It's Been a Long Time...

I received a surprising number of comments from people saying that I haven't updated my blog in awhile. And here I thought I was just doing this for my own sake! So to appease the masses, I have returned from hibernation (laziness) for the first post of 2008.

Since I last left you, I have attended a few shows. Here is a quick recap...

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings: Absolutely fantastic and enjoyable show. Sharon Jones has a great stage presence and her band, The Dap Kings, played great funk/soul music.



Daniel Johnston: I really didn't know what to expect going into this show. First Ave was packed and while I am sure half of the people were there for the wrong reasons, I found myself a bit torn myself. While I enjoyed Daniel's solo performance, the novelty of it all wore off when he was joined by a full band. All in all, it was nice to say I saw Daniel Johnston perform live, however I do not anticipate seeing him again.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Similar to Daniel Johnston, I think a big reason I went to this show is to say I saw The Boss. I had always heard Bruce is one of the best performers out there and I wanted to see it for myself (despite the 80 bucks for tickets). The show was certainly no let down as the whole band lived up to their reputation. Born to Run is still one of my favorite songs.

British Sea Power: I think my expectations for this show were a too high, as I found myself feeling a little disappointed most of the show. Some of the new songs fell a little flat, and they didn't play some of my favorites from their previous two albums. As the crowd thinned out, however, things got more exciting. The band got drunker and the music got looser and less structured, and ended up enjoying it a little more.

So there you have it. My winter recap of shows I attended. There is certainly a full slate on tap for the summer, as you will notice in the upcoming shows section to the right. Here is a quick run through...

Murder by Death at The Triple Rock: Not sure if I'll be attending this one, as it's on a Sunday night, though remembering the awesomeness of their last show at the Triple Rock might sway me.

Devotchka at First Ave: Will definitely be heading to this one. Similar to their last stop at First Ave, they will be joined by aerialists that will be twirling up and down tissue hanging from the rafters Cirque de Soliel style. A full horn section should help give their music the kick it seemed to be missing the last time.

The Helio Sequence at The Entry: On the fence about this one. Shows at the Entry tend to run pretty late. Their new album is probably their best album to date, however, and I have wanted to see them for a while now. We'll see.

White Rabbits at 400 Bar: Already have tickets for this one. Their debut album was one of my favorites of 2007 and everything I have heard about their live show makes this one a must.

Los Campesinos at The Varsity Theater: Probably not going to this one, but it is worth noting. Their new album is pure high energy brit pop and the show will most likely not let down.

A Silver Mt. Zion at The Varsity: May comes to a close with another appearance by these Canucks at The Varsity. Not 100% sure if I will be going to this, as I am trying to trim the number of concerts down. I am a big fan of this band, however, and since I will probably never get to see GYBE, this is the next best thing. The Varsity is the perfect setting for this show also.

Built to Spill at The Cabooze: This is part of an all day outdoor music fest dubbed Finnegan's shamROCK 2008. There are 4 or 5 other bands performing throughout the day with Built to Spill headlining. Not sure if I will see any of the other performers, but I did already purchase tickets because I love Built to Spill.

Iron and Wine: Probably not attending this one, but again, it is worth noting. Their last album is fantastic and definitely more apt for seeing live at First Ave, as they are more full band sounding than any of the others. The cost for tickets is also a detractor - $20.

Constantines at The Entry: Definitely heading to this one. I will never miss the opportunity to see The Cons. Their new album is being streamed on their MySpace page before it's release at the end of the month. While it is hard to say it is their best yet and all of their albums are great, it will certainly not disappoint.

Rock the Garden at The Walker: This is another all day outdoor fest that includes New Pornographers, Bon Iver, Cloud Cult, and Andrew Bird. A pretty stellar line up if you ask me. Not entirely sure if I will be in town for it, however.

Ween at Roy Wilkins: Need I say more? Too bad it is at Roy Wilkins, though. I am dying to see the guys at The Zoo.

Lollapalooza: Without question, the best headlining acts of all the summer music festivals this year - Radiohead, NIN, Wilco, Rage Against the Machine, Kanye West, not to mention the 115 other bands. This will definitely be a great way to go out for the summer concert season.