Caught Peter Gabriel this past weekend at The Hollywood Bowl. Although the show was all orchestral, he rocked. The first part of the show featured a back-to-front performance of his all cover album SCRATCH MY BACK.
The second half was devoted to a lot of the songs you love… with a few exceptions. Yeah, I’m sure “Sledgehammer” would be hard to orchestrate but don’t we all love a challenge?
Actually it’s more like “how hard do I have to work?”
Nothing says “Friday Fun” like a graphic, especially one that’s kinda depressing, right?! Anyway, I found this and had to share.
Pretty sobering, especially when I think about how I’ll probably have to release my first feature solo and online. How I wish the ONE TOO MANY MORNINGS guys would release their data. I wonder how they’re doing.
I’m still recovering from my Coachella experience so let me be swift and let me be brutal
Day One
Yeasayer – Sounded great. Would love to check them out in a proper venue.
Ra Ra Riot – Much improved from their SXSW show, which was riddled with technical issues. Fell in love with the violinist, crushing hard on the cellist (who might have the best ass in indie rock)
The Specials – Sounded so good. Wish I would have checked them out longer but had to catch…
Passion Pit – Tons of fun but the lead singer needs vocal lessons… or the mix was way off but I doubt that because the second he sung falsetto (which is always) he was impossible to hear.
Vampire Weekend – Without a double my pick of the day. Last time they were nervous, stiff and out to prove themselves. This time they came to rock and boy did they.
Jay Z – So I can check that off the list. And now I love how Danger Mouse improved him even more.
Day Two
Camera Obscura – I was certain they’d wilt in the desert heat but they were surprisingly awesome.
White Rabbits – I wish these guys were surprisingly awesome but they’re young so I’ll cut them some slack.
The Big Pink – Way heavier than their album and I wish they weren’t. Still, worth checking out.
Gorillaz – Damon, get your ego out of your ass and stop boring me!
On a final note, the new “in/out” policy whereby people can enter the show, leave to go back to their car and then return, resulted in way more folk rolling. Christ, I saw a pack of fourteen year-old girls doing blow, in public no less. The whole event took on a different vibe.
Okay, I’m off the soapbox. Here are my pics.
One last note. This is my 500th post. I wasn’t sure if I was gonna go all Clark Boyd but I knew I wasn’t gonna go Brian Ibbott. Instead, let this marker stand as a good place to look back, then look forward.
Although I’m on what will most likely be my fourth 16-hour day in a row, I took a minute to check out the Coachella lineup and choose the acts I want to see. Here they be (they’re the ones that have been outlined).
A few posts ago I told you about a SXSW music torrent that contained 1,038 songs. I listened to all those songs and these are the 59 tracks that I found worthy of a second listen.
I just saved you over a day of listening. You’re welcome. So what do you think? Do you like/hate any of these?
First you should know that I go to festivals to see bands, not take photos. That said, I think I sometimes take some great photos but please, judge for yourself. Here are all the pics I took from SXSW. They’re not color corrected or cropped and all most all the time I was still trying to rock out so forgive the sloppiness.
Oh, I really need a great digital point-n-shoot with a zoom and a super fast lens. Recommendations?
My final day at SXSW started late but thanks to my friend, the beautiful & always stylish Kelly, I was able to see Ben Gibbard play the Stereogum party.
Man, this man and his band will always have space on my music shelf.
This was my second time seeing them but now I’m completely in love with Rachel Flotard. Why? First, she saw me singing along and mentioned it. Second, the set was awesome and she even took an off-the-cuff request from the audience. Third, she referenced both Winger and “Pigs in Space“. Seriously, Rachel, when you’re in LA drop me a line and I’ll take you out for a dinner.
Why these guys? Because I like their song from the 1,038 MP3 SXSW music sampler I told you about. What an added bonus that the lead singer is such a cutie.
Since they’re a new band and the lead singer was whining about having played so many shows at the festival (who didn’t?) all I’ll say is that I should have checked out Surfer Blood instead.
And finally I braved the cold night to witness Death.
They were awesome and if you don’t know their story you should listen to this NPR story. And obviously they’re my pick-of-the-day.
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And with the I say adios to SXSW. I hope to come back soon. LA, here I come.
BTW, the next stop on the Tony Music Express is Coachella!