The success of an Alkaline Trio show rests almost entirely on their setlist. The shows are absurdly short (66 minutes this time), so every track counts. This show did not feature what I would consider an amazing setlist. I’m interested to see what Casey Cunningham, who was also at the show, thought. Casey’s got incredible punk credentials, having probably gone to more A.T. concerts than me and braving this one on crutches! Navigating mosh pits on crutches? Hard to get more punk than that.
In any case, rather than march through each part of the show, I’ll make my own setlists: that is, divide what I heard into Good, Very Good, Bad, Huh, Hmm, and, (to quote the band itself), Hell Yes. Anyone who knows A.T. and would arrange the songs differently, lemme know…
Good: “I Wanna Be a Warhol,” “Standard Break,” “Bleeder,” and “I Lied My Face Off.” The newborn babies part of “I Lied My Face Off” is so scary.
Very Good: The underrated “Cringe” and “I Found Away.” The whoas make “Sadie;” the lalalas make “Help Me.” Loved that I was thrown everywhere during “This Could Be Love.” “Time To Waste” was the best surprise of the night: they got everyone to clap at the start and built a killer atmosphere by the end.
Bad: “Every Thug Needs a Lady.” It’s not bad necessarily, but they play it every show, and it doesn’t deserve it. “Kiss You to Death” / “Young Lovers.” These two songs, like the crowd that night, were way too tame.
Huh: “Warbrain,” “Queen of Pain,” “Dead and Broken.” (‘Huh’ means I had somehow never heard of the songs -- even though I’ve listen to all albums ten-plus times??)
Hmm: Where was “Armageddon”? Where was “Radio”? Why was the trademark skeleton heart backdrop replaced with a girl with dripping eyeliner?
HY: “Calling All Skeletons.” I heard it two feet from the stage; everyone was so amped up. “Take Lots With Alcohol.” It took me eight shows, but I finally got it!
Grade: B
Sunday, December 29, 2013
Sunday, November 3, 2013
142 – Franz Ferdinand -- Thursday, October 17, 2013 – Strathmore Music Center -- Bethesda, MD
Almost every A+ show makes some sort of comeback. It overcomes a slow start, a slow previous show, unfairly low expectations, or impossibly high ones.
Franz Ferdinand made no such comeback. They got the audience in their crosshairs from minute one (the first song was literally called “Bullet”!) and spent the next 90 minutes taking them out again and again and again. The band’s outfits, accents, vocals, instruments.....everything was irresistibly smooth. It took half the concert for “This Fire” to arrive, but you could feel the heat from the beginning. Girls wanted them; guys wanted to be them; everyone just wanted them to keep playing more songs.
You would think all of this would come off as too slick or self-involved, but it didn’t. It felt natural – like they could not help who they were. It would be like faulting Elvis Presley for not being Elvis Duran, or Usher for not being Urkel. To quote an equally slick stage production, “When you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
And flaunt they did, tearing into 19 songs with urbane abandon. They may have claimed they “hate pop music,” but if there were any justice in the world, they would be bonafide British pop stars.
Quick hits from the show below:
--- Whoa, ZERO vocal dropoff from the album.
--- “Matinee”!!! Love the ninja stage move, the unexpected slowdown, the nine other rhythm changes, the bouncing guy in front of me, and the fact that I have the best view in the whole auditorium -- dead center stage!
--- Nice call-and-response during “No, You Girls,” backup vocal during “Tell Her Tonight,” and guitar solo during “Evil Eye.”
--- Called “Do You Want To?” from the opening strum! Alex Kapranos has started walking through the audience, five feet away! ‘Lucky lucky lucky lucky’ indeed. Everyone has started bouncing. BEDLAM has begun.
--- Huge contrast with “Walk Away.” Slows everything down to a crawl. One audience member whistles in the silence as he does. How is Franz Ferdinand not more well known? They are pros.
--- Hahaha, the lyrics are making this too easy. “Can't Stop Feeling” literally contains the phrases “I feel love,” “so good,” and “I can’t feel anymore.” Killer keyboard too.
--- “Stand on the Horizon” is mediocre -- until the electric orange arrives.
--- Other than the all-too-relatable line “we all lose our keys,” “Brief Encounters” is a letdown.
--- Whoa, “The Fallen” is a tongue twister. I like the la-la-s and the last line.
--- “Take Me Out”!!! Never knew it had a banjo part.
--- “Sweet Love Illumination”!! By far the best song from the new album.
--- “Ulysses”! Don’t ask us to get high; everyone already is. If we're never going home, does that mean the show doesn’t have to end?!
--- “This Fire”!!! Red flames, blue flames, hot white ones – whoa. Slight excess in the middle, but epic / euphoric overall. Worthy of a rollback from Pancho Hernandorena.
--- “Goodbye Lovers and Friends.” Noooo, does that mean this is end? I know you hate pop music, but please, Franz, don't leave us!
--- HA, random compliment: “Thank you, people of DC and Mary-land. We appreciate your high ceilings.”
--- “Jacqueline”!!! Their first song, my first song, so glad they played it! Yes. Darts remains.
--- “Treason! Animals” is trippy – the word ‘narcissist’ is well pronounced.
--- Heh, “Outsiders” ends with a MEGA DRUM SOLO, a la Imagine Dragons. Great minds…
Grade: A+
Franz Ferdinand made no such comeback. They got the audience in their crosshairs from minute one (the first song was literally called “Bullet”!) and spent the next 90 minutes taking them out again and again and again. The band’s outfits, accents, vocals, instruments.....everything was irresistibly smooth. It took half the concert for “This Fire” to arrive, but you could feel the heat from the beginning. Girls wanted them; guys wanted to be them; everyone just wanted them to keep playing more songs.
You would think all of this would come off as too slick or self-involved, but it didn’t. It felt natural – like they could not help who they were. It would be like faulting Elvis Presley for not being Elvis Duran, or Usher for not being Urkel. To quote an equally slick stage production, “When you’ve got it, flaunt it.”
And flaunt they did, tearing into 19 songs with urbane abandon. They may have claimed they “hate pop music,” but if there were any justice in the world, they would be bonafide British pop stars.
Quick hits from the show below:
--- Whoa, ZERO vocal dropoff from the album.
--- “Matinee”!!! Love the ninja stage move, the unexpected slowdown, the nine other rhythm changes, the bouncing guy in front of me, and the fact that I have the best view in the whole auditorium -- dead center stage!
--- Nice call-and-response during “No, You Girls,” backup vocal during “Tell Her Tonight,” and guitar solo during “Evil Eye.”
--- Called “Do You Want To?” from the opening strum! Alex Kapranos has started walking through the audience, five feet away! ‘Lucky lucky lucky lucky’ indeed. Everyone has started bouncing. BEDLAM has begun.
--- Huge contrast with “Walk Away.” Slows everything down to a crawl. One audience member whistles in the silence as he does. How is Franz Ferdinand not more well known? They are pros.
--- Hahaha, the lyrics are making this too easy. “Can't Stop Feeling” literally contains the phrases “I feel love,” “so good,” and “I can’t feel anymore.” Killer keyboard too.
--- “Stand on the Horizon” is mediocre -- until the electric orange arrives.
--- Other than the all-too-relatable line “we all lose our keys,” “Brief Encounters” is a letdown.
--- Whoa, “The Fallen” is a tongue twister. I like the la-la-s and the last line.
--- “Take Me Out”!!! Never knew it had a banjo part.
--- “Sweet Love Illumination”!! By far the best song from the new album.
--- “Ulysses”! Don’t ask us to get high; everyone already is. If we're never going home, does that mean the show doesn’t have to end?!
--- “This Fire”!!! Red flames, blue flames, hot white ones – whoa. Slight excess in the middle, but epic / euphoric overall. Worthy of a rollback from Pancho Hernandorena.
--- “Goodbye Lovers and Friends.” Noooo, does that mean this is end? I know you hate pop music, but please, Franz, don't leave us!
--- HA, random compliment: “Thank you, people of DC and Mary-land. We appreciate your high ceilings.”
--- “Jacqueline”!!! Their first song, my first song, so glad they played it! Yes. Darts remains.
--- “Treason! Animals” is trippy – the word ‘narcissist’ is well pronounced.
--- Heh, “Outsiders” ends with a MEGA DRUM SOLO, a la Imagine Dragons. Great minds…
Grade: A+
141 – The Flaming Lips – Friday, October 4, 2013 – Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, MD
T.F.L. were a giant, flaming disappointment. Two respected musicians (my Memphis cousin Robbie and my Chaminade friend Tom) swore by the band, saying their Lips concerts were the best concerts they had ever been to. I understand where they were coming from in the sense that it was an intense experience, but I could not say it was an enjoyable one.
I could not recognize almost any of the Lips’ songs, despite having listened to their entire discography. The sounds and visuals also never seemed to cohere. Usually, if I wrote about a concert “most extreme sounds/visuals ever,” that would be a good thing. (See Rise Against, Smashing Pumpkins.) This felt different though. It made me uncomfortable: like, at any moment, it seemed the band would invite someone on stage to be burned alive – and the crowd would cackle in glee at what it just saw.
The Lips kept trying to encourage drug use, but I feel like that would have made it worse. The swirling ash clouds and the blinding stage lamps were scary enough sober; I can’t imagine how scary they would have been high! The stage lamps literally hurt my eyes at one point; I had to stare back down at my seat. The mingling scents of pot and cap guns (?!) didn’t help matters.
There remain a number of Flaming Lips songs I really like: “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” “She Don’t Use Jelly,” and “Do You Realize??” And it was not as if every moment of the show was miserable. “Nobody's Fault But My Own” had a cool White Stripes guitar riff, and “Silver Trembling Hands” had a cool crescendo -- slowly but surely taking the audience up its rainbow mountain.
Overall, though, it did not seem like a mountain I would want to scale again…
Grade: C-
I could not recognize almost any of the Lips’ songs, despite having listened to their entire discography. The sounds and visuals also never seemed to cohere. Usually, if I wrote about a concert “most extreme sounds/visuals ever,” that would be a good thing. (See Rise Against, Smashing Pumpkins.) This felt different though. It made me uncomfortable: like, at any moment, it seemed the band would invite someone on stage to be burned alive – and the crowd would cackle in glee at what it just saw.
The Lips kept trying to encourage drug use, but I feel like that would have made it worse. The swirling ash clouds and the blinding stage lamps were scary enough sober; I can’t imagine how scary they would have been high! The stage lamps literally hurt my eyes at one point; I had to stare back down at my seat. The mingling scents of pot and cap guns (?!) didn’t help matters.
There remain a number of Flaming Lips songs I really like: “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots,” “She Don’t Use Jelly,” and “Do You Realize??” And it was not as if every moment of the show was miserable. “Nobody's Fault But My Own” had a cool White Stripes guitar riff, and “Silver Trembling Hands” had a cool crescendo -- slowly but surely taking the audience up its rainbow mountain.
Overall, though, it did not seem like a mountain I would want to scale again…
Grade: C-
140 -- Imagine Dragons -- Friday, September 20, 2013 -- Merriweather Post Pavilion -- Columbia, MD
Imagine Dragons had three things stacked against them: (1) No matter how many times I listened to their debut album, I kept forgetting half of the tracks. (2) The concert was held on a Friday night, and I don’t have a great track record with shows that night. (3) The crowd had more poppy tweens than I was used to or comfortable with.
Very early on in the show, however, I started to realize that not only were these ‘problems’ not problems, they would help turn this into an A+ show. I did not have strong attachment to the album versions of a lot of the songs, so I could take in the live versions for the first time. I was used to falling asleep on Fridays, so it meant more that I was wide awake this time. And most importantly, by judging the young people I saw there, I set myself up for a huge surprise.
This was anything but a pre-packaged pre-teen arena show. It was a roaring indie-rock explosion. Young kids, young adults, college kids, and actual adults watched as the band laid waste to the stage – smashing cymbals, tearing through timpanis, chucking sticks left and right. The fact that most of the vocals (or at least the verses) were rough added to the vibe. This was Imagine Dragons unfiltered. In their own words, this was “a band who started out three years ago dirt poor in Vegas headlining the biggest stage they ever played.” I’m just glad I was there to witness it.
Live reactions below:
--- “Round and Round.” HA, they’re smashing the drums just like in the Carlock clip. Kyle was right: this band’s gonna be big.
--- So glad I got the wristband and am right up in front. This feels so exclusive haha.
--- The look of the backup guitarist is funny: like a stoner Dave Grohl, with even longer hair.
--- “Amsterdam.” Big vocal dropoff from the album. He’s half-croaking, half-speaking the verses. The soaring choruses totally work though. And I love how he waits for the crowd to finish “any other wayyyy” and “much lonnnnger.”
--- I appreciate “Tiptoe”’s empowerment message, but the sound is mediocre. No! He prompts the crowd with “nobody else…can take me higher,” and then it totally works!!
--- “This is the biggest headline show we've ever played. We're not going to act like that doesn't mean a lot to us. We're not going to try to be cool.” Awwww.
--- “Hear Me.” The song's meh, but the way Dan Reynolds destroys the cymbal is hilarious.
--- HA: “My cousins are from DC. I threw up the first time I came here. It's okay; I love you guys anyway.”
--- Why do more bands not talk with the crowd? This intro makes the song ten times better: “‘Cha Ching’ is about being dirt poor. We wrote it in an apartment in Vegas three years ago. It's on the deluxe album. If you've heard it, you're a true fan. If you haven't, you're here, so you're about to be.”
--- HA, the front rows [understandably] flip out when Reynolds flicks water from his water bottle at them.
--- “What day is it? Is it Friday? I didn't even know that. We hope you can forget about work and school and all that and just exist. Get loose.” Swoooon.
---- Love the Vampire Weekend calypso vibe in “Nothing Left to Say / Rocks."
--- “It's Time”!!! Brilliant slowdown intro, then click into it. No gimmicks, just the crowd and the band passionate delivering a really good song.
--- A rare dud: “Lay Me Down.” Evil audience members talking through it too.
--- “Demons” gets an extended heavy electric intro!! Adds variety. As do the Cold War Kids / “Stand By Me” covers.
--- Ooh, confetti balls for the Owl City-y “Underdog”!
--- “Most importantly, congrats to you guys for supporting live music.” YES.
--- “On Top Of The World”!!! The entire crowd jumps at once. Over and over again.
--- “I can't believe how many people are here.” They’re so sincere. It’s awesome.
--- “Radioactive”!!! Mega drum. It’s literally hard to hear yourself think the audience has gotten so loud. Surreal.
--- Finished with the more-restrained, lesser-known “Fallen.” It is, in its own way, just as emotional.
--- I am so getting a shirt.
Grade: A+
Very early on in the show, however, I started to realize that not only were these ‘problems’ not problems, they would help turn this into an A+ show. I did not have strong attachment to the album versions of a lot of the songs, so I could take in the live versions for the first time. I was used to falling asleep on Fridays, so it meant more that I was wide awake this time. And most importantly, by judging the young people I saw there, I set myself up for a huge surprise.
This was anything but a pre-packaged pre-teen arena show. It was a roaring indie-rock explosion. Young kids, young adults, college kids, and actual adults watched as the band laid waste to the stage – smashing cymbals, tearing through timpanis, chucking sticks left and right. The fact that most of the vocals (or at least the verses) were rough added to the vibe. This was Imagine Dragons unfiltered. In their own words, this was “a band who started out three years ago dirt poor in Vegas headlining the biggest stage they ever played.” I’m just glad I was there to witness it.
Live reactions below:
--- “Round and Round.” HA, they’re smashing the drums just like in the Carlock clip. Kyle was right: this band’s gonna be big.
--- So glad I got the wristband and am right up in front. This feels so exclusive haha.
--- The look of the backup guitarist is funny: like a stoner Dave Grohl, with even longer hair.
--- “Amsterdam.” Big vocal dropoff from the album. He’s half-croaking, half-speaking the verses. The soaring choruses totally work though. And I love how he waits for the crowd to finish “any other wayyyy” and “much lonnnnger.”
--- I appreciate “Tiptoe”’s empowerment message, but the sound is mediocre. No! He prompts the crowd with “nobody else…can take me higher,” and then it totally works!!
--- “This is the biggest headline show we've ever played. We're not going to act like that doesn't mean a lot to us. We're not going to try to be cool.” Awwww.
--- “Hear Me.” The song's meh, but the way Dan Reynolds destroys the cymbal is hilarious.
--- HA: “My cousins are from DC. I threw up the first time I came here. It's okay; I love you guys anyway.”
--- Why do more bands not talk with the crowd? This intro makes the song ten times better: “‘Cha Ching’ is about being dirt poor. We wrote it in an apartment in Vegas three years ago. It's on the deluxe album. If you've heard it, you're a true fan. If you haven't, you're here, so you're about to be.”
--- HA, the front rows [understandably] flip out when Reynolds flicks water from his water bottle at them.
--- “What day is it? Is it Friday? I didn't even know that. We hope you can forget about work and school and all that and just exist. Get loose.” Swoooon.
---- Love the Vampire Weekend calypso vibe in “Nothing Left to Say / Rocks."
--- “It's Time”!!! Brilliant slowdown intro, then click into it. No gimmicks, just the crowd and the band passionate delivering a really good song.
--- A rare dud: “Lay Me Down.” Evil audience members talking through it too.
--- “Demons” gets an extended heavy electric intro!! Adds variety. As do the Cold War Kids / “Stand By Me” covers.
--- Ooh, confetti balls for the Owl City-y “Underdog”!
--- “Most importantly, congrats to you guys for supporting live music.” YES.
--- “On Top Of The World”!!! The entire crowd jumps at once. Over and over again.
--- “I can't believe how many people are here.” They’re so sincere. It’s awesome.
--- “Radioactive”!!! Mega drum. It’s literally hard to hear yourself think the audience has gotten so loud. Surreal.
--- Finished with the more-restrained, lesser-known “Fallen.” It is, in its own way, just as emotional.
--- I am so getting a shirt.
Grade: A+
Thursday, August 22, 2013
139 – Jimmy Eat World – Sunday, August 11, 2013 – 9:30 Club – DC
Six years ago, Jimmy Eat World was my first 9:30 Club show. I have now seen them there four times, more any other 9:30 Club band. They’re not perfect, but they’re solid. You can always count on them for satisfying, guitar-driven rock. If you too are a Jimmy Eat World fan, and sometimes all you want is to hear a song you know, scroll to the bottom, and click on any of the links.
In the meantime, if you’re interested, here are some quick hits from the concert:
--- Pleasantly surprised they started with “Big Casino”
--- Less pleasantly surprised that Jim Adkins’ voice sounds strained. “Appreciation,” “Kill,” “Damage,” and “No, Never” continue the trend. The low point is “For Me This Is Heaven.” The “me” the title refers to must not be in the audience. The lack of choruses and all other background music exposes the strain – to the point that the crowd starts talking halfway through!
--- Fortunately, strangely, the strain was not evident on any other songs, and every other aspect of the show was great!
--- “A Heart is Hard to Find,” “My Best Theory,” “Work,” “Lucky Denver Mint,” “Your New Aesthetic,” “The Authority Song,” “Coffee and Cigarettes,” and “23” were all better than they’d ever been before. I especially liked the mini swing, the circle back to the ‘townie kid,’ and the guitar solo in those last three.
--- I also loved the fact that I was now at the point where I could call certain songs before they even played a note! Band ESP made me call “The Middle,” “Always Be,” and “Chase This Light” beforehand.
--- Their Taylor Swift cover was hilarious. Enough of those jagged solos and ooh-e-oohs, and I’d get back together, no questions asked.
--- It was great to share Jimmy Eat World live for the first time. Hark Tagunicar seemed to most enjoy “Futures,” “Hear You Me,” “Let It Happen,” and what I’ll call The Fantastic Four. The straight-to-the-encore march of “Pain,” “A Praise Chorus,” “Sweetness” and Bleed American” was an adrenaline RUSH. I did not take a single note for four straight songs. It felt like Rise Against; it felt like Mumford and Sons; it felt like the mark of a band I’ll be seeing for many years to come…
In the meantime, if you’re interested, here are some quick hits from the concert:
--- Pleasantly surprised they started with “Big Casino”
--- Less pleasantly surprised that Jim Adkins’ voice sounds strained. “Appreciation,” “Kill,” “Damage,” and “No, Never” continue the trend. The low point is “For Me This Is Heaven.” The “me” the title refers to must not be in the audience. The lack of choruses and all other background music exposes the strain – to the point that the crowd starts talking halfway through!
--- Fortunately, strangely, the strain was not evident on any other songs, and every other aspect of the show was great!
--- “A Heart is Hard to Find,” “My Best Theory,” “Work,” “Lucky Denver Mint,” “Your New Aesthetic,” “The Authority Song,” “Coffee and Cigarettes,” and “23” were all better than they’d ever been before. I especially liked the mini swing, the circle back to the ‘townie kid,’ and the guitar solo in those last three.
--- I also loved the fact that I was now at the point where I could call certain songs before they even played a note! Band ESP made me call “The Middle,” “Always Be,” and “Chase This Light” beforehand.
--- Their Taylor Swift cover was hilarious. Enough of those jagged solos and ooh-e-oohs, and I’d get back together, no questions asked.
--- It was great to share Jimmy Eat World live for the first time. Hark Tagunicar seemed to most enjoy “Futures,” “Hear You Me,” “Let It Happen,” and what I’ll call The Fantastic Four. The straight-to-the-encore march of “Pain,” “A Praise Chorus,” “Sweetness” and Bleed American” was an adrenaline RUSH. I did not take a single note for four straight songs. It felt like Rise Against; it felt like Mumford and Sons; it felt like the mark of a band I’ll be seeing for many years to come…
Grade: A-
138 – American Idol Season 12 Tour – Thursday, August 8, 2013 – Time Warner Cable Arena – Charlotte, NC
I’m pretty sure the few, ‘elite’ Idol viewers will be the only ones reading this, so let’s go straight to the live reactions…
--- Love the Southern hospitality as I enter the arena. “Welcome, sir.” “Thank you kindly.” “Enjoy the show, ya hear.” Now I see where awesome host Lindsay Ellis gets it from!
--- It seems that more people auditioned in Charlotte than came to see the winners?! Can’t complain about the second-row seats though.
--- Starting the show with a Ryan Seacrest video and the Idol intro music is a smart choice. You feel like you’re part of an episode.
--- Who gets the second biggest applause in the contestant countdown on the video monitor? Burnell Taylor! Candice deservedly gets first, followed by Kree third, and Angie fourth.
--- Kree and Candice shout, “Let's welcome Aubrey Cleeland!” And…no one reacts. Her performance, “[Nutra] Sweet Dreams and [Generically] Beautiful Nightmares,” doesn’t help matters.
--- Paul Jolley goes for Carrie Underwood's “Blown Away.” Well sung, but I wasn't. His rendition of Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” sounds like the waiter from Office Space trying to sing.
--- Curtis Finch Jr. shimmied out in his blindingly white suit, and I was ready to bash him. Yet, he came out and did Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man," and he tore it UP!!! He restrained himself for so long. The extended Mickey Mouse falsetto at the end was a bit much, but he earned that. Best of the night so far.
--- I may be a “Hopeless Case” when it comes to dance music, but Amber Holcomb’s bland performance did nothing to convert me.
--- The boys' “Locked Out Of Paradise” is much better. It helps that it’s a much better song. Surprised they actually said the “sex” chorus – at least it’s not “Gorilla.” Like the yellow lights and the mini spin from my new friend Curtis.
--- Devin Velez slays “Somos Novios” – especially the “mas oscuro” part. It’s impossible to see Paul Jolley doing that.
--- All these angelic, family-friendly girls perform Pitbull's “I Know You Want Me” about “getting nasty.” Awkward.
--- Burnell, in all red (heh), sings Rihanna's “Diamonds in the Sky.” Amber gradually joins in from the other side of the stage. Powerful.
--- “We Are Young” is by far the best full-group song they’ve done. Again, it helps when you have a good song. Lazaro Arbos sings for the first time haha. It’s for four seconds – he sings for another four the next song… PJ actually does well. Omg, Candice emerges, barely sings a verse, and it still stands out.
---Sigh, One Direction’s “Live While We're Young.” Fine, it's catchy -- and enjoyable to hear the screams.
--- An intermission??? First intermission in 138 concerts. A really long one too. At least Randy Jackson comes on the screen at one point and says something informative. Kidding. Randy does come on, but it’s not informative.
--- The Phillip Phillips commercial is somewhat informative. It teaches me this equation: Elliott Yamin + Jack Johnson = Phillip Phillips. Good voice, likable, but boring. None of Elliott’s runs or underdog charisma.
--- Angie Miller's cover of Jessie J's “Mamma Knows Best” on top of the piano is hot. There’s no pyrotechnics, but there’s fire. Second best of the night, half standing O. Crazy to think last year she was graduating high school. Here comes her original song! The background instruments distract, and I wish she wasn't in red / the whole thing was quieter, but still good.
--- Awwww, Janelle Arthur auditioned in Charlotte and was at the show in Nashville last year in the last row! For all its negative aspects, that’s what Idol is all about! Her cover of Keith Urban’s “Where the Blacktop Ends” is solid.
--- Lol, Lazaro is “Feelin' Good” in his all-pink ensemble. I swear, James Porter, vocally, he does a good job.
--- A good job should not get Lazaro a second song. Power slurring does not put you on the “Edge Of Glory.”
--- Kree Harrison, “Up to the Mountain”!!
--- Kree, Alabama Shakes!!! I literally shouted this band name out loud I was so pleasantly surprised. “Hold On”’s got soul. I swear she looked and motioned at me at one point. Perhaps because the rest of the crowd was AWFUL. Worst first four rows ever. I felt inappropriate getting out of my seat. She lied about how good the crowd is, but it was a lie. Brittany Howard's voice is, honestly, more varied and powerful, but "Hold On" remained the best moment of the concert.
--- Upbeat group dance number led by CANDICE GLOVER. She auditioned here too! Glad she got her single out of the way early. The whole arena swayed to it, without prompting. The lyrics made it much better than expected: “Get rejected, look yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself…I Am Beautiful.”
--- I’m biased against midtempo, but Candice’s new song about summer grew on me by the end.
--- The crowd FINALLY got its act together and gave a standing ovation for “Love Song,” by far the high point of the Idol season.
--- HA, we go from the deeply meaningful “Love Song” to a bescarfed Paul Jolley singing about wanting to touch my face. Huh?
--- The final song’s transition from Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” to Phillip Phillips’ “Gone” was clever – and, if you have to incorporate the whole group, the perfect ending.
American Idol Season 12 - Angie Miller "You Set... by FanReviews
Candice Glover - Love Song - American Idol 12... by IdolxMuzic
--- Love the Southern hospitality as I enter the arena. “Welcome, sir.” “Thank you kindly.” “Enjoy the show, ya hear.” Now I see where awesome host Lindsay Ellis gets it from!
--- It seems that more people auditioned in Charlotte than came to see the winners?! Can’t complain about the second-row seats though.
--- Starting the show with a Ryan Seacrest video and the Idol intro music is a smart choice. You feel like you’re part of an episode.
--- Who gets the second biggest applause in the contestant countdown on the video monitor? Burnell Taylor! Candice deservedly gets first, followed by Kree third, and Angie fourth.
--- Kree and Candice shout, “Let's welcome Aubrey Cleeland!” And…no one reacts. Her performance, “[Nutra] Sweet Dreams and [Generically] Beautiful Nightmares,” doesn’t help matters.
--- Paul Jolley goes for Carrie Underwood's “Blown Away.” Well sung, but I wasn't. His rendition of Rascal Flatts’ “Summer Nights” sounds like the waiter from Office Space trying to sing.
--- Curtis Finch Jr. shimmied out in his blindingly white suit, and I was ready to bash him. Yet, he came out and did Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man," and he tore it UP!!! He restrained himself for so long. The extended Mickey Mouse falsetto at the end was a bit much, but he earned that. Best of the night so far.
--- I may be a “Hopeless Case” when it comes to dance music, but Amber Holcomb’s bland performance did nothing to convert me.
--- The boys' “Locked Out Of Paradise” is much better. It helps that it’s a much better song. Surprised they actually said the “sex” chorus – at least it’s not “Gorilla.” Like the yellow lights and the mini spin from my new friend Curtis.
--- Devin Velez slays “Somos Novios” – especially the “mas oscuro” part. It’s impossible to see Paul Jolley doing that.
--- All these angelic, family-friendly girls perform Pitbull's “I Know You Want Me” about “getting nasty.” Awkward.
--- Burnell, in all red (heh), sings Rihanna's “Diamonds in the Sky.” Amber gradually joins in from the other side of the stage. Powerful.
--- “We Are Young” is by far the best full-group song they’ve done. Again, it helps when you have a good song. Lazaro Arbos sings for the first time haha. It’s for four seconds – he sings for another four the next song… PJ actually does well. Omg, Candice emerges, barely sings a verse, and it still stands out.
---Sigh, One Direction’s “Live While We're Young.” Fine, it's catchy -- and enjoyable to hear the screams.
--- An intermission??? First intermission in 138 concerts. A really long one too. At least Randy Jackson comes on the screen at one point and says something informative. Kidding. Randy does come on, but it’s not informative.
--- The Phillip Phillips commercial is somewhat informative. It teaches me this equation: Elliott Yamin + Jack Johnson = Phillip Phillips. Good voice, likable, but boring. None of Elliott’s runs or underdog charisma.
--- Angie Miller's cover of Jessie J's “Mamma Knows Best” on top of the piano is hot. There’s no pyrotechnics, but there’s fire. Second best of the night, half standing O. Crazy to think last year she was graduating high school. Here comes her original song! The background instruments distract, and I wish she wasn't in red / the whole thing was quieter, but still good.
--- Awwww, Janelle Arthur auditioned in Charlotte and was at the show in Nashville last year in the last row! For all its negative aspects, that’s what Idol is all about! Her cover of Keith Urban’s “Where the Blacktop Ends” is solid.
--- Lol, Lazaro is “Feelin' Good” in his all-pink ensemble. I swear, James Porter, vocally, he does a good job.
--- A good job should not get Lazaro a second song. Power slurring does not put you on the “Edge Of Glory.”
--- Kree Harrison, “Up to the Mountain”!!
--- Kree, Alabama Shakes!!! I literally shouted this band name out loud I was so pleasantly surprised. “Hold On”’s got soul. I swear she looked and motioned at me at one point. Perhaps because the rest of the crowd was AWFUL. Worst first four rows ever. I felt inappropriate getting out of my seat. She lied about how good the crowd is, but it was a lie. Brittany Howard's voice is, honestly, more varied and powerful, but "Hold On" remained the best moment of the concert.
--- Upbeat group dance number led by CANDICE GLOVER. She auditioned here too! Glad she got her single out of the way early. The whole arena swayed to it, without prompting. The lyrics made it much better than expected: “Get rejected, look yourself in the mirror, and tell yourself…I Am Beautiful.”
--- I’m biased against midtempo, but Candice’s new song about summer grew on me by the end.
--- The crowd FINALLY got its act together and gave a standing ovation for “Love Song,” by far the high point of the Idol season.
--- HA, we go from the deeply meaningful “Love Song” to a bescarfed Paul Jolley singing about wanting to touch my face. Huh?
--- The final song’s transition from Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone” to Phillip Phillips’ “Gone” was clever – and, if you have to incorporate the whole group, the perfect ending.
Grade: B+
American Idol Season 12 - Angie Miller "You Set... by FanReviews
Candice Glover - Love Song - American Idol 12... by IdolxMuzic
137 – B.N. Ladies – Tuesday, July 30, 2013 – Prospect Park Bandshell – Brooklyn, NY
My first Barenaked Ladies concert was way better than expected. Here are some reasons why:
--- Frontman Ed Robertson had talent. It was like listening to a professional guitarist, vocalist, and standup comedian all in one.
--- “Did I Say That Out Loud” had great lyrics: “I don't know what's got a hold of me: not alcohol, not alchemy, [it’s] greater than gravity.”
--- “Pinch Me” was soothing, as was “Lovers in a Dangerous Time,” the first song they ever released.
--- Ed Robertson’s voice was so clear. This clarity helped him even more whenever he rapped. My frustration at every rap show I’ve been to so far has been how many words get lost live. This never happened with Robertson, not during “One Week,” his impromptu Brooklyn rap, or the “Big Bang Theory Theme Song.” (The full theme song, by the way, is way longer than it is in the show.)
--- So many funny lines: “It is great to be in the fabled land of Brooklyn. I'm always seeing you in trendy shows with your handmade cutlery…I must pause and do the Sound of Music test on this piano…This entire stage seems drenched in hamburger whiff…I had a nerdgasm last week when Stephen Hawking quoted us! ”
--- My only regret was that I did not know songs like “Gonna Walk,” “Keepin’ It Real,” and “Odds Are” as well as I should have, but I can correct that next show.
--- They performed “Brian Wilson” at almost 9:30 on a Tuesday night – which is an exact line from the song!
--- “If I Had A Million Dollars” featured Ben Folds and a funk-out finale. The best part was the guy in the row behind me, singing every line, shouting how he was back to being a senior in high school – he was back to 1999!
--- One super-size song in the encore incorporated “Trouble,” “Thrift Shop,” “Scream and Shout,” “Titanium,” and “Blinded by the Light.” They played all this while literally batting monkeys and other stage props back and forth with their guitars?! Early on in the show, Robertson said that his fellow guitarist “put the pro in Prospect Park.” After listening to the encore, I’d say that applied to the whole band…
--- Frontman Ed Robertson had talent. It was like listening to a professional guitarist, vocalist, and standup comedian all in one.
--- “Did I Say That Out Loud” had great lyrics: “I don't know what's got a hold of me: not alcohol, not alchemy, [it’s] greater than gravity.”
--- “Pinch Me” was soothing, as was “Lovers in a Dangerous Time,” the first song they ever released.
--- Ed Robertson’s voice was so clear. This clarity helped him even more whenever he rapped. My frustration at every rap show I’ve been to so far has been how many words get lost live. This never happened with Robertson, not during “One Week,” his impromptu Brooklyn rap, or the “Big Bang Theory Theme Song.” (The full theme song, by the way, is way longer than it is in the show.)
--- So many funny lines: “It is great to be in the fabled land of Brooklyn. I'm always seeing you in trendy shows with your handmade cutlery…I must pause and do the Sound of Music test on this piano…This entire stage seems drenched in hamburger whiff…I had a nerdgasm last week when Stephen Hawking quoted us! ”
--- My only regret was that I did not know songs like “Gonna Walk,” “Keepin’ It Real,” and “Odds Are” as well as I should have, but I can correct that next show.
--- They performed “Brian Wilson” at almost 9:30 on a Tuesday night – which is an exact line from the song!
--- “If I Had A Million Dollars” featured Ben Folds and a funk-out finale. The best part was the guy in the row behind me, singing every line, shouting how he was back to being a senior in high school – he was back to 1999!
--- One super-size song in the encore incorporated “Trouble,” “Thrift Shop,” “Scream and Shout,” “Titanium,” and “Blinded by the Light.” They played all this while literally batting monkeys and other stage props back and forth with their guitars?! Early on in the show, Robertson said that his fellow guitarist “put the pro in Prospect Park.” After listening to the encore, I’d say that applied to the whole band…
Grade: A-
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)