At the Arcade Fire concert a few days ago, Jennifer
Rasmussen noted the frailty of human memory and how many special moments fade
away. No, I’m not depressed, but I
am impressed to write about some of the special concert moments from 2014. Ever since I left public accounting I
have found a great deal of time to do… well, anything. I’ve taken up photography (including
photoshop), read many books, even taken up surfing. More on these new hobbies in another post, but here is a
listing and discussion of how I spent some of my newly found time at concerts i've been blessed to have attended from the first part
of 2014.
Jan 17th
Colin Meloy (from The Decemberists), The Fillmore, San Francisco
I ended 2013 at the Fillmore with Jeff Tweedy so it was a
smooth transition into 2014. Colin
Meloy has a command of the English language, which leads to various fantastical
stories with lyrics containing such words as “palanquin” and “pachyderm” (and
that’s just one song “The Infanta”).
His performance and banter were genuinely humble and sweet. It was primarily an acoustic set
full of lively songs from throughout his career with the Decemberists. He ended with a pleasant cover of Every
Day is Like Sunday by Morrissey.
2. Oceanside
(The Kinks cover)
9. Honeydew
(new
song that may be on the next Decemberists album)
(new
song that may be on the next Decemberists album)
12.
On the Bus Mall
14.
A Case of You
(Joni Mitchell cover)
16.
The Crane Wife 3
17. Encore:
17.
Overkill
(Men at Work cover)
19.
Red Right Ankle
(Morrissey cover)
Feb 1st Transatlantic Orchestra at the Regency Ballroom San Francisco
My brother Matt treated dad and I to a show with one of his
favorite Prog bands Transatlantic Orchestra. It was a real trip with some complicated chord
progressions. One of the
highlights was seeing former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, a true
virtuoso.
·
2. My New World
3. Shine
4. Whirlwind Medley
4. Overture
(Abridged)
6. Evermore
(Abridged)
9.
9. Guitar Duet
(Morse and
Stolt)
11. Black as the Sky
12. Kaleidoscope
13. Encore:
13. All of the Above
(First half)
(Second half)
March 22nd Saint Vincent, Fox Theater Oakland
When I first heard Cruel, I knew that Saint Vincent gave off
a great energy all their own. This
was my first time visiting the Fox Theater and after they were finished I
realized that it was the perfect venue for them. It was from a bygone era yet it was absolutely grand in
scale and had an art deco feel.
She was completely comfortable on stage, laying down in dramatic fashion
for Prince Johnny. The light show
and dance routines were off the charts good with a highlight being a strobe
light that gave a stop-motion effect to the dance.
1. Rattlesnake
3. Cruel
5. Regret
8. Pieta
10.
Surgeon
11.
Cheerleader
12.
Prince Johnny
14.
Marrow
15.
Huey Newton
17.
Northern Lights
18. Krokodil
19. Encore:
19.
Strange Mercy
(Annie
Clark solo)
May 19th Ben Folds & the San Francisco
Symphony Orchestra, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
First time at the Davies Symphony Hall didn’t
disappoint. Ben Folds is a showman
like no other. Somehow all these
years later he can still be snarky, sarcastic, and yet completely
loveable. The full orchestra
sounds really brought a unique take on his classic material as well as a few
new stand outs like Picture Window.
His Concerto was very modern (re: he plucked and muted piano strings by
reaching into the piano to great effect and played in unusual time
signatures). He had us all
laughing and inspired to take in the Symphony more frequently.
1. Set 1 with San
Francisco Symphony
1. Effington
2. Smoke
(Ben Folds Five song)
3. Jesusland
6. Landed
(Ben Folds Five song)
9. Set 2 with San
Francisco Symphony
9. Zak and Sara
10.
Cologne
11.
Annie Waits
12.
Luckiest
13.
Not the Same
14.
Brick
(Ben Folds Five song)
(Ben Folds Five song)
16.
Narcolepsy
(Ben Folds Five song)
17. Encore:
17.
Army
(Ben Folds Five song)
May 30th & May 31st Bottlerock,
Nappa Valley
Friday:
Got a chance to go to my first music festival this
year. I’ll only talk about a few
highlights since there were a lot of bands. It was very 90’s-tastic.
The Cure
Robert Smith rocked the house. The Cure has been a staple in my family and we even played a
few songs in the band so it was a thrill to finally see them (it was fun
thinking of all the cues our family had to maneuver through the songs like Just
Like Heaven or Friday I’m in Love).
As you can see below, they played a huge set for a festival. In fact, it was worth the entire price
of admission just for them. Close
your eyes and it was like being in the late eighties and early nineties
again.
3. alt.end
(First
time since 2009)
5. Lovesong
7. Push
10.
Catch
11.
Before Three
(First
time since 2004)
13.
Pictures of You
14.
Lullaby
15.
High
16.
Never Enough
(First
time since 2008)
17.
Wrong Number
18.
The Caterpillar
19.
The Walk
20.
Mint Car
23.
Bananafishbones
24.
Want
25.
The Hungry Ghost
27.
Give Me It
28. Encore:
28.
A Forest
29. Encore 2:
29.
The Lovecats
30.
Hot Hot Hot!!!
31.
Let's Go to Bed
32.
Freakshow
33.
Close to Me
TV on The Radio, Mayer Hawthorn and the Gin Blossoms were
also fun on Friday.
Saturday:
Weezer
These guys make me happy. Not only great memories that link me back to being a
teenager, they played a few newer songs with a great energy and vibe only they
can project. As a special note, I
bought my surf board just weeks before the concert and I was extra happy during
Surf Wax America J. Lastly, Song 2 by Blur? Nice touch Rivers.
2. Hash Pipe
4. Troublemaker
7. Dope Nose
11.
Pork and Beans
(Scott
sings part of Primus' … more)
12.
Photograph
(Rivers
and Patrick switch instruments)
13.
Song 2
(Blur cover) (Rivers
and Patrick switch instruments)
14. Encore:
15.
Buddy Holly
Third Eye Blind and Outkast had fun sets on Saturday.
July 5th Bernstein, Gershwin, Ravel, San Francisco
Symphony Orchestra, Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco
So Ben Folds really did sell me on coming back to the
Symphony as often as I can.
So the return trip included
a breathtaking performance of West Side Story (complete with snapping and “mambo”),
a jazzed up Rhapsody in Blue and a euphoric buildup of Bolero. It was inspiring in the way inspired is
supposed to mean. Can't wait till the next one!
July 9th Steely Dan, The Mountain Winery,
Saratoga CA
Got a chance to go with my dad to the Mountain Winery for
the first time. The beautiful
vineyards overlooked the bay.
It’s a very relaxed place to enjoy some of most well written songs with
one cool dad. Steely Dan still
oozes cool.
1. Cubano Chant
(Ray
Bryant cover - Band Only)
2. Black Cow
3. Aja
4. Hey Nineteen
(w/
Walter Becker Rap)
6. Black Friday
10.
Dirty Work
(Sung
by Cindy Mizelle)
11.
Bodhisattva
(Sung
by Walter Becker)
13.
Babylon Sisters
(Joe Tex cover)
15.
Josie
16.
Peg
17.
My Old School
19. Encore:
19.
Kid Charlemagne
(Nelson Riddle cover)
July 19th The Aquabats, Regency Ballroom, San
Francisco
Change of pace here, it’s the Aquabats! Now, this wasn’t the most intricate or
delecate rock or high brow orchestra but I dare you not to have a silly grin on
your face while watching these guys perform. They have been around an amazing 20 years and have developed
an Emmy-winning TV show where they run around and save the day. Its like watching a projection from the
mind of a 9 year old. Even if you
never heard of them, take a look at the titles of the songs below and you’ll
get an idea of what it was like.
The TV show inspired many under the age of 10 to attend the
concert. A bunch of the young lads
even took the stage at the end 2 of them crowdsurfed on a blow up Whale and
Shark to the rear of the venue and back.
5. Burger Rain!
10.
Doing Science!
11.
Magic Chicken!
13.
Pizza Day!
14.
Super Rad!
15.
Hey Homies!
16. Encore:
16.
Red Sweater!
17.
Fashion Zombies!
18.
Suburban Home
(Descendents cover)
19.
Pool Party!
July 30th Arcade Fire, Shoreline Amphitheater,
Mountain View
I’m still in awe of this performance. It was theatrical in the best possible
way. They started off with a
power-punk rendition of Devo’s Uncontrollable Urge which got everybody up
dancing… we never sat back down. The
music was perfect with a set list that pleased long time fans as well as those
who loved the new album. During
Here Comes The Night Time there was a huge explosion of confetti and streamers
which was very representative of the elevated mood.
(DEVO cover)
2. Reflektor
5. Joan of Arc
6. The Suburbs
10.
We Exist
11.
We Used to Wait
12.
No Cars Go
13.
Haïti
14.
Afterlife
(Régine
on B-stage)
('Damian
Taylor Remix' intro)
17. Encore:
16.
The Power of Love
(Huey Lewis and
the News song) (Fake band on stage)
17.
Normal Person
18.
Hey Tonight
(Creedence
Clearwater Revival cover)
20.
Wake Up
August 1st Real Estate, The Fillmore, San
Francisco
Back to The Fillmore… Real Estate’s new album is beautiful
full of expert guitar work. Its as
if there is a conversation between the 2 guitars and the singer. It’s hard to define why, but it doesn’t
feel like a harmony but more like dueling leads. While the lyrics are all pretty melancholy and have the
recurring theme of growing old (sort of in line with my impending third life
crisis), the songs themselves are very relaxed and chill. Whitney mentioned that she could
imagine them being played to her while lounging around a pool. Sounds like a plan…
1. All The Same
2. Crime
3. Past Lives
4. Municipality
5. Easy
6. April's Song
7. Beach Comber
8. It's Real
9. The Bend
10.
Horizon
11.
Primitive
14.
He's Gone
(Grateful Dead
Cover)
15.
Had To Hear
16. Encore:
17.
Kinder Blumen
18.
Green Aisles
You make me look like a slacker!
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