Category Archives: Bands

Oct8

Tommy & The High Pilots – Springfield, MO: The Outland 10-7-12

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Band: Tommy & The High Pilots

Venue: The Outland

Location: Springfield, MO

Tickets: $3

Date: 10-7-12

Tommy & The High Pilots

Tommy & The High Pilots at The Outland Ballroom. From left to right: Steve Libby, Matt Palermo and Tom Cantillon.

First, I’d like to say that I am not stalking this band.  It’s their own fault for (a) playing near enough that I can see them frequently and (b) inspiring manic enthusiasm in their fans.

Second, if you weren’t at The Outland last night, you missed a great show.  As a wonderful surprise, The High Pilots actually played last and it was worth the wait.

Shall I count the ways?

Their song selection was spot on, as usual (though I really need to remember to request “The Limit” next time…haven’t seen that song performed since last November).  They had a mix of covers, old stuff and new stuff.  They’ve got a knack for playing sweetly moving songs then sweet songs designed to make you move.

I’ve decided to give you a retelling of the concert.  In this story, you are me but I’m not you.  Because I like being me and you will too.  Here’s how it was:

While you’re savoring the last few strains of “Stand By Me,” the bands opening number, they move onto “Round N Round,” and it is impossible to keep still.

Your blood’s pumping, you’re smiling at Tom’s antics and they start playing “On The Line.”  You look around at the audience and you see a couple of their fans closing their eyes and swaying to the music.  Then you laugh when Tom introduces “Bluesy Floozy” as a song about a bitch who was a floozy.

They announce they’re going to play something new.  You’re excited and scared.  What happens is wonderful.  They play a song called “Broken Down.”  It’s sad and beautiful and you’re mad at yourself for not recording the song so you can listen to it until your iPhone tells you it’s time to move on (then you find the song on YouTube, so you don’t worry about it).  Then it’s cover time.

“This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” by the Talking Heads.  Tom’s voice is exactly right for the song.  It’s a moment of clarity and the bar seems to be a little quieter.  Except for the girl standing behind you.  She’s a bit noisy.  Talking at a concert in front of the stage seems like a weird place to talk, but maybe the band can’t hear her.

Tom announces that it’s another new song.  You peeked at Mike’s setlist so you’d be prepared for this song.  Because this song has been haunting you for weeks.  You record “Devil To Pay” and proceed to listen to nothing but that song for the next day and a half.  You also notice when watching the video that Tom definitely noticed the talkative girl.  He shushes and gently chastises her.  This has no effect.

They play another new song.  “Here In My Hands.”  You’re impressed with it, but know that it will take a few more listens before you can fully absorb it.  The excitement of “Devil To Pay” hasn’t worn off yet.

Then it’s time for a real crowd-pleaser.  Matt comes to the front of the stage, and they start on “Lorraine.”  This song is about a prostitute.  You cheerfully belt out the chorus and demand to know where your money’s gone.  In this case, the answer’s the merch table.

Then they conclude with their most famous song.  “Where To Start” takes you through troubling times, with the lesson that being in love is enough.  You smile at that message and are delighted that the audience seems to know this song.  You’ve all got this.

But wait!  There’s time for an encore!  They whip out a U2 cover of “Desire.”  Tom comes down into the audience (not a terribly crowded one, but it’s still great) and the bar really gets into the song.  Tom sits down in the middle of it, and chats with us.  It was an energetic and well-executed cover that still sounded like The High Pilots.  That is the sign of a great cover.

Then the concert is over.  You snag a setlist, talk to the band members, buy another shirt (because 4 wasn’t enough…you needed 5) and tell them goodbye.  You get hugs from everyone, excitedly hear that the new album is tentatively scheduled to be released at the end of February and walk out of the venue, pleased with the way this evening has gone.

The end.

Okay.  Here’s the scoop.  It was a great show, even if the turnout was small.  This band deserves a huge audience with people lined up to see them.  They’re worth it.  I’ll support them always because  I love their music and they will always deliver.  They keep getting better, they’re great guys and I’m positive you should never play pool with them for money.

Tommy & The High Pilots

The setlist for the evening and my new shirt.

And, now that I took you through the entire concert, I’ll give you the score:

Concert: A

Venue: A

Drink Prices: A-

Audience: C+*

Overall: A

  *As mentioned previously, a girl was talking THROUGH THE ENTIRE CONCERT.  It’s one thing to talk at the bar or the back of the room, but she was close enough to the stage that the band heard her.  They tried to get her to stop.  She refused.  To this girl, I have a message:

I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you never come back to a High Pilots show, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you do, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will spill a drink on you.

Feb13

Los Campesinos! – Los Angeles, CA: The Echoplex 2-11-12

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Band: Los Campesinos!

Venue: The Echoplex

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Tickets: $16

Date: 2-11-2012

Everyone who knows me or has read this blog knows how much I was looking forward to this concert. I mean, the planets had to align for me to even get there. But it happened. And I have stories.

First, like I told you all weeks ago, it’s always better to go to a concert with someone you like.

Ashley, one of my best friends, and myself at the Los Campesinos! concert.

Yeah. It was a good call to go with her. We navigated LA and got to the concert just as Parenthetical Girls were going on. First, I’d like to say that Parenthetical Girls were amazing. Words fail to describe how excited I am to start listening to them in earnest. Here’s a sample.

But I digress.

So, we get to the concert, and I see Robert at the merch table. My thoughts went something like this: “OH MY GAWD, THAT’S ROBERT!!!” I like to think I was a good dealer calmer when I went and asked him if he would sign my shirt.

I slapped it on the table, and Robert saw the Allyson’s Setlist scrawled across it. He recognized it. He recognized me. Excuse me while I shriek. We chitchatted, mostly because I wouldn’t let him go.

My shirt signed by many talented folks. There are 6 new signatures added...can you spot them?

Robert, Neil, Kim, Ellen, Tom and Jason all signed it. Isn’t it great?

And guess what? Neil, Ellen and Jason all recognized me too. Granted, this probably means I’m vaguely stalkerish with them on Twitter, but I choose to think they don’t mind it.

Gareth, unfortunately, was in the back. He wasn’t feeling great, but his performance didn’t show it. So. On to the goods.

The concert was fantastic. We were close to the front, so we saw all the action.

Gareth, Ellen and Kim from Los Campesinos! Also, some random kid's head.

It’s a little blurry, but I think that makes it charming. When listening to Los Campesinos!, I’m often struck by the excitement and depth I get from the songs. Their performances live do their music justice. Gareth engages with the audience through his gestures. Example:

“Though said with hand in pockets, I mean it hand on heart. You held a gun to his head, pressed your thumbs to her throat in these letters.” (“Letters From Me to Charlotte”)

Gareth actually acts it out. And it’s completely wonderful. Of course, Kim helps by holding her hand to Gareth’s head in the shape of a gun. She’s nice that way. Of course, Kim talks to the audience in a different way. She does it with her eyes and the way she’s singing. Gareth’s fairly stoic. Kim’s not. It makes for such a cool combination.

Tom makes the guitar sound like every guitar should wish it sounded, and Ellen is somewhere behind Tom and Kim, playing bass and looking like the sort of person I always hoped I’d grow up to be. Seriously, I cannot stress how cool that lady is.

Robert Campesinos!

We were right in front of Robert, and that was a wonderful place to be. He was so involved and man, he was playing all sorts of instruments. Seriously, I think he was constantly switching. It was impressive.

I’m giving you snippets, but what I really want to say about that concert is this: I was in a crowd of a few hundred people with sweat pouring down my face and back, I was standing for a few hours, I kept getting pushed around by the other people in the crowd, and I didn’t care. This concert was the most energetic and all-consuming I’d ever been to. After every song, Gareth would say “Thanks a lot” in a sweetly self-deprecating kind of way (which is how a lot of the lyrics he writes comes across). You’d swear he was shy if you didn’t see him on stage and watch him settle in. At one point, he came into the audience and we ate it up.

One person tried to banter with him, but Gareth shut him down by saying it was his turn with the mic. People were crowd surfing, and Gareth said that was the longest anyone had ever stayed up at one of their concerts.

Everyone was crazed and in the moment. It was what I imagine winning at life feels like.

Neil Campesinos!, myself and Robert Campesinos!

Oh, and they’re all as nice as they look and sound. When I got Kim to sign my shirt, I called her by name. She introduced herself before realizing that I had called her by name. I told her I was a little creepy, and she responded:

“It’s not creepy for you. There was this guy the other night and I said, ‘I’m Kim.’ He said, ‘I know.’ Why would you say that? Why wouldn’t you just stay quiet?”

I held Neil’s beer for him while he signed my shirt, and he called me “Tweety Allyson.” Not that I Tweet them a lot, or anything…

They were nice, charming and well practiced in dealing with fans of my ilk. I hope I wasn’t too off putting for them.

In conclusion, they were wonderful and beautiful and I plan on seeing them whenever I get the chance. And meeting Gareth is on my list of things to do. You all should probably send your pity his way.

One more thing before I give you the score. I actually scribbled down the songs as they were being played, giving me an accurate setlist for the concert. Here it is. Enjoy.

“By Your Hand”

“Romance Is Boring”

“Death To Los Campesinos!”

“Life Is A Long Time”

“Letters From Me To Charlotte”

“Songs About Your Girlfriend”

“There Are Listed Buildings”

“We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed”

“Straight In At 101″

“To Tundra”

“You! Me! Dancing!”

“The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future”

“Hello Sadness”

“Baby I Got The Death Rattle”

Encore:

“Miserabilia”

“Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks”

And now it is officially time for the grade:

Concert: A+

Venue: A+

Drink Prices: A+

Audience: A*

Overall: A+

*The only reason the audience doesn’t get a perfect score is because of the random short stocky guy standing next to me. I’ve never been driven to elbow someone before, but homeboy was asking for it. He kept shoving me in an attempt to get in front of me. DON’T NOBODY COME BETWEEN ME AND THE BAND. Let that be a lesson to everyone who goes to a concert I’m at. Though I be but little, I AM FIERCE.

Jan24

Best Albums of 2011 – A Retrospective, Vol. II

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Okay.  I get it.  You’re mad.  I know I said I’d have this done on Saturday, but I really did have to find a couple of the albums.  It was hard.  It took time and effort and that is just a really sad story.

Before you start reading, I must stress again the journey taking place here.  Odysseus had the Odyssey, Harry had Hogwarts, and I have this list.  Paste Magazine’s Top 50 Albums of 2011 are not to be listened to lightly.  They will change you.  They will reach inside your ears, tear out the drums and replace them with bongos.

Like I said, it’s a journey.

If you’ll recall from the first volume, the ranking system goes like this:

1 – NO. Just NO.

2 – It doesn’t offend me…much.

3 – I tolerate it.

4 – I want to see this band live. They’re great.

5 – I will stalk this band until they love me or file a restraining order.

39. “The Harrow and the Harvest” by Gillian Welch

"The Harrow and the Harvest" by Gillian Welch

Rating: 3.5/5

Best Songs: “The Way It Will Be”, “Tennessee” ,“Hard Times”

Summary: Very countrified twang.  And it’s adorable at times, moving at others.  Her voice is pure and wonderful.  The songs feel genuine.  Definitely worth a listen.

38. “The Long Surrender” by Over The Rhine

"The Long Surrender" by Over The Rhine

Rating: 4/5

Best Songs: “Infamous Love Song”, “Oh Yeah By The Way”, “Only God Can Save Us Now”, “All My Favorite People”

Summary: This album changes completely from beginning to end, but in such a seamless way that you almost don’t notice that it’s gone from country-blues to country-rock to rock.  Listen!

37.  ”Slave Ambient” by The War On Drugs

"Slave Ambient" by The War On Drugs

Rating: 3/5

Best Songs: “Black Water Falls”, “Your Love Is Calling My Name”

Summary: Alternative rock band.  I’d say they’re nothing special, but then they have those two songs that I adore…I think with more than two listens, this band will begin to shine a lot more.  Get listening!

36.  ”Out of Love” by Mister Heavenly

"Out Of Love" by Mister Heavenly

Rating: 5/5

Best Songs: “Pineapple Girl”, “Hold My Hand”, “Reggae Pie”

Summary: If you’ve been reading the blog long, you should know how I feel about them.  I adore them.  I’ve seen them in concert.  If you want to know more, read here.

35.  ”Camp” by Childish Gambino

"Camp" by Childish Gambino

Rating: 4/5

Best Songs: “Outside”, “Letter Home”, “Heartbeat”, “That Power”

Summary:  This album blew me away.  You already know I’m not big into rap, but this was transcendent.  This album wears many hats, but somehow manages to convince the audience that they all belong in the same closet.  LISTEN TO THIS.

34.  ”This Is Where We Are” by Seryn

"This Is Where We Are" by Seryn

Rating: 4/5

Best Songs: “We Will All Be Changed”, “River Song”, “Of Ded Moroz”

Summary: Very chill and relaxed light rock.  I enjoyed it a lot.  Also, River Song…if you don’t get the Doctor Who reference, that’s fine.  My nerdy preferences may not belong in this review…Anyway, definitely worth a listen.

33.  ”The Head and the Heart” by The Head and the Heart

"The Head and the Heart" by The Head and the Heart

Rating: 3.5/5

Best Songs: “Winter Song”, “Sounds Like Hallelujah”, “Rivers and Roads”

Summary: Again, light rock.  Definitely an acoustic feel.  And I’m digging it.  Definitely worth a listen (more impressive since this was their debut album…even if it was originally released in 2009 then re-mastered by Sub-Pop in 2011.  Let’s not quibble over details.).

32.  ”Ashes & Fire” by Ryan Adams

"Ashes & Fire" by Ryan Adams

Rating: 5/5

Best Songs: “Dirty Rain”, “Lucky Now”, “I Love You But I Don’t Know What To Say”, “Do I Wait”

Summary: When I was writing down the best songs from the album, I realized I wrote down 9 of 12.  THAT’S HOW GOOD THIS WAS.  I loved it.  A light folksy feel to it.  Very simple lyrics that are more powerful because of their simplicity.  It’s great.

31.  ”12 Desperate Straight Lines” by Telekinesis

"12 Desperate Straight Lines" by Telekinesis

Rating: 3.5/5

Best Songs: “You Turn Clear In The Sun”, “Car Crash”, “50 Ways”, “Fever Chill”, “Dirty Thing”

Summary: Strikes me as a rock/pop/punk band. Reminds me of Panic!, but doesn’t have that campy feel.  Which I kind of enjoy.  Sometimes it’s nice to have straightforward music…worth listening to.

30.  ”Bad As Me” by Tom Waits

"Bad As Me" by Tom Waits

Rating: 3.5/5

Best Songs: “Raised Right Men”, “Talking At The Same Time”, “Pay Me”, “Hell Broke Luce” 

Summary: He is not my cup of tea.  He grows on you, but that voice is just never going to be my favorite.  It’s too bluesy and rough for me.  Worth a listen, though.  And, let me assure you, listening to this album more than once is ESSENTIAL.  Because it gets SO much better the more you listen.   And, for the record, I want to see him live (even though he’s a 3.5).  I want to know if his voice sounds like that live.  I really want to know.

All right.  That is the second installment.  Yes, you’ll notice we still have a ways to go, you and I.  But we’ll make it.  It’s like I said earlier.  It’s a journey.  It’s not about when we get to number one.  It’s about what we learn on the way.  Or something.

Before I say good night, I was wondering who’s going to the Lemon Drop benefit on Friday night?  I’ll be there.  It’s looking like it should be a good lineup.  AND, it helps out an organization that supports Springfield’s local music scene.  It’s a worthy cause, kids.

Plus, it’d give you something to do.  We all know how your social life is these days.

You’re welcome.

Dec27

What I’ve Learned In 2011

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2011 has been a learning year.  I’ve learned a lot about music, concerts, bands and life.  But I’m not gonna give you any boring life lessons.  Odds are good I’m not an authority on the subject anyway.  But, I will provide the top 5 lessons I’ve learned in my music-listening, concert-going, band-stalking year.  Some of these lessons were hard won.  Others were passed on to me from sage minds worthy of praise (not that they’ll be getting any).

So, here are my lessons of 2011. Read them, learn from them, and don’t repeat the same mistakes I’ve made.  After all, I made them so you don’t have to.

1. Try, Try Again

This will sound trite, but it’s true.  Listening to a song/album/band once isn’t enough.  Let me say that again.  One listen is NEVER enough.  One time will not tell you if you like the song, the lyrics or the band.  It will give you a first impression that, admittedly, might be impossible to overcome, but it won’t tell you if you like the music.  First time I listened to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, I was very not into it.  I mean, weird voice, right?

The second time I listened to it, I was a little more interested in what he was doing with his voice.

The third time, I listened, I was sold.

Best solution I’ve come up with is to listen to something at least twice before you decide that you love it or hate it. Or indifferent it. It’s the only way to be sure it wasn’t a fluke.

Of course, I’m constantly teaching myself this particular lesson.  I’m on my third listen to Bon Iver’s “Bon Iver.”  It’s not that I dislike it, it’s just that I’m having a hard time admiring him quite as much as everyone else seems to admire him.  That being said, the music of “Perth” is quite beautiful…but he’s not my favorite (apologies to the indie music scene).

2. The Opening Act

Always, always, ALWAYS get to the concert in time for the opening act.  Firstly, it’s the only way you’ll get a decent place near the stage (Side Lesson: ALWAYS get a place near the stage).  Once the opening act has started, people are pretty much set on where they’re going to be standing.  The only times this isn’t true is if the venue is small or the crowd is small.  Secondly, and most importantly, every opening act deserves just as much of your attention as the headliner does.  Who knows?  You could discover a new band you love.

Example?  You know that Ludo concert I went to in February?  That’s where I heard Tommy & The High Pilots for the first time.  And, for those of you who have kept up with my blog, I’ve mentioned them a lot.  Because I love them a lot.

3. It’s Not What You Know…

I’ve been very fortunate this year.  I’ve gone to shows where I’ve actually liked the people going with me.  This is incredibly important. If you don’t like the people, odds are good you’ll feel a bit weird at the show.  There’ll be no one to talk to about the awesome music, no one to giggle with about the band’s delightful banter, and no one to argue with about the merits of the band’s outfits (VITAL things, people).

In other words, it’s hard to enjoy the concert when you don’t enjoy the people.

My brother, James, and I at the Mister Heavenly concert in August.

I’m not saying that I wouldn’t have had a good time at the Mister Heavenly concert if I had been there with someone else, but it probably wouldn’t have been as good.  Music is a way of connecting to people.  You’ll like the music more if you like the people listening with you (Note: That’s the reason the audience is a factor in my grading scale for concerts).

4. Show Me The Money

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that them bands need to have access to a credit card machine.  The reality, however, is that the merch table is often a cash-only place.

With that in mind, you should always have some cash on you. God forbid you can’t buy any merch because you don’t have any of the green stuff.

I recommend bringing a minimum of $40 cash.  Concert shirts can run anywhere from $10-$25, so it’s best to be prepared.  If you’re planning on getting posters or more than one shirt, bring more!  Some venues these days accept credit cards (like the Pageant), but you can’t rely on that.

At the Tommy & The High Pilots/Antennas Up/Hey Penny show in August, I ran out of cash.  I had to run to an ATM down the street.  I like getting whistled at as much as the next girl, but good grief.  I would’ve preferred staying at the bar.

Two shirts later, I think the run to the ATM was worth it.

Tommy & The High Pilots and Antennas Up band shirts.

5. What Not To Wear

When you go to a concert, you are going to battle.  Make no mistake, friends.  Tears will be shed, blood spilled and your enemies will learn to fear you…or mock you.

Does a soldier go into battle wearing 3″ stilettos?  Does a warrior wear a skirt short enough to display the leg in its entirety?  Of course not!

You’re going to be standing for hours (at least 3).  It’s important that you’re wearing the appropriate footwear.  Ladies, flats are my shoe of choice for concerts.  You can take them off easily in the event of a lengthy car ride to and fro, they let your foot relax, and they’re cute (unless you have appalling taste).  If it’s colder, I wear some Chucks.

My poison of choice for concert-goings-on.

Gents, I think you’ll be safe with some sneakers. I would definitely caution against dress shoes, but that’s only because you probably don’t own a pair as stylish as these:

Awesome Dress Shoes. Photo from http://www.tango8.com/data/t/dr3083.jpg

If you do own a pair like these, wear them.  And call me.  We should get together and…talk cobblers sometime.

Then there’s the matter of short skirts and short dresses.  Ladies and the occasional gent, a concert is no place to wear one of the aforementioned articles of clothing.  It’s impossible for you to bend over (while preserving your dignity) and it decreases your street cred.  By a lot.  I mean, when I see a girl at a concert wearing a mini skirt or short dress, here are my thoughts:

Who’s she trying to impress?

Quickly followed by:

She’s not here for the music. She is SO uncool.

Yeah.  I know what you’re thinking.  It’s impossible for me (uncool as I undoubtedly am) to judge coolness.  And you’re probably right. But, my personal biases aside, it really boils down to a sense of comfort.  Odds are very good you won’t be comfortable in heels and a mini skirt.  And it’s a lot easier to enjoy music when you’re able to breathe and walk without worrying about showing everyone something they’re not supposed to see.

Of course, if you’re comfortable in heels and a short dress, knock yourself out (literally).

And those, darlings, are my top five lessons for 2011.  Yes, I learned other things.  But I can’t teach you everything.  You, ducklings, must fly on your own someday.  If I have to push you out of the nest to do it, I will.

And I promise I’ll only laugh a little.

Dec23

Best Album Title Contest Results!

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Hello, darlings. Have you missed me? Probably. Of course, you’re probably not reading this. You’re probably scrolling to the bottom of this post to find out who the winner was. Honestly. You people. But, since you’re not reading this, let me take this opportunity to confess that it WAS me who accidentally stole and ate your candy bar in the 3rd grade. My bad.

Coming in at number 5:

“Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?” by The Unicorns

James Strickland had this to say about his choice:

“…it’s quirky, and the odd levity of the phrase underscores the fact that the title is about them being dead. Which also describes their musical style, so it’s a fitting title.”

I chose this for the poll because I adored it.  I mean, doesn’t it seem like a really random thought to have?  It was definitely in my top 2. But you voters didn’t agree with me. Which means that I should probably revisit this whole “democracy” idea I’ve got going…

Coming in at number 4:

“Good News For People Who Love Bad News” by Modest Mouse

Jimmy Proszeck had this to say about his choice:

“I’m sure Isaac or one of the other band members worked hard on the title to make a catchy play on words. I appreciate that. Also, this is the only ‘bad news’ that I’ve ever enjoyed, to my best recollection.”

I chose this title because Jimmy’s right. That play on words is fantastic. And it creates such a fun logical conundrum. Think about it. REALLY think about it…you’re welcome.

Coming in at number 3:

“Highly Refined Pirates” by Minus the Bear

Jon Woodson had this to say about his choice:

“I really wish I had some introspective or meaningful reason, but I don’t. It just sounds like the greatest job ever. Being an intelligent and cultured sailor, while also being a badass who takes what he wants, when he wants.”

I chose this title because, like Jon, I love the idea of a pirate being all piratey, but a perfect gentle person all the same.  That IS the romantic image we all have of pirates, isn’t it?

And now.  The runner-up for best album title is…

“Hooray For Boobies” by Bloodhound Gang

Unfortunately, Zorro (I fervently hope that is your real name, by the way) was unavailable for comment.

That being said, I think it’s pretty obvious why I chose this title.  I mean, “Hooray For Boobies”?  This album title is just in your face about what it thinks.  You have to admire that (while you’re giggling like a school girl…it’s cool.  I did the same thing.).

And the winner!

“I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass” by Yo La Tengo

Trevor Green had this to say about his choice:

I chose the album title “I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass” because it made me laugh. This was the first Yo La Tengo album that I knew of, and the title intrigued me enough to listen to it.

I chose this title because it was hilarious.  Like Trevor said, it made me laugh.  Then you have the added bonus of it being a meaningful statement.  I mean, when you’re being bullied, I feel like this should be your go to phrase [NOTE: Don't actually use it if your physical abilities do not match your verbal ones].

Congratulations, Trevor!  You win the $10 iTunes gift card!  Just in time for Christmas, too.

For all of you who entered but didn’t win, don’t lose heart!  New contest announced after the holidays.  Try your hand!

And for those of you wondering where this week’s setlist is, cut me some slack.  I’ve been Christmas shopping and listening to a ton of new music.  I am so excited about so much of what I’m listening to.  It’s insane.  So, new playlist tomorrow.

Also, head on over to the Fun. store to preorder the bundle for “Some Nights.”  You get entered to win insane prizes, and you get a free download of “One Foot”!  I’m not sure how I feel about the song yet, but I’m going to listen to it 10 times before I make any hasty judgments.

Now.  Have a wonderful evening, and Happy Christmas Eve’s Eve!

Dec18

Best Album Title Contest Poll!

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All right.  Here’s the poll, kids.  I’m quite thrilled with the entries.  They range from the hilarious to the profound and back to hilarious.

Let everyone know what you think by voting!  Remember, you have until Thursday (the 22nd) to vote!  The poll will close at 6 then.

So, with no further adieu, here’s the poll!

Like I said, great entries.  Now vote!

Dec11

Ludo – St. Louis, MO: The Pageant 12-10-11

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Band: Ludo

Venue: The Pageant

Location: St. Louis, MO

Tickets: $16

Date: 12-10-2011

Sometimes I have a tendency to exaggerate.  This is not one of those times.  This concert was amazing.  One of the best concerts I’ve been to.  I mean, I don’t even know if I can speak coherently about this concert with all the Christmas I had coursing through me.  Exhibit A:

A Very Ludo Christmas Stage

Garland, fake snow, angels and snowmen were everywhere on the stage.  It was like Christmas decided it needed to have a show to spread Christmas joy.  Christmas won last night.  It won in a big way.

And Ludo was all right.  I guess.

Okay.  They were pretty awesome.  I’ve seen them three times (this year), but this was definitely my favorite show.  Maybe it was the atmosphere, maybe it was the audience, but they were undeniably “on” last night.

The show began with Santa coming out to light up the Christmas stage, with Ludo spilling out stage left.  The crowd went wild.  Andrew Volpe (lead vocals, guitar) grabbed his guitar and sauntered (for real, he sauntered) up to the microphone.  Tim Convy (moog, keys, vocals) took his place in front of the fireplace decorated with stockings for all the band members (though Tom Cantillon’s, the touring bassist, just had a gym sock with his name written on it) with a wave and a bow for the audience.  Matt Palermo (drums, vocals) sat down, putting his earplugs in and smiling at the crowd.  Tim Ferrell (guitar, vocals), shorn of his magnificent locks, waved at the audience as he adjusted his guitar to sit comfortably.  And, before the crowd could bask too much in the glory of Ludo, they began with “Part 1: Broken Bride.”

We went crazy.  I mean, everyone in the pit was belting out the lyrics, hugging each other and basically clapping our hands in glee.  It was wonderful.

Ludo at A Very Ludo Christmas

An admittedly blurry photo.  It’s not great.  But I think it conveys the feeling of a Ludo concert.  Excitement, bright colors and Andrew and Tim C. (the blur at the left of the photo) going nuts.  Tim C. doesn’t stay still for any length of time (especially when he’s being accosted by an inflatable snowman.  Yeah, that happened…TWICE).  Andrew is always engaging the crowd with strategically placed pursing of the lips and occasional winks.

So, they started on a really high note.  And kept going higher.  What might have been one of the more exciting moments for me was seeing “Laundry Girl.”  I never thought I would get the chance to see that song live.  And, of course, when I heard the opening chords, my phone was out and I recorded it.  The video was recorded oddly, but I hope you can forgive that after the first minute or so.

Then, after more rocking, Andrew took the stage alone for “The Horror Of Our Love.”

Andrew Volpe singing "The Horror Of Our Love."

As usual, Andrew singing “The Horror Of Our Love” is always a moving part of the concert.  In the middle of the song, a girl fainted in the pit.  The Ludo fans surrounding her helped her get out of there, so kudos to everyone who helped her and hope she’s okay.  I’m inclined to agree with Andrew’s assessment.  She fainted because of all the Christmas.  There was an awful lot of it, folks.

The next big moment (for me, at least) was when they played “Save Our City.”  Listen to that song.  It’s the only way for you to put this next story in context.  We’re all singing along and going crazy when we get to this part in the song:

“The mayor’s ruined head.  The boy steps to the window.  Cries out from the ledge to the people below.  There’s a time to pray and there’s a time to fight, anything can be a weapon if you’re holding it right.  Defend what is yours.  They will not take our souls.  It’s time now to rise and fight.”

And, of course, we’re all way into it.  Then with that brief pause and the words “Save our city” (at the 4:49 mark in the song), a confetti cannon goes off and showers the people in the pit.  It was so great.  That high moment of tension and triumph in the song, and as we’re all screaming about how we’re going to be victorious over zombies, it’s raining confetti.  Could there have been a better moment?

Why, yes.  Yes there could’ve been.

After the last song (don’t quote me on this, but I think it was “Good Will Hunting By Myself”), Ludo threw presents into the crowd.  They were chucking them to the people in the pit, the balcony, the bar, everywhere.  And I’d like to take the opportunity to thank the friend I went to the concert with, Brett Zeiler.  He managed to snag a couple presents, one for him and one for me.  His was a flower ornament.  Mine was substantially cooler (thanks Brett).

Bruce Springsteen Tape, still in wrapping paper, with some confetti from A Very Ludo Christmas.

So, yeah.  THAT’S pretty awesome.  But the awesome didn’t end there for me.  After waiting in line for forever (probably 20 minutes) for the meet and greet in the merch room, we got to talk to the band.  And I had a stroke of brilliance.  Obviously I wanted them to sign something.  But what?  Answer:

The Allyson's Setlist Shirt signed by Tom Cantillon, Andrew Volpe, Tim Ferrell, Tim Convy and Matt Palermo.

I got them to sign my Allyson’s Setlist t-shirt.  You can’t see my face right now, but it’s the face of an excited person.  This put the icing on an already iced and delicious cake.  I can officially retire last night as having been a wonderful, wonderful evening.

Now.  I wanted everyone to have an idea of what Ludo played at the concert.  However, I can’t remember the order the songs were played in.  I mean, I had better things to do than take meticulous notes.  But, here is what my memory tells me occurred:

“Part 1: Broken Bride”

“Hum Along”

“Go-Getter Greg”

“Topeka”

“Lake Pontchartrain”

“Rotten Town/Skeletons On Parade”

“Laundry Girl”

“Anything For You”

“Girls On Trampolines”

“The Horror Of Our Love”

“Save Our City”

“Whipped Cream”

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”*

“Jingle Bells”*

“Silent Night”*

“I Wish You A Merry Christmas”*

“A Very Ludo Christmas”

“Love Me Dead”

“Good Will Hunting By Myself”

And now!  The score!

Concert: A+

Venue: A

Drink Prices: B

Audience: A+**

Overall: A+

*Group sing-alongs.  Andrew, Tim F. and Tim C. came out into the audience and played for us.  ’Twas wonderful and put everyone into the Christmas spirit.  Even though we didn’t follow Andrew’s directions very well…

** I can’t describe how awesome the audience was here.  You know, Ludo makes great music full of wonderful lyrics and meaningful instrumentation, but just as great is their ability to inspire such loyalty in a crowd.  There wasn’t a single person I was standing next to who wasn’t belting out the words to every song, raising their fists in the air, or dancing with me when “Girls On Trampolines” came on.  Ludo is the type of band that actively encourages audience participation, and the audience is always pushed to answer the call.  It makes Ludo shows some of the best to see.  If you ever have the chance, take it.  You won’t regret it.

Dec9

My Ultimate Fangirl Moments

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Before this relationship goes any further, I think you all should know some things about me.  If you feel different about me after you read this list, I’ll understand.  Really.  Underpinning the entire post tonight is a girlish squeal and the clapping of abnormally small hands.  I’m sure that’s off-putting.

The truth isn’t pretty, folks.  It might not even be tolerably neutral looking.  But, here goes:

I am a fangirl.

If some of you are still reading, thank you for giving us a chance.  For the rest of you, my mom says I’m better off anyway (She also said you were no good, will miss me and will wind up alone.  Hope that’s true.).

So, here are my top five fangirl moments.  Be prepared.

The Amanda Palmer Bonding Incident

I was listening to Amanda Palmer’s “Do You Swear To Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth So Help Your Black Ass,” and she agreed that the video was quite good.  And she Retweeted me.  There was a good amount of squee.  That’s a scientific term encapsulating how I responded to the following:

Amanda Palmer both Tweeted and Retweeted me. *squeal*

The Honus Honus Hocus Pocus

Give me a lot of credit for that alliteration.  It made me giggle.  This just happened a couple of days ago.  Honus Honus (aka Ryan Kattner), the lead singer of Man Man, read the blog post about Man Man and Tweeted me about it.  It meant a lot.  And it left me speechless for half an hour.  Ask the people calling me at work.  I didn’t say a word.

Honus Honus (aka Ryan Kattner) from Man Man read the blog and Tweeted me about it.

Are Your Antennas Up?

Literally could not think of a better hook for this entry.  I’ve already told you about how Kyle knew my name at the AU concert a few months ago (and, for the record, I still totally consider that one of the best examples of my fangirlhood), so I think it’s fair to tell you how AU responded to the blog post.  They Tweeted me:

Antennas Up read the blog and Retweeted me.

And Jonny Universe (Jon Ulasien, guitars/keys/vocals for AU) shared the blog post on Facebook:

Jon Ulasien shared the blog post about AU on Facebook.

 Gareth Campesinos! Is The Exclamation Point

I have not kept it a secret that I’m addicted to Los Campesinos! right now.  I mean, I’m so into them.  For a couple of weeks, they were all I listened to.  And I’m constantly discovering new things I love about their music.  The lyrics are infinitely clever, the music is varied, deep and adorable at the same time, and they are such cool people.

So I Tweeted Gareth.  He’s the lyricist and one of the lead singers of the band.  I decided to tell him that I was in love with him because of his lyrics and the obscenities he Tweets (for real, he has a dirty Twitter Account).  He responded:

Gareth Campesinos! Tweeting me.

I mean, I don’t want to say that means we’re going to have a happily-ever-after or anything, but I think it’s unarguably the start to a beautiful Twitter relationship.  Oh, and he’s since Tweeted me no less than three other times.  I squeal a little bit louder each time.

So.  If you’ve stuck with me through all of that, I’m impressed.  And hopeful that this means you still want to give us a chance.  I promise I won’t let you down.  I’m a great person, really.  Just a desperately uncool one at times.

We still pals?

PS: Ludo concert tomorrow night.  ”A Very Ludo Christmas” promises to be AWESOME.  If you’re not going, you’re almost as uncool as me.  OH BURN.

PPS: Lest you think these are my only fangirl moments…they’re not.  There are so many others.  But these are my favorite/most blush inducing.  My humiliation is your entertainment.

PPPS: I’m sure some of you missed the playlists last night.  That’s fine.  I’m not hurt or whatever.  But there are a few songs I think you should definitely make time to listen to.  “When Water Comes To Life” by Cloud Cult, “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead” by Stars, “Little Lover’s So Polite” by Silversun Pickups, and “Dance Yrself Clean” by LCD Soundsystem.  Ideally, of course, you should listen to all of the songs.  They were picked for their infinite awesome.

PPPPS: I don’t think I’m supposed to use this many “p’s” in a postscript.  Just thought I should point that out for you.

 

Dec6

Man Man – Life Fantastic

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I’ve waited for this. I’ve actively looked forward to it. And it’s here!

I have concluded that I’ve listened to enough of “Life Fantastic” to give everyone the scoop. So, here it is.

As one might have guessed, “Life Fantastic” is rife with fantastic. Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.

Here’s the breakdown. The album is more polished than any of their other work, but still manages to convey the vaguely crazy nature of Man Man. The music is wonderful, and the lyrics are powerful. It’s really what you would want in an album. You have the optimistic (if somewhat reckless) view on life:

“If you gotta smash some plates to relax, I say do it. D-d-d-d-d-do it. And if you gotta crash a car in a lake to feel sane, I say do it. Just do it. And if you gotta scream until your voice breaks, I say do it. D-d-d-d-d-do it. And if you gotta punch your dad in the face, I say think about it: Do it.” (“Piranhas Club”)

Then you have the amazingly creepy “Haute Tropique.” Arguably my favorite song on the album, it provides a rather memorable chorus:

“You’re born what you’re meant to be. If you’re bad, then be bad the best. If you’re good, stay away from me. We’re a bad influence, we’re the best.”

Of course, despite the oddly upbeat nature of the previous song, I think the spirit of this album is really dark when you analyze the lyrics.

“And are you my pet? Or did I have to work so hard for nothing? I know you’ve met the mess you’ll marry. He’ll keep you fed, but can he carry the weight of your heart?” (“Steak Knives”)

“It’s how you hide your cards. It’s how you dress your scars and let them breathe. Life fantastic. Life so tragic.” (“Life Fantastic”)

I mean, what are you supposed to do with those two songs?  The first example (“Steak Knives”) is about Ryan’s ex.  So that definitely makes sense.  “Life Fantastic” was probably not meant to be interpreted as darkly as I interpret it.  But come on.  It’s a rather cynical view of life.  The entire song is about someone finding a corpse at a picnic.  Really let that sink in.

Of course, once you know what was going on in Ryan’s life when he wrote this album, the vibe from it doesn’t seem so surprising. Ryan had just gotten out of a long-term relationship, he had nowhere to live and was traveling all across the country, and a couple of his friends who had actually been critical to getting him into the music world had passed away. That’s a lot for anyone to deal with. He said that it took him a year and a half to finish the first song on “Life Fantastic” because he had almost lost faith in music completely.

So, this album comes from a pretty deep place.  And I’m not even done talking about it.  Though I tend to focus more on lyrics, “Oh, La Brea” has some of the most moving and beautiful melodic surprises in it. Around the 3 minute mark, it moves into gentle strings that put me in the mind of peacefully coming to grips with some change in your life. Like that scene in a movie where the heroine has to get on the bus and go away to a new and strange land because she has no options left. She doesn’t weep. She looks forward to whatever she finds. Yeah. That’s what it is to me.

And that’s the end of the album. It ends with a wonderful journey just beginning.

Of course, I bought the album with the bonus tracks. This ain’t my first rodeo.

By far, my favorite bonus track is “Trunk Eyes.” Good grief, that song is great.

“Our hearts are such hungry beasts. The harder we starve them, the more all-consuming. And I understand they’ll never find the love that they need, so we try to run ‘em into the ground.”

So, yeah.  This entire album is pretty great, and it certainly inspires some thought.  I like Man Man’s music, but they are people, going through problems everyone else goes through. And music can either be a way that they deal with those problems, or it might cause some of them. But, either way, music is never a passive force in their lives. It’s constantly demanding, fulfilling and intoxicating. I can’t imagine living without it.

Sorry for the “deepness”, there. It kind of slipped in. If it makes you feel better, just pretend that I was talking about the weather.

Track List:

1. “Knuckle Down”

2. “Piranhas Club”

3. “Steak Knives”

4. “Dark Arts”

5. “Haute Tropique”

6. “Shameless”

7. “Spooky Jookie”

8. “Eel Bros”

9. “Bangkok Necktie”

10. “Life Fantastic”

11. “Oh, La Brea”

12. “Mayan Nights”

13. “Trunk Eyes”

14. “Hourglass”

Dec2

December – Antennas Up

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Darlings, you know how sometimes a song just seems like it’s trying to buy your heart?

Well, I’m very sold on this song.  ”December” by Antennas Up, aside from being fortuitously named for the December theme song, is also…wait for it…a GOOD song.  It has all of the peppiness we’ve come to expect from Antennas Up but it sounds smoother than the songs on their first album.

I really think the new album is going to be an awesome progression for the guys, and I’m terribly excited for April (it’s when their new album will be coming out).

"December" by Antennas Up

Those of you clever enough to click on the photo might realize that some of the words are wrong.  I’ll be real with you.  I couldn’t quite catch some of the phrasing. I’m sure repeated listenings will rectify this.  Until I can self-correct, however, I need you all to correct me.

Give me the correct lyrics, friends.  I feel like these are things I need to know.

PS: New Dance Card should be coming up in the next few days (Sunday at the latest).  I will say, however, that you should be planning on some shows tomorrow.

December 3: Wilco at the Uptown Theater in KC.

December 3: Antennas Up at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS.

If I missed anything, please let me know.  Of course, I reserve the right to judge you if I think you’re wrong.  But you knew that already, right?