Headphones On

I'm back on, still on, whatever, that ridiculous schedule that locks my mind in work or encompassed in sound. So who have I seen over the past few weeks?

The Changes/Tally Hall

I've seen some fantastic Changes shows over the past few years and while their new record will most definitely make my list of top records of the year, this show definitely will not. On a good note, I was pleasantly surprised to recognize Matt Kerstein (formerly of Scotland Yard Gospel Choir) in the first opener "Brighton, MA". Nice form as always from the gruff throat of "Boston". I did enjoy some of the "rock" reworkings of former twee-as-all-get-out SYGC songs.
Tally Hall... well what to say. I'm sure someone enjoyed the irony of the 10 minute rendition of "Freebird" that lead them onto the stage but I couldn't stand it. I watched my friend walk out the door thinking that The Changes would make up for now having to do this gig alone. But here's where the weirdness started... Tally Hall turned a complete 180 and pleasantly surprised me. Their genre-bending antics were completely fresh on-stage and I found myself really enjoying their set.
I don't want to say anything negative about The Changes, I really don't. I love their music. I *love* their record. I have the utmost respect for the member who has become my friend over the past few years but I can't call a spade a heart when it's a f*cking spade. I have never seen the band so in shambles on stage. Background vocals were too high and I could hear the off-key harmonies louder than the main vocals. They couldn't keep in sync. They just seemed like a mess. I don't understand... a few months ago I saw them play a street festival that surely has far worse sound than the Double Door but they blew my mind that night anyway. I left after about five or six songs. Sorry boys... I'll see you again but it just wasn't happening that Friday night.

Mew

Stuck late at the office again so I walked into the venue as the set change was happening... thankfully I wasn't forced to stand through the boredom of "One Thousand Pictures" again. Mew, on the other hand, are always a complete joy and I count my lucky stars they made it to Chicago twice in a month. I could ramble about flying to the guitar rhythm but I'm pretty sure if you're reading this you already understand how much I love Mew. This show seemed to feature a few more Scandinavian fans calling for older material which is always nice. To the obviously Danish boy I heard calling out for "Beautiful Balloon"... thank you, just the idea of them departing from their carved-in-stone set list and playing something only about 5 people in the venue would enjoy made me smile.

Pet Shop Boys

It's an incredibly long story why I've never seen the Pet Shop Boys, but I've spent fifteen years in wait. I don't often (errr... ever) see gigs that are more visual productions than just aural pleasures. It was worth it... all fifteen years of waiting. The lads aren't as young as they once were but they are still effervescent showmen (alright, well Neil). I found myself pondering my musical education while dancing along to "Suburbia" and the like. Quite a few of my favorite musicians owe a lot to the Pet Shop Boys and I have nothing but the utmost respect for them... so much that "Always On My Mind" brought a tear to my eye. I haven't seen a show that brought out this much unexpected emotion from me since the very first US tour for the Clientele. Even now I find it hard to talk about this show but I want to thank D from the bottom of my heart for making that night happen.

Alright, well my schedule isn't slowing anytime soon (well perhaps December, I hope) so in the meantime I'll be pondering emotional branding from the back of a few more smoke-filled venues. Next up in gig notes... Scritti Politti, Voxtrot, Pernice Brothers, Martin Carr, El Perro Del Mar and Tahiti 80. I'm off to Meet Mr. Marsden...

Buy some: Tally Hall, The Changes, Mew, Pet Shop Boys