concert reviews

[GreatMistake]

The Polyphonic Spree yesterday were fantastic. There was confetti and free Indian feather hats. 

[lucy]

Primus was better than i was expecting . .  les claypool reminds me of mr. peanut.   i love his unique voice and style.  somehow i ended up in the mosh pit which was frightening.  when people start to get crazy at shows, i immediately just want to start crawling on the ground.  i don't know why, but i feel like the closer i am to the ground, the safer i'll be.  But those people (who just want to ram into everyone) ruin it because they make it hard to watch the show. . . the people constantly taking pictures are also a giant pain in the ass.  i mean, what the fuck people!

[Bini]

Planet Sufjan was A-MAH-ZING. I had pretty high expectations and yet they were still exceeded. I know 2011 only just started but it will be a hard feat for any other act to top that performance this year.

Two hours of apocalyptic, psychedelic genius. The Age of Adz is already amazing as an album but it was a whole other experience live.









Plus he displayed illustrations by Royal Robertson as a visual backdrop during a lot of the songs (the cover art on the album is also by Royal). They complemented each other perfectly.

[heyimrobbie]

I don't know who Sufjan is, but this looks awesome! I'm googling his name...

By the way, I like your blog.

[DCF_Kieran]

Looks fun. 'Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois' and 'John Wayne Gacy Jr.' are amazing songs but pretty much all I know from him. I really should listen to him a bit more.

[Bruno]

I guess Chicago is probably his most famous song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azGIf74ICmw

[Bini]

By the way, I like your blog.

Thanks. I kind of stopped using it after moving it to a new location. It's been pretty neglected. I think I'm going to start fresh later this year after I move overseas.

About Sufjan - Illinois is a very good introduction if you don't know where to start; it's probably his most popular album and very accessible. Age of Adz is for the most part a completely different style and takes a large stride in the electronic direction but in my mind its some of his best work, just not what he is best known for (yet).

[Pigalle]

Bright Eyes rocked Hottingham last night!

Setlist courtesy of: http://www.leftlion.co.uk/articles.cfm/id/3447

Firewall
Jejune Stars
Arc of Time (Time Code)
Cleanse Song
We Are Nowhere and it's Now
Something Vague
Four Winds
Triple Spiral
A Machine Spiritual (In the People’s Key)
Take it Easy (Love Nothing)
Approximate Sunlight
False Advertising
Falling Out of Love at This Volume
Beginner's Mind
Spring Cleaning
Shell Games
Bowl of Oranges
Lover I Don't Have to Love
Lua
Encore:
Gold Mine Gutted
Haile Selassie
Something Vague
The Calendar Hung Itself
One for You, One for Me

[Funderbunk]

By the way, I like your blog.

Thanks. I kind of stopped using it after moving it to a new location. It's been pretty neglected. I think I'm going to start fresh later this year after I move overseas.

About Sufjan - Illinois is a very good introduction if you don't know where to start; it's probably his most popular album and very accessible. Age of Adz is for the most part a completely different style and takes a large stride in the electronic direction but in my mind its some of his best work, just not what he is best known for (yet).

Man, this album flew completely under my radar. Interesting that Sufjan made a similar transition as E did with Tomorrow Morning (at first glance, anyway) at almost the same time. Of course, E's transition was kind of... halfhearted compared to this.

[Berni]

Just came back from the Ben Folds gig. It. Was. Phenomenal.
His latest records are mediocre, but he is still amazing on stage.

[DCF_Kieran]

I went to see Ben Folds last month. I thought he was just ok.

[Pigalle]

Planet Sufjan was A-MAH-ZING. I had pretty high expectations and yet they were still exceeded. I know 2011 only just started but it will be a hard feat for any other act to top that performance this year.

Two hours of apocalyptic, psychedelic genius. The Age of Adz is already amazing as an album but it was a whole other experience live.

Saw Planet Sufjan in Manchester last night. One word to describe it - Bonkers. But that's Bonkers in a nice way - I can't remember seeing seeing such an amazing spectacle ever before, the only thing that remotely springs to mind is The Flaming Lips the only time I ever saw them (opening for Mercury Rev who I am seeing in Manchester tonight). Sufjan really is a one-off genius: who else would devote albums to states, expressways and now an alternative universe! And as Bini says the Age of Adz is one thing on record but this show takes it to a whole new level. Go see Sufjan if you get a chance as this is a show that will be talked about in years to come. Truly Bonkers!

[MickyS]

Planet Sufjan was A-MAH-ZING. I had pretty high expectations and yet they were still exceeded. I know 2011 only just started but it will be a hard feat for any other act to top that performance this year.

Two hours of apocalyptic, psychedelic genius. The Age of Adz is already amazing as an album but it was a whole other experience live.

Saw Planet Sufjan in Manchester last night. One word to describe it - Bonkers. But that's Bonkers in a nice way - I can't remember seeing seeing such an amazing spectacle ever before, the only thing that remotely springs to mind is The Flaming Lips the only time I ever saw them (opening for Mercury Rev who I am seeing in Manchester tonight). Sufjan really is a one-off genius: who else would devote albums to states, expressways and now an alternative universe! And as Bini says the Age of Adz is one thing on record but this show takes it to a whole new level. Go see Sufjan if you get a chance as this is a show that will be talked about in years to come. Truly Bonkers!

Double that. 'Impossible Soul' was truly one of the most amazing things I've seen in my life.

[sadie]

Damn - I decided not to buy a ticket.

Who have I seen?
...shugo tokumaru was so great live. i saw him in cafe otto in london. he has a new album out - very happy sounding music. he did a cover of video killed the radio star - it was amazing! i was in a pretty lousy mood but after the show i felt really rejuvinated and full of life. it was great.
he had a band with him. the drummer was going mental! it was awesome. and there was a girl who whistled very nicely and played some interesting harmonica type instrument that i didn't recognise.

[lucy]

went to see this guy last week: http://youtu.be/YnRfxL9nblQ

i liked him. he's kind of quirky and funny .. like a musical comedian or something.  someone at the show described him as a gothic weird al yankovich.  i used to love his when you're evil song. .