There have been no new posts on major label debut in over six months. Why? To keep details to a minimum, I took a new job in New York City without much notice, moved in early April, and have been living in Brooklyn ever since. I’ve been busy working, exploring, drinking, and doing the most cliché hipster activities that you can imagine, which has made my sarcasm and inability to take anything seriously reach their climax. Even so, I have somehow finally have found enough balance to be creative and patient at the same time, so there will be several posts per week from this point on.
Anyway.
Since April, I’ve been lucky enough to see shows of bands that sparsely tour and were never possible to see in Minneapolis, where I had lived for the last five years. Here are some highlights:
1. Jarvis Cocker, former leader of Pulp, at Music Hall of Williamsburg was the biggest highlight. He is my hero, and not because he handled his microphone more phallically than Karen O.
Jarvis Cocker at Music Hall, July 30, 2009. By Chris Laputt for BrooklynVegan.
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2. The first US shows in three years from The Legends at the Bell House and at Santos Party House. I had to go by myself and there was barely anyone at either night. However, there was a really, really short photographer at Santos, and he scurried away to the bar in the middle of the show, returning seconds later with a stool. He placed directly in front of Johan Angergård, climbed his way to the top and then snapped pictures for several minutes, mere inches from Johan’s face. I laughed uncontrollably even though I was alone, and this attracted several awkward stares, which are always tiny victories that I cherish and keep to myself.
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3. I’ve seen San Francisco’s GIRLS four times in the last two months. Their debut LP, Album, will be released on September 22, and it is going to get very good reviews. I’m calling Best New Music, even though I like to avoid thinking in that vein. I’m willing to bet on it, so leave a comment if you want. This can be a fun new game called Hipster Horserace.
GIRLS at Mercury Lounge, June 25, 2009. Photo by Fresh Bread for BrooklynVegan.com.
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4. Previously on Lost, who play songs based on episodes of Lost and they’re actually good. They also start off every show by destroying a giant cardboard airplane.
Previously on Lost at The Bell House. Photo by willtradebikeforwomen.
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5. The Homosexuals opening for Monotonix at Club Europa in Greenpoint.
The Homosexuals at Club Europa, May 19, 2009. Photo by Joe Holmes.
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6. Handsome Furs two nights in a row. I ruptured my right eardrum the second night. There was blood, itching, and pain the next day, and messed it up again a few weeks later at Death by Audio during a Shilpa Ray show.
Handsome Furs at Bowery on July 8, 2009. By Alex Reside for BrooklynVegan.com.
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7. Several Blank Dogs shows, who rarely leave NYC and only started performing live in 2009 after years of releasing records. They’ve added an attractive female keyboard player since the last time I saw them, which finally gives me something to look forward in my life if I see them again.
Blank Dogs at Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 20, 2009. By Lori Bali for BrooklynVegan.com
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* “So Come Back, I Am Waiting” is a sad song for sad-sacks by the sometimes sad Okkervil River from their sad 2005 album, Black Sheep Boy, which is one of my favorite (sad) albums of this decade. I used to listen to it all the time, even when I wasn’t sad, but then it made me too sad eventually, especially because of the sad and desperate final lines after the sad horn bridge section at the end. Try it. Sad? Sad.
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