the city will be earth in a short while
Morning Light/Steel Train/The Cab/The Hush Sound, Houston, 12August.
Sorry, no pictures. I hate carrying a camera, and it annoys me to be taking pictures instead of enjoying the show. Plus, it pisses me off when Really Tall Guy in front of me raises his arm and blocks what little view I have so he can record the event with his camera.
Before the show at the Warehouse Live Studio, The Cab and The Hush Sound each did an acoustic set at Cactus Music, an independent record store in midtown. I stopped by and browsed, had a free beer, and caught the show.
All the Cab boys came in together, but only Ian and Singer performed. < insert flailing about dark-haired men in glasses here >
Singer looked like he was trying to shed his more feminine image, what with his white wife-beater and his hair not straightened. Actually, he looked like he had just rolled out of bed, and he confirmed this impression for the audience later.
They started with Risky Business, then I have a "?" in my saved txt, so I'm not sure what's up with that - I was browsing while I listened, and maybe I missed which song they did here? - and then they did Bounce. After that, Singer said they'd take requests (I think I heard pretty much every one of their songs suggested) and there were a fair number of voices requesting High Hopes, but he said they'd never performed it live. So. I'll Be, then I'll Run, and they ended with Vegas Skies.
While they were playing, Marshall checked out the t-shirts and the vinyl at the Record Ranch. Cash was back and forth, as was Johnson.
Johnson has good taste - he was behind me in line at the cash register, and he bought a Doors album. Cash ended up wearing a Cactus Music t-shirt later, so I assume he made a few purchases also, but he wasn't near me in line (and I'd feel like a stalker if I bothered them when they're just trying to have time off the van and away from the venue, so I didn't approach him to see) so I couldn't assess his taste.
The Hush Sound were *awesome*. I have to admit, I've really liked Greta's vocals on Goodbye Blues more than Bob's, but their acoustic set totally changed my mind.
(As an aside, Bob's "I don't really even want this beer, but it's free, so," sorta cracks me up.)
They did Medicine Man, Not Your Concern, Heatwave (yeah, Motown covers; generally appropriate for Houston this time of year, but it was actually not that hot today), and As You Cry, and ended with Wine Red. They did a brief signing, but by then it was already after six pm, and I wanted to get to the venue to see The Morning Light, so I bailed. (Plus, you guys know I have fourth wall issues, right? I like to listen and see them, but don't necessarily want to meet them.)
Got there, found a parking spot - not trivial if I didn't want to pay to park in their lot - there was a baseball game tonight, and the stadium's only a couple of blocks away.
The guy at the door was all, "You look familiar. Weren't you just here recently? You've definitely been here before."
Why, yes, yes I have. And you, sir, were also the security guy in front of me at the barrier at the Seether concert the other night.
Um. So.
Morning Light were already on when I got there. I have no Morning Light in my iTunes library, and thus had no specific expectations of them. They made a positive impression.
Steel Train were good. I only have a couple of songs in my library, but I've seen 'em a couple of times now, and I'll see them when they headline at the Meridian in couple of months, I think. And maybe even again if they open for Phantom Planet and Rocket Summer. The best part of their set was that they made fun of Mamma Mia and then segued right into it. :D
The Cab's set:
I'll Run
Risky Business
That 70s Song (I have a vision of them in bell bottoms and turtlenecks and vests, singing and dancing like the Jackson5, whenever I hear this song.)
Take My Hand (I like the live version and demo version of this song SO MUCH BETTER than the Whisper War version. It's like they put too many layers in or something, and things got too busy and sound got muddied. Way better when it's simpler.)
Can You Keep A Secret?
Bounce
+ MrIris admired Cash Money's bass-playing skills but laughed at his bouncing all over the place.
+ *dons tin hat* Ian's wearing dogtags. Are they Marshall's? There was lots of eye contact between them during Take My Hand (Marshall played his guitar to the amps otherwise), and I was all "Boyfriends, see?" in my head.
+ Does Ian Singer particularly enjoy writing/drawing arrows toward his (or others') crotch? He did it to their tech with bright pink tape during the set-up. Actually, that was what led MrIris to his comments/conclusions.
+ Is that a Midtown bracelet Singer is wearing?
+ What exactly were they up to, that they left their trailer in Arizona and had to spend a couple of days doing acoustic shows only?
While the change-over happened, the bar turned on the TVs, tuned to the Olympics. The Hush Sound came out right as Michael Phelps's swim in the 200m fly was at the midway point, and I thought there was going to be a riot. Seriously, people booed.
The Hush Sound's set:
Intro
Love You Much Better
We Intertwine
The Boys Are Too Refined
Sweet Tangerine
Don't Wake Me Up (Singer came out for this)
Hurricane (I'm very fond of the washed-out, bone-weary exhaustion in her voice on the album version of this song, so I didn't particularly care for this performance of it, where Greta's voice was so strong and she was clearly happy and bouncy. There was nothing technically wrong with this song. It's just a personal preference.)
As You Cry (Is this song about them not getting along and almost breaking up before they recorded Goodbye Blues? Have they commented on it?)
Molasses
Medicine Man
Momentum (Oh, Bob. You are the scar to my tissue.)
Hospital Bed Crawl
Wine Red
Back in the USSR (I am actually not sure that most of the younger people in crowd knew this song. Like, AT ALL. They mostly just sorta stood there.)
Not Your Concern
Jackson5 cover
Crawling Towards The Sun
Honey
+ Bob's beard needs to go away.
+ Greta w/ guitar = pretty awesome.
+ Chris's bass was far and away the most noticeable instrument, soundwise.
+ I could barely see Darren at all, as a result of not getting there early and not being tall enough to see over Tall Guy and Tall Girl's heads. But I could hear him, so. Xylophones should be played at all concerts. Just sayin'.
+ Ian came out and played guitar during one song. I... can't remember which. And then all the guys from Steel Train and Morning Light joined them for another. (Bad fangirl for not keeping track.)
This was actually the best show, in terms of sound, that I've seen at the Warehouse Live Studio. Other than the pre-show issue that Steel Train had with the line for the acoustic guitar, there wasn't feedback or imbalance or anything. Actually, Chris Faller's bass was pretty amped up, but I think it suits THS's style of music. I still don't like the fact that the drums are set back and kind of low in the Studio, because that means that you can't really see the drummer very well unless you're directly in front of the kit and within a few people of the barrier.
All in all? Two thumbs up. Can't wait to see them on their next swing through Texas.
Sorry, no pictures. I hate carrying a camera, and it annoys me to be taking pictures instead of enjoying the show. Plus, it pisses me off when Really Tall Guy in front of me raises his arm and blocks what little view I have so he can record the event with his camera.
Before the show at the Warehouse Live Studio, The Cab and The Hush Sound each did an acoustic set at Cactus Music, an independent record store in midtown. I stopped by and browsed, had a free beer, and caught the show.
All the Cab boys came in together, but only Ian and Singer performed. < insert flailing about dark-haired men in glasses here >
Singer looked like he was trying to shed his more feminine image, what with his white wife-beater and his hair not straightened. Actually, he looked like he had just rolled out of bed, and he confirmed this impression for the audience later.
They started with Risky Business, then I have a "?" in my saved txt, so I'm not sure what's up with that - I was browsing while I listened, and maybe I missed which song they did here? - and then they did Bounce. After that, Singer said they'd take requests (I think I heard pretty much every one of their songs suggested) and there were a fair number of voices requesting High Hopes, but he said they'd never performed it live. So. I'll Be, then I'll Run, and they ended with Vegas Skies.
While they were playing, Marshall checked out the t-shirts and the vinyl at the Record Ranch. Cash was back and forth, as was Johnson.
Johnson has good taste - he was behind me in line at the cash register, and he bought a Doors album. Cash ended up wearing a Cactus Music t-shirt later, so I assume he made a few purchases also, but he wasn't near me in line (and I'd feel like a stalker if I bothered them when they're just trying to have time off the van and away from the venue, so I didn't approach him to see) so I couldn't assess his taste.
The Hush Sound were *awesome*. I have to admit, I've really liked Greta's vocals on Goodbye Blues more than Bob's, but their acoustic set totally changed my mind.
(As an aside, Bob's "I don't really even want this beer, but it's free, so," sorta cracks me up.)
They did Medicine Man, Not Your Concern, Heatwave (yeah, Motown covers; generally appropriate for Houston this time of year, but it was actually not that hot today), and As You Cry, and ended with Wine Red. They did a brief signing, but by then it was already after six pm, and I wanted to get to the venue to see The Morning Light, so I bailed. (Plus, you guys know I have fourth wall issues, right? I like to listen and see them, but don't necessarily want to meet them.)
Got there, found a parking spot - not trivial if I didn't want to pay to park in their lot - there was a baseball game tonight, and the stadium's only a couple of blocks away.
The guy at the door was all, "You look familiar. Weren't you just here recently? You've definitely been here before."
Why, yes, yes I have. And you, sir, were also the security guy in front of me at the barrier at the Seether concert the other night.
Um. So.
Morning Light were already on when I got there. I have no Morning Light in my iTunes library, and thus had no specific expectations of them. They made a positive impression.
Steel Train were good. I only have a couple of songs in my library, but I've seen 'em a couple of times now, and I'll see them when they headline at the Meridian in couple of months, I think. And maybe even again if they open for Phantom Planet and Rocket Summer. The best part of their set was that they made fun of Mamma Mia and then segued right into it. :D
The Cab's set:
I'll Run
Risky Business
That 70s Song (I have a vision of them in bell bottoms and turtlenecks and vests, singing and dancing like the Jackson5, whenever I hear this song.)
Take My Hand (I like the live version and demo version of this song SO MUCH BETTER than the Whisper War version. It's like they put too many layers in or something, and things got too busy and sound got muddied. Way better when it's simpler.)
Can You Keep A Secret?
Bounce
+ MrIris admired Cash Money's bass-playing skills but laughed at his bouncing all over the place.
+ *dons tin hat* Ian's wearing dogtags. Are they Marshall's? There was lots of eye contact between them during Take My Hand (Marshall played his guitar to the amps otherwise), and I was all "Boyfriends, see?" in my head.
+ Does Ian Singer particularly enjoy writing/drawing arrows toward his (or others') crotch? He did it to their tech with bright pink tape during the set-up. Actually, that was what led MrIris to his comments/conclusions.
+ Is that a Midtown bracelet Singer is wearing?
+ What exactly were they up to, that they left their trailer in Arizona and had to spend a couple of days doing acoustic shows only?
While the change-over happened, the bar turned on the TVs, tuned to the Olympics. The Hush Sound came out right as Michael Phelps's swim in the 200m fly was at the midway point, and I thought there was going to be a riot. Seriously, people booed.
The Hush Sound's set:
Intro
Love You Much Better
We Intertwine
The Boys Are Too Refined
Sweet Tangerine
Don't Wake Me Up (Singer came out for this)
Hurricane (I'm very fond of the washed-out, bone-weary exhaustion in her voice on the album version of this song, so I didn't particularly care for this performance of it, where Greta's voice was so strong and she was clearly happy and bouncy. There was nothing technically wrong with this song. It's just a personal preference.)
As You Cry (Is this song about them not getting along and almost breaking up before they recorded Goodbye Blues? Have they commented on it?)
Molasses
Medicine Man
Momentum (Oh, Bob. You are the scar to my tissue.)
Hospital Bed Crawl
Wine Red
Back in the USSR (I am actually not sure that most of the younger people in crowd knew this song. Like, AT ALL. They mostly just sorta stood there.)
Not Your Concern
Jackson5 cover
Crawling Towards The Sun
Honey
+ Bob's beard needs to go away.
+ Greta w/ guitar = pretty awesome.
+ Chris's bass was far and away the most noticeable instrument, soundwise.
+ I could barely see Darren at all, as a result of not getting there early and not being tall enough to see over Tall Guy and Tall Girl's heads. But I could hear him, so. Xylophones should be played at all concerts. Just sayin'.
+ Ian came out and played guitar during one song. I... can't remember which. And then all the guys from Steel Train and Morning Light joined them for another. (Bad fangirl for not keeping track.)
This was actually the best show, in terms of sound, that I've seen at the Warehouse Live Studio. Other than the pre-show issue that Steel Train had with the line for the acoustic guitar, there wasn't feedback or imbalance or anything. Actually, Chris Faller's bass was pretty amped up, but I think it suits THS's style of music. I still don't like the fact that the drums are set back and kind of low in the Studio, because that means that you can't really see the drummer very well unless you're directly in front of the kit and within a few people of the barrier.
All in all? Two thumbs up. Can't wait to see them on their next swing through Texas.