Dave Matthews Band: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte, NC on July 1, 2008. Are you ready for this?
THE Tim Reynolds.
And his opener, Michael Franti & Spearhead.
As you know if you've ever seen Dave live, this is not a show. It's an experience. That's the best way to put it. . .he opened with "The Stone" and closed with "Too Much." He covered Peter Gabriel's "Sledgehammer" and Pink Floyd's "Money." He didn't play "Crush," but I think somehow I'll see past it. Even though Jeff Coffin of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones filled in for LeRoi (injured in an ATV accident), the band was top notch. Tim Reynolds' solos were righteous while his hair was...not. Their Atlanta show on the 7th gave this one a run for it's money, according to the setlist and personal opinion. You win some, you lose some, eh? Hah.
Also, Michael Franti was a wonderful performer. It was a near-perfect coupling. I thoroughly enjoyed (and danced to) his mix of reggae, hip-hop, and rock.
The Cure, a beloved 80s into 90s alternative post-punk band, is a far cry from the act I'd pictured. Somehow, having listened and never seen, I envisioned them more along the lines of the fictional pop band of "Music and Lyrics," Pop! I don't know why I ever pegged them as such a posters all over a girl's room, on the back of your cereal box, featured on the next 80s comeback reality show, band. No. They're hardcore. And that's what happens when I accept a generous offer to attend a concert based on sound alone. Luckily, concerts run on sound alone. And even though they played every possible song except my favorite, "Friday I'm In Love," over the course of a 90 minute main set and 3 encore sets, I had a fantastic time. . .made possible by the surrounding and extremely intoxicated "dancers." Here are some highlights from June 15, 2008 at Gwinnett Center.
[my first scanned ticket! Greg wasn't listed, so I asked him to list himself :)]
["who's Greg Laswell?"]
["ah okay. I gotcha." He was the best opening act I've seen thus far.]
[Ingrid in her "dress/shirt" with ukelele]
["This is not a back-view dress."]
[during "Die Alone," perhaps...?]
[whole band during last, post-encore song]
My good friend Chris Flenker first introduced me to Ingrid Michaelson with this very post. I am forever grateful. You know that penguin movie? The cartoon, not the wow-those-are-honest-to-God-penguins antarcticumentary. Happy Feet! That's it. If you've seen it, you remember that every penguin has a heartsong. I've stumbled upon a handful of heartsongs and can't seem to settle on a single selection, but Michaelson's latest album, Girls and Boys, includes at least three or four. She has that voice and those lyrics. The kind that reiterate the reasons why musicians better explain your feelings to you than you ever could.
[...And the kind that, under the right circumstances, could draw a good cry. Take for example 'I am in love with a boy/manufactured to destroy' from "Lady In Spain," or 'You finished first/I must catch up with you/You have had your fill of me' from "December Baby." ]
She plays live like the CD sounds. It's beautiful. Not to mention how satisfyingly hilarious she is. Nothing ups a show's likability like a side of dry, comedic material.
Greg Laswell, who's touring with her and opened for her show, was unexpectedly great. I might have guessed that Ingrid would settle for nothing nothing less than the bar she sets with her own music. He earned the ticket price with his set alone.
And to tie it off? Yes. A little Ingrid right at your fingertips. ...well she's actual size, but this sample of her work is rather teeny. And a sidenote: The "dorky clown that kisses her" is none other than Mr. Laswell....
[^what happens when I forget my camera and Dad takes a cell phone picture. Pure magic, obviously.]
[Ben Sollee with The Sparrow Quartet]
Okay so here's the deal. This guy is good. And I didn't set out to like him. It's a rare CD that, on a whim, pushes its way onto my Favorite Albums of All Time after a single listen through. I credit that to the new horizon it's presented to my music tastes. Ben Sollee is a revolutionary, Kentucky-birthed cellist. At the Variety show, he was a swell classical addition to Washburn's bluegrass -- until she offered him the spotlight and forced him to surprise her audience with his all-encompassing technique and honest, unadulterated vocals. After his solo, I hopped out of my seat and purchased his upcoming release Learning To Bend. Each track competes with the one before it for the inevitably chosen Favorite Song. My favorite is "It's Not Impossible."
"And I must admit, all jokes aside, I find some men beautiful some women handsome and some children wise."
{And now for a back in time bonus.}
[Marquis w/ a side of Turkish Delight s]
[L-R: Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Ben Sollee, Casey Driessen]
[They find each other funnier than first...expected]
[but it grows on you]
[note the matching men and red-strapless-Abigail -- trés chic]
*Note: One mustn't postpone concert reviews for diversity's sake. One may forget the concert's finer points and have only pictures to show for it.*
...anyways, the music was refreshing and Washburn's Chinese lyrics were interesting and somewhat amusing. I enjoyed it, but will say this: If headed to an unfamiliar act, listen to the show before buying the EP.
P.S. Check out Sollee's track "A Few Honest Words" in my Last FM playlist if you haven't already.
On the last night before my AP exam, a couple friends took me to see Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova -- collectively known as The Swell Season. They are the Oscar award winning stars of the 2007 film, Once. They were up there in Best Shows Ever. I always hate that I haven't saved every concert ticket stub, since I've seen more artists than I now remember. The Swell Season was better than those guys. Is that worth anything? I think so.
What caught both my eye and ear was how they opened. Using a very suitable, crowd-pacifying tactic (they showed about 20 minutes after a tardy and yawnworthy opening act), Hansard strapped up his characteristic worn in guitar and stepped in front of the mic. Using no amplification, he preceded to hammer out a version of 'Say It to Me Now' that drew my jaw to the ground. Wiping our memories of previous impatience, they followed up with a show that proved, personally, better than the film. And the film was spectacular.
What's more, the passionate vocals and rhythms came in a close second to Hansard's comedic ability and insight. About halfway through, he shared that Marketa had offered him $100 to not speak between songs. He said he just couldn't do it. An explanation or anecdote preceded every song, but it was strangely welcomed. "Strangely" because I often brush aside background information that too completely analyzes the lyrics. Hansard's synopses, however, were the most candid and heartstring-plucking I'd ever heard. I found myself searching fruitlessly for an illegal recording device.
One of my favorite parts: as Marketa hooked up her guitar (see picture 4 and rewind your imagination), she asked for Glen to stall. *Must read out loud in endearing Irish accent* "Tell a joke, Glen!" "Hm, what? Oh! Okay here's one. How do you know ET was a Protestant?
He looks like one!"
And for your listening pleasure...that you may understand and adopt my extremely glorifying bias:
Dave Matthews Band: Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte, NC on July 1, 2008. Are you ready for this?
THE Tim Reynolds.
And his opener, Michael Franti & Spearhead.
