Those of you who didn't go to The Temper Trap's concert at Rochester's Water Street Music Hall on Wednesday 10/6 truly missed out (which is most of you). The venue was hardly full, much to my dismay, but the crowd was enthusiastic! Hooting and hollering, and of course dancing!
The Temper Trap delivered an excellent performance, playing just about all, if not all of their first album. Many songs seemed improved from their album version, including "Drum Song" which is a sort of closing song at the end of the album. They played a lengthened version that proved to be a hit with the audience.
I did truly enjoy their performance of "Love Lost", with the intense pause of silence part way through the song made all the more so intense by the live performance. You can get a sense for it here:
Also lead singer Dougy Mandagi's performance was more soulful than I anticipated, adding a musical flavor less common in the common post-punk and alternative rock band. Overall I would highly recommend you see The Temper Trap if given the opportunity (keep in mind they are here from Australia)! I would happily go again myself. You should at least get the album!!!
My trip with G to and from Toronto was akin to a religious experience in some ways. It was definitely a journey.
The concert was excellent. The opener, The Sadies was a great start to the show itself. Their flavor of alternative country, blended with an array of other flavors of rock, was solidly entertaining. I was reminded at moments of Johnny Cash and the Rolling Stones. The guitar playing showed that they are truly seasoned musicians, and now as I review their list of albums I see I was right. Although they are hardly small potatoes, I have to wonder if they are just a hit song away from making it big, and whether they have been searching for it or just enjoying the ride?
Next was Janelle Monáe, who I was also excited to see, and her musicians. She did not disappoint! G likened her to Gwen Stefani, though I likened her to a blend of The Shirelles and Micheal Jackson. She owned the stage, and there were brief moments when I thought she could've easily been the headliner, despite the crowd gathered. I am sure Arcade Fire fans are not her typical crowd, still there were cheers. Her ability to do hip hop, on top of soulful ballads, and pop inspired songs, all while wearing an outfit that looked more like a modified tuxedo (kind of like this one) was impressive. I also got that feeling that even after her long set, she could've easily gone on for hours more. Awesome!
And then at last came the climax of our journey, Arcade Fire. They were all I had hoped. I sit here without regrets. They were excellent musicians. They were normal people inspired, driven, and successful. They played much of their new album, including the song that inspired buying the tickets at the last minute, "Rococo". The performance of "Rococo" was as amazing as I had hoped, and I think G felt the same way. If anything it seemed too short, though I don't know what duration would've sufficed. Several of their songs from "Funeral" and "Neon Bible" were also played and after hearing so many I came into a place of musical awe. There is something remarkably honest about Arcade Fire. The show they put on seemed more like a confession of themselves. They weren't dressed to match or provide a slew of theatrics. They played and sang and danced and other than being practiced musicians, there was an in the moment life to the energy of their performance. A fan favorite, and one of my favorites, "Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels)" stirred the crowd to newfound life that carried the concert on to the end, including through the time before the encore when the final notes of "Rebellion (Lies)" were ooooo'd until Arcade Fire retook the stage. (I'd like to believe that the oooo-ing brought them back on and that it was not previously decided, but I know better. Still, how cool was that!?) The hour and a half flew by but it was well worth the journey. The closing song of the encore, "Wake Up", still stuck in my head to now, almost 24 hours later.
(You can even see someone else's recording of the performance. I think this guy was like 3 people away from me because I see my head as he turns the camera towards the crowd!)
For another review, may I suggest Ryan Bolton's on blogto.com, including the set list and some excellent pictures.
The Journey…
Here is the part where I go on and on about why seeing Arcade Fire for 1.5 hours actually took us 16.5 hours. Where did the other 15 hours go?
It wasn't so bad really. I mean I am home now. I am just a whiny baby at this point. In short, G and I left our house at 9:30 AM and got home at 4:00 AM.
Why so long? Well when we left the house we didn't actually have the tickets in hand. Fedex REALLY wanted a signature, and due to our absence this past week I didn't know until Friday when I begged them not to send them back to Canada. The best we could do was leave the family rented lake house early and pick them up half way across town at the Fedex distribution center. After acquiring the tickets about 45 minutes in (10:15 AM) I convinced G I would make it up to her by getting her favorite breakfast at McDonalds (gross, I know, but she has a thing for the McGriddle). After passing by two Burger Kings, we started to get concerned for our fortune, until we found one by 10:40 AM. Little did I know McDonalds is apparently on a different schedule than the rest of the world and serves lunch starting at 10:30 AM. Whatever. Our trip then continued down a road that seemed unnecessarily backed up.
Little did I know then that waiting in lines would be my new hobby for the day.
On to the Buffalo exit and then Niagara Falls, we ran the toll booths at both the Thruway exit and the bridge over Grand Island were ridiculously backed up. Our fortunes, looking grim primed us to spend a lucky dirty dollar I had found in the mud by the train tracks 2 days previous in Auburn, NY. It worked. The border crossing, the expressway, even the parking in Toronto, all went smoothly and quickly. We even caught the ferry to Olympic Island where the concert was to be with little wait. By 3:30 PM I remarked to G about our good fortune to be finding ourselves in line to enter the field where the concert was to be half an hour before "doors open". By 4:30 PM we had settled onto the grass in front of the stage on our towel blanket, and G napped as I had a bite of my tasty fries from The Poutine Machine.
Now I'm sure you're thinking this isn't so bad. I mean at this point we had been only been in a few lines of remarkable size on the expressway, as well as the line for the ferry, the line at McDonalds, and the very long line at Tim Hortons (so I could have something other than McDonalds). There was also the line to get onto the field, and the remarkably long line at The Poutine Machine, and the line at Fedex to get the tickets in the first place, but whatever. We were still there on the grass an hour and a half before show time, in a great spot close to the stage. We could not complain. The dirty dollar's magic had worked. The magic had also run out as we learned after the show.
After the show, and the excellent encore, the crowd was herded first around the entire field, then across a bridge, into a line between two chain-link fences. It took about 30 minutes after the show just to reach this point. It did not take long after that to realize that the ferry we had ridden to Olympic Island was going to be a problem. G and I were now very tired, very hungry, and very dehydrated from hours of travel and concert preceding this line for the ferry. It was not long before I started to wonder how much worse it was for prisoners, or for people sent into concentration camps throughout human history. Here we all were waiting for a line we did not wish to be in, but without choice. Tired and sweaty, with the humid warm air of the night, the smell of hundred of people was pungent, and without access to toilets or water there was an element of cruelty to it. Fortunately for us we knew it would end soon and not turn into the hell experienced by others herded into places not of their choosing. Over an hour and a half later (just before midnight) we were finally among the privileged few to board the ferry to freedom.
By 4 AM we finally had made our way home, but on the way G and I decided we will never ride the ferry to the island again for a concert. Those last 2 hours of the drive were particularly painful as I literally pinched, scratched and even bit myself to stay awake, telling myself to wake up, as the song continued to churn in my fresh memory. I was determined. With the experience of the post concert ferry, next time we'll make the trip to another venue other than the Olympic Island in Toronto, but are glad we went. Would I do it again? For Arcade Fire? Yes. Arcade Fire made it worth it.
G watched the live streamed concert of Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden in New York two nights ago, and was raging about it all last night. She made me sit down and watch this video in particular. It is a delicious live performance if you like the flavors of drum and bass, wrapped in Arcade Fire packaging.
It also has inspired us to buy tickets to see them next Saturday in Toronto on Olympic Island!!! It should be a wild ride! We await the date with gleeful anticipation.
The album version is sadly not as rich as the live performance. Most of the time I am less satisfied by live performances, but in this case I think the song is enriched. The album version is like a new leather jacket, but the live one from Madison Square Garden is more like the broken in leather jacket that fits just right.
Also, for those who might have heard Arcade Fire once or twice, here or there, keep listening! If your experience is like mine, eventually you will question how you ever didn't like them! And start at the beginning with "Funeral" and then move on to "Neon Bible".
Last night my sister-in-law and I went to see Apocalyptica in Buffalo, NY at the "Town Ballroom" (a cool venue, with a tiered amphitheater like levels), and it was AWESOME! Made up of the three cellists, Eicca Toppinen, Paavo Lötjönen, and Perttu Kivilaakso, as well as drummer Mikko Sirén, all from Helsinki, Findland, I was very entertained and very impressed. Being a cellist and a drummer myself, I had a unique perspective on being able to judge their technique and skill. I bow to their abilities as musicians for they would all easily blow me away, and they are great entertainers on top of it. Their ability to make a cello sound like a guitar is unreal, and yet I have seen and heard it myself. Though they seemed to play countless songs, I was still sad that it had to come to an end. The crowd was thoroughly engaged, including some members of the audience joining in the hair swirling headbanging as the band members did. They are inspirational in their success in bridging the gap between classical and metal. I would happily see them again given the opportunity and suggest it for anyone with any interest in heavy metal or the cello, one of the best instruments in the world, of course I am heavily biased! Their new album, "7th Symphony" will be released August 24th, and I now wait with baited breath.
Although today song, "Somewhere Around Nothing", is not from the new album, it is from their album "Reflections" which included all original songs by the band, and I think the video truly shows the band and a bit of the flavor and feeling of what it was like to see them in concert. Enjoy!
Last week on October 28th, G and I drove hours to see Eisley in Toronto for a meer half hour or so in concert. Where we live is not a good location for touring bands to come to, so we are frequently required to drive a distance to see most bands we wish to see, including Eisley from Texas. It did seem like a lot of effort to see Eisley, who was not the headliner, but it was worth it.
Eisley is not one of the most well known bands. Chauntelle, Sherri, Stacy, and Weston DuPree are all siblings and relatively recent addition to the band, Garron DuPree, is their cousin. They have toured under bands such as Brand New, Snow Patrol and Coldplay, thus adding to their credibility in the industry. I think they are a treasure in the musical world. Their songs contain elements from another world, light and solemn, but not without frolic. It was good to be able to see them perform and get a glimpse of their dynamic and personality. It was a pity they did not have more time, though they were indeed performing while quite ill. One of the sisters on guitar (Chauntelle I think) was unable to sing one of the songs and stopped it within the first measure or two, and was practically hunched over during the last couple songs, closing with "Invasion" from their 2007 album "Combinations".
They started out in the coffee shop run by their parents, and I am sad to say it would probably have been a better venue accoustically. The Phoenix Theatre in Toronto, though a very cool space for a club/music hall, had attrocious accoustics. The sound was flat and at times I'd swear the band was being drowned out by the talking and ambient sound. Aside from the venue, I also blame the guy on the mixing board who seemed almost lost during the sound check (never promising for the band). They would be much more suited to a venue intended for an orchestra or live theatre.
Regardless I hope Eisley comes to the area again sometime as the headliner. G and I did not stay for Sherri's husband's band, "Say Anything", the headliner (sorry Sherri… they're just not as good as you guys are). We did however do our regular trip to the Canadian grocery store to pick up the goodies we are unable to purchase in the USA like Ketchup Potato Chips (think Salt & Vingear Potato Chips with a little sweetness and a little tomato flavor… so good!), Coffee Crisp chocolate candy bars, and Kinder Eggs among others. Now that Mexican Coca-Cola is available in the USA, we passed on the Canadian Coca-Cola (both made with real sugar, unlike the high-fructose crap they sell in the USA… Why do we have to go to other countries to buy better Coke when it was invented here? I don't know.) Oh and of course we stopped at Tim Hortons, not the one in the grocery store we went to or the one in the gas station across the road, no the one on the corner between the two. (Yes, 3 Tim Hortons in sight of each other. Canadian's love their Tim Hortons!)
I think all you Death Cab For Cutie, The Decemberists, Dixie Chicks, Imogen Heap, and Regina Spektor fans should check out Eisley if you haven't already. For those of you who like what you hear but do not know whether to start with the first or second album, I am suggesting you start with the first "Room Noises". It is a little more unique than "Combinations", and perhaps a little more solid in terms of a musical theme, though I love them both, so feel to get both.
Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Plenty of Paper" being my favorite. It was difficult to choose the 5 because there is not a song I do not like…
I would have to say I was obsessed with this album when it first came out. (I believe G was equally obsessed too.) I have listened to this album start to finish possibly more than any other album in my collection. It is just so good. He's funny, honest, real… refreshing. He is the voice I hear telling me to discard all the crap society is pushing on me, all the expectations of others, and just live. I should just be who I am and live the life I wish to lead. He is an inspiration. I find the roughness of his voice beautiful and the perfect compliment to his piano.
G and I had the opportunity to see him in concert a few years ago and to meet him (in a 'meet and greet' line afterwards) and we found ourselves to be dumbfounded fans, totally speechless, though he has truly touched our hearts. I recall his live rendition of "The Consort" was particularly good.
…enough with the love letters to Rufus, and on to the songs…
I am currently reviewing the list of songs on the album, and I usually pick a favorite 5, but in this case of the 12 distinct songs (the 13th track is a reprise of "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk", so it does not count), I cannot bring myself to cut the list any shorter than 8. Even then I am tempted to just list all the songs. The album is THAT GOOD. More than any other album, I was obsessed first with one song, then another, then another, then another, and it went on for months and months. I can honestly say that between 2001 and 2003 I was obsessed with each one of these songs at one point. G and I had to have our own CDs so we didn't have to share.
Did I mention it is good yet? Great? Excellent? Remarkable? Am I beating a dead horse? Oh but don't take my word for it. Listen to the following songs and you decide!
Here are my 8 favorites from the album, with "Thriller" being my favorite.
And I do believe it's true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
But if the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I hold you near
Cause you're the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
Makes me think of G everytime with her brown (and green) eyes, who incidentally bought me this album, "Plans".
I kinda liked Death Cab for Cutie until I heard this song. Now I say I love them. This song is my favorite by them. I got to meet them briefly at a concert in 2006 and I actually have a picture of my friend, Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla, Nick Harmer, Jason McGerr and me before the show. I'd post it, but I kind of like being all anonymous, so you'll just have to picture six hot guys in your mind. The show was awesome too. They played much longer than a lot of bands do, covering every single they've had and then some. If I recall they basically played everything off of "Plans" too. Ben is truly a great singer and an entertainer and I was impressed with Jason McGerr's drumming style. It was the kind of show you wished would just go on and on and on too.
There was a great bit in one of the songs where Ben pulled out a mini drum set, and he and Jason had a bit of a drumming battle going on. It was awesome. I think back to that concert when I now practice my drums. I need to practice more. This day job thing really gets in the way! Paying the bills is optional, right?
