Information Leafblower

Jul 20 2003

Well, the Indie Rock portion

Well, the Indie Rock portion of my weekend has finally ended. Friday night Glenn and I decided to check out the Steven Malkmus + The Jicks gig in Prospect Park. I’d never been to a gig there(even though I only live like 4 blocks away) and I was intrigued with the prospect(no pun intended) of checking out Mr. Malkmus as I have avoided his solo work after the break up of Pavement The Rock Band.
The sky portended rain, but we went any ways (I left the digicam at home). We had a slight sprinkle on our way there and as soon as we entered the venue, it started pouring. We grabbed a beer(for $4, not bad) and some cover and settled in. The band was good but I really wasn’t all that impressed. In Pavement The Rock Band, Malkmus and his songwriting were greatly augmented by the rest of the band, not so in this new incarnation. They were good, but they weren’t Pavement The Rock Band and that’s who I really wanted to see on Friday, not the former lead singer’s watered down solo shit. We stayed through 5 or so songs and then swam home. It was fucking pouring by the time we motivated out of there. I’m talking hurricane proportions. My clothes are still wet. As soon as I changed out of my wet clothes, I imported Wowee Zowee into iTunesand listened to it for the rest of the night.
The weather Saturday was much better for the Siren fest. I decided to go out there late(due to my leg + the crowd) and had to skip seeing The Pattern. I arrived a little after 5, just as Northern State were finishing. I only heard 2 songs but was not impressed. Methinks right now is not the best time to be a Beastie Boys rip off act. 4 years ago maybe?
When they were done, I made my way up front to get a spot to see Ted Leo. Ted was great as usual. My only complaint was the short set he had to play. And no “Hearts of Oak” but we did get “Timorous Me” so even steven. I did learn during the set that I am now officially too old to go stand up front with the kiddies. Too much jumping around and bullshit. Woo Hoo! I’m a fuddy-duddy. Ted opened with some old song I had never heard, done solo, and then the band broke right into “Where Have All The Rude Boys Gone” and it was ON from there. Everyone went nuts for “The Ballad of the Sin Eater”. That song is always a crowd pleaser as Ted doesn’t play guitar and he runs around being a frontman the whole time. I was surprised at the big crowd he drew. Lots of students or at least student looking people. It was funny to see all the Pasty Williamsburg Indie Rock Geeks baking out in the sun. Before anyone thinks I am throwing stones here, I am a Pasty Park Slope Brit Pop Geek, so there. The set ended right when he was warming up, but it was still a great performance.
Glenn and I walked around a bit during Radio 4’s set but we did catch a few songs and they were impressive. Gotham moved to the front of the “Must Download and Later Go Buy If I Like It” list. The new stuff seems more dancey than their earlier stuff but I liked it.
The crowd hightailed it to the other stage to see Modest Mouse(surely it wasn’t for the Datsuns, right? They are soooo Def Leppard) after Radio 4 was done. I grabbed a spot up front for Idlewild so I could get some pictures. They bounded onstage at 5 after 8 and proceeded to kick out the jams. They were in good form. I hadn’t seen them touring behind The Remote Part although I saw them 4 times in support of 100 Broken Windows (they were amazing twice and horrible twice). The subtraction of Bob Fairfoull and addition of the extra guitar player has really beefed up their live show. Much nastier. The set mostly leaned on 100 Broken Windows with a few songs from their new disc peppered throughout the set. The crowd was a little disappointing(I never knew there were that many Modest Mouse fans) but it didn’t seem to affect the band. It was, after all, their first ever trip to the American Institution that is Coney Island. I left around 10 'til 9 and headed for the subway. My feet were killing me and I was starving. Surprisingly, my knee was OK. The subway ride home took about 40 minutes and I was too tired to cook, so I got a burger and fries from Bonnie’s Grillto go and went home and chilled.
I’ve spent the rest of the weekend listening to Luna’s Pup Tent.
NEWS AND STUFF FROM THE INTERWEB:
- iTunes Music Store rulez and will continue to do so. Also, third quarter profit report from Apple.
- Apple / VW has a new commercial advertising their new iPod / Bug package.
- All Microsoft software has critical flaws. Apple Rulez.
- NYPD busts guy on subway for taking up 2 seats on the train. At 2:45 AM.
- Britain Tried First. Iraq Was No Picnic Then.
- Hey Guess What?? WMB unlikely to be found in Iraq. Is this really surprising?
- An open letter to the NY Times photo retoucher.
- World Cup Girls.
- New Explodingdog! Explodingdog rulez.
- Super Furry Animals interview. Album out Tuesday.
- Celtics still need a veteran PG. McCarty resigns mutli-year contract. The salary cap debunked.