Last Thursday we had a little Loose Record expedition to the Liam and Me/Automatic Automatic show at the Bowery. Even against xtina's will, she showed up and even looked like she enjoyed herself once. Her on-going, silent feud with Liam and Me's infectious synth-rock reached it's climax the day before the show when she almost, almost refused to go. Despite her reservations she didn't scream "fuck this" during the set and even bounced her feet around once or twice. Maybe there is hope for Israel and Palestine.

The really shit got started after the show when Jon greeted Tom and I with a "There are my dogs!" Jon is our dog and we'll go to war or to drinks with him anytime. The basement bar at the Bowery was serving drinks with all-time hostility and speed. Pretty soon we were drunk again with Liam and Me and exchanging, overly rhetorical statements of fact.

Now, as an aside, I do believe this band is going to make it. Really going to make it.

But put six drinks in me and I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I will stand by both sides of the argument. Yes, they're going to make it. But, it sure helps to drink five rum and cokes to really wrap your mind around this band's potential.

The evening ended up at the Annex which was far too dark and far too loud. Not too loud to order more drinks and not too dark to drink them, however. In time, the night petered out as weekdays have a habit of doing and Tom and I rolled home sometime before three. Noah managed to drunkenly find the F-train and Micah got a ride home from Jon only to lose her nerve and not make a move.

Great night all around that led right into a ridiculous Friday night which ended with xtina, MaggieMcquade, Mina, and assorted others at MaggieMcquade's sometime around 6. I'd give the Essex St. McDonald's about a 5 for service but a solid 10 for being there when Noah and I needed you.

Tuesday night head down to the Mercury to check out The Virgins. Or just listen to them here. Your call. They go on just before 11.

The Virgins - Rich Girls (thanks to www.partyends.com)

Labels: bands, concert, haterade, liam and me

IN: Pocket people (waiting for the Stephen Malkmus platinum edition)
OUT: CPR dummies (creepy)

This post was intended for Monday, but I took a little trip out to Seattle, and I finally found internet.

I came across some free tickets to see Travis at the Fillmore in NYC on Sunday night and couldn't refuse them. After all, it's only been about ten years since I was a superfan. I remember it like it was last month - calling the Philly radio station and winning one of a few seats at a 7am in-studio performance. Sneaking out of the sequestered guest area and hanging out with Frannie and Dougie. Not understanding much of the conversation due to their thick Scottish dialect. Swooning when Frannie gingerly poked me in the shoulder at my mention of both of our "Baby One More Time" cover attempts.

After the superfan in-studio, the band graciously got me into a show in Chicago...my first live Travis concert. To my chagrin, the dense quantities of drunk Brits yelling along with the lyrics prevented me from hearing the band much at all. And last Sunday night began quite the same, standing at the back of the Fillmore with a belligerently drunk soccer hoolie screaming something laced with the word "bloody." But once we moved forward towards a more civilised (and attractive) group of audience members, the experience got far better.

I realize I am not hitting any sort of mark here with my commentary. Perhaps it is the fact that my first night in Seattle was spent in a restaurant with beer, on a park bench with whiskey and Diet Coke Plus, and in a flat with more whiskey, now sans Diet Coke Plus. Waking up to construction noise at 7am in bed next to two equally-hungover people. No no, no no...where is *your* mind?

I digress. Travis is aging, and they work hard to maintain the expected levels of charisma from a decade ago. Frannie's hair is getting a bit long for his pattern, but he remains one of the most adorable Scotsmen that ever was. The highlight of the show was when The Daily Show's Demetri Martin did a live performance bit for the band onstage. It's exactly like in this video (complete with cookie stunt):

Labels: concert, demetri martin, fran, the daily show, travis

Here are a few photos (which I shot at the event yesterday) and a video (courtesy of MyTubeNYC) documenting 77 BOADRUM, the sound experience of a lifetime. At top is Brian Chippendale of Lightning Bolt, and the third photo down is my personal favorite, Alianna K of We Ragazzi.

Worth the 1.5-hour wait to re-enter the grounds after soundcheck. (Actually, I didn't have to wait because I had a press pass, but I stayed with my friends on the line.) The press credentials got me into the VIP area, where I was surrounded by drummers I couldn't recognize. So I stuffed some free Sapporo's and Sparks into my bag and returned to the plebes.

Look for a full live review with slideshow on Loose by the middle of next week.

Labels: 77 BOADRUM, boredoms, brooklyn, concert, drummers