Umphrey’s McGee @ The Pageant, 2/4/10
Photo by Isaiah Yehros. More on Flickr
With a lighting rig that would rival a Pink Floyd cover band’s and an audience that was, dare I say, unrivaled in energy, Umphrey’s McGee at the Pageant was a Midwestern delight. Known for their groovy tunes and jammy style, the group had a clear target audience (the Midwestern-type stoner type who inevitably will be in annual attendance at Bonnaroo) and one objective: throw a great fucking party. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on February 10, 2010 at 12:23 pm, filed under Live and tagged The Pageant, Umphrey's McGee. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Neon Indian @ Schubas, Chicago, 1/15/10
Photo by Alex Menter. More on Flickr
Neon Indian’s last stop on their six-month tour landed them in front of an energetic and eager crowd (The Hood Internet had just played) at Schubas in Chicago for the Tomorrow Never Knows music festival. For such brightly colored music, Alan Palomo, front man of Neon Indian, wore a black shirt with white polka dots, a black leather vest, black skinny jeans and white canvas shoes that all screamed rock and roll. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on January 18, 2010 at 3:48 pm, filed under Live and tagged Neon Indian, Schubas, Tomorrow Never Knows (TNK). Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Japandroids @ the Billiken Club 11/20/09
Photo by Katherine Cohen More on Flickr »
Japandroids’ Brian King, guitarist/vocalist, and David Prowse, drummer/vocalist, might not cross their t’s or dot their i’s, but in this new arena where less is more, they have come out on top. Minimalism is key, so save the convoluted, and cut to the chase. The formula is rigid: “Super easy chorus, super easy verse. You will know it in about 30 seconds” as King described his catalog when introducing a new song at the Billiken Club that will come out on a 7” early next year. It is always a beautiful thing when a band understands its own appeal. They never disappoint. Although the performance wasn’t flawless, they knew what they were doing, and they did it well. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on November 25, 2009 at 1:39 pm, filed under Live and tagged Japandroids, The Billiken Club. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Peter Bjorn and John @ The Gargoyle 11/13/09
Photo by Allegra Fisher More on Flickr »
Peter Morén, Björn Yttling, and John Eriksson must be the happiest indie rock group ever to earn pitchfork fame. They kicked off their Friday night show at the Gargoyle with a whistling contest to pick a guest star from the audience to accompany them on stage during “Young Folks,” the well-known crowd favorite. This playful game would forecast a jubilant mood for the coming show, which opened with a drawn-out and escalating intro to “Amsterdam.” This energy built by crescendo and back lighting would persist for the rest of the night. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on November 16, 2009 at 12:39 am, filed under Live and tagged Peter Bjorn and John, The Gargoyle. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.