldn’t see any better but at least it felt like we were where we should have been.

I know its not unusual to get mad at Ticketmaster. We all rant and rave about the “convenience” fees they charge for every ticket. (I feel dirty and violated every time after making a purchase through them.) But who was at fault for this error? Ticketmaster? The Madison? Guster? It’s frustrating. Someone got greedy and because of it, I spent a lot of money to see a band I really like and who played really well that night. Too bad I only say glimpses of the tops of their heads.

Fun for all ages

By Kate

On November 4, 2009

In rock

It’s only fair to begin this by saying I was a pretty nerdy kid in high school. I had a good core group of friends and we hung out at each other’s houses and went to the movies or the mall. I’d love to say we did more than that, but the suburbs have their limitations.

Last night I was surrounded by kids whose social life was better than mine was at their age, certainly. However, I would like to think that I achieved some higher level of maturity. I know that’s not true. But it’s nice wishful thinking.

Wonder Boy and I headed out to see The Features for the bazillionth time. (Seriously, check them out. They’ll be your new favorite band!) They are touring with The Whigs right now and it’s funny seeing them on a proper tour. The were there before the show started and they stuck around for more than the obligatory 5 minutes to sell merch. The boys are big time now!

While maybe not truly our bazillionth Features show, it was the ninth or tenth time we’ve seen them. That’s enough that now we can knowledgeably rank one performance against another. And last night’s was solid but not their best. But it’s hard for me to really judge because I was distracted by the THRONGS OF TEENS in the Mad Hatter.

Damn the all ages show! Damn these kids for having a social life like I never ever thought to pursue. But really, damn those kids for not having the respect to shut up and listen to some seriously good rock (because even on an average night The Features will blow your mind) and to discover their new favorite band.

Monsters of Folk: Playing folk so you don’t have to

By Kate

On November 2, 2009

In rock

The Monsters of Folk show in Louisville on October 31, 2009, was supposed to be some event to look forward to, a reason for Wonder Boy to cheer up. But it was so much more than that. It was wonderful.

I like the new Monsters of Folk album. I want to love it but don’t think it has enough strong tracks to really hook me in. But M. Ward, if things with Wonder Boy and I don’t work out, I might pursue him. And when you combine his music with that of Coner Oberst and Yim Yames and Mike Mogis. It’s an overwhelming amount of talent.

What made the show so particularly special, even beyond the encore, of which I will speak later, was the way the boys collaborated. Everyone played some of their solo work, sometimes alone and sometimes with someone else. When M. Ward and Yim Yames played together, they were practically making out there were so close to each other over the microphone. It’s as collaboration should be. And when the full band played together, the harmony was perfection.

If my review of the show ended with that, I would be pleased. But there is more. Just shy of two hours in, Yim Yames thanked everyone for coming and promised more music after the intermission. Intermission? At a rock show? That had already gone on two hours?

After a brief hiatus, the curtains went up and the Monsters of Folk teetered onto the stage in full Kiss regalia, wearing proper costumes right down to the silver platform boots. Another 40 minutes of rock, including some Kiss covers and audience members in Halloween costumes dancing on stage, and the show had to end. Because how in the world do you top a bunch of folk singers dressed up as Kiss

You don’t.

The quality is a little iffy, but check out Monsters of Folk as Kiss, thanks to a fan’s cell phone.

Making my ears bleed

By Kate

On November 2, 2009

In rock

This weekend marked the beginning of my seriously rocking week in Kentucky.

Saturday night: Monsters of Folk in Louisville, Kentucky
Monday night: The Features and the Whigs in Covington, Kentucky
Wednesday night: Guster in Covington, Kentucky

I’m thrilled to spend so much time surrounded by music I love and crammed into concert halls next to people who love the same bands. There’s something magical about seeing a good show.

The anticipation starts to build as soon as I get dressed and shove the tickets into my pocket: Will the show be better than I’m expecting? Not live up to expectations? Will the crowd be respectful or annoying and chatty? I try and distract myself from thinking about the show too much because I never want to be let down.

Lady Rock and Repeat Offenders

By Kate

On November 28, 2007

In rock

On Monday I drove up to Columbus to see Tegan and Sara perform. I went to the show alone, which was a first for me, because Wonder Boy had to work and my Columbus friends weren’t available. Despite the long drive, the show was well worth it. The Canadian mulleted twins did not disappoint. I will say that they weren’t as eager and cute as they were the first time I saw them, but they’ve been on your for while so I think some fatigue is expected.

The opening act was this band called Northern State and they were highly entertaining. Oddly, I was left, and am still pondering, the question of whether or not they were good. The group basically has three front-women, with one man on drums and another woman who plays keyboards and guitar / bass. The thing is, the girls rapped. White-girl rapped. That, in case you don’t know, is a distinct genre of rap. Now, you might think that is racist. I don’t care. If you saw these girls’ moves – you’d agree. Lordy! But they were fun. And I’ll be honest – I bought their new CD – “Can I Keep This Pen.” The song “Sucka Mofo” is brilliant.

So after I left the show and was still in that ear-ringing period bliss after good live music, I walked to my car only to find a parking ticket. It seemed an appropriate addition to both an evening that seemed like a lot of work (at least a lot of driving) and a month that has included two pricey car repairs and a speeding ticket. Ah well. The next day I got online and begrudgingly paid the ticket. Online. WHERE I WAS CHARGED A CONVENIENCE FEE. What is this? Ticketmaster? More disturbing that the $5 fee to pay my fee was the fact that I had to create a username and password to pay the fine so that way things could go more smoothly if I was a repeat visitor to the site.

Um, excuse me?

I think things are pretty badly off when you have people getting so many speeding tickets that you create a system to make the paying of them more conducive for repeat offenders. Like, maybe if things get to that state, you need to instead address why people are getting the tickets in the first place.

Ah well, the $51 that just went to help for office supplies in Columbus will not taint the evening if lady rock.