The Decemberists! Live at Avalon, March 23, 2007

Crane Wife 3; July, July; The Soldiering Life; Bachelor and the Bride; Yankee Bayonette (w/ Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond); Culling of the Fold; On The Bus Mall; The Legionnaire's Lament; O Valencia; The Island; When the War Came
---encore---
Eli the Barrow Boy; end w/ extended and theatrical Mariner's Revenge Song
(set list from: http://www.last.fm/event/115282)
They also played "Infanta" at some point, and maybe more. I had been planning all night on either yelling out "Tain" or "Infanta" if for some odd reason they took requests, but I didn't have to!

This show was amazing. Awesomely, they played (I think) everything from Crane Wife that they excluded at the last show (Orpheum), and didn't overlap too much. They got some amazing songs in there. Bus Mall, Eli, Legionnaire's lament, and When the War Came really made my night, as did the famous theatrical encore as the giant whale ate the band. Beside being entertained, I definitely augmented my appreciation for their older stuff. I don't think I ever really "got" Legionnaire's Lament or On the Bus Mall before the show. And of course, Mariner's Revenge will never sound the same again. Jenny Conlee was awesome. Oddly, we almost ran into her while taking a walk in the park Saturday morning. She was riding some old bike around near the venue. Laura and I both recognized her, thus our converging evidence proves that it was absolutely her. I think she recognized us as her fans by our chic clothes, mod hairstyles, and suave demeanor, so she continued riding away to avoid being bothered.
It was difficult to get a good spot even though we showed up early, so the pictures aren't perfect. If you want better pictures, they're all over the internet. Lots of people try much harder than I. Anyway, I like these.

From BOS_webalbum

So here's Colin towards the beginning of the show rocking out with guitar man Chris Funk on slides in the background.

The singer from My Brightest Diamond (see previous post) accompanies Colin on Yankee Bayonette

I love blurry action pictures.

I think this is Colin while stringing himself up with the mic cord during Culling of the Fold. This song was a particularly great performance, with intro and

engaging the crowd. We tried to get there early and be up front, but early wasn't early enough apparently.

Too bad there were people in front of us, but it's cool to see the whole band. Plus accordion is pretty cool.


More evidence that cello is easy for bassists. And violin for guitarists...? Maybe not, but they played in tune, which was enough to impress me.

During Mariner's Revenge, the drummer beat the hell out of a tom w/ a cymbal on the side (even while in the audience). it was quite humorous.

”Find him, bind him, Tie him to a pole and break his fingers, to splinters, Drag him to a hole until he wakes up, naked, Clawing at the ceiling of his grave“

sweet mother's last words. Drummer ubiquitously weird and funny.

I love the action in this shot... even though that chick's head is in the way AGAIN.


the oceans shook the sky went black and the captain quailed and before us grew the angry jaws of a giant whale!

dont know how i survived, the crew was all chewed alive, i must have slipped between his teeth!

Colin, too hyper just to leave, vents on the kit.


It seems that Google's devious scheme to archive everything that happens ever on You Tube is coming to fruition. Both of the covers from Friday night, one of which was just a random Smiths reference because the band was annoyed by the club next door, are available on YouTube.

Culling of the Fold (Morrissey cover) video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYkd3-QMKz0

"Panic" (The Smiths) as the club next door starts thumping: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNQ8dSG3nA4

My Brightest Diamond

I decided to split this blog up since I have so many pictures from the concert. My Brightest Diamond opened up for The Decemberists at the Avalon, 2007-03-23. They were great and I hope to hear more. Apparently, she used to be a major collaborator (Illinoise-maker) with Sufjan Stevens. She's classically trained, and her voice is very clear with fast, wide vibrato. It's a bit strange for the style of music they play. They did an amazing cover of No Quarter. If only Jimmy Page was there, it would have been as good as Led Zeppelin's record. The bass player kind of looked like he really had to pee hte whole time, but he did a good job and I was glad he was into it. They had a good sound and more energy than many bands in the same style. Anyway, here are the pics:

From BOS_webalbum

a very german beer: rex pils

not a lot of beers come from potsdam. in fact, this is the only one i've ever had. or even seen. i didn't make notes at the restaurant...but...well, let's just say it's unremarkable and tastes like pils. medium body, a vague notion of hop bitterness, and they put some malted grain in it. but points for the name and the logo.

la boheme: krusovice imperial

unlike the prussians, the czechs brew excellent beer. sitting around in a village somewhere in boehmen, it's common practice to rack up a coaster full of these. myself, i gravitate toward the helles or the dunkeles, those yin and yang of southern beers. there's nothing wrong with the pils, though, and in fact it's rather good. well done pils components: medium body bitterness light malt. pretty bubbly, nice and crisp if it's hot out. plus i believe there are some bonus bohemia flavors in there that come right out of the earth. of course, all beer comes from the earth so that's not special, but the czechs have a particularly tasty patch of ground and they know it.
that aside, krusovice is a solid pick from bohemia for my money, and i would take it over most anything from the rheinland or brandenburg and also prefer it to urquell. the brewery is pretty old too, from 1517 just after the reinheitsgebot. it's no 1050, but half a millenium's not bad. drinkability is quite high.

Cisco Little Woody Oak Aged Stout and River Horse Tripel Horse

Two beers I tried at two different bars, worth noting.
The oak aged stout was very nice. Only one Beer Advocater has tried this, and surprisingly at the same bar where I tried it (link). Chocolately and coffeey, with a little tinge of oak on top. It's a nice effect, but I don't think they achieved quite what they were going for. Overall, this is a very nice stout. Good head and retension. Thick but not too heavy. Two thumbs mostly up, and I was very impressed to find such a rarity at a small random bar in Allston.
River Horse Tripel Horse is overall a nice tripel, but there's some kind of aforementioned acrid flavor on top that really ruins the experience. One thumb up and the other most of the way down. RateBeer

Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball

From BEER_webalbum

The Lagunitas web site only tells us that this is a seasonal, presumably winter. Beer Advocate and RateBeer call it an American Strong Ale, which sounds about right. Both give it very high scores, and it is a very nice winter ale. Given, it's 55 out right now, but the first glass I had was last week when it was 19. I think it would age very well, but I don't like it that much. Nice head, lacing. small retension, but returns with a little swirl. Dark brown with lots of red ("ruby") tint. Nose is molasses. One BeerAdvocate reviewer noted its "woody" smell, which is a description I like. Nice sharp mouthfeel, tasting malty and a little caramel sweetness. Hops come out in the aftertaste. There's a little bit of an acrid taste on top of all this that isn't all that pleasant, but it's not too noticeable. This odd flavor is the same but a lot worse in the Tripel I'll review next. Overall, I give this two thumbs up, though the second thumb is a little hesitant to go vertical. The knuckles are still bent to a "this is a nice beer" position, but not the ecstatic "I'm going to put this on the shelf next to Double Bastard, Old Crustacean, and Weyerbacher bourbon barreled beer" fully erect thumbs... Anyway, this beer makes me happy, though it is officially not a good idea for drinking games. Esp. when combined with white wine, Bailey's and milk, Allagash Tripel, and Old Chub. That's a whole nother story.

Andrew Bird's new album "Armchair Apocrypha" comes out Tuesday.. two days ago.

So, I haven't had time to form an opinion yet, but of course the album's great. The strangest is Dark Matter, which has been completely revamped for the studio version. Simple X is an awesome arrangement in the style of Kid A / Amnesiac Radiohead (with a reference, oddly, to OK Computer). However, the ambience is much smoother and lighter, feeling more like The Books from Lost & Safe or something else that I can't quite place right now... Anyway. All of you who may/may not be in Boston on May 16th, he'll be playing at Berklee (which is right next to my apartment). Exactly one month earlier (April 16th), he'll be at Mercy Lounge in Nash-vegas. Speaking of N-town, what's with three TN teams in the sweet 16? But I digress...
Below is copied directly from the Bowl of Fire (AndrewBird.net) e-mail list:
-----
Here's an early review:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/11564/andrew-bird-armchair-apocrypha/
And an interesting interview w/ our pals at the Onion:
http://www.avclub.com/content/node/59572
Andrew played a pile of fantastic shows last week in Austin @ SXSW - and you can hear a few of the radio sessions in the following locations:
MPR - The Current http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/03/16/andrew_bird/
WXPN -
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7874916
We have confirmed a full album stream of Armchair Apocrypha on AOL/Spinner this week as well - so you can head over there right now and give a listen to the whole album.
I'm also excited to tell you - Mr. Bird and band will perform on the DAVID LETTERMAN SHOW on April 10. Yes, that David Letterman. April 10.

Of Montreal: Icons, Abstract Thee

Apparently, the LP has a four track bonus side, which contains some of the more depressing and 'sensitive' sounds that the band has produced. It's definitely worth checking out.
Another note for Hissing Fauna, apparently the 'concept' of the album is his conversion into (Ziggy Stardust) Georgie Fruit. Interesting.

Sad, sad tale

From BEER_webalbum

If you don't know the Gene Back / Missing Trades song "Sad, Sad Tale," check it out at http://myspace.com/GeneBack. If he doesn't have it uploaded, request it, it's the best (besides Saw You in a Dream). If you do know the song, play it in your head as you view the tragic photo.
I dropped a piece of ice on just the right spot on the glass, leading to terrible crackage. I'm not much of a super-gluer, and I'm a bit scared of broken glass, so it's officially out of commission. I will miss this glass.

Founder's Dirty Bastard Scotch Ale

From BEER_webalbum

I tried to show how pretty this beer is by holding it up in front of a light. Didn't work as well as I'd hoped, but it's a nice mahogany with garnet hues. A little swirl-age stirs up tiny bubbles and gives nice tan foam. Nice thick viscous liquid. Some lacing remains. I can't place the nose perfectly, but it's nice. Caramelly. Smooth mouthfeel. Sweet malt at first, turns to pure hop bitterness over some sweet malt, (much like Arrogant Bastard) on the swallow, and very bitter aftertaste. Great beer. Malts show up more as it warms. I don't know exactly what a scotch ale is, but I know that I like it. It also makes me feel slightly more Scottish, even though this beer's from Michigan. A little pricey, but I like it.
Beer Advocate likes it: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1199/7463/?sort=topr&start=0.
Founders' Dirty Bastard page

Of Montreal! live at the Avalon, Boston, 2007-03-11

First and most important, Of Montreal rocked. They played most of Hissing... and a good amount of Sunlandic..., plus a scattered few from earlier albums. I was really hoping for Spike the Senses, The Past is a Grotesque Animal, Wraith Pinned to the Mist (And Other Games), and a few others, but at no point could I say I was disappointed at all. I was amazed by "I Was Never Young." I don't remember exactly, but I think there were three basses and two guitars, though it could have been one less bass. wishful thinking. Anyway, the (guitar) string arrangement was/is amazing. I have read that Barnes wrote and recorded most of Hissing on his own in Norway. I can just imagine sitting around with a 16 track and trying out different lines, weaving them in and out of each other - Barnes' composition is exactly what I've always dreamed of doing. I wouldn't hesitate to say he's a genius, and I'm excited every time I listen to an Of Montreal song to try and pick out all of the intricacies and themes in his writing. That said, he's a total freak, which makes the show even more fun. Firstly, he's totally David Bowie reincarnated... except Bowie's still alive... but you know what I mean. He wore Ziggy makeup for the show, and they even did an amazing cover of Moonage Daydream. The instrumental interludes gave him time to change dresses, and he even climbed into a 10 foot tall stilted costume in classic Bowie style. Definitely unique though, with more sass and ... something else new.
The interpretive dancer was great, as were the two headed dragon, Darth Vader, etc.
I'm tired of writing, but I could go on forever.
See this band if you have a chance. They're coming to Atlanta and Nashville soon... and they'll surely be in Athens plenty.

Grand Buffet is hilarious. The lead is a typical ultimate frisbee stoner type from Philly. They're both very white and very funny, and the music is actually pretty good. The lyrics are hilarious/disturbing, and they put on a great show.

I didn't hear much of Lonely Dears, but what I heard was at least interesting. I'll have to hear more.

Other Rel Links:
Pitchfork article about Of Montreal porn-themed show in Vegas... (male nudity.) Kevin Barnes in typical attire - minus the dress, stilts, and other eccentric transvestite accessories. Actually, only in tights and a sash. I guess he's willing to do what it takes to be... whatever he is. Anyway, we now have allthe necessary and sufficient evidence to say he's got balls literally and figuratively. What happens in Vegas...
In related news, Girl Talk will be in Playgirl, and apparently has been used as an example in Congress in the context of intellectual copyright. It's actually a nice article. If Pitchfork has lost its insightfulness to money and popularity, it's made up for it in professional and readable articles. This can't be said for most "indie" reviewers and press. This digression in a nutshell: Pitchfork generally sucks for reviews but its articles are some of the best.

beer in Montreal: Rickard's Red, Labatt Bleu, etc.

From BEER_webalbum

Rickard's Red: I'm happy to say that Beer Advocate reviewers look down on this beer as much as I do: (link). Apparently it's from Molson, which is a bad start. As advertised, the color is red. Lots of large bubbly carbonation, much like a a Natty light or something. Head shows up and promptly disappears. Kind of like soap. Tastes vaguely like beer. Malty. Some unidentified shit on the bottom. Definitely not bottle-conditioned, so I chose not to drink the shit. I'm trying not to think about it. Two thumbs down. It wasn't even that cheap.
Labatt Bleu: in all of its many forms, it sucks. That's all I really remember about it since we used it for drinking games. When we crossed the border the driver informed the guard that we had some Labatt, and the guard said, "You came all the way to Canada and all you brought back was Labatt?" Of course we didn't mention the un-sealed Bailey's, vodka and whisky. Or the illegal hockey player the NHL paid us to smuggle over in a very large and violent suitcase. Shh.

Besides the aforementioned beers, all of the beer I tried in Montreal also sucked. Boreale seemed to have some good efforts, but nothing worth writing home about or buying. The best thing I had in Montreal was actually a beer from Alsace (France) called "Boris" that has a vaguely socialist label and goes well with mild cheese.
Is it too cold to brew good beer? Did the French spawn the Quebecoise with the specific intention of proving that their beer is better than somebody's? I guess it makes sense because Montreal is such a hot spot for 18 year olds looking to drink at a bar/club for their first time. I suggest drinking only Unibroue (though it's not any cheaper there) or English beers such as Carling and Carlsberg. Neither of these is good nor bad. I'm not sure how that sentence was supposed to go... but you know what I mean. Of course, just across the border in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are some of the best moderately small breweries in America, so I guess the best thing is to buy before the border. Unless you're underage, in which case, stick to liquor. It's quicker, and you'll pass out or puke before you can make any little French-Canadian-American babies or statutory offenses.

Adnams Broadside Original Ale

From BEER_webalbum

I was going to say this beer had an indistinctive aroma, but after seeing the website, I have to agree completely: (http://www.beerfromthecoast.co.uk/bottles_broadside) definitely fruitcake. The flavor is similarly cake-y with some clove and other spice. Very nice bitterness from the hops. This is a very rich beer with a blunt caramel-y malt aftertaste that becomes more and more prominent as it warms. Being an English Ale, it should be served slightly warmer, and it does change in some very nice ways as the temperature lowers, but I think this particular cold-one is also very nice right out of the fridge. It was $3.50 for a 16oz, which isn't so bad for the size and quality of an import. I think that comes to around $15 for an America six pack, so it's not extremely expensive. Anyway, this is a great English ale, and I would reccomend it. I guess 1 thumb up and the other 3/4 up since it's not my favorite style.

TV on the Radio

Here's a band that I found in London. Since then, I've been continuously losing and re-discovering them. Somehow, I always love their music, but it never catches me enough for my short term memory to make the (apparently) massive leap to long term. (The funny thing is that I've looked at the parts of my brain that are supposed to be involved in that, and they look completely normal... shows how useful my 'profession' is...) Anyway, here's an extremely creative band. The lead singer has a very distinctive voice, and he's usually accompanied by a very high falsetto and another low harmony. The samples used for the main texture range from ambient noise to abrupt horn clips (see track #1 from Return to Cookie Mountain). The beat has the kind of heavy feel of Daedelus or even Radiohead. The drums' staccato high hats and driving snare hits make tracks like #4 from ...Cookie Mtn straddle techno, electronica, typical indie rock, and whatever you want to call the genre that Trent Reznor invented in his early works. I currently don't have any of their older albums, but I'll get them. I remember hearing tracks from "Young Liars" in London while smoking Dan's hookah and being very impressed. Track $5 from Cookie Mtn is almost catchy. It makes me want to see a TVOTR - Scissor Sisters collaboration. Each song's style reminds me of something, but I'm bad at matching new memories to old ones, so I'm not even going to try. The point is, you need to give this industrial-indie-rock-pop a shot. The newest "Return to Cookie Mountain" has a nice variety of sounds. Right now, the song that stands out the most to me is Track 1, but that always happens at the beginning. Love the exceptional percussion sounds in all of the tracks and the unconventionality of all of it. Keep your mind open to static patterns and purposefully out-of-tune yelling and appreciate the depth of creativity and the tight beats. Oh, and if you haven't listened to NIN "Pretty Hate Machine," "The Downward Spiral," and "Further Down the Spiral" (American release), hurry up. Reznor really opened up the doors so that music like this could exist, and these are three of my all time favorites, even though sometimes they do make me sleep uneasily.

TVOTR tour date notables:

4/13/2007
Concert
Atlanta, GA Variety Playhouse
1099 Euclid Ave. 30307

4/14/2007
Concert
Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
37201

Sam Adams 2006 Longshot Homebrew Competitioin winner: Dortmunder style Export

From BEER_webalbum

The bottle is in the trash which is outside, so I don't know the brewer, but (s)he certainly deserves credit. This is more of what I expect when I think homebrew. pretty nice head with retension around the edges, good lacing. Smells similar to an ESB. I've never had a "Dortmunder Export" before, but overall I like this. Well balanced, a little bitter. Very beer-y, if that means anything. This is less extreme than most of the beers I really like, but I certainly think it's worthwhile. 1 thumb up and the other half way up.

Stone Old Guardian, 2007

From BEER_webalbum

Stone comes through with another winner.
http://www.stonebrew.com/og/2007/index.html
I'm not sure, but I do think it's similar to previous OGs, i.e. awesome. 11.26% ABV is always a good thing. Sweet caramel barleyish malts characterize the nose, along with some spice from the hops. The taste is just that, except more hops! The relationship to Arrogant Bastard is apparent in the aftertaste. The actual mouthfeel is really not that strong, but the fore and after taste are barley and hops, respectively. I love it. The main difficulty is that the alcohol percentage prevents coherent reviewing after drinking had a representative sample! Oops. Anyway, before and after, two thumbs up as always with Stone. I still think Double Bastard is my favorite of theirs, if not the 2006 Epic, but I definitely put this one at second or even first. (Of course, Stone IPA is amazing, but it's not really comparable to their more extreme offerings). :-).