CSS & Sleigh Bells @ First Ave

Hello loyal readers, I know it's been far too long since my last post. I promise to make up for it this summer by attending and reviewing as many shows as I can! Time and budget shall be my only limitations.

Anyhoo, I went to First Ave last night for the sold out CSS and Sleigh Bells show. I forgot it was all ages so my friend and I herded upstairs with the rest of the legal drinking age cattle. We got there in time to catch the end of the second opener, I believe called Neon Indian. It could have been Princeton though since I wasn't really paying attention.

CSS came on next, and totally blew me away. I already recognized a couple of their songs, but I fell in love with a few new ones. I thought the music was tight and well put together, the lyrics were straightforward, honest, and funny, and most importantly, their songs were super fun to dance to! The lead singer was an act all in her own right - she came onstage in boots, black pants, a red plaid shirt, and a black leather jacket, with a misfits-style face paint look going on. Super cool, right? Well it turned out the pants were tear-away, which were torn away to reveal jean shorts with a patterned pair of tights underneath. The jacket came off and the shirt beneath was longer than her jean shorts. Then, much to everyone's growing astonishment, she revealed not one but TWO other shirts underneath that one! She must have been sweltering in all those clothes. Plus, for the second to last song, she put on a pink flowery dress over her clothes and danced around with the zipper open and the dress falling off her arms. She even got down onto the floor with the crowd a couple times, and totally crowdsurfed. My friend called her "awesomely '90s" and I have to agree. They were absolutely amusing and kick ass. The drummer had his face painted too, and the keyboardguitarist was sporting a Sleigh Bells shirt. I love a female bassist so that was a nice touch. I honestly couldn't tell if the guitarist was a man or a woman - but s/he had kind of a fro-rat tail hair style going on, and was skinny but with toned arms. So bizarre but it totally fit! I love CSS. I can see why they're so tired of being sexy.

Then, after a prolonged break, Sleigh Bells came on stage to the opening strains of "Iron Man." Their stacks of speakers had a light show going on around them, and the fog was coming out hot and heavy from behind them. With the LOUD music (must've turned it up to 11), strobe lights, fog, heavy pot smoke, and light show, I was pissed that I didn't have any acid last night (joking of course). It would have been a whole different experience and to be frank, my senses were already close to overload with just some beer in me. To be honest, I wasn't impressed. They just danced around with backlighting for about 20 minutes and then they were done. The singer did some crowdsurfing too, which had totally already been done and seemed totally passe. CSS made it cool again when they joined SB on the stage at the very end of the show.

The lead mic needed to be higher because I couldn't understand a lot of what was being said or sung, and CSS totally should have been the headliners instead of Sleigh Bells. Those issues aside, it was a great show!

The Big Pink @ First Ave

Yes, I realize it's been a while since I last posted on a show. What can I say? Winter beat me into some kind of lazy submission. But Spring has finally come, and brings with it concerts anew! So I went to First Avenue last night to check out The Big Pink, which I couldn't get into when they came to the Entry. Sidenote: Big ups to Emi for hooking us up so sweet!!

The opening band, A Place to Bury Strangers, came on with a fog machine and light show. Their music seemed like a mix of The Editors (vocals) and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (music). Their music wasn't bad, but they had this irritating addiction to feedback, and used it to both begin and end every song. Literally - every song. Not necessary. Save me the noise cause I don't need it. The really strange thing about their show was that it was nearly impossible to see the band members performing, because they had an annoying light show going on, which precluded them from having any lights actually on them. I always thought the idea of going to see a band play was to, well, SEE THE BAND PLAY. Every once in a while we got a bright enough flash from their light show (kind of '80s now that I think about it) to see something on stage, and when that happened, I got to see how amazing their drummer was. His hands are crazy fast and that man knows how to rock a set of drums! He was definitely the highlight of the band. My friend described the light show and feedback squeals as the soundtrack to a "fucked up alien invasion" that could only mean "anal probes" were eminent. Yikes...

Now onto the Big Pink. I was so happy to see they were coming back after their last show sold out, and the singer gave Minneapolis some props for being a great city to come to. Naturally, as so many people in this town seem to have excellent taste in music (I am case in point of course). I'm not even sure how to describe the show, since for most of it I was having some kind of music-induced out of body experience. Of course, they saved "Dominos" for the last song, during which I think I actually reached a state of ecstasy. I transcended the physical reality of attending a show at First Ave and became one with the music. It was amazing. The surprise Smashing Pumpkins cover in the middle of the set was also a near-spiritual experience. If you get the chance to see this band, GO. Or at least check out their album, A Brief History of Love. As one major corporation would tell you, you're worth it.

Built to Spill @ First Avenue

Built to Spill played at First Avenue last Thursday the 24th, and needless to say, I was in attendance. The 5:30 doors confused me greatly, but I guess that's when an 18+ show starts these days. I can't remember that far back personally, so I'll have to assume that's the norm.

A band (from Sweden, according to a Facebook friend) called Disco Doom opened the show. I thought they were a good musical match to B2S, with jamming, flowing guitars, and interesting drums. I couldn't hear what they were singing, but maybe I wouldn't have understood anyway. The only thing that caught me up was the chick's haircut - I couldn't tell if she was old, or just needed a better 'do. I do not know what instrument was sitting on top of the box that looked surprised, and I suspect I never will. It looked to me like it was played in a similar manner to a crystal wine glass with water in it.

Of course, when Built to Spill came on, the energy picked up in the room. Unfortunately, I was *once again* directly in front of the screamers at the show. This time, they really really wanted them to play "Come Over." Finally I suggested to the guy next to me that they try "Shut Up." Everyone around us agreed. Doug Martsch told us later that they were changing up the setlist, and it was confirmed after the show that we all hoped it was so they would NOT play "Come Over."

Needless to say, the music was great, although I think the sound guys could have given Doug more on the mic. My favorites were scattered throughout the show, seeing as I didn't have the foresight to listen to every album the week beforehand (what a fool am I!). Pretty Little Miss, Time Trap, Carry the Zero... awesome. PLUS, I don't know if this is on an album or not, but they also played a version of "Oh! Sweet Nothin" that pretty much made my pants wet. It totally blew me away to hear a synthesis of two of my favorite bands in one amazing song.

The night was going perfectly until I had to dodge this crazy guy and then fell *up* the stairs. Not a great merch selection either, but it was still well worth it. If only they would play another Shamrock-type outdoor festival next summer - I think Doug's music travels best in fresh air.

Ani DiFranco @ First Avenue

So I went to my first Ani concert on Sunday the 20th. I am now one of the initiated. Apparently, she doesn't like people singing along with her. And her daughter turned 2 this year. I learned lots about her from my expert friend!

The opening band, Gregory Alan Isakov, was too folksy for my tastes, but Mr. Isakov sounded talented. The rest of his band was pretty much just backing up his singer-songwriter act. They were a good lead-in to Ani herself.

And then she was on stage, and the crowd went crazy! I'll admit that I'm not an Ani-head, and didn't know many of the songs she played, but the setlist definitely improved as she went on. The first third was okay, the second third (when she started playing "new stuff") was great, and then the rest of the show built into a crescendo of energy and (dare I say it) fun! I really enjoyed her new stuff, as much of it was political and not talking about babies or being lovesick. I was able to forgive the one song about her daughter - I figured she earned a free pass on that one.

If only we weren't standing between the two girls who wouldn't stop talking to their friends in their annoying, high-pitched voices, the concert would have been even better. I loved the Amazon woman who finally told them off though - she was ready to start a fight if they didn't shut up, which I would have happily bore witness to. She talked shit to the tall ass guy who stood right in front of where her friend had been (getting drinks) too. Righteous! I didn't expect the threat of violence at an Ani concert, but I didn't expect so many straight-looking women either. All in all, a great show - Ani's presence was magnetic and her playing was super energetic. Rock on!