Yes, this still exists? (Happy New Year, btw)

According to this thing, it’s been at least 2 years since I’ve posted in this. D: Not that anyone’s reading, but oy. Since it was initially sort of an exercise in writing more, I should aim to do this more regularly.

Currently, I have 2 running blog ideas. One involves actively participating in Vinyl Sunday, every Sunday. I did start that. Yesterday was Sunday (Happy New Year, btw) and I put on “In Rainbows” by Radiohead. It was kind of an uninspired choice, but ended up being poignant, I thought. I thought 15 Step was a good song to start a year with, and Videotape is very fitting for playing out the end of the year.

It also marked the first time I heard ‘Jigsaw Falling Into Place’ (read: my FAVORITE RH SONG EVERRRR) in 2012.

I also have a goal this year to listen through my entire iTunes library. It’s like 15000+ items. A lot of repeats. I started with the Compilations, and it’s still going. I write notes like:

• First song of the year (after required play of Sigur Ros’ “Hoppipolla”) was Betty Buckley’s “Memory”
• LOL, Mase and P.Diddy after…wtf then “Peaches and Cream?!?!?!”
• …and the first RH play of the year goes to…”Fake Plastic Trees” – acoustic

It gives me a chance to listen to songs I wouldn’t have listened to otherwise. Every year I pick up albums I don’t get around to listening to. Now I aim to rectify that problem. This goal will take me a while, but I aim to see it through.

Currently, my favorite album is Young the Giant’s debut. I saw that that album has been out since 2010, but I’ve only picked up on them recently. It’s a good album though, and I’ve been playing it quite a bit.

Off to continue my journey through my itunes library….

-j

Moar YouTubing!

Another installment of me going on YouTube. Posting on a whim. That’s how I do. Haha.

Anyway, I was on eMusic to see if I could grab the most recent Decemberists’ album and some Nick Cave. I found myself on the Colin Meloy Sings Live! page on eMusic, and noticed a video in which he does ‘The Mariner’s Revenge Song’ alone (w/audience participation).

I would have loved to have been in that audience when that happened! Definitely check out the full studio version when you get the chance. It’s wicked long (about 8 minutes, 45 seconds) but it’s really engaging. The storytelling aspect sucks you in.

This video is Colin Meloy and Ben Gibbard both covering Blur’s “End of a Century.” They almost look alike–so eerie, it’s like they’re nerd twins. Anyway, lovely cover in any case.

-j

Random You Tube watching

Who doesn’t like to kill time on YouTube? I freaking love it. I dropped the Finance class I was taking, so it left me with some free time on my hands. My brain is enjoying the fact that it can relax.

I went on YouTube initially to watch a video about changing strings on a bass (which I have done now), and got back on again to see if I could find some ukulele video lessons. I’m borrowing my friend’s uke, so I’m messing around with it a bit. I really want to do a cover of Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” on a uke. I’ve seen some videos with people doing covers on a uke. First one that really caught my eye was Julia Nunes’ doing a cover of Band of Horses’ “The General Specific.”

It’s a lovely, brilliant cover. Sort of my inspiration to want to pick up the uke again. Try to do videos with that and the bass, edit it like such. I do want to try to record stuff. Anyway, she’s pretty much the first person who re-sparked my interest in the uke. And today, I was intent on looking for ukulele video lessons when I came across this in the search result:

It’s these two English guys doing a uke cover of The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” Very amusing, very funny, and very good. The guy singing has a lot of videos up on his YouTube page with a lot of other covers, including “Miserlou,” “Rawhide,” “Tequila,” (which was awesome), and loads more. I haven’t gotten to the uke lessons yet! Just felt compelled to post this, haha. Also, I want a melodica. For serious.

-j

WTF – Rammstein

I’m having a bit of a weird listening spree. Rammstein.

Okay, I only knew one song previously (Du Hast), but I saw something online about their new song called “P*ssy.” (NSFW – Not Safe for Work—and probably NSFL as well, haha)

I didn’t know what was going on with the video (the article I linked to also links to the video), only knew that it was NSFW. Of course, I’m the curious type, so I click. I can handle nudity. But…gah. It’s like more than that. They really get it on. (Although, one guy has boobs? Which did warrant itself another view…*head desk*) Anyway, it’s really juvenile. (Lyrics: You have a p*ssy!/I have a dick/So what’s the problem?/Let’s do it quick!) He also says something about not being able to get laid in Germany, but he seems to be doing okay…if the video is to be evidence in that regard.

So iTunes had it, and I did buy it. And Du Hast. So, I have 2 Rammstein songs in my library. It’s shot straight to the guilty pleasure pile. Damn, it’s catchy. Dammit. I’m not scrobbling when I play it off iTunes, guess I’m too embarrassed. I’m listening to it like, on repeat to get it out of my system. And let me tell you, it’s just weird to go from Imogen Heap and Magazine to Rammstein.

Oh geez. Ah, I think I’ll move to Du Hast now.

-j

Impromptu Current Top Whatever

You know that post I was hoping on getting to a while ago? Yeah, well. School interrupted. Or rather—a lot of procrastination led into a lot of work being pushed back. So, not doing the album review thing…yet. If someone can tell me how to actually be productive while on vacation away from work, let me know. It’s like I slept the lazy out of my system. (I woke up yesterday after 2 and a half hours, totally wide awake)

Anyway. Impromptu Current Top Whatever (10 would be the aimed for number, but in this case it’s 6…and will probably continue to be varied in list count). I never seem to do anything on a regular schedule (when it comes to blogging especially), so I’m just throwing this out there. It may happen once a month, couple times a day (haha, yeah right), every week… Whenever it tickles my fancy. Here we go then.

1. Invincible – Muse – Truly epic. The studio version owned my ears for a good while before I decided to download HAARP (their live album @ Wembley). Now, I quite prefer the live version. Why? Because it sounds just way more grandiose and amazing. Not to mention, watching that guitar solo about blew my mind. (Watch here)

2. Mister Love – Toadies – “DO YOU WANT TO SAVE ME CAN YOU MAKE ME HAPPY?!?” This popped on a few moments ago, as I have iTunes on shuffle. I bought this album before (the) Toadies came to play at Pipeline, which I sadly missed because of work. Was pretty addicted to this album after they played. If they come again (please God), I’m there. It’s so deliciously brutal and dark…with twinges of religious frustration.  Another good one: Tyler. (Watch here)

3. Motorcade – Magazine – Magazine is a “recent” find for me. Also, another point for how sometimes I wonder how it would’ve been like if I was born in this era. Where I could experience Magazine, The Fall, The Smiths, Joy Division when they were coming out. I also wonder if I would’ve been able to find out about these bands back then without the internet. Not sure; so perhaps it is a good thing. Stellar band. They started up again with a bunch of reunion shows earlier this year. A friend of mine (who incidentally turned me on to them) was able to see them. Lucky! Howard Devoto is a lyrical genius, and Barry Adamson is a bass hero of mine. The perf I link to is one of my favorites; truly captivating. (Watch here)

4. Is There a Ghost? – Band of Horses – Ah, Band of Horses. How I love them so. The build up (roughly 00:59 to 1:06) is one of the most glorious things ever. Seeing it live made it a whole lot more epic. Yeah, the lyrics repeat themselves over and over, but to me it was the music and how THAT was the sonic ride I wanted, not whether there was a ghost in his house and how he could sleep. Most times I don’t pay much attention to lyrics right off. (Watch here)

5. Psycho Killer – Talking Heads – My experience with the Talking Heads pretty much circled around Once in a Lifetime, Burning Down the House, and And She Was. I don’t even listen to them regularly. I noticed this was one of their well known hits, and had a listen. Love it. I might have to grab an album eventually. I mean, another wicked bass player! Sweet. (Watch here)

6. Jigsaw Falling Into Place – Radiohead – This is a regular occurrence. Without a doubt my favorite Radiohead song. It’s just so tense and tight. I could say so much. I mean that BASS LINE. Colin Greenwood, I salute you. Anyway, I’ll just leave this video of them with these weird camera helmets. (Watch here)

-j

Touching base

Been fairly lazy this week–it is vacation, but I’ve been taking it slow. Too slow, I think. But it’s okay. Lots of stuff I should cover as well–new albums bought, current addictions, etc. etc. Have to say I do like the look of iTunes 9. The new layout of the iTunes store is very snazzy as well. They rolled out something called iTunes LP. Sort of takes the digital booklet a bit farther. I got the new Muse album that way. It has pictures, videos…pretty cool.

Speaking of new Muse album, it’s good. In saying that, I’m saying I’m not disappointed. I think I was worried initially, but I haven’t had to convince myself that it was good. It just is. I know some are dissing it, but honestly, I think it’s solid. I probably will do a big post Saturday commenting on it further. I have other albums I want to touch on as well, so we’ll just make a date for that.

The past few days have seen a little bit of a recession in terms of my heavy listening to Band of Horses and Silversun Pickups. Both of whom I had seen in concert the past few weeks, both of which owned my ears for the days afterward. If you asked me to choose, though, I’d say BoH wins. Seriously concert of the year in my opinion. They really need to come back. Anyway, the past few days, I had been listening to Muse heavily (sparked by listening to The Resistance), picked up The Strokes again (okay, not First Impressions though, should listen to that), Interpol (Turn on the Bright Lights…ugh so good), The New Pornographers (Challengers!), Stars (should listen to them more), and Radiohead. Hadn’t had a good long while with RH, so it was nice to get back on that again. I knew a few friends who were having serious OK Computer moments. Sometimes I legitimately fear listening to Radiohead, and this morning was one of them. So, I put on TOTBL to delay it, only to put on OKC after.

It was pretty lovely. I don’t know if it was because I hadn’t listened to it straight through in a while, but I kept getting surprised. I was reading something on my computer when the first few chords of Exit Music started and my eyes immediately widened. The tamborine at the beginning of Electroneering also caught me by surprise. And I was reacquainted with the nasty 1-2 punch that is No Surprises and Lucky. This is how I describe No Surprises. After hearing something like Climbing Up the Walls (which ends pretty uncomfortably and leaves you on edge), No Surprises comes in and is like the person there that helps you back up, gives you a hug as you recover.

By the time you get to “Such a pretty house and such a pretty garden” (the harmony of which can go to heck, because it makes it worse), you find yourself wanting to give the person comforting you a hug back, like they need it a whole lot more than you do. By the end of the song, you’re pretty much hanging onto each other for dear life. That song, as intially cutesy it may sound, is devastating at the same time. Then you have ringing that starts Lucky coming right behind and it’s all too much. Lucky is the song that clinched Radiohead in my top spot. Jigsaw is without a doubt my favorite RH song, but Lucky is what nailed it for me.

It’s such a brilliant song. I don’t know why it didn’t hit me when I first fell for OKC. It would’ve negated Interpol as the top spot before I had even heard of Interpol, haha. (I had first listened through OKC in 2004, got into Interpol 2005)

Anyway, the reason that I wanted to blog (initially, anyway) was to give a mention to a Belgian girls choir called Scala. I’ve first heard of them when I heard their cover of ‘Creep,’ working with the Kolacny brothers. It’s really lovely. I kind of cringe at some RH covers, but for the most part, it’s been good. Here’s their cover of Exit Music (for a film). I think it captures the mood perfectly. It’s eerie.

I’ve also listened to Christopher O’Riley’s album of RH covers which is very very nice. Nice to study to too, by the way. Of which I should probably get back to doing….

-j

Silversun Pickups, Pipeline Cafe, 09.05.09

Silversun Pickups
Live @ Pipeline Cafe
09.05.2009

Had a bit of a busy week, so I’m finally getting to post this now.

Anyway, last Saturday, I saw Silversun Pickups at Pipeline Cafe.

Ridiculous. My ears are still recovering. They’re ringing now, so that’s good.

But it was awesome! And I got rail! In front of Nikki! The opening band was this band called Satellite Grey and they freaking rocked the joint. Local music, woot. I’ve got their first album “Mirror Transmission” and it is NICE. I hope to catch them live in concert sometime.

I didn’t score a setlist, but that’s alright. They opened with Growing Up is Getting Old, which was awesome. Nikki on bass! In front of me! She’s so adorable. Then, I think it was Well Thought Out Twinkles…then The Royal We somewhere in there. They did do Kissing Families which was lovely. Yelling the lyrics back at Brian was pretty glorious. Speaking of Brian, he’s pretty ridiculous live. They all are. But I think him even more so. Cause Joe is all bent over his keyboards, Nikki’s all stoic, but cute. And Chris…well wait. Chris is mental on the drums too. Hair all going over the place. That guy is a beast. I swear on the last song (I think Common Reactor) he hit his cymbal (that was set way high) so hard, the stand swayed a bit. Chris is mental.

Brian gave a shout out to a local band called the Jump Offs, who he had seen at First Friday the day before the gig. That was pretty sweet. I’ve caught The Jump Offs twice (opening for Of Montreal and MGMT), and they’re good. They’re supposed to be releasing an album next month, I believe.

Back to SSPU—they also played Substitution, It’s Nice to Know You Work Alone, Catch & Release, There’s No Secrets This Year followed by The Royal We, Kissing Families (sweet!). There’s a few more songs in there, but they closed the main set with Panic Switch and Lazy Eye. I recorded some of Lazy Eye just to capture how ridiculous it all was. Mainly Chris going mental on the drums because you can’t really capture that in a still shot. Mostly for experience sake. The sound on that was pretty crappy. But ZOMG, Panic Switch and Lazy Eye. Lazy Eye. I died. I sort of regretted recording when Brian screams out “SUNSHINE”. But I was right with him, haha. Amazing.

Lazy Eye – video taken by lucky015

He played Rusted Wheel as the first encore, which made me giggle as I mentioned that guy who wanted Brian to play that at the music hall. [Then there was some banter between him and Nikki. Earlier (I forget during which song), she would point at him to take over then he'd be like pointing back at her. And that would go on, haha. After the first encore, Brian starts talking, asking what Nikki had done during the day, commenting on her flower in her hair. Asked her why she was so sunburned. She said she and Joe had gone to Diamond Head and got a certificate. Then he went on a jokey little bit about how we need to support our local ABC Store (which is a touristy chain of stores in Waikiki...the joke being, if you throw a rock from one ABC Store, you'd hit the next one).

The next encore was...Creation Lake. Which, to my understanding, is not played much. So, it was quite lovely seeing Nikki take the mic. I was hoping for Melatonin, and kicked myself for not mentioning it when I saw them Friday. They closed everything out with Common Reactor, complete with Brian playing around with his pedals and effects, and Chris nearly knocking his cymbal stand over.

Creation Lake – video taken by lucky015

It was really exciting and really awesome. I only wish I had more time to acclimate myself with the songs better, but I knew enough…but I still really really loved the gig. Really solid. I have no ears. I think if I had one complaint…sometimes the vocals can get lost (especially Nikki’s)…and the keyboard too. Sort of miniscule, because it didn’t really matter in the end.

I made my way to the merch table to get a shirt. That was the plan anyway. Once there, I realized they were selling VINYL. 180 gram limited edition vinyl (of Carnavas and Swoon, don’t know if Pikul was 180 gram. But it was there for vinyl). I spent $35 on vinyl for Carnavas and Swoon. I also ran into a guy I initially labeled as “Setlist dude.” And he said he heard that the band might be signing autographs around the Will Call area. So I ended up wandering around there with a few of my friends. Just tagged around for a little while, though. Decided to leave. I mean, I had already met them the day before, and Brian had his arm around me (which was nice) and I got an autograph and pictures, and the rail…AND vinyl, so it was enough to call it a night.

I have a renewed faith that Hawaii will get good concerts. I’m still hoping for Interpol.

Anyway BAMP has some sweet shots up: –Here–

Oh and the acoustic sesh that SSPU did for Roadrunner Music Hall is also up: –Here–

-j

Silversun Pickups, live at Roadrunner Music Hall, 09.04.2009

Silversun Pickups
Live @ RoadRunner Music Hall
09.04.09

Yesterday afternoon, I had a date with the Silversun Pickups. The local alternative radio station (STAR 101.9) announced that listeners could win a chance to watch SSPU in a intimate acoustic session at RoadRunner Music Hall. So, I signed up, not sure how the whole thing worked. Wasn’t sure if I’d get in, actually. But I did! So, score. What follows here is that whole adventure:

Before I left the house, I was sort of hoping to use my dad’s huge truck because I think the transmission on my car is going. I thought he’d be home, but he was out getting something when I rushed down the stairs to go. So, my mom knows my car’s sort of testy, and says to wait, but I HAD to go because I had to be at the radio station at a certain time.

So, the car (thankfully) and me got to the area safe and sound. Took me forever to find parking. And I WAS late, and thought maybe I could try to get in anyway. So, I meet up with my friend Chelsea and we try to find the place. But not before we saw Brian hanging out with some guy…Joe was there too, but I didn’t see him at first. So, Chelsea and I walk into Dole Cannery and the place is bloody confusing. So we walk back out and decide to ask Brian (cause were were like, “ZOMG, Is that him? IT’S HIM!”) where the station was. Seemed plausible enough, seeing as they’d be performing there. So, his friend (maybe it was roadie?) told us.

And we got lost anyway, but eventually found the place, and they let us in! Score. I guess they set the time to be there at 2:30 to make sure the stragglers (like me) would make it anyway.

The room itself was pretty small. There were couches and stuff. If we’d showed up earlier, we could’ve gotten one. But oh well.

Anyway, the gig! It was nice, the band actually walked past me to get to the stage. Nikki is super adorable! I like, wanted to hug her, but I didn’t. Didn’t want to weird her out too much.

I was really impressed with how they sounded acoustically. I guess I didn’t know it would translate so well that way? But it was really lovely. Brian was hilarious. Just a lot of banter between him and Nikki (and Joe occasionally). Example between Brian and Nikki:

Brian: *asks the audience what’s happened in the year or so since they came* *mentions that the US president was from Hawaii* *goes on*
Nikki: What are you talking about?
Brian: *in a soft, whispery voice* Obaaaama. Barack Obama..

There was also a point before they started where Nikki’s chair was set too high. And Brian goes, “Why are you sitting so high?” So Nikki tries to adjust the seat, so she’s playing around with the handle and bobbing up and down on the seat trying to get it down, and Brian goes, “That’s it, sloooowly, slooowly, up…down….” (you get the jist, haha) It was hilarious.

He also picked on Joe a little. At the beginning of It’s Nice to Know You Work Alone, Joe does that sound on the keyboard, but this time, it didn’t come out, so Brian stops the song and announces to the audience that Joe plays that sound at the beginning that he loves. And Nikki comments that she thought her bass sounded too loud. And Chris is like, “Are we ready yet?” So Brian asks the audience to let out a big cheer when Joe plays what he calls, “the noise.”

Brian: Don’t you want the NOISE?
Audience: YEAH!
Brian: (to Joe) No pressure.
Joe: *shakes head* *chuckles*

So, when they restarted Work Alone, Joe successfully plays his part, and Brian’s all like, in the moment, and of course we all cheer. I hope it’s on the video that they post later on. It was really hilarious. Man, I can keep going.

I think I can fall for this band even more. They were so funny, so nice. Brian’s actually from Hawaii (Kailua) so he would ask what’s happened since. We had a local one-dollar theater close, and he mentioned that. “Restaurant Row closed? [i]Bullsh*t[/i].” And he mentioned how we were getting all these good gigs. And everyone laughed because obviously they are one of those bands, and he was like a little embarrassed, and laughed about that.

Pics of them performing:

Anyway!

Setlist:

Growing Old is Getting Old
Well Thought Out Twinkies
The Royal We
It’s Nice to Know You Work Alone
Substitution
Panic Switch
Lazy Eye

Um, after the set, there was a autograph/picture session. So, thinking that that would take place by the stage, Chelsea, myself and these two people we met there lined up at what we thought was the end of the line. Nope. WE WERE IN THE FRONT. FIRST!

So, we got an autographed poster thing. AND I GOT A PICTURE.

I told Nikki that she did awesome. And I think Chelsea was talking to Chris briefly about drums. Then Chelsea and I walked out and were waiting on our new friends, when this guy came out and asked us if we wanted the scrap of paper he was holding. It was the setlist, like handwritten. Of COURSE I took it! Man, I guess I can start a setlist collection now? Hahaha.

Then a girl I met at the BOH concert caught up with me. So random! She even won the Les Paul guitar that was autographed by the band:

Anyway, it was pretty freaking awesome. They were so friendly, and sweet. Christie (my friend who won the guitar) posed with them and Brian like put his hand on top of her head, then it was covering her eyes, and her face….that was pretty funny. Man, I can’t get over how laid back it all was. I mean, yeah, it was SSPU, but it was like your buddies or something. I wasn’t nervous around them at all. I was so glad to go to this thing! I can’t wait for tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll get rail, but I’ll definitely get on Nikki’s side.

-j

Oasis — I guess this is really it, then.

Stand By Me — Nobody knows…they way it’s gonna be

So, I’m actually going to (again) skip doing homework-y things and will focus on something that has just recently happened.

Apparently, Oasis has actually, seriously split up.

Now, being an Oasis fan as long as I have (going on 14 years), hearing rumors of break ups or actually having them “break up” (I cite the numerous times in the 90s and beyond) only to get back together again…well, naturally, I took this with a grain of salt.

So I went along, thinking it wasn’t *that* serious, even though I had heard of the major breakdown of Noel and Liam’s relationship. I just assumed it would be “okay.” I then amused myself by seeing 15 year olds freak out over the break up, when I was like that at that age when Nate Atkinson told me Oasis had split up then. This was after Jason Conklin had told me and I thought he was just trying to rile me up.

Needless to say, the 15 year old me was gutted then. But fast forward many many years later, I felt like I was a veteran of Oasis breakups. I foolishly hoped that it was trivial.

But after a little more research, and seeing my fellow Oasis friends post their reactions…well, my lackadaisical attitude then began to shift. It’s taking a while to sink in. At first, I think I was a little “eh.” But the more I thought about it, thought about how Oasis affected my life, and how I used to love their music so much (now having a bit of a renaissance again)—well, I began feeling fairly gutted.

Say what you want about Oasis, or the Gallagher brothers in general. They’re egotistical, big mouthed, etc etc. I know that. I know they can be and have been jerks. I know that they blatantly rip off their musical heroes (and they actually rip off the good ones…and hey, at least he admits to ripping off those guys). I’m aware of their faults and limitations. They weren’t going to be like Radiohead. They were just going to be a straight up rock and roll band. They were going to be Oasis.

That’s big guitars, big hooks, anthems. They inspired thousands. Millions.

They touched the life of one insecure 15 year old and told her it “would be okay.” They singlehandedly pushed that girl into loving the music, into getting into rock and roll. Although the affection for Oasis was eclipsed by other bands, she never lost that spot in her heart for Oasis.

I’ve often wondered how it would feel like to have a band I followed so closely, that I loved so much, split up. Many people have seen their favorite bands split, and talk about how anguishing it is. I’ve not had to experience that. Not until now.

And it does. Suck. To be honest, it’s sort of an inconvenience right now, but I feel it may intensify. Especially since I’ve never seen them live…now I wish I had gone to see them in Vegas or…somewhere in California…somewhere.

I have no doubt that Oasis could reunite again. Just not for a long while. At least, the world will finally hear a true Noel Gallagher solo record.

I think I’ll listen to Oasis for the majority of the weekend. Remember the good times, and hope for better.

Band of Horses, Pipeline Cafe, 08.23.2009

Band of Horses @ Pipeline Cafe
(Matt Costa opening)
August 23, 2009

(Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/effinpeaz/sets/72157622017285813/)

I remember the first time I heard Band of Horses, and I remember who turned me on to them. It was 2 years ago, and a friend I knew off of Interpol Online (a forum I regularly post on) told me about them. It was just a normal MSN chat. I remember was downloading as I chatted with her. At one point, she pointed out how the drumming and general aesthetic on “Our Swords” was sort of similar to the effect on Interpol’s “Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down.” It did have the same sort of floaty feeling…

I’m grateful to that introduction, because Band of Horses became one of my favorite bands that day (not because of that tidbit).

The sound: big. The emotion: real. I knew I wanted to see this band live. The likelihood of it seemed distant, though. I thought I would just see them whenever I make the move to the mainland.

Fast forward a year or two later after that introduction. Hello, Twitter. Hello BAMP Projects. Hello a tweet that says “Band of Horses, August 23rd, Pipeline Cafe. Get Stoked.”

Cue me spazzing silently (I think) in my room in the early hours of the morning.

So, this past Sunday, I saw Band of Horses at Pipeline Cafe. And it was awesome. Matt Costa, who I haven’t listened to much, admittedly, was the opener. He was very good and I was impressed. I mean, I knew he was good, and I think I’ll listen to him more now. My brother’s a big fan, so I’ll nick some stuff off him, I suppose.

Anyway, Band of Horses. Goshdangawesome.

Ben sounds amazing live. And the band as a whole are solid. Even though they had some technical difficulties, they carried on like pros.

My favorite moments:

1. Them opening with “The First Song” with Ben on the lap steel guitar. I think I would’ve preferred “Is There a Ghost?” as an opener, but First Song was nice. I did get my wish 2 songs later, though. I really really wanted to hear ‘Is There a Ghost?” live because it builds so awesome. And I wasn’t disappointed. Definitely one of my favorite moments in the concert. Actually, that whole beginning four (“The First Song”/”The Great Salt Lake”/”Is There a Ghost?”/”Weed Party”) was sweet.

2. Ben coming out to the crowd during Weed Party. I didn’t expect that, but that was pretty cool.

3.”No One’s Gonna Love You” and “The Funeral”. So. amazing. live. I got No One on video, but like a retard, I turned the camera, so the end looks like it’s on its side. So, I don’t know if I’ll get it up to YouTube.

4. Islands on the Coast is very good live. Actually, pretty much everything they performed translates well live. Of course, it’s way better because it IS live.

5. “Our Swords” is performed on two basses and the drums. Awesome.

6. Oh, and singing along to “La Dee DAAAH!” when applicable.

The guys looked like they were having a lot of fun on stage, enjoying themselves. I do hope they come back to Hawaii! They’re definitely a band I’d catch a number of times. I went to the MGMT concert last month, and it was okay, but I don’t think I’ll do another one (we’ll see). But BOH, it’s a lock. Honestly, probably the best concert I’ve been to this year.

At least maybe next time, I’ll actually act quick enough to get a picture with Ryan and Tyler if I ran into them again. Mental note to keep grabbing “Will Call” tickets, haha.

So, if you didn’t get the jist, the concert was VERY GOOD. Roll on the Silversun Pickups. (I should be spam-listening to them in preparation, to get more accustomed than I am now—but it’s hard to wean off the BOH).

Until next post, kiddies.