What a year for concerts! I only had plans for one concert going into 2012 but things kept turning up and it ended up being the greatest concert year ever.
I wrote a post a while back in the beginning of 2011 that included ALL of the concerts I had been to previously. Yup, I didn't get a chance to go to any concerts until after my mission. 2012 was a good year of catching up. Going to a show is great on so many levels, the music and seeing your favorite artists is an obvious one. But bringing a friend, family member or a lovely lady brings it up several notches (hope to bring one that accomplishes all those in one shot some day :). This year was full of all those notches indeed! (though names will not be included here to protect the innocent)
Started with a bang in January with Wilco in San Jose. My favorite band in a smaller venue was nice. Hearing all the new songs from The Whole Love made that album skyrocket in my appreciation of it. Art Of Almost with all its bombastic glory, The Whole Love with its upbeat catchy hooks, and One Sunday Morning with its masterful and heartbreaking lyrics (the link is to a nice live version). Yup, the new stuff is gold!
I also experienced my first concert alone in 2012, mainly because I wasn't sure I had anyone that would want to go, and it was kind of expensive (though I later came to find out a few awesome souls that went). RADIOHEAD, oh man, that was an transcendent experience. So maybe i'm overhyping this, but I hadn't seen them before and they truly were the band that I went to see. Visually stunning, sonically complex and very true to their source material, a huge set list... it was hard to take everything in. The Kid A stuff floored me, but the In Rainbows and The King Of Limbs stuff was fascinating to see performed live. 2 drummers? yup. Thom Yorke crooning? yes again. Twas worth every penny.
Somewhere around April I had the chance to see Mr. Ben Kweller. I've been following this fella since Sha Sha (which i giggled when he played it) came out when I was in High School. His brand of slacker american folk rock is a lot of fun. His newer stuff isn't as amazing as the old, but he had a lot of energy and it was cool to see him in a small venue in San Francisco. On a side note, Sleeper Agent opened up for him and they had a ton of fun energy.
OK, so I was invited to see The Beach Boys during the summer... Twice! The first one was at Berkeley where they played an incredibly long set... seriously, i think they played ALL their hits, which is saying something considering its the Beach Boys! The second time was in Provo for the fourth of July Celebration "Stadium of Fire". Thy played all their major hits and it was fun to here that slice of Americana on the Fourth. These guys are old, but man, the voices were still there. Don't Worry Baby has been, is, and likely will remain one of my favorite songs of all time... of all time! I'm excited to play 4 songs from them with my family for new years... the only problem is i want to sing every part :)
Next up, Wilco again! love these guys, and they love the Bay Area enough to come a few times in 2012. -Insert many of the same accolades from the first show here- They played a lot of their older stuff this round since they played a two night show in Berkeley. While I love the newer stuff more, even that more traditional sound is fantastic. Love me some Alt-Country. (oh yeah, the opener was hilarious, and crazy... don't remember his name though)
Mark Knopfler and Bob Dylan... so my adventures at the Greek Theater continued with my dad. Mark (of Dire Straights fame) played his signature guitar style. Its so uniquely his that even if you never had heard the song, you know its him. My dad's a huge fan so it was that much more fun. Mr. Dylan's voice is pretty well gone now... but not his style. He went around stage and grabbed seemingly random instruments, played perfectly, sang with all the beauty of Tom Waits and reinvented all his classic songs with this new style. Great father-son bonding time :)
I had the opportunity to go to the Bridge School Benefit concert. This was my first concert "festival". Neil Young has been hosting this concert at Shoreline in Mountain View for a number of years and a ton of big acts come. It goes from about 4ish into the night. The whole event is acoustic, which proved fun for bands like Foster The People and The Flaming Lips who normally have a lot of sonic engineering in their recordings (both did fantastic, Flaming Lips [best in show award] did a few songs from Yoshimi and ended on A Day in The Life... yup they went there). Sarah McLachlan sounded as good as she ever has, Guns And Roses were fun, Niel Young Himself rocked out, Jack White had a lot of energy and even did Hotel Yorba :) Eddie Vedar made a surprise appearance and did a small set. I know i'm probably missing a few of the bands, but all in all it was a fantastic little festival!
Lady Antebellum, MC Hammer, Will.I.Am? yup, thats how I ended my 2012 concert experience. Let me tell you the tale. So my dad's boss John Thompson and the CEO of Salesforce donate to each others' charities. Salesforce has an annual benefit concert to help out a children's hospital. Since John donated a sizable amount, we had floor seats about 3 or 4 rows back (actually couches with tables and free food/wine with waiters... this was crazy!) The evening started out with a hilarious comedy routine with Dana Carvey (Garth, the church lady, etc.). Then Colin Powell came out (you can't make this stuff up) and gave an award to one of the brave kids from the hospital. Lady Antebellum then performed a set (i actually had never heard of them since they aren't really my genre, but they were talented indeed). After the concert we had tickets to an after party in San Francisco's City Hall. The whole place was rented out and there was fancy food, and fancy people all around. The pictures are in one of my facebook albums... as i said in one of the captions, I felt like that this gala event was going to be interrupted by the Joker and batman would have to save the day. In one of the rooms there were two DJ's mixing up a bunch of dance songs. Yes, this was MC Hammer and Will.I.AM. It was fascinating seeing how they did the mixing. Its an art form of some sort. Anyways, this was an evening to be remembered (unlike most Thursdays nights)
Well besides our family band performances that was it for this year. (we did REM's its the end of the world as we know it a few days ago and have 20+ songs ready to go for New Years Eve!)
Life's good,
All my Love,
-James
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Thursday, December 27, 2012
2012: Or how I learned to stop worrying and listen to the music
Dearly Beloved
We are here today to celebrate the sonic pleasures of 2012. Oh I had toyed with the idea of only focusing on songs as the trend of full albums becomes "obsolete". Luckily, there are a few records that are fighting against the dying of the light. First I present the runners up for album of the year (in no particular order):
Divine Fits: "A Thing Called Divine Fits". So I first was a little wary that Brit Daniels of "Spoon" fame was focusing his time on a side project. Spoon's last album won my 2010 music in review post's album of the year so I wanted more of that. Luckily this side project had a few classics that would fit right in with Spoon's groove. Flaggin a Ride, Would That Not Be Nice and The Salton Sea are standout tracks.
POP ETC: So I discovered these guys on Soundcloud with "Halfway to Heaven". I loved the song but figured they wouldn't have anything else. When I got around to listening to their album, my ears were overjoyed and I grinned a lot during this and subsequent listenings. "YOYO" might be my guiltiest pleasure of the year. It really makes me smile... its so delightfully cheesy 80's pop with ridiculous studio quality and power hooks. I dare say it's my top song of 2012 just because it makes me so happy. BTW this album got TERRIBLE reviews... also, their previous band "The Morning Benders" have a lot of good stuff to check out too.
Django Django: "Django Django" So this one came out of nowhere. All of the sudden, "Default" started to take over my radio. I was totally ok with this. It was a bombastic, tight, perfectly crafted piece that is over the top catchy. Even the opener "Hail Bop" was fantastic and upbeat despite its reference to the famous comet. This is an album that will put a smile on your face.
Washed Out: Before you indie nerds call me out, yes I know I discovered these guys late, hence their inclusion in 2012's list. (I work in public accounting, its hard to keep up with the kids these days) But to not do so would be a great injustice to my 2012 musical experience. I might have gotten into Portlandia this year too, (again, late to the party) and "Feel it all around" is the opening theme. These guys are chill wave, and i'm ok with that. Its very interesting music, yet very relaxing. Check out "Eyes Be Closed" and "Echos" from their 2011 LP. In the same-out-2012 vain, Empire of The Sun's "Walking on a Dream" came out in 2009 and reached the top of the charts...in australia? Yup, its fantastic all the way through and is cheesy amazing powerpop!
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: "Mature Themes". OK, no judging me ok, this album deals with mature themes indeed! I couldn't help thinking this was a spiritual successor to Of Montreal's Skeletal Lampings" in that effect. But here me out, "Only in My Dreams" and "Mature Themes" are some of the finest Kinks songs of this generation. For that alone, this album is a classic of 2012.
Chromatics: "Kill for Love". They had me with their cover of Neil Young's "Into the Black" and kept me with this album along with the song "I'm on Fire". Her voice is nice. Sometimes thats enough :)
Group Love: "Never Trust A Happy Song" So this is another 2012 classic from 2011. This was my summer album. They had me started with Itchin on a Photograph, but then the hits kept coming! Tongue Tied made it onto my sisters birthday mix, but that easily could have been "Lovely Cup" and "Naked Kids" I kind of liken this album as a spiritual successor to The Blue Album... yup, Weezer's masterpiece. Its just that fun! (For similar summer fun, check out Sleeper Agents "Love Blood")
Wild Nothing: "Nocturne" Another somewhat chill wave band, these guys kind of filled in the gap "Girls" left when they broke up this year. Kind of a soft, soothing rock that is very well musically written. Key tracks are "Midnight Song", "This Chain Won't Break" and "Paradise" (which is pretty 80's inspired)
Dum Dum Girls: "End Of Days" I call it here first, this would have been my album of the year if it was an Album! This lil EP has 5 songs, all amazing. I remember one night a couple of months ago when I listened to Trees and Flowers over and over again. I turned it up as loud as I could take it, so gorgeous I could hardly take it all in. Season in Hell and Lord Knows are other standouts. For old school Dum Dum Girls, check out Coming Down.
And the winner is: Beach House: "Bloom". Again, this be the year of chill wave. The reason Bloom stood above the rest is simple, the album is All Killer, No Filler. Like the Sum 41 reference suggests, every song is delightfully dreamy with not a one killing the mood. Its consistant fun, with seemingly simple but deceptively complex hooks. Although I've not fallen in love with all their older (and still very critically well received) albums, I do believe this one is a masterpiece. Wishes Lazuli Myth Wild
See my Spotify playlist "Cool Stuff I don't Have Yet" for all that goodness, or if you want to cut to the best, just see my starred playlist!
This was also a great year for concerts, but thats another story...
We are here today to celebrate the sonic pleasures of 2012. Oh I had toyed with the idea of only focusing on songs as the trend of full albums becomes "obsolete". Luckily, there are a few records that are fighting against the dying of the light. First I present the runners up for album of the year (in no particular order):
Divine Fits: "A Thing Called Divine Fits". So I first was a little wary that Brit Daniels of "Spoon" fame was focusing his time on a side project. Spoon's last album won my 2010 music in review post's album of the year so I wanted more of that. Luckily this side project had a few classics that would fit right in with Spoon's groove. Flaggin a Ride, Would That Not Be Nice and The Salton Sea are standout tracks.
POP ETC: So I discovered these guys on Soundcloud with "Halfway to Heaven". I loved the song but figured they wouldn't have anything else. When I got around to listening to their album, my ears were overjoyed and I grinned a lot during this and subsequent listenings. "YOYO" might be my guiltiest pleasure of the year. It really makes me smile... its so delightfully cheesy 80's pop with ridiculous studio quality and power hooks. I dare say it's my top song of 2012 just because it makes me so happy. BTW this album got TERRIBLE reviews... also, their previous band "The Morning Benders" have a lot of good stuff to check out too.
Django Django: "Django Django" So this one came out of nowhere. All of the sudden, "Default" started to take over my radio. I was totally ok with this. It was a bombastic, tight, perfectly crafted piece that is over the top catchy. Even the opener "Hail Bop" was fantastic and upbeat despite its reference to the famous comet. This is an album that will put a smile on your face.
Washed Out: Before you indie nerds call me out, yes I know I discovered these guys late, hence their inclusion in 2012's list. (I work in public accounting, its hard to keep up with the kids these days) But to not do so would be a great injustice to my 2012 musical experience. I might have gotten into Portlandia this year too, (again, late to the party) and "Feel it all around" is the opening theme. These guys are chill wave, and i'm ok with that. Its very interesting music, yet very relaxing. Check out "Eyes Be Closed" and "Echos" from their 2011 LP. In the same-out-2012 vain, Empire of The Sun's "Walking on a Dream" came out in 2009 and reached the top of the charts...in australia? Yup, its fantastic all the way through and is cheesy amazing powerpop!
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti: "Mature Themes". OK, no judging me ok, this album deals with mature themes indeed! I couldn't help thinking this was a spiritual successor to Of Montreal's Skeletal Lampings" in that effect. But here me out, "Only in My Dreams" and "Mature Themes" are some of the finest Kinks songs of this generation. For that alone, this album is a classic of 2012.
Chromatics: "Kill for Love". They had me with their cover of Neil Young's "Into the Black" and kept me with this album along with the song "I'm on Fire". Her voice is nice. Sometimes thats enough :)
Group Love: "Never Trust A Happy Song" So this is another 2012 classic from 2011. This was my summer album. They had me started with Itchin on a Photograph, but then the hits kept coming! Tongue Tied made it onto my sisters birthday mix, but that easily could have been "Lovely Cup" and "Naked Kids" I kind of liken this album as a spiritual successor to The Blue Album... yup, Weezer's masterpiece. Its just that fun! (For similar summer fun, check out Sleeper Agents "Love Blood")
Wild Nothing: "Nocturne" Another somewhat chill wave band, these guys kind of filled in the gap "Girls" left when they broke up this year. Kind of a soft, soothing rock that is very well musically written. Key tracks are "Midnight Song", "This Chain Won't Break" and "Paradise" (which is pretty 80's inspired)
Dum Dum Girls: "End Of Days" I call it here first, this would have been my album of the year if it was an Album! This lil EP has 5 songs, all amazing. I remember one night a couple of months ago when I listened to Trees and Flowers over and over again. I turned it up as loud as I could take it, so gorgeous I could hardly take it all in. Season in Hell and Lord Knows are other standouts. For old school Dum Dum Girls, check out Coming Down.
And the winner is: Beach House: "Bloom". Again, this be the year of chill wave. The reason Bloom stood above the rest is simple, the album is All Killer, No Filler. Like the Sum 41 reference suggests, every song is delightfully dreamy with not a one killing the mood. Its consistant fun, with seemingly simple but deceptively complex hooks. Although I've not fallen in love with all their older (and still very critically well received) albums, I do believe this one is a masterpiece. Wishes Lazuli Myth Wild
See my Spotify playlist "Cool Stuff I don't Have Yet" for all that goodness, or if you want to cut to the best, just see my starred playlist!
This was also a great year for concerts, but thats another story...
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