Concert: Modest Mouse

The last time Modest Mouse played their hometown of Portland was back in the summer of 2011 at the McMenamins Edgefield 100th birthday celebration. They came back in full swing after canceling a European tour in 2013 to continue work on their album. With around a dozen show tour plus festival dates, they kicked off their tour with two hometown shows on May 1st and 2nd at the crystal ballroom.

They obviously felt comfortable in front of their hometown fans, as was apparent by them coming out a half hour later than they were supposed to. They had some longer than necessary pauses between songs, with a few awkward stories told here and their by front-man Isaac Brock. 

The first was an anecdote about when he was opening up a can of cat food and was reminded of how his grandmother's house used to smell, even though she didn't have a cat (which was the weird part). The other story was about how he was an extra in The Pelican Brief, and signed up his girlfriend even though she couldn't make it, so he got paid twice. Both stories ended rather abruptly, and filled some of the time spent in between songs.

They played a rather conservative set of songs that were sure to please. A handful of older songs, but they mostly stuck to their newer work, while also introducing three new songs: "Shit in your cut', 'Lampshades on fire', and 'Sugar boats (alternately known as 'heart of mine')'. 

With 7+ people on stage at any given time, a whole second percussion set, and some brass instruments, they were very tight (although a tad rusty considering it had been a while since playing live). Isaac Brock did his classic, spastic, shout-singing in parts of most of the songs, and all the other band members switched between instruments so often that everyone was all over the stage, which accounted for some of the long pauses between songs.

No definitive news yet about when the new album will be released. I have a good friend who is next door neighbors to Isaac Brock, and Isaac invited her and her boyfriend to come listen to the new album. So as far as I know so far, it is almost in its completion, and hopefully will be released in the fall/winter. Their last full length album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank, was released in 2007, and the EP No One's First and You're Next came out in 2009. They are long overdue for a new release!

The encore was: Lampshades on Fire, Baby Blue Sedan, Doin' the Cockroach, Tiny Cities Made of Ashes

Dashboard

Fire it Up

Photos and videos courtesy of Howard Weiner 

Concert: Franz Ferdinand

On April 26th I went to see Franz Ferdinand for the 4th time. The first time I saw them was with Death Cab For Cutie in a double headlining bill with The Cribs as the opening act back in 2006 at the Memorial Coliseum. The time after that was at the Crystal Ballroom back in December of 2008, and the last time was at the Wonder Ballroom in August 2012.

Every time I see them I leave the venue smiling. They put on such a fantastic show, and might be one of the best lives bands I've seen in my concert going career. Their energy, enthusiasm, and crowd connectivity is invigorating and it sucks you in. With their catchy tunes and sometimes odd lyrics, they have quite a unique sound, while still having the classic British rocker aspect to their music.

The opening act, Cate Le Bon, is a Welsh singer-songwriter who was excellent. Her voice and lyrics had a hauntingly beautiful quality, and she was very enjoyable to listen to.

Then, finally, Franz Ferdinand came out to roars of applause wearing matching outfits. Honestly, they were really tacky looking, but if anyone could pull off that look it was them. They were all wearing some variation of pants, shirts, and jackets that were a mix of black, white, and gray. 

They played a fairly long set with all the old favorites and a good chunk of their new album (Fresh Strawberries, Bullet, Right Action, Evil Eye, Love Illumination, Stand on the Horizon, Brief Encounters, and Goodbye Lovers and Friends). I didn't get the setlist which was the first time in a while, so that was a total bummer. I asked the roadie a bunch of times, and he gave them to surrounding people but not me, but in the end he gave me two consolation picks (one from Alex, and one from Nick).

God, they are so good live. I ended up right in front of Bob (the bass player) which was fun, but I really like to stand in front of Nick (the guitar player) if I can because he's got some excellent dance moves! The line outside the door was a lot longer than I had expected it to be, otherwise I would have gotten a better spot... I got there about two and a half to three hours before the doors, but there were already like, thirty people there.

All in all it was a fantastic show, and Franz Ferdinand always deliver!

Here's Ulysses:

Stand on the Horizon:

Evil Eye

All photos and videos courtesy of Howard Weiner 

(Mini) Concert: Black Prairie

The day after Bombay Bicycle Club on April 23rd I was able to attend a very special evening show at the KINK Bing Lounge to see Black Prairie. The day before when I was talking to Lisa (the woman who essentially runs the shows at the Bing Lounge), I asked her about a Portugal. The Man show that went on at the lounge the month before. It wasn't advertised and I didn't know about it until it was happening which was a bummer. I learned that it was a benefit show for the Portland Rescue Mission and Lisa mentioned another show coming up where tickets couldn't be won in the normal way (clicking a button online and crossing your fingers your name gets picked). I asked about it and she told me that the Black Prairie show the next night was through their clip radio app. I was bummed because I wanted to see them, when to my great fortune, a woman near by who had heard out conversation chimed in saying that she had won two places but couldn't attend, and offered me her spots. My lucky day!

So the next night after my classes I went and got in line outside the Bing Lounge. I was first in line, and snagged a seat right front and center. Flying Elephants Deli catered the event and the band played seven songs. The regular drummer, John Moen, couldn't make it that night, so Jenny Conlee's husband sat in and did an excellent job. I must admit, after the performance when I was talking to the band members, I definitely gushed and probably embarrassed myself a bit. It's hard to stop gushing when you're meeting some of your favorite musicians! I couldn't make it to Black Prairie's show at the Aladdin a few nights later, so I was really happy I got to see them (and especially for free)!

Setlist for the evening

Selfie that Chris Funk took of me and the band!

Let It Out

Fortune

Lay Me Down In Tennessee 

(Mini) Concert: Bombay Bicycle Club

On April 22nd I won two spots to see Bombay Bicycle Club at the KINK Bing Lounge! I hadn't gotten tickets to see them play that night at the Wonder Ballroom, so I was glad I could still see them. They played "Luna", "To The Bone", and ended with "Shuffle". It was a great short set! They also had a brief interview where they discussed their new track "To The Bone" what was released for record store day, and their new album "So Long, See You Tomorrow" debuting at number one in the UK.

Very cool rendition of Shuffle

You can see the other videos here, here, and here