Okay okay I'll just get started.
Bon Iver
Uhh helloooo wow. First of all, the Orpheum is gorgeous. It's got that going for it automatically. Second of all, Bon Iver rocks my socks off. So talk about a good combination. Oh and the fact that my seats were in the FRONT ROW. That has never happened. It's actually a sort of funny story too.
So I waited in line at the on-sale in June. They went on sale at 12 noon, I got there around 10:30am. I thought for sure there would be a TON of people. But I was about 30th in line. And since they were scheduled for two nights, that made me about 15th in line. It was fun waiting, I always have fun waiting at on-sales. I think it's exciting. Oh and I get a little pissed off like at Taylor Swift when there were MEN there who were OBVIOUSLY scalpers just looking to make a pretty penny. I may have already ranted about that. Okay, anyway. So this one was fun, I made friends with some.. hmm 15 year olds? They were two boys, best friends, and adorably so into music. We had a great conversation about Fleet Foxes and Death Cab for Cutie. And The Decemberists.
So the minute they go on sale, people start getting really tense. We're so serious about "Hurry up! There's an open window! Come on!" .. and then 5 seconds after you have your tickets you breathe a huge sigh of relief. Or disappointment I suppose. But this was awesome, I said "2 of the best you've got." and the guy's like.. do do do.... 3rd row! And I said HOLY SH** can I get two more?? He said sure.. do do doo.... 4th row! I just about died. Just about. I think I jumped up and down a few times. I tend to get animated. And only strangers get to partake since I do on-sales by myself. Prime people-watching.
So I got out and called my best friend and freaked out on the phone for a while. We decided two of our friends could have the other two tickets. We knew a handful of people going to so we made a night of it.
But here's the kicker.. tickets in the first 10 rows have to be picked up at will call, so these past months I've not known exactly where our seats would be. We get there on Wednesday for the show and the lady hands them to me.. and it says Row 1 ...
So I saw Bon Iver from the front row. It was my first time ever seeing anything from the front row. (and I thought Taylor Swift from the 5th row was good.. hellooo).
Bon Iver was unbelievable. 9 people. Piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, 4 types of saxophone, 2 violins, 1 clarinet, 2 drummers, 1 percussionist with a whole slew of things to play as instruments, including beatboxing.
I'm having a hard time coming up with words to describe it. It was incredible. I closed my eyes to take a mental soul picture of it so I would never forget the experience. It sounded so amazing, and it was hard to believe it was all being played right in front of me.
Not sure how I'm supposed to write about other shows after that one... but I'll try.
Rocky Votolato
He's one of my favorite singer-songwriters. Back in.. hmm 2005ish, the guy I was dating at the time heard White Daisy Passing on the radio (which interestingly enough I have heard only maybe once on the radio since) and told me about it.. he said "Some Rocky .. guy." Got his discography and loved it. I've seen him... 5 times now I think. Last April I saw him twice in one week.. once in the cities and then in Washington DC. Last time was October at the Triple Rock. But I've always only seen him acoustic. Which is really my preference. It's like Dashboard Confessional.. if only Chris Carrabba would come to his senses and continue to make music like The Swiss Army Romance.. but I digress.
Anyway, this time Rocky had a band with him. And I liked it.. however, it was at the Entry, and that's.. I don't know. Just not the venue for him. Not sure T-rock was either. But.. maybe the Fine Line. Anyway, the crowd liked him but they might have been there more for the headliner. But I had a good number of people standing around me singing along too.
He did this thing where he let fans pick his playlist for the tour. We voted. (Of course I voted, come on, let's be real.) So he played lots of the goodies. Specifically my faves, White Daisy Passing, Makers, Portland is Leaving, Red River, etc. etc. Go get his tunes, you will looooove them. Well, if you know what's good for you, you will.
(there was a girl with big hair obstructing the picture. obviously.)
Matt Pond PA
Never had heard him before.. but this was the headliner that Rocky opened for. I only stayed for a few songs because I was heading to another show, but WOW. He was really my gig. (I've started saying "That's not really my gig." if I don't like something.. dunno where that came from.) I'm bummed I didn't stay longer but I had to get to the next show I'll write about. But tonight I downloaded his discography and wow. I really really love it. Acousticy, pianoy, shaker, pleasant voice. Sounds like a recipe for LOVE.
Koo Koo Kangaroo
FUN, sweaty sweaty fun as always. Grown-up dance party. Fantastic. When else can I sing about which sections of the alphabet I love, or what my favorite color is, or how much I want to be a pirate, or which dinosaur I like best? If you haven't been to one of their shows, you owe it to yourself to go. Oh and you get to do the hokey pokey, but it's called Shake Yo Foot. It's a blast. Their new album comes out on Tuesday and is pay-what-you-want. (which I love that people are doing these days, what a cool idea.)
Halloween, Alaska
We Are the Willows and Communist Daughter opened. I'd never seen either and liked We Are the Willows a lot. It's the lead singer who used to lead sing for Red Fox Grey Fox.
Halloween, Alaska was great as always. Great crowd, great vibe. I'm not super familiar with their music, but the lyrics that I do know are really good. Yet another example of fantastic local music.
Okay so that's the skinny from this past week. Now onto homework and maybe icing my legs after biking the Urban Assault Ride today.. cheers!
Current song: Matt Pond PA - Remains
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