i kind of forgot about this blog. i'll get better at this.
anyway, my friend joel and i (and eventually peggah and jessica showed up) went to mt. clemens, mi. to see white rabbits, the walkmen and spoon. this was basically my dream lineup, and getting in line early ensured the best spots: front and centre, right against the stage.
the venue itself (the emerald theatre) was just covered in camel cigarette ads and neon lights. this would never be allowed in ontario! i also hadn't been to a show in michigan in ages and wasn't used to everyone blowing smoke in my face. these weird hippie torontonians left because of the smoke i think. when joel and i were discussing a spoon album i pulled out my ipod to figure out which album it was and the hippie dude was really into the idea of going through the bands on it. no thanks, muddy mcgee.
anyway, there was no photography allowed, but i snuck my camera in. i couldn't get any decent shots in until spoon played, because for white rabbits and the walkmen the audience hadn't moved close enough together to offer me any crowd coverage to avoid the secutity 'spotters' posted at each end of the stage.
i was really, really impressed with white rabbits. i had heard of them last year but didn't really look into them until later on in 2007. they played at the siren fest at coney island, ny last summer but i missed them. i was at some other stage watching some other band i can't even remember.
i haven't seen the walkmen live since probably 2006. they played some new stuff, and surprised me with 'wake up.' some things never change though, like when walt plays the organ thing he looks like he's doing taxes and matt's drumming is still the same. but some things do change, like how none of hamilton's veins really popped out like they normally do, and paul maroon doesn't do his flirty little smiles anymore. still, they were good and i was pleased, very much so.
spoon. amazing. i was right infront of britt daniel which would have made for AWESOME photos if it were allowed.
britt daniel made eye contact with me (along with every other girl there) but i know ours was special, you guys! it was speciallll!
anyway, they played basically everything i wanted to hear ('i turn my camera on,' 'small stakes,' 'you got yr. cherry bomb,' and 'don't you evah'!) and (obviously) more. the crowd finally moved in closer to the stage and i would lean back occasionally and take photos really low. towards the end of the night when some of the white rabbits came out to clap along to 'the underdog' i almost got caught, but i like to think i covered it up quite smoothly: just pretended i was dancing and slipped the camera into my pocket.
some of the white rabbits came out for the encore song ('the underdog').
white rabbits - kid on my shoulders -
fort nightly's awesome album opener.
the walkmen - this job is killing me - best song off of
a hundred miles off.
spoon - don't you evah - great cover of 'don't you ever' by the brilliant, amazing, awesome natural history (both versions can be found on the
don't you evah EP).
follow the links to the download page.
next week i'm seeing kate nash in detroit with angelica, and in may we're seeing M.I.A. at the fillmore.
i should also note that there's an SNL remembering chris farley special on NBC right now and it's come to mind that adam sandler was the jimmy fallon of the late 80s/early 90s, i.e. he laughed in every single sketch ever. the only difference is that adam sandler wasn't nearly as handsome, and jimmy fallon wasn't nearly as talented.
