Archive for July, 2009
It’s a few days past the sell-by date, but I caught a great show this past weekend at Subterranean in Chicago’s hipster haven, Wicker Park. I arrived early, grabbed a $3.50 PBR and took in the sights and sounds of one of my favorite venues before the music set in. It was a 17+ show, so there was more shrieking than I was accustomed too, and, strangely, some actual dancing in the balcony. I suppose if the younger folks are good for anything it’s for amping up the energy for all us quickly surpassing our quarter life crisis.
Hotel Ahead opened with a solid set of songs. Their Villa Park home grown version of indie rock did a good job of keeping the crowd entertained even if they spilled water onto one of their amps mid song (ouch!). I was salivating a little over the lead guitarist’s orange Stratocaster – which, by all accounts had a clearer, purer and better tone than the guitar he began the set with. The singer’s punkish and whiskey tenor wasn’t out of tune and he did a good job of pounding through the tunes. The rhythm section was solid, nothing too crazy to speak of, but kept the beat and kept it strong. I was trying to listen for a little double kick drum action, but sadly, never got it.
Brighton, MA – has a fantastic sense of dynamics. Although led by an acoustic guitar toting troubadour, they do not sound like O.A.R. or Dave Matthews – which is both surprising and awesome. I have to say that I was more impressed with the simplistic nature of the songs, but everything came together and worked like clockwork. This is a touring band who knows preciscely who they are and what the stand for. Their lead singer looks like a mix between Eddie Vedder and Shooter Jennings, and has a great baritone voice to boot – mad respect for putting on a great set.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t as enamored with The Appleseed Cast. I suppose it takes a certain type of listener to be able to pay strict attention to instrumental prog rock music (think Mogwai, Explosions in the Sky) at a live venue, and they had me for a little while. While listening to the album though, it’s not just the form of their songs that I enjoy, but it’s the recordings that really get me. The snares that morph from super loud and reverb addled to small and tinny are just a small example of what could never be emulated in a live show. I, and the audience included stood at attention for some of the larger builds off the new album, but the vocals, again did not have the same power they do on the record.
Holy crap, I didn’t realize I was just 5 years younger than one of the most innovative personal listening devices ever created! Pre-dating the Ipod, Sony held market share all the way into the 2000’s with variations on it’s prototype. There’s a great article about it here.
I remember the days when I would romp around listening to Vanilla Ice, Makavelli, and MC Hammer thinking I was the coolest kid on the block. Not to mention begging my parents to buy batteries and headphones every two weeks!
What’s your fondest Walkman memory?
