Ben Folds took a huge risk by playing nothing but new songs in the first set, then coming back for the encore to play old stuff. Still, his UConn fans seemed to buy it there in Jorgensen Center for Performing Arts.
The first half of the show was kind of a shock to everyone because it was all new, and what made it even more confusing was the fact that Ben Folds made two albums, a real one and a fake one, with songs of the same name. It was hard to tell which songs were real and fake, since he usually adds humor into his music. Some of the "fake" songs, about breaking up and wanting to kill yourself or bringing a crazy liberal "Jane fucking Fonda, Jr." to a Republican law firm Christmas party, were better than the "real" versions.
The crowd seemed pretty relieved when Folds came back for an encore and played old, familiar songs. It really kept them interested, and I realized that my favorite shows were ones where the band switched between new and old songs at appropriate times, bringing the crowd back in for each one.
I've always felt that you really need to go to a concert before you can actually get into a band. Seeing them live brings the music appreciation to a whole new level - it's when you can truly decide how good they are. Folds had to be pretty confident in himself to play an entire set of new songs to a lot of fans who were still in a state of limbo in deciding whether or not to be a big fan.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
9/26 -- Girl Talk
You couldn't beat this deal: Admission was free for students and $5 for guests. But what most people didn't know was that non-students had to be guests of Trinity students, who could only bring up to 5 guests. Getting in was pretty chaotic. Non-students, like me, had to find some nice Trinity students to sign us in. Many were more than happy to, but others were afraid that they would be responsible for us, so that proved to be a bit difficult. This was the start of my general observation of the night: School security just seemed really overwhelmed from start to finish, which took away from the fun atmosphere of the concert.
Because doors opened later than expected and Girl Talk didn't even go on until around midnight, there were a lot of people tailgating outside and dropping tons of solo cups on the ground. Also, bags weren't checked at first, so people were able to drink and light up smokes inside. After about an hour of that, security started checking bags on our way in and out - and we had to go outside to use the bathroom. There were only port-a-potties outside the field house. That was kind of weird.
And then it got weird again: When Girl Talk did take the stage, I could hear people in the crowd wondering out loud if he was even up there. As per tradition of a Girl Talk show, people rushed onto the stage to dance, and with that huge group on stage, I, too, wondered if they were just trying to fake an appearance by playing his music and filling the stage. Also, the staff kept turning the lights on and stopping the music as if they wanted us to leave and as if Girl Talk wasn't there. People did leave. This was also a time when people started leaving for cigarettes and coming back to tighter security checking bags. It was pretty late, but the show kept going on, and after a lot of spins and sampling of hip-hop, pop rock, oldies, classics, etc., I was convinced Girl Talk was there, and he had people dancing the entire time, both on stage and off, when they got kicked off, of course.
Despite the weirdness of the night, I didn't see anyone standing still during Girl Talk's set, and I met a lot of cool people. There was a DJ playing while people were getting in, and The Dig opened up for Girl Talk, but they were just OK because they were kind of a generic alternative punk band.
Because doors opened later than expected and Girl Talk didn't even go on until around midnight, there were a lot of people tailgating outside and dropping tons of solo cups on the ground. Also, bags weren't checked at first, so people were able to drink and light up smokes inside. After about an hour of that, security started checking bags on our way in and out - and we had to go outside to use the bathroom. There were only port-a-potties outside the field house. That was kind of weird.
And then it got weird again: When Girl Talk did take the stage, I could hear people in the crowd wondering out loud if he was even up there. As per tradition of a Girl Talk show, people rushed onto the stage to dance, and with that huge group on stage, I, too, wondered if they were just trying to fake an appearance by playing his music and filling the stage. Also, the staff kept turning the lights on and stopping the music as if they wanted us to leave and as if Girl Talk wasn't there. People did leave. This was also a time when people started leaving for cigarettes and coming back to tighter security checking bags. It was pretty late, but the show kept going on, and after a lot of spins and sampling of hip-hop, pop rock, oldies, classics, etc., I was convinced Girl Talk was there, and he had people dancing the entire time, both on stage and off, when they got kicked off, of course.
Despite the weirdness of the night, I didn't see anyone standing still during Girl Talk's set, and I met a lot of cool people. There was a DJ playing while people were getting in, and The Dig opened up for Girl Talk, but they were just OK because they were kind of a generic alternative punk band.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The McCain Debate Question
I just wrote a commentary to run in tomorrow's Daily Campus about this, but I just really believe that McCain should show up to the presidential candidate debate tomorrow. It's already scheduled. The fact that McCain would not show up because he's working on the economic crisis is silly. Yes, it's a great tactic from the campaign to show that he cares, but he and Obama are meeting with President Bush right now to discuss the plans. How much more can McCain do tomorrow for three hours? The American people want to know what is going on, and they want to know the presidential candidates' issues. Many believe that McCain is just stalling and doesn't want to face Obama. Many also believe that McCain just wants to look good by saying he cares so much about the economy that he's willing to pause his campaign. However, both candidates can quickly fly to Mississippi and back to Washington, so the debate won't take too much time from their work. Also, if they're working all hours of the day, they can afford a break. If McCain doesn't show up to the debate, some people will think he cares a lot about the economy, and others will continue to question his motives. And if he does attend the debate, he'll just continue his reputation as a flip-flopper, like in the posted video.
Side note: I don't know how much I believe McCain about his going to Washington if he bailed on David Letterman yesterday and said that he had to go to Washington to work on the financial crisis when indeed, he was getting interviewed by Katie Couric at the time he was scheduled to be on David Letterman.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
9/20 -- State Radio
UConn's SUBOG (Student Union Board of Governors) sponsored a free State Radio concert outside our student union. This was the best thing they've done for us, concert-wise, in my entire undergraduate career.
I showed up at 3:30 to watch my friend play in Johnny 9 in the Racers, a band I've seen at least 3 times before this. As usual, the local ska band gave a really good, fun show. They ended their set with "Somebody Else," the first song on their 'Open Up Your Ears' album. It might be because it's the first song on the album, and it might be because they've ended a few shows with this song, but I find this song to be my favorite and the most catchy, and the only one that I really know the words to. Who doesn't love a bitter break-up song that turns into an almost-happy tune because it's ska?
I skipped the next band to run some errands, but then I went back at 5:30 for the State Radio set. I hadn't really listened to State Radio prior to the show, but I had heard of them, and I knew they were politically charged, so I really wanted to see them. I wasn't surprised when I really enjoyed their set. Their reggae-infused rock music just felt right at that very moment when they were playing. The outdoor setting, the crowd, the college feel, the encouragement to register and vote and their Obama endorsement just all came together to give an already great concert the perfect atmosphere.
My boyfriend left with both the CDs State Radio was selling at the merch table. Together, both CDs cost $15, and the concert left us wanting to hear more.
I showed up at 3:30 to watch my friend play in Johnny 9 in the Racers, a band I've seen at least 3 times before this. As usual, the local ska band gave a really good, fun show. They ended their set with "Somebody Else," the first song on their 'Open Up Your Ears' album. It might be because it's the first song on the album, and it might be because they've ended a few shows with this song, but I find this song to be my favorite and the most catchy, and the only one that I really know the words to. Who doesn't love a bitter break-up song that turns into an almost-happy tune because it's ska?
I skipped the next band to run some errands, but then I went back at 5:30 for the State Radio set. I hadn't really listened to State Radio prior to the show, but I had heard of them, and I knew they were politically charged, so I really wanted to see them. I wasn't surprised when I really enjoyed their set. Their reggae-infused rock music just felt right at that very moment when they were playing. The outdoor setting, the crowd, the college feel, the encouragement to register and vote and their Obama endorsement just all came together to give an already great concert the perfect atmosphere.
My boyfriend left with both the CDs State Radio was selling at the merch table. Together, both CDs cost $15, and the concert left us wanting to hear more.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
8/20 -- The Allman Brothers, RatDog
The Allman Brothers Band and RatDog show at the Meadows, now known as the Dodge Music Center, in Hartford felt like a hippie fest. From the girl selling hash brownies car to car in traffic to the Merry Pranksters bus to the white van with a giant "Ron Paul 08" on the side of it, I felt like I was still in 2008 but blasted to the past in some way. The show was pretty mellow with a bunch of people just happily swaying and dancing to the rock music. Old Grateful Dead fans flashed back to their glory days as they watched their beloved band's founding member rock out with his latest jam band, RatDog. Tie-dye shirts included. The Allman Brothers included a lot of musical interludes in songs and long solos that led to half-hour-long songs, which was cool at times, but after a while, it felt a little redundant. Also, they didn't play Jessica.
8/8 - 8/10 -- All Points West
Forty-seven bands performed on three stages over the course of three days at Liberty State Park in New Jersey. It was just a ferry ride away from New York City, and almost every band commented on the awesome view of the skyline and Statue of Liberty.
While the festival was exhausting at times - we went from the train to the subway to the ferry to the long walk to the festival grounds and back each day - it was totally worth it for the festival experience. I love being able to see a bunch of great bands in the same place. Radiohead headlined the first two nights, and Jack Johnson ended the last day. After seeing a few bands and happily standing to the side or not having to push through to get close to the stage, the crowd was much more serious about the Radiohead set, which is understandable because they were the headliners, and amazing headliners at that.
Both nights, Radiohead played a lot from 'In Rainbows,' which was awesome and made sense because it was their newest album. Thom Yorke kept bending the entire top half of his body up and down over the piano and singing with the same emotion and feeling that draws fans in. A highlight for me: "All I Need" both nights. Also: pretty much the entire 'In Rainbows' album the second night. They didn't play "Karma Police," which I was hoping for but not expecting, and to keep up with tradition, they didn't play "Creep." But both nights, the entire band was great at every song with a musicianship that surpasses many bands these days. The light show was fantastic. A bunch of vertically hanging light rods were set over the stage, flashing with all sorts of colors and effects. That, combined with Radiohead playing their hearts out for fans listening their hearts out, made the concert not just another show, but an experience.
Jack Johnson was a nice, chill ender to the festival. I'd heard that some people who bought 3-day tickets to the festival left before his set, but when you pay nearly $300 for your tickets and even more for transportation to get to a show, it's really worth getting as much out of it as you can. I'm actually a Jack Johnson fan, and I thought his set was great. He did all his singles, and he brought Trey Anastasio from Phish, who also played a set on Sunday, which added to the fun of the set.
I also saw Ben Jelen for the third time on Sunday. It was pretty sad to see the sparse crowd in front of his stage, which was the furthest from the main stage. But that also meant that I was able to be right up front. He did a lot of new songs from his newest CD that I didn't buy until after his set, but he did play some older songs. He ended with "Christine," which actually made me cry. I was probably the only one though. I was able to meet him and take a picture with him after the set, and I got a signed poster for my friend, which was an added bonus.
My new favorite band from the weekend was the Roots. Yes, I probably should have listened to their music before. I've read about them, and I've heard some stuff. But sometimes you need to see a band live before you really get into them. The Roots put on a great show with their energetic band and sousaphone player. The hip-hop feel was authentic, and their music is really good. I read in Spin magazine about how ?uestlove's dad made him practice drums while growing up in a bad neighborhood and how he later felt that it was for the better. That practice showed, and it showed in every musician in the band.
The New Pornographers were already one of my favorite bands, and they were actually my favorite set at the festival. The Kathryn Calder's female vocals are just amazing with A.C. Newman's, and the music behind it all always builds up in an inspiring way. I like driving to their music, partially because it plays in the background in some car commercials, but mostly because it makes me feel good and just makes me want to go somewhere. The concert made me feel good, and at the end, they did a cover of ELO's "Don't Bring Me Down" and sounded just like the original. I actually heard two guys arguing over whether the New Pornographers actually did the original.
I also saw Mates of State for the second time, and they were great, as usual. Their dancey songs really got a pretty large crowd going. I feel like every time I hear about them, they're a little bigger, and it makes me really happy because they deserve it.
Other bands I caught: Underworld, CSS, Forro in the Dark, The Duke Spirit, Kings of Leon, Animal Collective, Chromeo, Trey Anastasio & Classic TAB, The Secret Machines, De Novo Dahl, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Rogue Wave.
8/25 -- Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, Counting Crows (at the Meadows) and 8/12 -- Wilco, Andrew Bird (at Tanglewood)
I saw the Counting Crows, and they didn't play "Mr. Jones." One of my favorite songs of all time, one of the reasons I was especially excited about this concert, and they didn't even play the one single most people knew from them. They threw in a few "Mr. Jones" lyrics in the first few songs, so I started to worry that they wouldn't play it. I had some hope that they might have been teasing us and would play it at the end, but that didn't happen. Actually, not much happened during their set. Adam Duritz looked and sounded drunk the entire time, and I could barely understand a word he was saying. However, the band had a redeeming factor when they played the most angry, most emotional song I've ever seen live - "Goodnight Elisabeth," the "Fuck Your Christmas" version. That song was incredible. Duritz was emotional, and I think he made everyone hate whoever he was talking to. Still, it didn't make up for the rest of the set feeling too long, especially after a great set by Sara Bareilles.
Sara Bareilles is adorable and extremely talented. (Note: her website is also fantastic and adorable.) An announcer said the nicest thing about her - that in a year, she would have a big stage background of her own, much bigger than the banner she had up at the time, and that she would be headlining these shows. I really hope so. Yes, "Love Song" has become the romantic comedy song, but it's so catchy, and a really good song. I know and love all the words. The rest of her album is great, and she played a lot of it, and just everything about her -- with her simple ponytail, great taste in clothing, soft-spoken-ness and incredible piano skills -- is just lovable.
Maroon 5 reminded me that they were one of my favorite bands in high school, and they really reminded me why. This was my first time seeing them live, but Adam Levine is fantastic in winning over a crowd. He just walks across the stage with this ownership, and he really gets into all the songs. The band played all their singles - I can't think of a radio single they didn't play, which made the crowd happy. They played a lot of stuff from their first album in the beginning, which was great because that's mostly what I knew from when I was a huge Maroon 5 fan. (I think I am again, by the way.) They switched between big singles and some newer songs that some people may not have known. This line-up of songs is really ideal because it keeps the crowd interested, unlike the Counting Crows and their dragging set. Maroon 5 really kicked it up with a lot of power and energy, and I loved it. At the end of the encore, Levine gave a girl in the front row his white electric guitar. She was freaking out, and I was so happy for her. It was probably the best day of her life. It made me like the band even more, not just for their music and their show, but for their appreciation of fans.
A few days before this, I saw Wilco at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. I couldn't see very well from my seats because of the tall people and spacing, but I enjoyed the music, which was really what the concert was for. Their "Jesus, etc." was great, and the rest of their music was just calming and really good. Andrew Bird opened for him, which was perfect because his use of different musical instruments and the musical feel of the whole set was a great transition into Wilco.
Sara Bareilles is adorable and extremely talented. (Note: her website is also fantastic and adorable.) An announcer said the nicest thing about her - that in a year, she would have a big stage background of her own, much bigger than the banner she had up at the time, and that she would be headlining these shows. I really hope so. Yes, "Love Song" has become the romantic comedy song, but it's so catchy, and a really good song. I know and love all the words. The rest of her album is great, and she played a lot of it, and just everything about her -- with her simple ponytail, great taste in clothing, soft-spoken-ness and incredible piano skills -- is just lovable.
Maroon 5 reminded me that they were one of my favorite bands in high school, and they really reminded me why. This was my first time seeing them live, but Adam Levine is fantastic in winning over a crowd. He just walks across the stage with this ownership, and he really gets into all the songs. The band played all their singles - I can't think of a radio single they didn't play, which made the crowd happy. They played a lot of stuff from their first album in the beginning, which was great because that's mostly what I knew from when I was a huge Maroon 5 fan. (I think I am again, by the way.) They switched between big singles and some newer songs that some people may not have known. This line-up of songs is really ideal because it keeps the crowd interested, unlike the Counting Crows and their dragging set. Maroon 5 really kicked it up with a lot of power and energy, and I loved it. At the end of the encore, Levine gave a girl in the front row his white electric guitar. She was freaking out, and I was so happy for her. It was probably the best day of her life. It made me like the band even more, not just for their music and their show, but for their appreciation of fans.
A few days before this, I saw Wilco at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass. I couldn't see very well from my seats because of the tall people and spacing, but I enjoyed the music, which was really what the concert was for. Their "Jesus, etc." was great, and the rest of their music was just calming and really good. Andrew Bird opened for him, which was perfect because his use of different musical instruments and the musical feel of the whole set was a great transition into Wilco.
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