All the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service
Marisa and I went back down to the Prospect Park Bandshell last night to see the Dead Weather with Maggie and Kyle. The Dead Weather is probably my least favorite of Jack White's bands, but I like a lot of their songs, especially from Sea of Cowards, and dig their swampy blues sound, even/especially when the songs sound like they were written and recorded hastily without much thought. We sat in the back on the hill, which was ideal -- a lawn seat with better views, perfect for the Dead Weather's noisiness (I don't know if it was just the acoustics, or if it was actually even louder up front, but if it was the latter, that would've been painful) and semi-theatricality. Less than ideal were people who came up on the hill, and then stood, which to me is just weird, not just because it's sort of rude, but because there are so, so, so many other places you can go to stand in the bandshell without bothering anyone, and also be much closer to the band. I know the response would be, it's a rock show and you're getting old, but seriously, how hardcore are you anyway if you're standing (motionless, for the most part) almost all the way in the back? It was a pretty comfortable show regardless, especially now that it sometimes actually gets cool at night again.
Jack White always seems to give his all when he's playing music, even silly toss-offs, and Alison Mosshart seems like a crazy woman, so they're a good match. I can tell you some songs they played. This is not really a setlist, though. They played at least one song that neither Maggie nor I recognized at all, and my order is way off.
60 Feet Tall
Hang You from the Heavens
I'm Mad
I Cut Like a Buffalo
The Difference Between Us
New Pony
Die by the Drop
Hustle and Cuss
So Far From Your Weapon
I Can't Hear You
Will There Be Enough Water?
Treat Me Like Your Mother
Blue Blood Blues
Looking at the Invisible Man
Speaking of outdoor concerts: should I go see Pavement? Back when the Pavement reunion was first announced, I was actually sort of relieved to not care. Not that I'm indifferent to Pavement -- I think I have all of their albums, even -- but I'm no Pavement superfan and this wasn't as big a deal to me as the Pixies reunion, so it was sort of nice to be able to step outside the fray and not be concerned about when tickets were going onsale (a year in advance, turned out) or how much they would cost, or whether they would add other, more convenient venues to the tour, or whatever.
But Pavement went for saturation a lot quicker than those early Pixies shows (though of course the Pixies shows eventually went past saturation into super-saturation, to the point where I've seen the Pixies twice, and loved it, but don't really need to see them again unless they make new music, which is unlikely). At first, there was a Central Park Summerstage show. Then there were like fifteen of those (note: I am not fact-checking this). Then they added a show at the Williamsburg Waterfront. Tickets to that one are still available, and Jenny Lewis is opening (in her "Jenny and Johnny" guise, but still).
Theoretically, this is an easy call. If there was a newer band who had a bunch of songs that I liked as much as "Stereo," "Shady Lane," "Spit on a Stranger," "Cut Your Hair," "Carrot Rope," and "Summer Babe," I would be excited to see them, especially with bonus J-Lew. It's sort of on the expensive side, but not really more pricey than the Dead Weather (who have fewer songs that I love) or Belle and Sebastian (who I've already seen several times and who don't have a new record out yet). What's actually holding me back, then, it seems, is the reunion factor. This is strange because I don't really love Pavement enough to feel all indignant or even ambiguous about them getting back together and not making anything new. As with the Pixies, I understand the desire to make some of the money that wasn't there when they were actually together and being super-influential.
I guess the problem is that I also don't love them enough to see a reunion through rose-colored finally-I-get-to-see-them glasses. As such, I'd feel a little like a poseur, going to a Pavement show and not getting super-excited when they play some rarity I've never heard (it's also possible I'd feel downright bored, listening to some rarity I've never heard). I'm not sure if I want to go to Pavement because I feel like it should mean more to me than something fun to do in my neighborhood on a Sunday night. But it is that anyway, right? So what's the problem?
Your thoughts on Pavement, reunions, and exorbitant ticket prices are, as always, encouraged.
Jack White always seems to give his all when he's playing music, even silly toss-offs, and Alison Mosshart seems like a crazy woman, so they're a good match. I can tell you some songs they played. This is not really a setlist, though. They played at least one song that neither Maggie nor I recognized at all, and my order is way off.
60 Feet Tall
Hang You from the Heavens
I'm Mad
I Cut Like a Buffalo
The Difference Between Us
New Pony
Die by the Drop
Hustle and Cuss
So Far From Your Weapon
I Can't Hear You
Will There Be Enough Water?
Treat Me Like Your Mother
Blue Blood Blues
Looking at the Invisible Man
Speaking of outdoor concerts: should I go see Pavement? Back when the Pavement reunion was first announced, I was actually sort of relieved to not care. Not that I'm indifferent to Pavement -- I think I have all of their albums, even -- but I'm no Pavement superfan and this wasn't as big a deal to me as the Pixies reunion, so it was sort of nice to be able to step outside the fray and not be concerned about when tickets were going onsale (a year in advance, turned out) or how much they would cost, or whether they would add other, more convenient venues to the tour, or whatever.
But Pavement went for saturation a lot quicker than those early Pixies shows (though of course the Pixies shows eventually went past saturation into super-saturation, to the point where I've seen the Pixies twice, and loved it, but don't really need to see them again unless they make new music, which is unlikely). At first, there was a Central Park Summerstage show. Then there were like fifteen of those (note: I am not fact-checking this). Then they added a show at the Williamsburg Waterfront. Tickets to that one are still available, and Jenny Lewis is opening (in her "Jenny and Johnny" guise, but still).
Theoretically, this is an easy call. If there was a newer band who had a bunch of songs that I liked as much as "Stereo," "Shady Lane," "Spit on a Stranger," "Cut Your Hair," "Carrot Rope," and "Summer Babe," I would be excited to see them, especially with bonus J-Lew. It's sort of on the expensive side, but not really more pricey than the Dead Weather (who have fewer songs that I love) or Belle and Sebastian (who I've already seen several times and who don't have a new record out yet). What's actually holding me back, then, it seems, is the reunion factor. This is strange because I don't really love Pavement enough to feel all indignant or even ambiguous about them getting back together and not making anything new. As with the Pixies, I understand the desire to make some of the money that wasn't there when they were actually together and being super-influential.
I guess the problem is that I also don't love them enough to see a reunion through rose-colored finally-I-get-to-see-them glasses. As such, I'd feel a little like a poseur, going to a Pavement show and not getting super-excited when they play some rarity I've never heard (it's also possible I'd feel downright bored, listening to some rarity I've never heard). I'm not sure if I want to go to Pavement because I feel like it should mean more to me than something fun to do in my neighborhood on a Sunday night. But it is that anyway, right? So what's the problem?
Your thoughts on Pavement, reunions, and exorbitant ticket prices are, as always, encouraged.