May 3, 2009
Spoon
Spoon is the most confusing most underwhelming most surprisingly awesome rock band around. I would not call them epic, aggressive, or pretty.They just write catchy, perfect songs. Memorable and simple songs.
= =Best Value: Spoon, free at City Fest, Detroit
THE BEST SHOWS I'VE SEEN
= =
Biggest surprise: Tapes 'n Tapes, Pitchfork 2006, Chicago
The Exit, The Empty Bottle, Chicago
Went beyond their recordings: Dungen, Magic Stick, Detroit
Andrew Bird, Rock the Garden, Minneapolis
Made me freak out: The Hives, Metro, Chicago
Wolf Parade, Magic Stick, Detroit
Of Montreal, 40 Watt Club, Athens
Felt important: Circulatory System, Athens Pop Fest
Most entertaining: The Hives, Metro, Chicago
Most perfect sound: Yo La Tengo, Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor
Best crowd/most deserving encore: Dungen, Magic Stick, Detroit
Most connected to crowd: P.U.S.A, Magic Stick, Detroit
Best pre-show venue music: EODM show, Magic Stick, Detroit
Best moments:
:: The Dungen show, which I find it hard to deny as the best concert I've ever seen, concluded with an unbelievably fuzzy blitzkrieg final number and a rather slow exit by the band. The crowd was furiously loud in hopes of an encore, and it came quickly. The band, who I found extremely genuine (they were hanging around before the show, friendly and eating Chinese take out), commented that they rarely play encores. I believe them. Then they blasted my face off again.Worst openers: Whirlwind Heat for White Stripes, Aragon, Chicago
:: When Yo La Tengo played the Michigan Theater it was baseball playoff season, and before the first and second encores, Ira admitted he was sneaking looks at the Mets game backstage and apologized for the delay. Then they played "Can't Seem to Make You Mine," a Seeds cover.
:: When, during the first Hillsdale Battle of the Bands, Juny was playing the song about "he must be gay ... pink shirt" and during the rousing conclusion, his strumming and the reintroduction of the drums was slightly off and so believably human as it became sync again.
:: My Dad's good friend Bill caught a White Stripes drum stick amid a melee.
:: Jesse The Devil Hughes caught a bra, hung it on the mic stand.
:: More generally, in terms of energy and intrigue, I really enjoyed Spoon's frontman during "The Beast and Dragon, Adored," and the chorus portions of "Requiem for OMM 2," by Of montreal. I remember the Wolf Parade guitarist completely destroying a hanging chime.
Early Man for the Black Keys, St. Andrew's Hall, Detroit
Lamest crowd: Wolf Parade, First Avenue, Mpls
Worst doormen: The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor
by Tony at 12:30 PM |
3 Comments:
After several years, Spoon still sits really high on my list. I think I listen to them almost everyday.
The CityFest show in Detroit is one of my fondest memories. Biking there and back to Webb Street definitely added to that Spoon experience, though.
Dungen was pretty sweet this year, when I went to see them with Econ. A lot of fun.
The best part of that Dungen show was Evan lighting the guitar players' cigarette while he was playing guitar.
Dungen in Ann Arbor was one of the most brilliant shows I've seen. I hoped you'd mention Wolf Parade and PUSA too.
PUSA was one of the most entertaining and personal bands I've seen live, but I'd have to give "most connected to crowd" to Yo La Tengo for their acoustic show in Grand Rapids. They came out on stage, sat down, and said, "So...Ask us some questions...hopefully they'll lead to songs."
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