Maus Space

I kinda know what you mean. I'm pretty selective about the shows I go to these days. I usually try for bands I really like or bands I'm really interested in, in venues I like going to. Though I do sometimes get pressured into going to shows I wouldn't otherwise (e.g Foo Fighters concert this past year in the rain with no view of the stage, that was pretty rough. But some good friends were around, so it wasn't that bad.). But every now and then, I see a show that reinstates my faith in live music. I saw one of my old favorite punk bands The Effigies just a few years ago in a teeny room and it was like having 20 years shaved off my life. Absolutely amazing experience. I could tell they were getting off on it too.

Never seen an intimate performance like that, it does sound preferable to the norm.
A friend just invited me to see the Cure. Thankfully they'll have a keyboardist with them for this tour.

how was it?! ol' bob and cohorts are making it to our shores for the first time in 9 years this july so i'm not missing out this time.

I saw Orchestral Manoevres in the Dark (I'll never figure out how to spell that M word) last night. They were on a triple bill with Howard Jones and Barenaked Ladies. My sister and her friend got me and wife to go with them, as they are huge Howard Jones fans (I like him too). They got 4th row tickets which was pretty great. A couple of months ago I decided to investigate OMD a bit more and I quickly learned how great they were (and still are). They were my favorite of the 3 bands. One great single after another, it was an embarrassment of riches. I was expecting to hate Barenaked Ladies, but they're professional entertainers and know how to win people over, so at the very least I wasn't bored. Howard Jones was upbeat, energetic, and sounded great too, though he unfortunately had a real short set of only about 6 songs. It's always comforting to know that some old fart bands can still put on a good concert, even if their wellspring of hits has long since dried up.

Tonight I see Gary Wilson in Cleveland! I never thought this day would come. I know Gary is afraid of flying, so I figured a tour would never come this way. I'm stoked!

He's playing with Part Time, and they are very Ariel Pink/Wild Nothing sounding. Anyone know them?

This will mean I've seen Ariel Pink, John Maus, R Stevie Moore, Gary Wilson. I need to see Geneva Jacuzzi next...

Nice! I still haven't seen R. Stevie, unless you count the guest appearance he made at the Lemon Twigs show a couple of years ago (where I also introduced myself to him after being FB friends for a while).

Concert-wise, I had a random night out last week. My neighbor/friend was taking his teenage daughter to a show, and the friend that was supposed to go with her had to back out, so I filled in. So I got to see Underoath, Alice in Chains, and .... KORN! We only stayed for about 3 Korn songs. Hey it was late. I wasn't really a fan of any of the bands, but it was a fun night out -- outdoor amphitheater pretty close to home, with a friend.

Haha that's fun and spontaneous. I'd go for sure. I can enjoy most shows regardless of the music.

Gary was incredible! I've been a fan for a few years, but although I love his old stuff to death, the new stuff isn't my favorite. I had no idea what to expect from him live--if he was still playing with the old Blind Dates, played a lot of the old hits, or how much of it was performance art. It blew me away. None of the old blind Dates, he's got some younger ish guys playing who are super talented. The set was very tight, and packed with songs. They played a lot of them faster so that they could fit more in, and there was no dead air or talking at any point. Very quick transitions. The noise sections were expertly executed, and there were mannequins that Gary interacted with, of course. The sound at the venue was loud, and well mixed. My friends and I arrived just in time for them to start the set, and we had just finished a joint outside. Had a great time.

And as it turns out, Gary and the band had a terrible car accident a few days later. Their van was totaled, a lot of gear destroyed, but thankfully everyone is alive. I recommended they start a go fund me or something. Weird music unfortunately isn't the best business, and Gary has never done a tour this size I believe. I hope they can get back out there. They had to cancel the remaining dates.