Another Monday, another set of sensationalistic headlines and the requisite cast of talking heads offering their sound and fury, yet offering us nothing of substance. So what's on today's agenda?
- Elena Kagan has been put forth by Obama as his nominee for the Supreme Court. Cue the GOP and their right-wing minions in the media and blogosphere to begin a new wave of contrarianism. Then cue left-wing apologists taking the bait and addressing the nonsense brought up by the right in the first place. This is already old and we haven't even had the first attempt by the GOP to block her confirmation. Honestly, I don't know a thing about this woman other than the blurbs that accompany the headlines, so it's possible she's the best nominee possible... or she could be a rube with no idea how to conduct herself. Who wants to bet that neither will be the issue being discussed on cable shows.
- BP failed to stem the flow of oil in the Gulf, so now they are reaching out to every engineer on the planet in the hopes that someone will have an Einstein-level solution. Again, cue each side's activist groups shouting loudly about everything except what matters most: fixing the problem. Yes, we'll get left-wingers screaming about how this is the failure of large, oil companies to care about the environment, and right-wingers screaming about how this is actually not a big deal and left-wingers are blowing it out of proportion in order to make political hay. Irony. I guess we need a giant rubber band.
- The whole Arizona immigration law thing. This just boggles my mind. How can two sides ostensibly agree that there is a problem yet be so far apart on what constitutes an acceptable solution? It is just as egregious a failure to ignore the concerns of those who live in Arizona and have to deal directly with this issue as it is for those same people to use a ridiculous "nuclear" option. But we're apparently just a nation of extremists now. Being moderate and logical in thought just won't do. No, it's about who can shout loudest and appear to be most aggrieved.
Black is white; white is black; Democrats are hard-liners; Republicans are revolutionaries; liberals are hawks; conservatives are victims; moderates are crazy; extremists are rational. And I've contributed nothing; no answers. Welcome to Monday!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Another Night Out
He & She have been making a point of seeing more local, live music lately. Radio Radio has made a valiant attempt to shed its previous reputation for providing glowing reviews of bands whose music did not deliver on the promise of the articles. Or maybe RR's booking guy just likes everything. Either way, we've made it a semi-regular destination in the past few months, and we recently ventured out to catch a band that had intrigued He & She because of its particular make-up. Drummer consists of - yep, you guessed it - a collection of drummers from various bands playing other instruments (except for, well, the actual drummer). It was begun by the drummer for the Black Keys, and their debut release was put out on the Keys' label. Sadly, on this particular night at least, this band just wasn't very good. I hadn't read much more than the basics on the band, so I guess I assumed a band comprised of percussionists and calling themselves Drummer would be fairly groove-oriented, especially with the Keys' funky blues-heavy drummer plucking on the bass. Alas, Drummer has settled for the staid sounds of pop-garage bands across the country, and their vocalist's strained and off-key delivery made them sound more garage than pop.
This would have been a sad return to the days of underwhelming music viewed on the advice of overwrought reviews had it not been for the opener. Another band on the Keys' label was along for the Drummer ride, yet they are far superior in every department. Royal Bangs is a rollicking good time, with a lead singer pulling double- and even triple-duty in a variety of ways. In fact, they'd fit the moniker of Drummer better than the act they supported because their sound is heavily percussive. It's also dreamy garage rock made from the heart. As they sweat through their set, their energy continued to elevate the crowd. I'm always pleased to find a gem, and Royal Bangs is definitely one. Their singer's Zach Galifianakis looks and earnest indie-rock vocal stylings lend a nice DIY aesthetic, and then his talents go on to round out a talented crew of musicians.
I even picked up their most recent album, and a few listens prompted me to pick up their first a couple days later. They have an infectious sound; sometimes a little funky and sometimes just rock. And on this particular night, very entertaining. I recommend some youtube and Rhapsody research. But skip the Drummer.
This would have been a sad return to the days of underwhelming music viewed on the advice of overwrought reviews had it not been for the opener. Another band on the Keys' label was along for the Drummer ride, yet they are far superior in every department. Royal Bangs is a rollicking good time, with a lead singer pulling double- and even triple-duty in a variety of ways. In fact, they'd fit the moniker of Drummer better than the act they supported because their sound is heavily percussive. It's also dreamy garage rock made from the heart. As they sweat through their set, their energy continued to elevate the crowd. I'm always pleased to find a gem, and Royal Bangs is definitely one. Their singer's Zach Galifianakis looks and earnest indie-rock vocal stylings lend a nice DIY aesthetic, and then his talents go on to round out a talented crew of musicians.
I even picked up their most recent album, and a few listens prompted me to pick up their first a couple days later. They have an infectious sound; sometimes a little funky and sometimes just rock. And on this particular night, very entertaining. I recommend some youtube and Rhapsody research. But skip the Drummer.
Friday, August 28, 2009
An Evening of Minor Research
So, for no apparent reason, I decided to take an hour or so last evening to do some basic research. It wasn't terribly scientific, so draw conclusions at your own risk. And frankly, what I found really just reinforced my prior thinking. But let me set the stage.
I got home after work and began the typical channel-flipping exercise to wash away the workday's inanity (and replace it with the media's inanity). After perusing my cable guide for a few minutes, I decided to give Fox News' Glenn Beck a look. Beck's been in the news recently for apparently accusing POTUS Obama of being a racist, as well as just generally being a Fox blowhard. I think I tuned in to see how objective his comments and guests were, as well as the general tone of Fox as compared to other cable news networks. I watched about 40 minutes of this show, which is interspersed with live updates from the Fox News desk anchor, and followed it up with another 25 minutes or so of CNN, which was showing Wolf Blitzer's take on things. Wolf and his panel were focusing entirely on Kennedy's passing, and one panelist in particular carried the love-fest a bit over the top. Yes, CNN's a bit to the left. But that paled in comparison to the antics going on over at Fox with Glenn. At some point his discussion turned to a comment Obama made awhile back in which he referred to a "civilian national security force." I was especially intrigued because I've heard some rumblings on this and I was anxious to get more info, as it's just not garnered much attention. The comment itself appears to be a throw-away line in the middle of a speech he made touting his desire to increase the size and funding of American volunteer/service groups like the Peace Corps, Americorps, and USA Freedom Corps. But he does specifically say "civilian national security force," and that gives me pause. Does Obama want his own security force to rival the military, a la Hitler's Brown shirts? Well, according to Beck's panel, that's precisely what Obama wants. And the commentary and criticism went right into discussing how much this would cost and the implications of having a security force that answered only to the POTUS. Which would have been fine if they'd also taken the time to define Obama's plan and its stated intentions. But they went straight past this and right into speculating entirely. Now I'll be honest, I don't know what Obama's plan on this is. Given the context of the statement, I'm inclined to lean toward it meaning that he wants a strong volunteer/service oriented American populace to tackle issues that our already strained resources cannot handle. But due diligence had me investigating further. And guess what... of the first 10 responses to my Yahoo search, 9 were blatantly right-wing blogs speculating wildly on the potential negative ramifications, and 1 was from FactCheck.org detailing the history of the statement. I saw no sites going into detail on the facts, nor any from Obama clarifying the statement itself.
But these are cable shows. Objectivity is not their stock in trade. Wolf and his panel couldn't stop kissing Kennedy's ass, nor could Glenn and his panel stop speculating on how iron-fisted the Obama regime would utilize this new service corps that would rival the size of the military. Neither of them could... until the commerical breaks. And that's when the stark contrast between these 2 networks really shone through.
CNN broke to commercial far less often while I was watching. I'm not sure how they managed to structure that, or maybe I wasn't paying as close attention. But their commercials were pretty generic consumer stuff, with an abundance of promos for other CNN programming. They seem pretty adamant that we all watch Anderson Cooper. Meh... maybe. But Fox... wow! For 3 straight commercial breaks they made it undoubtedly clear where their allegiances lay. 2 "paid for by" commercials completely lambasting Obama for, first, having a corrupt administration, and then for deceiving the American public on healthcare. In between, we had G. Gordon Liddy - everyone's favorite public burglar and advocate of shooting ATF agents in the head - hawking... wait for it... GOLD. The Fox message seems to be: we hate anything/everything Obama does, and oh yeah, let's buy gold!
Like I said, I didn't really learn anything new or draw any mind-blowing conclusions. It was just a fun exercise while killing time before a truly mind-numbing experience: going to the mall. To be honest, I can't recommend either.
I got home after work and began the typical channel-flipping exercise to wash away the workday's inanity (and replace it with the media's inanity). After perusing my cable guide for a few minutes, I decided to give Fox News' Glenn Beck a look. Beck's been in the news recently for apparently accusing POTUS Obama of being a racist, as well as just generally being a Fox blowhard. I think I tuned in to see how objective his comments and guests were, as well as the general tone of Fox as compared to other cable news networks. I watched about 40 minutes of this show, which is interspersed with live updates from the Fox News desk anchor, and followed it up with another 25 minutes or so of CNN, which was showing Wolf Blitzer's take on things. Wolf and his panel were focusing entirely on Kennedy's passing, and one panelist in particular carried the love-fest a bit over the top. Yes, CNN's a bit to the left. But that paled in comparison to the antics going on over at Fox with Glenn. At some point his discussion turned to a comment Obama made awhile back in which he referred to a "civilian national security force." I was especially intrigued because I've heard some rumblings on this and I was anxious to get more info, as it's just not garnered much attention. The comment itself appears to be a throw-away line in the middle of a speech he made touting his desire to increase the size and funding of American volunteer/service groups like the Peace Corps, Americorps, and USA Freedom Corps. But he does specifically say "civilian national security force," and that gives me pause. Does Obama want his own security force to rival the military, a la Hitler's Brown shirts? Well, according to Beck's panel, that's precisely what Obama wants. And the commentary and criticism went right into discussing how much this would cost and the implications of having a security force that answered only to the POTUS. Which would have been fine if they'd also taken the time to define Obama's plan and its stated intentions. But they went straight past this and right into speculating entirely. Now I'll be honest, I don't know what Obama's plan on this is. Given the context of the statement, I'm inclined to lean toward it meaning that he wants a strong volunteer/service oriented American populace to tackle issues that our already strained resources cannot handle. But due diligence had me investigating further. And guess what... of the first 10 responses to my Yahoo search, 9 were blatantly right-wing blogs speculating wildly on the potential negative ramifications, and 1 was from FactCheck.org detailing the history of the statement. I saw no sites going into detail on the facts, nor any from Obama clarifying the statement itself.
But these are cable shows. Objectivity is not their stock in trade. Wolf and his panel couldn't stop kissing Kennedy's ass, nor could Glenn and his panel stop speculating on how iron-fisted the Obama regime would utilize this new service corps that would rival the size of the military. Neither of them could... until the commerical breaks. And that's when the stark contrast between these 2 networks really shone through.
CNN broke to commercial far less often while I was watching. I'm not sure how they managed to structure that, or maybe I wasn't paying as close attention. But their commercials were pretty generic consumer stuff, with an abundance of promos for other CNN programming. They seem pretty adamant that we all watch Anderson Cooper. Meh... maybe. But Fox... wow! For 3 straight commercial breaks they made it undoubtedly clear where their allegiances lay. 2 "paid for by" commercials completely lambasting Obama for, first, having a corrupt administration, and then for deceiving the American public on healthcare. In between, we had G. Gordon Liddy - everyone's favorite public burglar and advocate of shooting ATF agents in the head - hawking... wait for it... GOLD. The Fox message seems to be: we hate anything/everything Obama does, and oh yeah, let's buy gold!
Like I said, I didn't really learn anything new or draw any mind-blowing conclusions. It was just a fun exercise while killing time before a truly mind-numbing experience: going to the mall. To be honest, I can't recommend either.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
He Said: All Hail the Kings!
He and She embarked on another night on the town Wednesday evening. This time, as ever, was in pursuit of great live music, as well as general merriment. So off we went to the Murat Theatre in downtown Indy to see Kings of Leon, a gritty rock band hailing from Nashville, TN. We had seen them once previously, at Lollapalooza 07, where they were joined onstage by Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder for their finale. In the intervening months they have released 2 more albums and amassed a following robust enough to sell out most of their mid-size venue shows so far on this tour. Hot on the release of their latest singles "Crawl" and "Sex on Fire", this show was sure to rock us... and we were not disappointed in the least.
Arriving early enough to enjoy some beers in the lounge, mingle, and people-watch, we grew visibly excited by the minute. We kept time with the opening band, The Whigs, via several CCTVs and speakers, and finally decided to head to our seats just as they were ending. A short break to allow the roadies to check the stage, and then came the Kings. All I can say is WOW! This is good old American rock-n-roll. But the beauty of them - at least at the moment - is they are on the rise, so they are not yet jaded by fame; they had as much fun as the crowd. Every song is full of power and emotion, and every note is played with the same raw energy as the previous. Given that the 3 brothers in the band grew up touring the country playing Pentecostal revivals, it's no surprise that so many of their songs have an almost gospel-sing-along quality. But don't let that fool you, this is straight up ROCK, and they know how to bring it. As Caleb belted out his lead vocals, the crowd matched him with ferocity. At the ballads, lighters flickered and young lovers swayed. At the jams, hair flew and heads bounced. Do you get the scene? Good.
Playing nearly every familiar song they have, as well as a good portion of the new album, their setlist was solid. They thanked the crowd and headed offstage as we all stood for the obligatory applause-until-encore. They returned for 3 more songs, though unfortunately a few sound issues hampered them (apparently a broken guitar string and a blown bass stack). But they dutifully and energetically finished us off with another favorite, giving us plenty for the night.
And because He and She don't like evenings to end before midnight, we trekked down to Chatham Tap for a late pizza and beers. The perfect cap to a great rock show.
Kings of Leon: go see them.. if you can get tix. These guys are hot, and they show no signs of cooling off or even taking a break anytime soon!
Arriving early enough to enjoy some beers in the lounge, mingle, and people-watch, we grew visibly excited by the minute. We kept time with the opening band, The Whigs, via several CCTVs and speakers, and finally decided to head to our seats just as they were ending. A short break to allow the roadies to check the stage, and then came the Kings. All I can say is WOW! This is good old American rock-n-roll. But the beauty of them - at least at the moment - is they are on the rise, so they are not yet jaded by fame; they had as much fun as the crowd. Every song is full of power and emotion, and every note is played with the same raw energy as the previous. Given that the 3 brothers in the band grew up touring the country playing Pentecostal revivals, it's no surprise that so many of their songs have an almost gospel-sing-along quality. But don't let that fool you, this is straight up ROCK, and they know how to bring it. As Caleb belted out his lead vocals, the crowd matched him with ferocity. At the ballads, lighters flickered and young lovers swayed. At the jams, hair flew and heads bounced. Do you get the scene? Good.
Playing nearly every familiar song they have, as well as a good portion of the new album, their setlist was solid. They thanked the crowd and headed offstage as we all stood for the obligatory applause-until-encore. They returned for 3 more songs, though unfortunately a few sound issues hampered them (apparently a broken guitar string and a blown bass stack). But they dutifully and energetically finished us off with another favorite, giving us plenty for the night.
And because He and She don't like evenings to end before midnight, we trekked down to Chatham Tap for a late pizza and beers. The perfect cap to a great rock show.
Kings of Leon: go see them.. if you can get tix. These guys are hot, and they show no signs of cooling off or even taking a break anytime soon!
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
He Said: Lollapalooza Still Rocks
Hi there! He has returned to regale you with tales from the Windy City. He and She packed up the car and went 3 hours north to Chicago for the latest installment that is Lollapalooza. Lolla has changed a bit since it's heady days of the 90s spent traversing the country and setting up small carnivals at each stop. Lolla is now a 3-day event held in Grant Park, bordered by Lake Michigan and using the beautiful downtown skyline as a back-drop.
He and She attended last year's festival and were given many pleasant surprises but saw a few opportunities for improving our own experience. So we were both excited to have planned well in advance to ensure another fun weekend. Arriving in the afternoon on Friday our first major band was the Black Keys. A fierce 2-piece pumping out heavy blues rock truly set the stage for the weekend of music to come. With 8 stages and no shortage of food and alcohol vendors and other distractions, Lollapalooza attempts to cover all bases.
Cat Power's sultry cover sound was our next destination, and she did not disappoint. Covers sound like a shortcut in many ways, but when you hear her voice and see her prowling the stage while re-animating some great tunes you know she's worth it. But Cat Power was just an appetizer as the band that would crown the weekend was up next: The Raconteurs. Jack White may be more well known for his 2-piece collaboration with sister Meg in the White Stripes, but his band full of high-school friends seems to be where his heart lies. Raw rock just doesn't get any better than this, and Jack poured every ounce of sweat into this performance - as did the entire band. We were engrossed from the off, and they never let the crowd rest.
Radiohead headlined the opening day and, while I'm not a huge fan, they did not disappoint. Their sound is a bit too mellow-psychedelic for such a large atmosphere, but they created a good vibe and were certainly worthy of their billing. But the fun was just beginning. Saturday saw us enduring some sound issues that apparently popped up late due to city complaints, but the sound guys did their best to balance it all out on the fly. Not an easy task, especially with stages so near to each other. The worst sound issue was on Perry Farrell's small stage where he was to perform with special guest Slash. Unfortunately, their sound issues were too much and nothing could be played. Ever the good sport and entertainer, Perry led the crowd in a sing-along version of "Jane Said" while Slash held his young kid and soaked in the crowd.
DeVotchka's odd brand of Eastern European-inspired rock got the buzz going again and, after some confusion thinking MGMT were Booka Shade and vice versa, we found ourselves bobbing our heads in time with the very electronica-based Booka Shade. While so many other electro acts are switching to laptops, Booka Shade has gone a bit old-school electro with a live drummer (on electric drums) and a producer. This allowed them to reel the crowd into their unique sound. Perhaps better suited for a club, they still carried the torch for the dance crowd missing the presence of anyone approaching last year's headliners Daft Punk.
Spank Rock, Jamie Lidell, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco and then the Toadies kept our pace (along with numerous reasonably priced Bud Lights!) as we prepared for the main event (at least for me) of the weekend: Rage Against the Machine. Quick aside - I had tix to see RATM and the Beastie Boys on tour back in the late 90s; a bike accident by Mike D put that tour on hiatus, during which RATM decided they just couldn't work together. Nearly 10 years and several side projects later, RATM returned to Lollapalooza as part of their reunion tour, and they can certainly still bring it. Unfortunately, "it" can sometimes be so much energy that everyone gets swept up in their own emotions. After walking out to airhorns, they let fly with "Testify" (my personal fave), which got everyone going. Then came "Bulls on Parade," and that's exactly what it was. Apparently too close to several mosh pits, many in our section panicked and attempted to get out even as the growing crowd was still surging into the show. Fearing for our own safety and others, He and She grabbed tight, supported others being pushed and nearly trampled, and made our way to the edge of the front section. At the time we were completely unaware, but apparently over 2000 people attempted to storm a gate to get into the show illegally; several hundred supposedly made it in and bull-rushed the steps we were attemtping to access. Still in throng, we made our way to a safe distance further back. Rage frontman Zach de la Rocha stopped the show on 3 separate occasions so safety workers could get a few people out and to restore some order. But Zach's brand of order is to tell the crowd to "save that shit for the streets!" Ever the prophet. But, from our safer vantage point, RATM rocked the city, rarely pausing so they could get their full setlist in. They played every one of the favorites. And while I certainly was glad to finally see them, I can't help but feel the energy suffered because of the crowd issues. That said, where are they playing next?
Sunday rolled around and our treat for arriving before noon was to catch The Octopus Project. A collection of multi-talented musicians who routinely swap instruments - midsong! - they were just the tonic to start the final day. What Made Milwaukee Famous - great band name - were another pleasant surprise on our way to The Gutter Twins, fronted by rock vets who knew precisely how to sway the crowd. But it was Brazilian Girls (strangely, not Brazilian, only 1 girl) who really heated things up. Their crafty blend of sex-pop, electro, and rock really engaged the crowd, though perhaps so did the skimpy outfit worn by their Argentine lead singer. Twirling her parasol in the blazing sun, she chatted coyly with the crowd reminding us that "it's all about ASS, not US!"
With little effort, She persuaded He to check out Newton Faulkner, and that was yet another surprise of the weekend. Faulkner's mixture of pop-folk combined with his virtuoso guitar playing, alternating between strumming and playing it like a drum, and sing-along style will surely have his star shining bright in the months to come.
So back to the south end of the park for the final push: G Love & Special Sauce, Blues Traveler, Gnarls Barkley, and then Mark Ronson all paved the way for the double-headline of Kanye West, who apparently arrived by spaceship, and Nine Inch Nails (who, surprisingly, did not). Kanye opened strong but levelled off, so we decided to cap the weekend with NIN. Trent Reznor has mellowed a bit, but not so much that he's forgotten his roots. After a few of his more somber and quiet pieces, he paused to reflect on being on the original Lolla tour with Perry before launching into several of the band's more well-known hits.
So, many ups, only a few downs, a weekend of great music (we counted up that we actually saw 32 bands!), sunshine, and well past a few hundred thousand people all made for a terrific experience. Lollapalooza has been around for 17 years and appears to have no end in sight. He and She will be back next year!
He and She attended last year's festival and were given many pleasant surprises but saw a few opportunities for improving our own experience. So we were both excited to have planned well in advance to ensure another fun weekend. Arriving in the afternoon on Friday our first major band was the Black Keys. A fierce 2-piece pumping out heavy blues rock truly set the stage for the weekend of music to come. With 8 stages and no shortage of food and alcohol vendors and other distractions, Lollapalooza attempts to cover all bases.
Cat Power's sultry cover sound was our next destination, and she did not disappoint. Covers sound like a shortcut in many ways, but when you hear her voice and see her prowling the stage while re-animating some great tunes you know she's worth it. But Cat Power was just an appetizer as the band that would crown the weekend was up next: The Raconteurs. Jack White may be more well known for his 2-piece collaboration with sister Meg in the White Stripes, but his band full of high-school friends seems to be where his heart lies. Raw rock just doesn't get any better than this, and Jack poured every ounce of sweat into this performance - as did the entire band. We were engrossed from the off, and they never let the crowd rest.
Radiohead headlined the opening day and, while I'm not a huge fan, they did not disappoint. Their sound is a bit too mellow-psychedelic for such a large atmosphere, but they created a good vibe and were certainly worthy of their billing. But the fun was just beginning. Saturday saw us enduring some sound issues that apparently popped up late due to city complaints, but the sound guys did their best to balance it all out on the fly. Not an easy task, especially with stages so near to each other. The worst sound issue was on Perry Farrell's small stage where he was to perform with special guest Slash. Unfortunately, their sound issues were too much and nothing could be played. Ever the good sport and entertainer, Perry led the crowd in a sing-along version of "Jane Said" while Slash held his young kid and soaked in the crowd.
DeVotchka's odd brand of Eastern European-inspired rock got the buzz going again and, after some confusion thinking MGMT were Booka Shade and vice versa, we found ourselves bobbing our heads in time with the very electronica-based Booka Shade. While so many other electro acts are switching to laptops, Booka Shade has gone a bit old-school electro with a live drummer (on electric drums) and a producer. This allowed them to reel the crowd into their unique sound. Perhaps better suited for a club, they still carried the torch for the dance crowd missing the presence of anyone approaching last year's headliners Daft Punk.
Spank Rock, Jamie Lidell, Broken Social Scene, Lupe Fiasco and then the Toadies kept our pace (along with numerous reasonably priced Bud Lights!) as we prepared for the main event (at least for me) of the weekend: Rage Against the Machine. Quick aside - I had tix to see RATM and the Beastie Boys on tour back in the late 90s; a bike accident by Mike D put that tour on hiatus, during which RATM decided they just couldn't work together. Nearly 10 years and several side projects later, RATM returned to Lollapalooza as part of their reunion tour, and they can certainly still bring it. Unfortunately, "it" can sometimes be so much energy that everyone gets swept up in their own emotions. After walking out to airhorns, they let fly with "Testify" (my personal fave), which got everyone going. Then came "Bulls on Parade," and that's exactly what it was. Apparently too close to several mosh pits, many in our section panicked and attempted to get out even as the growing crowd was still surging into the show. Fearing for our own safety and others, He and She grabbed tight, supported others being pushed and nearly trampled, and made our way to the edge of the front section. At the time we were completely unaware, but apparently over 2000 people attempted to storm a gate to get into the show illegally; several hundred supposedly made it in and bull-rushed the steps we were attemtping to access. Still in throng, we made our way to a safe distance further back. Rage frontman Zach de la Rocha stopped the show on 3 separate occasions so safety workers could get a few people out and to restore some order. But Zach's brand of order is to tell the crowd to "save that shit for the streets!" Ever the prophet. But, from our safer vantage point, RATM rocked the city, rarely pausing so they could get their full setlist in. They played every one of the favorites. And while I certainly was glad to finally see them, I can't help but feel the energy suffered because of the crowd issues. That said, where are they playing next?
Sunday rolled around and our treat for arriving before noon was to catch The Octopus Project. A collection of multi-talented musicians who routinely swap instruments - midsong! - they were just the tonic to start the final day. What Made Milwaukee Famous - great band name - were another pleasant surprise on our way to The Gutter Twins, fronted by rock vets who knew precisely how to sway the crowd. But it was Brazilian Girls (strangely, not Brazilian, only 1 girl) who really heated things up. Their crafty blend of sex-pop, electro, and rock really engaged the crowd, though perhaps so did the skimpy outfit worn by their Argentine lead singer. Twirling her parasol in the blazing sun, she chatted coyly with the crowd reminding us that "it's all about ASS, not US!"
With little effort, She persuaded He to check out Newton Faulkner, and that was yet another surprise of the weekend. Faulkner's mixture of pop-folk combined with his virtuoso guitar playing, alternating between strumming and playing it like a drum, and sing-along style will surely have his star shining bright in the months to come.
So back to the south end of the park for the final push: G Love & Special Sauce, Blues Traveler, Gnarls Barkley, and then Mark Ronson all paved the way for the double-headline of Kanye West, who apparently arrived by spaceship, and Nine Inch Nails (who, surprisingly, did not). Kanye opened strong but levelled off, so we decided to cap the weekend with NIN. Trent Reznor has mellowed a bit, but not so much that he's forgotten his roots. After a few of his more somber and quiet pieces, he paused to reflect on being on the original Lolla tour with Perry before launching into several of the band's more well-known hits.
So, many ups, only a few downs, a weekend of great music (we counted up that we actually saw 32 bands!), sunshine, and well past a few hundred thousand people all made for a terrific experience. Lollapalooza has been around for 17 years and appears to have no end in sight. He and She will be back next year!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
She Said- Best Bars, Part 1
She says bars are a wonderful thing. And nothing better than tipping one back over a good conversation with a kindred spirit. Which is why She's favorite place for a drink is bellied up to the bar next to He who understands and shares her passion for drink. But some bars do lend themselves to the experience so let me chime in and share my thoughts on bars not to be missed.
The Ten Bells- London, England
Some dripping in worn out velvet, some with torn leather stretched across broken down cushions, and all sporting the knicks and dings of a century; the furniture in The Ten Bells begins a story of dilapidated decadence that one can't wait to hear. Over a drink. Or two. Or as many as it takes. One might think that as famous as the bar's history is- and considering the London Walks Jack the Ripper tour ends just across the street- that the place would be crawling with tourists. And it was, for a drink's length, but then the sightseers moved on. Except for us. Never quick to leave a bar, we stayed and let our imaginations soak up the atmosphere radiating off of these relics of Victorian London's underbelly while our blood streams soaked up the generously poured drinks. As we stayed the local crowd started filing in for their Friday night fun showing the Ten Bells as the current incarnation of it's past self. Almost. No apparent prostitutes, but certainly a ne'erdowell's neighborhood pub where you are welcome to have one too many. Just my sort of place.
The Ten Bells- London, England
Some dripping in worn out velvet, some with torn leather stretched across broken down cushions, and all sporting the knicks and dings of a century; the furniture in The Ten Bells begins a story of dilapidated decadence that one can't wait to hear. Over a drink. Or two. Or as many as it takes. One might think that as famous as the bar's history is- and considering the London Walks Jack the Ripper tour ends just across the street- that the place would be crawling with tourists. And it was, for a drink's length, but then the sightseers moved on. Except for us. Never quick to leave a bar, we stayed and let our imaginations soak up the atmosphere radiating off of these relics of Victorian London's underbelly while our blood streams soaked up the generously poured drinks. As we stayed the local crowd started filing in for their Friday night fun showing the Ten Bells as the current incarnation of it's past self. Almost. No apparent prostitutes, but certainly a ne'erdowell's neighborhood pub where you are welcome to have one too many. Just my sort of place.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
He Said: My Favorite Watering Holes!
As will become very obvious after viewing our blog, He&She very much enjoy going out, having some drinks, and being very social. We love the nightlife, we got to boogie!
So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my favorite bars from my many journeys... (as with any of my opinions, this list is subject to change... at a moment's notice)
1) The Ten Bells, London - some of you may recognize this name from the Johnny Depp thriller, From Hell, based on the Jack the Ripper killings. It is indeed a real pub, and was frequented by the prossies infamously sliced up in the late 1800s. Great for having a couple pints (or 6) while relaxing in a 200-year-old low-backed wooden chair and chatting about the eerie part of London you've found yourself in. Pay special attention to the newspaper clippings from the day depicting the killings in cartoonish detail.
2) The Trafford, Manchester - this is the official supporters bar for Manchester United fans and on game day you must present a match ticket for entry. I visited on the day that Manchester raised the trophy for the Premier League, and the atmosphere was the most amazing I've ever been a part of. Singing, funny hats, double-fisting pints, more singing, more pints, and the happiest clientele you can imagine. A must for MUFC fans!
3) The Rock Classic Bar, Brussels - this one makes the list because we simply had so much fun there one evening, but it's definitely a unique place. We spent the first portion of the evening in a small room adjacent to the main bar, and it is a bit more of a lounge with some darker, moody music playing; not quite goth, but plenty of velvet. After a drink, we grabbed a table in the main bar area. Not very large, and not typically our style, but the heavy rock played all night and had us head-banging and laughing the whole time. Special props to the fun bartenders who seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the patrons.
4) The Wellington, Indianapolis - the only Indy bar on my list, this place has the look and feel of a quaint English pub. It's also the place where He met She for the first time, and that has to count for something. Friendly staff, excellent beers, and it's connected to a fantastic restaurant (Corner Wine Bar). I am especially fond of the brocade couch and small iron tables.
5) Sonotheque, Chicago - giving the appearance of a small, upscale club/lounge, this gem features a wall-length bar and chromed couches. Despite how that sounds, the feel is very casual, AND you can get a Heineken for $3.50. Where else in Chicago are you going to find that? Sonotheque specializes in ever-changing nights of eclectic music, mostly hip-hop and electronic-based. We saw Diplo with A-Trak tag-teaming on the decks, standing about 10 feet from them. If I lived in Chi, I'd be there weekly.
6) Satellite Sports Cafe, Amsterdam - Located in the very active nightlife area known as the Leidseplein, the SSC holds down one corner of "Pancake Square." This is Mokum's version of a sports bar, and do they ever get it right. With TVs visible from nearly every square inch (and every square inch gets filled!), games ranging from the FA Cup to the Fiesta Bowl, outdoor seating (with huge heaters in the winter), and pretty waitstaff who apparently got dressed to go clubbing before heading to work, this is THE place to catch a game or simply grab a quick bite before visiting everything else within walking distance. And since it's open 24 hours, it's also a great place to have one last drink (or just coffee, depending on the staff!) before calling it a night.
7) Vision, Chicago - My taste for electronic music is disproportionate to my enjoyment of spending late nights in loud, thumping clubs, but I do occasionally like to see some of my favorite acts live, and this is Chicago's answer. A massive club that is actually 3 in 1, this darkly lit and very loud hotspot completely immerses your senses. If you enjoy the clubbing experience, you'd have to hit Ibiza to find a place to rival Vision.
8) Rasta Baby, Amsterdam - there is simply nothing else like it around here. One of the rare coffeeshops that also sells liquor (a rarity in A'dam, and perhaps no longer legal if some rumors are to be believed), as the name implies this is a reggae joint. Upon entering through the solarium, you find yourself immersed in the iry riddims and foggy scents that cloud this small establishment. I also tried genever here for the first time; a local liquor that tastes like whiskey/tequila with a bite. Yum! They offer fine "products" and have a very friendly staff. But careful, this is one place where it's easy to spend several hours before you even realize it!
9) The Doors Coffeeshop, Amsterdam - half bar/half coffeeshop, this is my favorite hangout in the 'Dam. The bar itself is small, but the room is spacious and the staff is very friendly. A huge variety of products, cold Heineken, and an ever-changing selection of music fills this local establishment and gives it a cozy feel. Helpful tip: DO NOT sit in the seat at the far end of the bar by the wall!
10) Chumley's, NYC - if you don't know how to get to it, you're never going to find it! But we had a great tour guide when we visited NYC a few years back (Thanks, Gurnsey!), and she took us to this historical icon. It's a cozy former speakeasy, evoking a far different era. The walls are adorned with famous writers who once shared the small wooden tables, as well as with modern-day reminders of the local heroes of 9/11. Off the beaten path, but worth an afternoon's or evening's visit to sit back and pretend you're Kerouac.
So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my favorite bars from my many journeys... (as with any of my opinions, this list is subject to change... at a moment's notice)
1) The Ten Bells, London - some of you may recognize this name from the Johnny Depp thriller, From Hell, based on the Jack the Ripper killings. It is indeed a real pub, and was frequented by the prossies infamously sliced up in the late 1800s. Great for having a couple pints (or 6) while relaxing in a 200-year-old low-backed wooden chair and chatting about the eerie part of London you've found yourself in. Pay special attention to the newspaper clippings from the day depicting the killings in cartoonish detail.
2) The Trafford, Manchester - this is the official supporters bar for Manchester United fans and on game day you must present a match ticket for entry. I visited on the day that Manchester raised the trophy for the Premier League, and the atmosphere was the most amazing I've ever been a part of. Singing, funny hats, double-fisting pints, more singing, more pints, and the happiest clientele you can imagine. A must for MUFC fans!
3) The Rock Classic Bar, Brussels - this one makes the list because we simply had so much fun there one evening, but it's definitely a unique place. We spent the first portion of the evening in a small room adjacent to the main bar, and it is a bit more of a lounge with some darker, moody music playing; not quite goth, but plenty of velvet. After a drink, we grabbed a table in the main bar area. Not very large, and not typically our style, but the heavy rock played all night and had us head-banging and laughing the whole time. Special props to the fun bartenders who seemed to be enjoying themselves as much as the patrons.
4) The Wellington, Indianapolis - the only Indy bar on my list, this place has the look and feel of a quaint English pub. It's also the place where He met She for the first time, and that has to count for something. Friendly staff, excellent beers, and it's connected to a fantastic restaurant (Corner Wine Bar). I am especially fond of the brocade couch and small iron tables.
5) Sonotheque, Chicago - giving the appearance of a small, upscale club/lounge, this gem features a wall-length bar and chromed couches. Despite how that sounds, the feel is very casual, AND you can get a Heineken for $3.50. Where else in Chicago are you going to find that? Sonotheque specializes in ever-changing nights of eclectic music, mostly hip-hop and electronic-based. We saw Diplo with A-Trak tag-teaming on the decks, standing about 10 feet from them. If I lived in Chi, I'd be there weekly.
6) Satellite Sports Cafe, Amsterdam - Located in the very active nightlife area known as the Leidseplein, the SSC holds down one corner of "Pancake Square." This is Mokum's version of a sports bar, and do they ever get it right. With TVs visible from nearly every square inch (and every square inch gets filled!), games ranging from the FA Cup to the Fiesta Bowl, outdoor seating (with huge heaters in the winter), and pretty waitstaff who apparently got dressed to go clubbing before heading to work, this is THE place to catch a game or simply grab a quick bite before visiting everything else within walking distance. And since it's open 24 hours, it's also a great place to have one last drink (or just coffee, depending on the staff!) before calling it a night.
7) Vision, Chicago - My taste for electronic music is disproportionate to my enjoyment of spending late nights in loud, thumping clubs, but I do occasionally like to see some of my favorite acts live, and this is Chicago's answer. A massive club that is actually 3 in 1, this darkly lit and very loud hotspot completely immerses your senses. If you enjoy the clubbing experience, you'd have to hit Ibiza to find a place to rival Vision.
8) Rasta Baby, Amsterdam - there is simply nothing else like it around here. One of the rare coffeeshops that also sells liquor (a rarity in A'dam, and perhaps no longer legal if some rumors are to be believed), as the name implies this is a reggae joint. Upon entering through the solarium, you find yourself immersed in the iry riddims and foggy scents that cloud this small establishment. I also tried genever here for the first time; a local liquor that tastes like whiskey/tequila with a bite. Yum! They offer fine "products" and have a very friendly staff. But careful, this is one place where it's easy to spend several hours before you even realize it!
9) The Doors Coffeeshop, Amsterdam - half bar/half coffeeshop, this is my favorite hangout in the 'Dam. The bar itself is small, but the room is spacious and the staff is very friendly. A huge variety of products, cold Heineken, and an ever-changing selection of music fills this local establishment and gives it a cozy feel. Helpful tip: DO NOT sit in the seat at the far end of the bar by the wall!
10) Chumley's, NYC - if you don't know how to get to it, you're never going to find it! But we had a great tour guide when we visited NYC a few years back (Thanks, Gurnsey!), and she took us to this historical icon. It's a cozy former speakeasy, evoking a far different era. The walls are adorned with famous writers who once shared the small wooden tables, as well as with modern-day reminders of the local heroes of 9/11. Off the beaten path, but worth an afternoon's or evening's visit to sit back and pretend you're Kerouac.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)