2007 Concert Journals

[murlough23]

Y'all know how this works by now. Post concerts that you're planning on/interested in attending this year, and rate, post setlists, or otherwise describe concerts that you've attended.

Concerts Attended:

2/8 - Future of Forestry @ Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA B
Setlist: Sanctitatis, Open Wide, All I Want, Speak to Me Gently, Words that You Say, Twilight, Sunrising

3/30 - Switchfoot w/ Copeland & Revolver @ the Avalon, Hollywood, CA B+
Switchfoot: A
Setlist: Awakening, Stars, Oh! Gravity, Gone, This Is Your Life, Yesterdays, Learning to Breathe (w/ strings), Daisy (w/ strings), We Are One Tonight, Ammunition, American Dream, 4:12, (random made-up-on-the-spot country song), On Fire, Faust Midas and Myself, The Shadow Proves the Sunshine, Dirty Second Hands, Meant to Live
Encore: Only Hope (Jon solo w/ strings), Dare You to Move
Copeland: B-
Setlist included: Control Freak, Eat Sleep Repeat, By My Side, Careful Now, When You Thought You'd Never Stand Out, I'm a Sucker for a Kind Word
Revolver: C+

5/12 (Sat) - Skillet w/ Seventh Day Slumber @ Promenade Mall, Temecula, CA C
Skillet: B
Setlist: Whispers in the Dark, Better than Drugs, Collide, Comatose, The Older I Get, Rebirthing, The Last Night, Savior
Encore: My Obsession
Seventh Day Slumber F

6/9 (Sat) Olivia the Band @ Huntington Beach, CA B
Setlist: Feelings, See You Never See You Soon, Shut It Out, 39, Something Greater, Saturday, Sunrise, Are You Out There?, Letters in White Lines, Butterflies, Stars & Stripes

7/20 (Fri) Weird Al Yankovic @ Orange County Fair, Costa Mesa, CA B+
Setlist: Polkarama!, Canadian Idiot, Close But No Cigar, Bob, It's All About the Pentiums, You're Pitiful, Medley (Couch Potato, Do I Creep You Out?, Headline News, I'm in Love with the Skipper, Confessions Part III, Gump, Bedrock Anthem, Ode to a Superhero, Trapped in the Drive-Thru, Pretty Fly for a Rabbi, A Complicated Song, eBay), Wanna B Ur Lovr, Eat It, White & Nerdy (stopped due to technical difficulties), Radio Radio, I'll Sue Ya, Weasel Stomping Day (video), The Saga Begins, Yoda, Smells Like Nirvana, Amish Paradise, Fat
Encore: Cell Phones, White & Nerdy, Albuquerque

9/27 (Thu) - Mute Math w/ Eisley @ The Avalon, Hollywood, CA A-
Mute Math A
Setlist: Collapse/Typical, Chaos, Clockwork, Plan B, Stare at the Sun/Obsolete, Control, Stall Out, Noticed, Break the Same/Drum Solo
Encore: You Are Mine, Peculiar People, Reset
Eisley B+
Setlist: Many Funerals, Memories, Go Away, Come Clean, My Lovely, Golly Sandra, I Could Be There for You, Ten Cent Blues, Taking Control, Marvelous Things, Telescope Eyes, A Sight to Behold, Invasion

10/13 (Sat) - David Crowder Band w/ Phil Wickham & The Myriad @ The Wiltern, Hollywood, CA B
David Crowder Band B
Setlist: I'm Just Trying to Make You Sing, The Glory of It All, Can You Feel It?, Everything Glorious, ...neverending..., Here Is Our King, You Are My Joy, We Won't Be Quiet, Foreverandever Etc., A Beautiful Collision, You Never Let Go, Remedy, I Saw the Light, No One Like You, O Praise Him (All This for a King), Surely We Can Change
Phil Wickham C-
The Myriad B+

11/28 (Tue) - Switchfoot w/ Relient K & Ruth @ Bren Events Center, Irvine, CA C+
Switchfoot C+
Setlist: Meant to Live (intro tease)/Oh! Gravity, Stars, This Is Your Life, Gone, American Dream, Dirty Second Hands, Rebuild (w/ Matt Thiessen & Ruth), We Are One Tonight/The Shadow Proves the Sunshine, On Fire/High and Dry (Radiohead cover - brief snippet), Awakening, Meant to Live
Encore: Only Hope, I Dare You to Move
Relient K B
Setlist: I So Hate Consequences, Devastation and Reform, Be My Escape, The Best Thing, Head Over Heels (Tears for Fears cover)/In Love with the 80's (Pink Tux to the Prom), Must Have Done Something Right, Which to Bury Us or the Hatchet, I Need You, Give Until There's Nothing Left, Forgiven, Sleigh Ride, Love Song to The Office/Crayons Can Melt on Us for All I Care, High of 75, Sadie Hawkins Dance, Who I Am Hates Who I've Been
Ruth C-

(Last Update: 11/28/07)

[enemy anemone]

already attended:
B.B. King, 1/6/07 (Sat) Hollywood, Kodak Theatre
Henry Butler's opening set: (instrumental), (some jelly roll song), Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand, I've Had My Fun, Will It Go Round In Circles, Somewhere (Leonard Bernstein),  Put On Your Red Dress
B.B. King's setlist: (blues band intro), Why I Sing the Blues, I Need You So, Bad Case of Love, Blues Man, Love Comes to Town, I Got A Mind To Give Up Living, Ain't That Just Like a Woman, You Are My Sunshine, Darlin' You Know I Love You, Rock Me Baby, Nobody Loves Me But My Mother, How Blue Can You Get, Key to the Highway, The Thrill Is Gone

Eleni Mandell, 2/8/07 (Thu) at the Echo, Los Angeles (cd release party)
openers: Charlie Wadhams and the Harmony Boys, Ferraby Lionheart
Eleni's setlist: Home, Salt Truck, Somebody Else, Needle and Thread, Girls, Tristeza, Pauline, Perfect Stranger, Beautiful, My Twin, Makeout King, Wings In His Eyes, (unknown song), God Is Love and Appreciation (w/ Charlie Wadhams)

Patty Griffin 2/13/07 (Tue) at the Hotel Cafe, Hollywood
Patty's setlist: First Star, Burgundy Shoes, Stay on the Ride, Trapeze, Heavenly Day, Crying Over, Love Throws A Line, When It Don't Come Easy, No Bad News, Up to the Mountain (MLK Song), Getting Ready

Neko Case 2/17/07 (Sat) at the Henry Fonda Theater, Hollywood
w/ Eric Bachmann and special guests Porter Wagoner, Marty Stuart, Dwight Yoakam, and Billy Bob Thornton
special guests setlist: Satisfied Mind, Rubber Room, Committed to Parkview, Albert Irving, Rhinestone Blues, Men With Broken Hearts, Green Green Grass of Home
Neko's setlist: Things That Scare Me, Favorite, Dirty Knife, Soulful Shade of Blue, Set Out Running, Buckets of Rain, Star Witness, Margaret vs. Pauline, Maybe, Sparrow, The Tigers Have Spoken, I Wish I Was the Moon, If You Knew What I Know, Hex, Hold On, Hold On, Teenage Feeling, Deep Red Bells, Lady Pilot, John Saw That Number

Ferraby Lionheart 4/15/07 (Sun) at Tangier, Los Feliz
w/ Erin Armstrong and others (I only caught two songs from Erin Armstrong, Apathetic Minor You and Bumpy Ride.)
Ferraby Lionheart's set: (new song), The Fighter, Something To Love, (new song), (new song), Tickets to Crickets, (new song), The Ballad of Gus and Sam, Before We're Dead, Pure Imagination (the Willy Wonka song)

David Larring, Rie Sinclair, Tim Myers, Ron Sexsmith, and Michael Miller 4/18/07 (Wed) at Hotel Cafe, Hollywood
if anyone wants to know the setlist, kick me and I'll work on making sense of my notes.

Erin Armstrong w/ Adrian St. John 4/28/07 (Sat) at Synergy Cafe, Culver City  (Erin couldn't make it.)

Eleni Mandell  / Erin McKeown  / Melissa Ferrick 5/4/07 (Fri) at Malibu Performing Arts Center, Malibu
Eleni's setlist: Dreamboat, I've Got the Right Side, Snake Song, Pauline, Beautiful, Salt Truck, Girls, My Twin, Front Door (?), Afternoon, Makeout King, He Thinks He's In Love, Nickel-Plated Man

Gillian Welch w/ Bright Eyes 5/6/07 (Sun) at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles
Gillian Welch's setlist: My Dear Someone, Elvis Presley Blues, My First Lover, No One Knows My Name, Throw Me A Rope, I Want To Sing That Rock and Roll, Knuckleball Catcher, Everything Is Free, Revelator, Red Clay Halo, Jackson (!!!)
Bright Eyes' setlist: Clairaudients (Kill or Be Killed), Hot Knives, Make A Plan to Love Me, Middleman, First Day of My Life, If the Brakeman Turns My Way, Four Winds, No One Would Riot For Less, False Advertising, Cleanse Song, I Believe In Symmetry, Lime Tree;
Encore with Gil and Dave: Classic Cars, Lua, Miss Ohio, Road To Joy (I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning)

Eleni Mandell w/ Ferraby Lionheart, Buddy, and Great Lake Swimmers 6/20/07 (Wed) at Hotel Cafe, Hollywood
Buddy's setlist included Salt Point, Westgate, Valentine Nebraska, Regular Time, and Milkshake
Ferraby Lionheart's setlist: Smile (?), Crack In Time, Youngest Frankenstein, Won't Be Long, Tickets to Crickets, The Ambulance and the Octopus, Before We're Dead (New Orleans Song), The Ballad of Gus and Sam, A Bell and Tumble, Put Me In Your Play
Great Lake Swimmers' setlist included Various Stages, Put There By The Land, I Am Part of A Large Family, Changing Colors, Moving Pictures Silent Films, Your Rocky Spine, There Is A Light, and Where In The World Are You Now
Eleni Mandell's setlist: Moonglow, Lamp Low, American Boy, Snake Song, Pauline, Girls, Personal, Don't Let It Happen (?), My Twin, Front Door, Salt Truck, Little Fool (?), God Is Love and Appreciation (?), One Look and He'll Remember (?)

The Decemberists w/ the LA Philharmonic, Andrew Bird, and Band of Horses 7/7/07 (Sat) at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood
Andrew Bird's setlist: (instrumental intro), Imitosis, Fiery Crash, Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left, Plasticities, Armchairs, Skin Is, My
The Decemberists' setlist: The Crane Wife 1 & 2, The Infanta, Odalisque, We Both Go Down Together, The Perfect Crime #2 (sans orchestra), The Bagman's Gambit, Los Angeles, I'm Yours, The Tain, O, Valencia! (sans orchestra), I Was Meant For The Stage, The Chimbley Sweep (sans orchestra)

Ferraby Lionheart, Fionn Regan, The Sweet Hurt, and James Bowers 8/7/07 (Tue) at the Hotel Cafe, Hollywood
Ferraby's setlist: The Car Maker, Tickets to Crickets, Small Planet, The Fighter, A Bell and Tumble, Youngest Frankenstein, Won't Be Long, The Ballad of Gus and Sam, Crack In Time, Before We're Dead (New Orleans Song), Put Me In Your Play
Fionn Regan's setlist: Hey Rabbit, Coat Hook, Ballad of the Toad Eaters, The Underwood Typewriter, Put A Penny in the Slot, Let's Take It Outside, Medicine Chest, Hunter's Map, Snowy Atlas Mountains, Be Good or Be Gone
James Bowers' setlist: Road Trip, Hollywood Cocaine, Celia, Hey, When Doves Cry (cover), Dear Johnny, Spanish, Goodnight

Mezzanine Owls, Ferraby Lionheart, and The Brunettes, 9/13/07 (Thu) at the Troubadour, West Hollywood
Ferraby's setlist: Texas Sky, A Bell and Tumble, Won't Be Long, The Fighter, Small Planet, The Car Maker, Before We're Dead, The Ballad of Gus and Sam, Crack in Time, Pure Imagination
The Brunettes' setlist included: Brunettes Against Bubblegum Youth (B-A-B-Y), Holding Hands, Feeding Ducks, Her Hairagami Set, Obligatory Road Song, If You Were Alien, Credit Card Mail Order, and the Mary-Kate and Ashley song.

Over the Rhine w/ Griffin House 9/21/07 (Fri) at the Knitting Factory, Hollywood
Over the Rhine's setlist: I Don't Wanna Waste Your Time, Fever, Born, I'm On a Roll, Let's Spend the Day In Bed, Nothing Is Innocent, The Trumpet Child, Who'm I Kiddin' But Me, Trouble, North Pole Man, Goodbye Charles, Entertaining Thoughts, Ohio, B.P.D., Orphan Girl, Hush Now, If A Song Could Be President, Don't Wait For Tom, Latter Days

Dave Rawlings Machine 10/4/07 (Thu) at Tangier, Los Feliz
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight, Diamond Joe, I Hear Them All with segue into This Land Is Your Land, Elvis Presley Blues, Throw Me A Rope/The Way It Will Be/Untitled, Stagger Lee, China Doll, Knuckleball Catcher, Pocahontas, Jack-a-Roe, To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High), Sunny Skies? Sunny Side?, Luminous Rose, Racing in the Street, He Stopped Lovin' Her Today, Tired Eyes, Queen Jane Approximately, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Richard Hawley with Ferraby Lionheart 12/13/07 (Thu) at the Troubadour, West Hollywood
Ferraby Lionheart's setlist:
A Bell and Tumble, Under the Texas Sky, Crack In Time, The Ballad of Gus and Sam, Vermont Ave, Small Planet, The Fighter, The Car Maker, Call Me the Sea, Before We're Dead (New Orleans Song)
Richard Hawley's setlist:
Valentine, Roll River Roll, Just Like the Rain, Lady's Bridge, Serious, Dark Road, Coles Corner, The Streets Are Ours, Born Under A Bad Sign, Our Darkness, Something Is, I'm Lookin' For Someone To Find Me, Hotel Room, The Ocean

[murlough23]

wow, I just now noticed that Hotel Cafe has online ticketing available. w00t! (last time there was a show I was semi-interested in, I would have had to buy at the venue and I didn't want to pay $10 to park just so I could buy the ticket so I didn't.)

That's one of the many things that sucks about Hollywood. I enjoy the Hotel Cafe as a venue for its smallness and intimacy (I've seen Vienna Teng there three times), but it does annoy me that you can't sit down unless you're ordering their pricy food, and they don't have a coffee bar any more, just alcohol. Part of the fun of going to tiny "coffeehouse" style concerts is being able to sip on some sort of unique flavored iced blended coffee that you can't get at Starbucks while enjoying the music.

[plvarona]

Updated 7/28/2007

Concerts Attended:

2/23:
Bebo Norman, Brandon Heath and Alli Rogers: Prince Avenue Baptist Church - Athens, GA

Grades:

Alli Rogers: B
Brandon Heath: B+
Bebo Norman: A-
Show Overall: B+

Set Lists:

Alli Rogers: "The Day of Small Things", "If I Am Brave", "Tanzania", "For The Morning", "Hope", "The Advent"
Brandon Heath: "Beauty Divine", "Don't Get Comfortable", "I'm Not Who I Was", "Our God Reigns", "Red Sky"
Bebo Norman: "I'm Alright", "Stand", (Gabe Scott’s dulcimer solo)/ "Tip of My Heart", "Walk Down This Mountain", (Gabe Scott’s accordion solo)/ "The Hammer Holds", "To Find My Way to You", "Where The Trees Stand Still", "I Will Lift My Eyes", "Nothing Without You", "Great Light of the World"

3/31:
Anberlin w/ Bayside, Meg and Dia & Jonezetta - Atlanta, GA

Grades:

Jonezetta: B-
Meg & Dia: C+
Bayside: A-
Anberlin: A-
Show Overall: B+

Set Lists:

Jonezetta: "Welcome Home", "The Love That Carries Me", "Popularity", "Man In a 3K Suit", "Imagination", "Backstabber", "Get Ready (Hot Machete)"
Meg & Dia: "Indiana", "Roses", "Masterpiece", "Courage, Robert", "Are You Gonna By My Boy?" (cover of a Jet song with a few words changed), "Cardigan Weather", "Monster"
Bayside: "Montauk", "Dear Your Holiness", "Duality", "Blame It On Bad Luck", "Existing In Crisis", "Masterpiece", "They're Not Horses, They're Unicorns", "The Walking Wounded", "Don't Call Me Peanut", "Devotion and Desire"
Anberlin: "A Whisper and a Clamor", "Never Take Friendship Personal", "Hello Alone", "Readyfuels", "Adelaide", "A Day Late", "Paperthin Hymn", "The Unwinding Cable Car", "A Heavy-Hearted Work of Staggering Genius"/"Dance, Dance Christa Paffgen", "Dismantle. Repair.", "Godspeed"
(Encore): "(*Fin)"

4/2:
Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Atlanta, GA (Final Four Festivities at Centennial Olympic Park)

Grade: A

Set List: "Good Times", "I Need More Love"/"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (instrumental/cover), "Say Yeah!", "People Get Ready" (NewSong cover), "Billie Jean" (instrumental/cover), "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" (f/ Dutchtown Middle School Hardsteppers), "Whole Lotta Love" (instrumental/cover)
(Encore): "Homecoming"

5/5:
Luna Halo - Atlanta, GA (Modest Mouse after-concert)
 
Grade: B+

Set List: "The Fool", "World On Fire", "I'm Alright", (some song with "I'm Still Intoxicated" in the chorus), "Take on Me" (a-ha cover), "Over The Edge", "Wasting Away", (2 songs I didn't recognize - one power ballad and one fast song), "Untouchable", "Kings and Queens", (some song I didn't recognize - I didn't recognize the encore song either.)

7/27:
Andrew Peterson w/ Andy Gullahorn - Metarie, LA

Grades:

Andrew Peterson: A
Andy Gullahorn: B+
Show Overall: A

Set Lists:

Andrew Peterson: "Canaan Bound", "The Far Country", "Nothing to Say", "The Chasing Song", "Loose Change", "Let There Be Light", (new song - prominent lyric: "I've Got News For You"), (3 songs from Andy Gullahorn - see below), "Matthew's Begats"
Second Half (after a 5-minute intermission): "Nothing But the Blood" (cover), "Bears" (from his children's songs and lullabies CD), (new song) "All You'll Ever Need", (new song - prominent lyric: "Little Moments of Truth"), "Mary Picked The Roses", "Family Man", "Let Me Sing", (new song - prominent lyric: "Invisible God"), "Holy is the Lord", "The Queen of Iowa", "Lay Me Down"
Encore: "Just As I Am", "Pillar of Fire"
Andy Gullahorn's Set List: "If I Were", (song about Andy Osenga's lawnmower accident two years ago), "Burning Bushes"

Upcoming Concert Possibilities:
TBD

[enemy anemone]

That's one of the many things that sucks about Hollywood. I enjoy the Hotel Cafe as a venue for its smallness and intimacy (I've seen Vienna Teng there three times), but it does annoy me that you can't sit down unless you're ordering their pricy food, and they don't have a coffee bar any more, just alcohol. Part of the fun of going to tiny "coffeehouse" style concerts is being able to sip on some sort of unique flavored iced blended coffee that you can't get at Starbucks while enjoying the music.

I don't mind standing up and haven't been to a small venue with a coffee bar (which sounds awesome--why don't they all have this?!) so I don't know what I'm missing.    I like the Knitting Factory because it's easy for me to get to without having to fight my way down Hollywood Blvd (I use LaBrea), plus it's close enough to the Kodak, where parking is $2 with validation. do you have any parking tips for Hotel Cafe? I'm thinking about using the one behind the Avalon ($5 if I remember right) and walking what looks to be 2 or 3 blocks.

[murlough23]

I don't mind standing up and haven't been to a small venue with a coffee bar (which sounds awesome--why don't they all have this?!) so I don't know what I'm missing. 

I don't mind standing up, but when I drag my wife to concerts, she prefers to be comfortable, particularly if there are unknown opening acts involved and a lot of patience is required. I can't say that I blame her.

Actual "coffeehouse" concerts that take place in real coffee shops are probably smalltime enough that you'd mostly only hear about them through the artist's website, rather than by looking them up in your usual suspect sites that search for concert tickets. They're the type of thing where more of the people in the venue during the concert are there for the coffee than those who are there for the artist, who likely has a makeshift setup in the most convenient corner of the place while people are walking by and only a few are actually paying attention. This makes small venues such as the Hotel Cafe or the Viper Room where you actually have to pay to get in, and you'd do so for the express purpose of seeing someone perform, a major step up by comparison.

But I like coffee. Seeing Sleeping at Last in a coffeehouse setting in Santa Barbara was awesome; we were sitting on the floor literally 3 feet in front of them (there wasn't a raised stage, just a corner of the room by windows facing the street). The downside was that that particular coffee shop decided to be lame and drastically reduce their menu during the event. So I just bought coffee across the street afterwards to snub them.

[enemy anemone]

there's a coffeehouse in Redondo Beach that I know about. haven't tried their coffee yet but my favorite gelato place is next door. the coffee place has live music and I've enjoyed the atmosphere.  would be cool if the bigger venues (and by that I mean small venues) were more like that, with coffee and books and a cozy sort of vibe. and not in Hollywood. ah, but I can dream.

this morning I found out that Neko Case will be playing a gig at the Henry Fonda Theater in February. it's going to be a great month for concerts!

B.B. King was fantastic of course. the Kodak was...wow. wish I had sneaked in my little camera. (I had brought my bigger one but had to take it back to my car.) he's 81 years old and played sitting down, but his voice was great and he was very engaging. when he first came on stage the emotion in the room was overwhelming. I'll post a setlist later...have to go to work (again) now!

[murlough23]

would be cool if the bigger venues (and by that I mean small venues) were more like that, with coffee and books and a cozy sort of vibe. and not in Hollywood. ah, but I can dream.

Seriously, that's a pretty tall order you've got there.

[enemy anemone]

and all my favorite artists play there often.

[dgp11776]

Seriously, that's a pretty tall order you've got there.

  I got it.

[murlough23]

  I got it.

Got what?

...oh. Tall order. Heh. That was totally unintentional on my part.

[dgp11776]

Got what?

...oh. Tall order. Heh. That was totally unintentional on my part.

Oh, no.  Now you're backing into puns!

[enemy anemone]

I don't know if you'd be interested, mur, but Chris Thile will be playing at Largo Feb. 26 & 27 (Sunday and Monday).

[murlough23]

I don't know if you'd be interested, mur, but Chris Thile will be playing at Largo Feb. 26 & 27 (Sunday and Monday).

I might be, but I might just decide to wait for Nickel Creek's final tour later this year. I have the whole rest of his career to see him solo.

[enemy anemone]

any Gillian Welch fans willing to travel to Asheville, Charlotte, or Atlanta? they're doing some gigs!

February 12, 2007
The Orange Peel
Asheville, NC

February 15, 2007
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC

February 16, 2007
Variety Theatre
Atlanta, GA

[murlough23]

So here's a dilemma - I would like to see the Newsboys again, for nostalgia's sake and because I like their new album and would like to hear it performed live. They have a show in Irvine on April 1, in the very same venue where my wife and I saw them at the Fish Fest 2002, the first concert that we attended together. But the opening bands on their "Go Show" tour are none other than Kutless and Stellar Kart. I suppose if it's reserved seating, we could just show up late, but... what do you think, should I risk it?

NP: "Fearless", Falling Up

[Aaron]

no

no

no

no

no

no

Is the name of this tour "Who Can Suck The Most" ?

[murlough23]

Is the name of this tour "Who Can Suck The Most" ?

Perhaps I'm asking the wrong crowd, but you have to keep in mind that I liked the Newsboys' latest album and I've always enjoyed them live.

NP: "Safe in a Crazy World", Corrinne May

[Josh Powell]

I wouldn't go unless you could show up late. I don't think I could bear a Stellar Kart concert following a Kutless concert.. ich!

Even then I wouldn't go, as I haven't liked anything Newsboys has put out since pre-Thrive.

[Aaron]

Perhaps I'm asking the wrong crowd, but you have to keep in mind that I liked the Newsboys' latest album and I've always enjoyed them live.

NP: "Safe in a Crazy World", Corrinne May

May I ask why you like the latest album? I didn't hear anything that impressed me at all.  I've failed to be impressed since Thrive.

[enemy anemone]

since the concert date is April 1, why set yourself up the bomb?

So here's a dilemma - I would like to see the Newsboys again, for nostalgia's sake and because I like their new album and would like to hear it performed live. They have a show in Irvine on April 1, in the very same venue where my wife and I saw them at the Fish Fest 2002, the first concert that we attended together. But the opening bands on their "Go Show" tour are none other than Kutless and Stellar Kart. I suppose if it's reserved seating, we could just show up late, but... what do you think, should I risk it?

NP: "Fearless", Falling Up

[murlough23]

May I ask why you like the latest album? I didn't hear anything that impressed me at all.  I've failed to be impressed since Thrive.

I enjoy it almost as much as Thrive. "Something Beautiful" and "In Wonder" are two of my favorite Newsboys songs, and most of the other upbeat tunes strike me as having some of that old Newsboys wit (the only two that I didn't care for where "Wherever We Go" because the lyrics just aren't true, and they aren't untrue in a way that is funny, and "Secret Kingdom", which is a "Breakfast" ripoff), so even if I don't like the ballads as much, that still makes more than half of the record enjoyable. It's not an amazing album, but because of the mixture of techno/dance influence and rock instrumentation, the live show will probably be a blast (as was the case when they did the stuff from Step Up and LLD live a few years back).

Don't get me wrong; I'm not totally blown away by Go, but it's a step back in the right direction for a band that I thought had totally given up on their strengths and on any semblance of original thought. If anything, it indicates to me that they've regained focus and that they plan on giving a fun rock show without having to keep everything serious and somber and low-key as their worship albums dictated.

[plvarona]

Perhaps I'm asking the wrong crowd, but you have to keep in mind that I liked the Newsboys' latest album and I've always enjoyed them live.

If that's the case, then I'd probably consider if you could come late.  You would have to pay me to see either of the two opening acts.  I obviously don't have to explain to you why Kutless is a no-no, and as for Stellar Kart, if you want to see first-hand why they are one of my biggest whipping boys (if not the biggest) then be my guest.

If it were me, though, I'd stay away.  The only time I saw the Newsboys was during Atlanta Fest 2002, and I thought they were horrible.  The vocals were way off, although the worst offender (Phil Joel) has since left the band.  Also, the band tried to get the crowd revved up, but for some reasons their tactics didn't work with me.

[murlough23]

If it were me, though, I'd stay away.  The only time I saw the Newsboys was during Atlanta Fest 2002, and I thought they were horrible.  The vocals were way off, although the worst offender (Phil Joel) has since left the band.  Also, the band tried to get the crowd revved up, but for some reasons their tactics didn't work with me.

That's interesting, because I thought the Newsboys were a blast at a show I saw the same year, and I've even seen Phil Joel do his solo stuff with his own backing band live, and it was pretty good (including a medley of Blur's "Song No. 2" and the Newsboys' "WooHoo").

But the wife's not really into the Newsboys any more, so that solves that problem. We'll pass. It wouldn't really be fun without her.

[enemy anemone]

just found out that Patty Griffin will be playing another show in LA in March. it's another weeknight but I will probably plan to go. even if I get in trouble at work (technically I have no sick/vacation days yet and will be taking two in Februray already).

the Ditty Bops will be playing on a Friday night at McCabe's. I would like to see them sometime, but probably  not enough to take yet another night off work when I'm not supposed to.

[plvarona]

That's interesting, because I thought the Newsboys were a blast at a show I saw the same year, and I've even seen Phil Joel do his solo stuff with his own backing band live, and it was pretty good (including a medley of Blur's "Song No. 2" and the Newsboys' "WooHoo").

I guess this means the Newsboys either had an off-night when I saw them, or I'm just more sensitive to out-of-tune vocals, or both.

[murlough23]

Saw Future of Forestry play at APU tonight. 3 other Credential Record Bands were on the bill, but we intentionally got there late because we figured traffic would be less of a headache and I didn't want to leave work too early. Edison Glass was finishing up their set when we got there, so I didn't get much of an impression of them - they sounded good rhythmically but the sound setup really muted the melodic aspects (FoF had similar problems but slowly overcame them). I really should listen to an Edison Glass CD sometime because I know some folks here have highly recommended them.

FoF was pretty good. I had the strange feeling that they would open with "Sanctitatis", and they did exactly that, which worked as an invocation, though due to the barely audible vocals and melodic aspects, it because a lot of repetitive crashing and banging before too long (there were two people on stage adding guitar and percussion to the band's already full sound during the first few songs of their set). "Open Wide" had similar problems with flatness, though the band sounded a little more balanced on the high energy "All I Want", with its magical keyboards. They kind of switched to their down-tempo stuff too quickly (they had a very short time alotted for their set) - "Speak to Me Gently" was just played by Eric on acoustic guitar and Nick on BGV's and ever-so-slight electric guitar ambience. Lovely song, but a little drier in that context than it is on the album.

They pulled out one old Something Like Silas song - "Words that You Say" - which went keyboard-less but had the added benefit of some neat drumming by Spencer. That guy was really a good find - nothing against SLS's old drummer, but he's got a ton of energy and some of FoF's best songs are the ones where the drums just go crazy. Getting back to newer material, they played the gorgeous "Twilight" next, featuring one of the "extra" band members on xylophone, Eric on keyboards, and Nick playing theremin, of all things. That's a notoriously difficult instrument to master because it's controlled without touching it, based on the space between one's hands and the instrument's antennae, which give off a "spacey" kind of sound. It fit the song really well, and it was a great live rendition. As a perfect thematic complement to "Twilight", they finished the set with "Sunrising", which is my favorite of the new songs due to its absolutely insane drum crescendo during the bridge. Their performance started out good and tended toward awesome, but unfortunately it ended to soon, and I generally don't reward A grades for such short sets, so I'll give them a B. They really need the chance to headline instead of open, but with the name change and new label, they probably have to do a bit of work to rebuild their fanbase.

Dizmas was up next - we didn't stick around for them or Lost Ocean (it's a weeknight and my wife gets up for work at the butt-crack of dawn). My ex-roommate did, so when I see him on Sunday, I'll ask him if those bands were any good.

[Brenden]

Lost Ocean seems like a band that would be a blast live, judging from the cd.

[enemy anemone]

last night I went to the record release party for Eleni Mandell's Miracle of Five. Charlie Wadhams and Ferraby Lionheart opened. I really enjoyed Ferraby Lionheart's set and need to look into getting his (their?) stuff. wish I had taken notes on the songs. I have decided I love upright bass.
Eleni was amazing (as always). the party had a Valentine's Day prom theme, with balloons and streamers and cupcakes and dancing and prizes. not the kind of thing I generally get excited about, but it was interesting to observe. she had a full band with her, but different from the previous time I saw her with a band. no sax/dobro/banjo player but an electric blues guitar guy instead. she did a mixture of songs from her new album and some old favorites, as well as a new one or two that aren't on the new album. I had heard her do Needle and Thread solo last time but this time with the band it really kicked some punk butt.
here's the setlist, with a few comments and lyrics:
Home ("she always wanted to love you; well, she never could, but she wanted to..." she said this was one of the first songs she ever wrote. I noted that, oddly enough, it has the name of her current sweetie in it.)
Salt Truck ("salt truck, salt truck, clear my path; all my dreams have frozen fast...I want roads that I can drive on, I want a friend I can rely on..." one of my favorites from this album.)
Somebody Else
Needle and Thread (!!!)
Girls (another favorite from this album)
Tristeza
Pauline (old favorite, and one of the songs that initially hooked me to her music, with the line "I wore black, I wore heels, I wore an oxblood t-shirt". I mean come on, the attention to detail here--an oxblood t-shirt.)
Perfect Stranger ("I'm a perfect stranger, too")
Beautiful (this is not the annoying song by whoever it is.)
My Twin ("why did that train derail? 201 victims were killed; was my twin among the dead? was my twin expected to live? I was here at home waiting for my twin to return; we never met, but I believe my twin's out there and he's looking for me..." my very favorite from this album.)
Makeout King ("I can't be seen kissing the makeout king..." this one always makes me laugh.)
Wings In His Eyes ("silvery green like the moss on the trees")
(unknown song)
God Is Love and Appreciation (w/ Charlie Wadhams)

well anyway, more of you pholks should check out her music. how can you resist someone who sings "I am a marble the color of candy, I'll make you money whenever you're gambling, I am the dice you roll in the alley, I am the pennies that come in handy"? =)

edited to add some photos I took with my bigger camera.

   

[danny316]

In spite of the slew of exciting concerts announced the other day, I have no plans. I can't travel to see the Arcade Fire the day before one of my finals. The Flaming Lips are playing at a venue I don't like. The Police aren't even coming to my state.

...I might end up trying to see the Decemberists and TV on the Radio in the next few months. downhere and Of Montreal are coming by too, but I doubt I'll make it out for either one.

[enemy anemone]

Patty Griffin's one-hour set last night was delicious, but a combination of the rude folks around me and the weird layout of the venue marred my enjoyment quite a bit.  the folks who had the tables right in front of the stage probably had a great time though.

edited to add a couple of photos I took with my bigger camera.

   

[murlough23]

I just realized that I have to dump Relient K from my concert itinerary. College group retreat that weekend and I'm looking to join their staff.

NP: "Anti-Anti", Snowden

[dgp11776]

I just realized that I have to dump Relient K from my concert itinerary. College group retreat that weekend and I'm looking to join their staff.

Bummer.  I feel your pain, although I actually am going to see Relient K.  However, I am missing/recently missed:

The Afters on 2/10 (an hour and half drive for a concert starting at 9:00pm on a Sat., which is too late)
Winter Jam Tour on 2/16 (we have to babysit my sisters kids for a week)
Anberlin tour on 2/21 (on a Wednesday night, and I have too many Bible-study related responsibilities at church)
Bethany Dillon and Future of Forestry on 3/7 (also a Wednesday night)
Switchfoot and Copeland on 3/18 (on vacation)
Mute Math on 3/22 (on vacation)
Mat Kearney on 4/18 (also a Wednesday night)

I am seriously the unluckiest person when it comes to concerts.

[murlough23]

I might skip Anberlin too, but at the moment that's just because it appears nobody else wants to go.

[dgp11776]

I might skip Anberlin too, but at the moment that's just because it appears nobody else wants to go.

Aw, man, that would stink.  I would want to go to see Jonezetta's opening set.  They must be a complete blast in concert.

[murlough23]

Aw, man, that would stink.  I would want to go to see Jonezetta's opening set.  They must be a complete blast in concert.

I'm actually not familiar with any of the opening bands for that show, and I don't tend to respond well to a long string of unfamiliar artists in concert, so it's not one that I was really looking forward to anyway. I'm sure some of those bands are great, but I'd need time to get to know them in a non-concert setting first, and as always, too many bands and too little time.

[spacebrat311]

Y'all know how this works by now. Post concerts that you're planning on/interested in attending this year, and rate, post setlists, or otherwise describe concerts that you've attended.

Concerts Attended:

2/8 - Future of Forestry @ Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA B
Setlist: Sanctitatis, Open Wide, All I Want, Speak to Me Gently, Words that You Say, Twilight, Sunrising

Upcoming Concerts:
3/10 (Sat) - Anberlin w/ Bayside, Meg & Dia, Jonezetta @ The Glass House, Pomona, CA
3/30 (Fri) - Switchfoot w/ Copeland @ the Avalon, Hollywood, CA

Tour Dates TBA:
Jars of Clay w/ Burlap to Cashmere
Nickel Creek
Sufjan Stevens (this is an extreme longshot!)

(Last Update: 2/14/07)

Dude. We totally go to the same concerts. I was at the Future of Forestry show, and have already bought tickets to Switchfoot/Copeland at the Avalon.

I couldn't stick around for Lost Ocean that night either even though they were probably who I was most interested in seeing live. I had a lab couldn't miss...

[murlough23]

Dude. We totally go to the same concerts. I was at the Future of Forestry show, and have already bought tickets to Switchfoot/Copeland at the Avalon.

Yeah, I'd better get those tickets soon.

[enemy anemone]

Saturday night's Neko Case concert was fantastic. the opener Eric Bachmann was okay. I didn't dislike his music but thought he played for too long. then Neko announced there were special guests, Paul Wagoner and Marty Stuart. they played a couple of songs and then more special guests came on stage and played with them. Dwight Yoakam and Billy Bob Thornton. surreal. Paul Wagoner was decked out in a purple sparkly suit and sparkly cowboy boots. Billy Bob had a sparkly vest, even. I would have rather have seen and heard more from Neko but it was amusing.
what can I say about Neko? she is a goddess. her setlist was very similar to the one last year when I saw her open for Willie Nelson at the Hollywood Bowl, but this time I was about a mile closer to the stage and could actually worship at her feet, I mean, see her in person rather than on a big screen. it makes a huge difference.

Neko's setlist:
Things That Scare Me
Favorite
Dirty Knife
Soulful Shade of Blue
Set Out Running
Buckets of Rain
Star Witness
Margaret vs. Pauline
Maybe, Sparrow
The Tigers Have Spoken
I Wish I Was the Moon
If You Knew What I Know
Hex
Hold On, Hold On
Teenage Feeling
Deep Red Bells
encores: Lady Pilot
John Saw That Number

the enthusiastic reception that gospel songs get in Hollywood is a juxtaposition that I never get tired of.  the audience was stomping and singing along.
as I was leaving I saw someone who looked exactly like Miranda July. who knows, could very well have been her.

edited to add a couple of photos I took with my small camera.
   

[Silvah]

Upcoming: 2/26

Derek Webb, Andrew Osenga, and Sandra McCracken @ Belmont University, Nashville TN. Tickets are only 7 bucks; I'm pretty excited.