Tag: great american music hall

Show Review: Mates of State with Free Energy and Nick Thune at Great American Music Hall, 7/1/2010

I love it when bands bring a giant banner.

Co-written with Dakin Hardwick

Mates of State brought their “Summer Crushes” tour to Great American Music Hall last week to promote their newest project, a covers album called Crushes. But rather than just show up and play, they brought along a traveling variety show. At the end of the night, though, it was the joyful music of Mates of State that I’m going to remember. So what else was there? Continue reading “Show Review: Mates of State with Free Energy and Nick Thune at Great American Music Hall, 7/1/2010”

Show Review: The xx, Phantogram at The Great American Music Hall, 6/1/10

In case you didn't know the name of the band...

Whenever a hot new band bursts on to the scene, there is inevitably a backlash. At some point, all of the critics, bloggers, and tastemakers that once adored a band eventually decide that they no longer have that affection they once did. They start calling the band boring, and then they start following something else. Although many people complain about the backlash, I think it’s time to embrace it. Because seeing a band during the backlash is the best time to see them. The people that are only at the show to brag about being at the show are gone, as well as the hipsters in the back that are only at the show because “they are supposed to be.” Instead, you get to really enjoy the music, and it feels really good to be in a room full of pure fans.

Continue reading “Show Review: The xx, Phantogram at The Great American Music Hall, 6/1/10”

Show Review: Evelyn Evelyn with Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley and Sxip Shirey at Great American Music Hall, 5/22/10

Evelyn Evelyn answer life's important questions

When Amanda Palmer and Jason Webley decided to join together to do a musical project, they decided to literally join together. They created Evelyn Evelyn, conjoined twin musicians, built a story and characters, recorded and released an album, and they’re now on tour together. This show was billed as Evelyn Evelyn with Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley and Sxip Shirey “also appearing.” There’s a point in this absolute pleasure of a three-hour show when Amanda Palmer thanks people for coming to such an odd show, and practically begs the audience to tell their friends in whatever way they can that they should come see the show. I’m game for this; read on to be convinced. Continue reading “Show Review: Evelyn Evelyn with Amanda Palmer, Jason Webley and Sxip Shirey at Great American Music Hall, 5/22/10”

Show Review: Dr. Dog with Sean Bones at the Great American Music Hall, 4/24/2010

Dr. Dog from another night. Thanks to Dena Flows for believing in Creative Commons, too.

Openers. As a general rule of thumb they tend to be doomed. The crowd isn’t usually there to see them and this can lead to feelings of impatience amongst the audience. This was not the case last night at the Great American.  I had never heard of or seen Sean Bones prior to last nights show. A quick Google image search led me to assume that this was going to be a Brooklyn based indie band with stupid instruments. This also, thankfully, was not the case. Continue reading “Show Review: Dr. Dog with Sean Bones at the Great American Music Hall, 4/24/2010”

Show Review: Shelby Lynne and Findlay Brown at Great American Music Hall, 4/23/10

Shelby Lynne rocking a pompadour at the Roxy Theatre on Thursday night. Photo courtesy of her Facebook page.

When I approached the Great American Music Hall box office last night to pick up my tickets for the Shelby Lynne concert, something very startling happened: the box office rep also handed me two backstage passes with the instructions to “come down and say hello” afterward. This has never happened to me before. And while I was giddily excited about the prospect of meeting Shelby, I was also a complete basket-case. My interactions with celebrities have ranged from moderately successful (when I have enough time to plan my words carefully) to sheer blood-curdling disaster (when the opportunity catches me by surprise). So how would tonight go?

Continue reading “Show Review: Shelby Lynne and Findlay Brown at Great American Music Hall, 4/23/10”

Show Review: The Big Pink, A Place to Bury Strangers and io echo at Great American Music Hall, 3/10/10

When are they gonna play Dominos?

The amps were turned up high and the lights were turned down low at the Great American Music Hall on Wednesday night, as some feedbacky, shoegazery throwback bands were on the bill. The Big Pink showed up with half of the band missing, A Place to Bury Strangers ended their set in blood, and hardly anyone got there early to watch io echo. It was a weird show that featured good music, but was less than satisfying in the end. It could have been better. Continue reading “Show Review: The Big Pink, A Place to Bury Strangers and io echo at Great American Music Hall, 3/10/10”

Noise Pop Show Review: Atlas Sound with Geographer, Nice Nice and The Magic Wands at Great American Music Hall, 2/26/10

Like a ghostly image in the dark.

There are some shows you don’t want to end, and then there are some shows the artist never wants to end.  This show was a definite love/hate relationship somewhere in between.  Everyone was more than excited to see Atlas Sound, maybe for the second Noise Pop year in a row, but for all of the reasons they loved and wanted more of him, I can’t say I could have taken another minute. Continue reading “Noise Pop Show Review: Atlas Sound with Geographer, Nice Nice and The Magic Wands at Great American Music Hall, 2/26/10”

Show Review: Fanfarlo at Great American Music Hall, 2/22/10

Fanfarlo entertaining a loving crowd.

Fanfarlo wants you to know that they are not nerds.  I‘m sitting with them in their supremely messy dressing room after their show to a packed audience at the Great American Music Hall while they go through press clippings from the local weekly papers.  “It’s all because Justin used to work at a bookstore and all he’d talk about was books,” Cathy the mandolin/violin player announces.  “We’re really not that bookish.”  When the cooler of drinks is empty, we migrate to the Hemlock before they have to wake up early to fly to Portland. Continue reading “Show Review: Fanfarlo at Great American Music Hall, 2/22/10”

Show Review: The Thermals, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down, and Grass Widow at Great American Music Hall, 2/5/10

the-thermals
Standing in the shadow of the Beast.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I agreed to cover Friday nights show at the Great American Music Hall. I wasn’t even aware of the set up of the show; co-headliners The Thermals (whom I had never even heard of before) and Thao with The Get Down Stay Down.  Because of this, I arrived late thinking TWTGDSD was the opener, the real opener just finishing as I entered the venue. Sorry Grass Widow. I promise to check out one of your various shows in Austin at this years SXSW. Continue reading “Show Review: The Thermals, Thao with The Get Down Stay Down, and Grass Widow at Great American Music Hall, 2/5/10”

Show Review: Do Make Say Think with themselves at Great American Music Hall, 2/2/10

Nine musicians in constant motion, giving it their all

Do Make Say Think are one of the leaders of the instrumental rock genre, and have been for some time. Along with Explosions in the Sky, Mogwai and Godspeed! You Black Emperor, they’ve fought hard against the tyranny of lyrics to play dramatic and emotional music that’s all about the music. They’re the electric guitar era’s answer to classical music.  And on Tuesday night, they brought their nine-piece ensemble to Great American Music Hall, which is a perfect venue for them. Continue reading “Show Review: Do Make Say Think with themselves at Great American Music Hall, 2/2/10”