An Evening with Monsters of Folk
Halfway through Monsters of Folk’s Massey Hall show on Monday, Jim James told a charming story about going through Canadian customs and being brought into the room where all of the confiscated drugs go to die. The moral of the story was that he was wrecked – maybe the erratic dance moves were a byproduct of this. If they were, I would encourage him to continue.
The show was like 4 shows in one. Besides playing their entire album (save one song), M. Ward, Conor Oberst and Jim James all played solo material, occasionally accompanied by Mike Mogis. My 17-year-old self was so satisfied to finally hear Conor sing me his sad songs, I dream of one day being able to sing as high as Jim James (not on drugs, I mean high notes) and if M. Ward wants to start a side project with me, that would be great (I would gladly be the new She to his Him).
After two and a half hours (who do they think they are, Paul McCartney?), they left the stage, feedback buzzing from the amps. Despite no longer having the use of my legs because of the cushy wooden chairs we were sitting on, the evening was amazing. Highlights include: “Dear God” (it was an experience), their sharp suits, “We Are Nowhere and It’s Now” and bowing my head in remembrance of how often I used to listen to it and the frequent use of a pedal steel guitar.
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Tags: evening, monsters, music
It’s been weeks since I have been to a show, and another two weeks before I go see another (Monsters of Folk at the start of November). Until then, I thought I would compile a top 10 best shows I’ve seen up to this point in my life list. After every show I see I usually claim it’s the best show I’ve ever been to, so a concrete list is quite a task for me. Here goes…
Jenny Lewis and friends - Toronto, ON October 2006
Jenny Lewis is kind of a big deal for me. When I moved to Toronto in 2006, she was touring for Rabbit Fur Coat and this was one of the first shows I saw in my new city. She played in a beautiful old church and I sat in a pew in the second row and completely reveled in the whole experience. The church was a fitting setting because pretty sure I was having a religious experience the entire time.
The show opened with the band walking down the middle aisle onto the stage (altar) – the band, the Watson Twins and then tinier than I could have ever imagined, Jenny – dark, except for the stage lights, and singing Run Devil Run. I may have shed a tear.
Rabbit Fur Coat is without a doubt in my tentative top 10 favourite albums so it was amazing to hear it live and Jenny and friends did it justice. Highlights include: Jenny Lewis being in front of me, early renditions of Acid Tongue tracks, See Fernando and Jack Killed Mom, her sequined dress and Feist joining her on stage for Handle Me With Care.
More to come.
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Tags: hero, jenny lewis, religious experience
Scott Avett - photo taken September 30, 2009
Watching the Avett Brothers last night, I got the feeling that they came out of the womb singing perfect harmonies and could probably play the guitar before they could walk. Maybe I have a strong bias towards bands that feature brothers from the south, but during the show I was almost unable to clap or scream or dance, because I was in awe of the entire performance.
They were so genuine and said y’all a lot and constantly switched instruments which is always impressive, but even more so when it’s done well. There was a lot of screaming and jumping and moments when I wondered how two guys can write some of the most poignant lyrics I’ve heard in a long time (always remember, there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name) - and how do I ever learn to write like them? Do I have to move to the south and bring my sisters with me and start a band of my own – it’s worth a shot!
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The Avett Brothers performing Paranoia in B-flat Major at the Horseshoe Tavern – September 30, 2009
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Coping with post-concert anxiety
After my Kings of Leon mini-tour (mini to me, fanatical to most) I felt like I had to be slowly integrated back into my own life. It was a rough week. I was eating too much, sleeping too much, still listening to that playlist I made for my trip over and over again and constantly checking YouTube to relive my concert experiences through shaky, grainy footage where you can mostly just hear the person recording singing along instead of the actual band.
Going back to school was nothing short of torturous – who cares about Moby Dick when I could have been on a Greyhound halfway to Michigan before Ishmael ever even gets on a boat. But I did it, only missing class…a couple of times…in a three day week. Okay, I didn’t do that well. I decided that the week was a write-off. (Note: I made up for it today and did ALL…most…of my reading for class this week and last.)
Then, the weather decided to help me feel even worse - the sun had hardly been absent in Toronto since I arrived, but as soon as I rolled into town from London the drought was over and it rained for days, or at least a couple of very grey hours. I still had pictures and set lists and drum sticks though to prove that last week wasn’t just a happy dream. Small comfort.
Then I had to say goodbye to my little sister and future roadie extraordinaire, Catherine, and days later my fellow fanatic, Sheena, returned to the east coast too. And along the way, there were some harsh reminders of what can happen after a week absence from real life. And I realized (with the help of people far more grounded than I), although it would be great to be able to follow bands wherever and whenever I wanted, sometimes you don’t have to travel far to be around people you love and admire (all of you who are a phone call away, this means you too). Big comfort.
I’m cured and think I’m ready for another show – the Avett Brothers at the Horseshoe on Wednesday. One night only – promise!
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Glasvegas (James & Caroline) - September 20, 2009
Sometimes I dread opening bands. This time, I didn’t have to. Amazing music, stage presence and accents! Caroline, I have a girl crush on you! Come back to Canada soon!
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Last week, I miss you!
I spent most of last week sitting on the sidewalk. Or on a bus/car/train. Or mega sleep deprived. It was the best week ever!
Montreal was the first show. Front row. Reunited with my partner in crime, Sheena, and fellow Kings fan, all the way from Boston, Sam. Caleb was attached to his red beer cup of whiskey and lashed out a little bit at the crowd when some people stayed sitting down. ”I’ve never been to a rock and roll show and sat on my ass.” I understand, Caleb – I understand. They played a great show – lots of Only By The Night (I like ‘I Want you’, who knew?), but balanced it out with amazing songs like ‘True Love Way’ (the first time I’ve heard it live) and ‘Trani’ (first time I’ve heard it live since 2003 – practically forever ago). During the show drunk Caleb announced that they would be out roaming the street all night. Luckily, we had nothing on our agenda after the show. After closing with Black Thumbnail, Caleb ripped his guitar strings off of his guitar and sauntered off stage. We stumbled out of the Bell Centre, to Sam’s car and decided to roam the streets ourselves.
We headed to St. Laurent and as we drove down the street we spot a shiny black Escalade sitting outside of Tokyo, a bar Sheena frequented in her Montreal days. Just in case, we decided to stop in for a drink. We walk up the stairs to the small bar with too loud music and continued down the narrow hall. Right before reaching the patio, a large bald man steps out beside us and heads in the same direction as us. He goes to the corner of the patio to join a similar large bald man and we look around – and within three seconds we see him. Jared Followill is standing on the patio. A Followill is in the same room (or outdoor space) as us! I rejected my first instinct to swoon or throw up and instead tried to look as casual as possible. We headed to the bar to get a little bit of gin courage and I debated whether I should approach him. Really, when would I ever be in the same bar as a Followill again (hopefully soon)?!
So, I did it! I walked up to him and said “Hi Jared!” Then the panic set in – I didn’t really plan anything else to say. You know when you imagine a situation happening and you’re so calm and cool and everything goes really well – and then you actually get in the situation and your brain shuts down and you’re suddenly the biggest nerd in the world. I know that feeling very well.
Thankfully he is a professional and is probably used to nerdy girls like me telling them how much they like his band – so he was so much nicer than I ever thought. I told him that we had been at the show that night and he replied with “Yeah, I saw you guys. Front row, right?” Perfect, so our trying to act casual was completely in vain because he knew we were the mental girls in the front. I think I was standing uncomfortably close to him, but his beauty was magnetic. That bone structure, that hair, that leather jacket! When I get nervous I ask a lot of questions (my journalism training kicking in at last?), so he was subjected to questions about the show for a bit and then he told me that he was cold and I was still trying to not vomit on him because I was so excited. Eventually, I told him that they had been my favourite band for so long and then said bye and shook his hand. All I can say is if that had been a certain guitarist, I would have had to have been revived. Next time, maybe?
(Note: If I haven’t lost you already with my long-winded retelling, then stay tuned for even more long-winded retellings of last week.)
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Front row is the only row.
Last two days have been incredible yet entirely exhausting – I should be sleeping now but am already thinking about tomorrow and Sunday’s shows. All of this will merit a much longer entry when this madness is over.
Highlights include: ‘Trani’ and ‘True Love Way’ in the same set, drunk Caleb, finding the right bar with the Escalade out front, my brain abandoning me when I really could of used it to make me look calm and collected, reunions with friends and the realization that if I can’t be a professional musician, I might make a good roadie.
Hamilton show tomorrow. You know where I’ll be.
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To the bus…
Toronto, ON - 11/07/08
I think people have started to worry about me. My parents don’t understand it and hope that I will stop. Most of my friends are sure that I could be using the money and time on something more productive. I just can’t help myself. I’m addicted to live shows and traveling ridiculous lengths to see bands I love. I know that technically the shows are all the same, every night of the tour, but every night is a different city, different venue and different crowd – what if that one show I don’t go to is the night they change the set list and play every one of my favourite songs? I’d rather be safe than sorry, folks!
I’m fascinated by the talent, lifestyle and entire culture surrounding what it is to be a musician. I feel like from a young age I knew that these people, these rock stars, were living the life. I grew up listening to the Rolling Stones, thanks to my dad, and before I could appreciate what the music was, I just knew they were having more fun than I ever would. I know I’m not the only one who is enthralled by this lifestyle. This summer I finally read Pamela DesBarres I’m With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie - this woman knew everyone: Mick Jagger, Robert Plant, Keith Moon, Jimmy Page. Besides jealous, it made me curious – do people like Miss Pamela still exist? Are there girls and guys out there making time with all of the best artists of our time, while I work towards one day, maybe, finally getting my undergrad? Movies and books have led me to believe that in the old days (1960’s-1970’s) you would just walk up to the stage door and hours later you’d be partying with the band in their hotel room, throwing tv’s out the window or whatever it is they did back then. But what is a girl to do when most of the time now you can’t even find the stage door at the venue? Is the age of the groupie officially over?
In a few days I leave to see the Kings of Leon. This is the second time these guys have inspired me to travel too long and to spend too much money to see them not once, not twice, not three times…let’s admit it, after next Sunday I’ll have seen them enough times that I should officially be in the band by now. Expect to hear details. Expect pictures. Expect me to try to find the stage door. If you don’t hear from me again, I’m in a hotel somewhere throwing a tv out the window.
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Tags: music
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