chickrawker

Jim James at the Fonda 5/11/13

Mon, 13 May 2013 09:20:23 -0700

I had to make the trek to L.A. to see Jim James on his solo tour because he (unsurprisingly) skipped San Diego. Worth it for sure. I had checked previous set lists to see what he has been playing. The first portion of the show is the solo album Regions of Light and Sound of God in its entirety and then an encore of My Morning Jacket and Monsters Of Folk songs. Here’s the set list:

Jim James
Fonda Theatre
Los Angeles, CA
5/11/13

State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)
Know Til Now
Dear One
A New Life
Exploding
Of the Mother Again
Actress
All Is Forgiven
God’s Love to Deliver

Encore:
Bermuda Highway (solo acoustic MMJ song)
Wonderful (solo acoustic MMJ song)
Dear God (MOF song with Conor Oberst)
His Master’s Voice (MOF song)
The Right Place (MOF song)
Losin’ Yo Head (MOF song)
Changing World (New Multitudes)

I’ve seen MMJ at least 5 times and I knew that Jim James would bring it and I was not disappointed. Plus I was surprised that he plays sax - seriously, how cool is that? Of the solo material, my faves were the set opening “State of the Art” and then “A New Life”. I totally dug the peacock-like LED lights going on throughout the show - check out the instagram photos from the Fonda to see what I mean. Just totally cool. I was super happy to see “Bermuda Highway” and “Wonderful” on previous show set lists and was even more excited to realize these were the solo acoustic songs in the set. The crowd really appreciated “Wonderful” and sang along to the chorus. When “Dear God” started, JJ went to the side stage and there was someone in his trademark cape. Of course, it was Conor Oberst. The crowd really freaked out at that point - I know there are a lot of CO groupies (I’m not one of them) and I have to admit, that was pretty cool. A night of wonder to be sure.

Gaslight Anthem at House of Blues Houston 4/25/13

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:20:00 -0700

Bonus Gaslight Anthem show in Houston. Set list….

Gaslight Anthem
House of Blues Houston
4/25/13

High Lonesome
The 59 Sound
Handwritten
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
Biloxi Parish
Blue Dahlia
The Patient Ferris Wheel
Queen of Lower Chelsea
45
Too Much Blood
Film Noir
Here Comes My Man
We Came To Dance
Señor and the Queen
Mae
Great Expectations
Keepsake

Encore:
National Anthem (Brian acoustic with Matt Mays)
Mullholland Drive
Desire
Here’s Looking At You, Kid
The Backseat

I went from never seeing Gaslight Anthem to seeing them twice in one week. Go figure. Now that I knew what to expect, I made my way to the floor by the sound booth and was ready to rawk. Set list was different than Monday night though they pretty much played the same core if songs. The biggest difference was that Brian barely talked to the crowd. I wasn’t feeling the crowd vibe like I did at the Belly Up so I get that. It was so bad that when Brian decided to talk at the beginning of the encore, you couldn’t hear him over the crowd. Brian gave up, called the crowd rude and just launched into “National Anthem”. He was joined by the opener, Matt Mays, after the first verse. The rest of the band came out after and finished off the great encore.

Gaslight Anthem at Belly Up 4/22/13

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:20:00 -0700

This is gonna have to be a quick and dirty recap because I am on a plane in a few. First time seeing Gaslight Anthem live and was totally wowed. Set list first:

Gaslight Anthem
Belly Up Tavern
Solana Beach, CA
4/22/13

High Lonesome
The 59 Sound
Handwritten
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
We Came To Dance
Old Haunts
American Slang
Biloxi Parish
Blue Dahlia
Senor and the Queen
Mae
1930
45
Queen of Lower Chelsea
Too Much Blood
Great Expectations
Keepsake

Encore:
National Anthem (Brian acoustic)
Desire
Mullholland Drive
Here’s Looking At You, Kid
The Backseat

A good, long set, different from recent set lists, which is cool. I really enjoyed Brian Fallon’s stage banter. He was super funny - self-deprecating, sarcastic and just interesting to listen to. Someone screamed out “Jersey” early during the set and he told everyone that “Jersey sucks. That’s why all the songs are about getting out.” And when some chick screamed “I love you!”, he told her that he was like a puppy - “a good idea at first but then you have to live with a wreck and that isn’t any fun” or something to that effect.

The crowd was super bro-tastic and lots of first pumping going on. Security was dragging the moshers out of the floor, which everyone seemed to appreciate. Loved hearing the dudes sing along too, it was a good feeling out on the floor.

My faves from the set were “We Came To Dance”, “American Slang”, “Too Much Blood”, “National Anthem” (super with just Brian acoustic) and “Desire”. But really, a stellar set and a great live introduction to this band.

Happy #RecordStoreDay13 - can’t wait to spin these!

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:24:45 -0700

Happy #RecordStoreDay13 - can’t wait to spin these!

Tegan and Sara at Humphrey's 4/17/13

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:17:00 -0700

I’ve always had fun at Tegan and Sara shows. They are always super engaging with their banter and just generally put on a good show. Of course, this set was packed with songs from their latest album Heartthrob but they threw in a bunch of old faves too. Set list went like this….

Tegan and Sara
Humphrey’s
San Diego, CA
4/17/13

I’m Not Your Hero
I Was A Fool
I Couldn’t Be Your Friend
Goodbye Goodbye
Back In Your Head
The Con
Walking With A Ghost
Arrow
Shock To Your System
Love They Say
How Come You Don’t Want Me
Living Room
Where Does The Good Go
Alligator
Drove Me Wild
Now I’m All Messed Up
Closer

Encore:
Call It Off (acoustic)
Nineteen (acoustic)
Feel It In My Bones (Tiesto ft. Sara)

From looking at prior sets, this is the standard on this tour, but like most T & S shows, there is always something you can’t predict. For this show, it was Sara forgetting the words to “Alligator”. She had everyone stop playing and told us that she saw her shoe untied and thought she should stop to tie it but she didn’t. And then she forgot the words! Ha. Shoe tied, words remembered, the show went on.

Early in the show, everyone was still sitting down, but Tegan egged us on to stand up, so we did and it was way better. As an old lady, I like the option to sit, but shows are meant to be enjoyed while dancing around and singing along (of course!), so yay on last night’s crowd.

Loved that the set list had alternated between old faves and new material. Getting “Back In Your Head/The Con /Walking With A Ghost” in so early was great. And the new material sounds great live - I especially liked the “Drove Me Wild /Now I’m All Messed Up” combo.

So in summary, Tegan and Sara are awesome live. But I’ve been telling you guys that for years!

Stars at Humphrey's 4/17/13

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:57:04 -0700

Seriously, I am so mad at myself for not checking into set times before heading to the show last night, because I missed half of Star’s opening set. But what I actually was there for was lovely. Partial set list…..

Stars
(opening for Tegan and Sara)
Humphrey’s
San Diego, CA
4/17/13

(insert missed songs here)
Elevator Love Letter
Going, Going, Gone
Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
Backlines
Hold On When You Get Love and Let Go When You Give It

If you’ve been to a show at Humphrey’s, you know how it goes. Everyone sits down unless some brave souls stand or the artist eggs you on (more on that in the T & S post). But even though everyone was sitting, the crowd was still singing along and definitely not talking though the set. Torq and Amy didn’t banter much - though they did make some comment about Al Jarreau’s photo in their dressing room. Only olds like me got that one! But yes, still a lovely time and I did get a good half set of songs, so really, I can’t complain.

Tonight at the Casbah, Night Moves from Minneapolis are opening...

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:47:28 -0700

Tonight at the Casbah, Night Moves from Minneapolis are opening for Polica. I’m going. You should too.

"I’d like to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way Still I’d trade all my..."

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:20:13 -0700

““I’d like to teach you a lesson in the worst kind of way
Still I’d trade all my tomorrows
For just one yesterday. …””

- Fall Out Boy - “Just One Yesterday”

Totally owning my love of the new FOB. Haters can suck it.

The Faint at the Observatory 4/15/13

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:14:55 -0700

Fresh from their Coachella gig, The Faint spent last night doing what they do best - engaging a room full of people to dance and lose themselves in the moment. Glad I was there to be part of it. Set list first:

The Faint
The Observatory
Santa Ana, CA
4/15/13

The Conductor
The Geeks Were Right
Desperate Guys
Glass Danse
Total Job
Victim Convenience
I Disappear
Take Me To The Hospital
Dropkick the Punks
Call Call
Violent
Posed to Death
Evil Voices
Worked Up So Sexual

Encore:
Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat
Agenda Suicide
Paranoiattack

This was my first time at the Observatory and I totally dug the space. It’s an old theatre and has great sightlines and sound. The Faint played for a little over an hour. Todd Fink was as engaging as ever - I just love watching him perform (because, really, he is performance art) and it just makes me really into the show. The set list had some “deep tracks” that they learned for the Danse Macabre tour and I have to say that these tracks are crazy good live (“Total Job” and “Violent” stand out for me.) Of course, when the standard show faves get played, the crowd just goes crazy and that makes for a good time for all. Super worth the drive to the OC for an hour of Faint bliss.

If you’re not going to Tegan and Sara and Stars on Wednesday, consider catching them at Fluxxx (though we know SD Faint shows are never as good as their other California counterparts…not the band’s fault, definitely a crowd issue.)

"we’re in this together now none of them can stop us now we will make it through somehow you..."

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:55:36 -0700

“we’re in this together now
none of them can stop us now
we will make it through somehow
you and me
if the world should break in two
until the very end of me
until the very end of you”

- NIN - “We’re In This Together”

Andrew McMahon @ HOB San Diego 3/20/13

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:36:00 -0700

(Andrew leaves his piano to earnestly sing “Konstantine” during the encore)

I was super bummed last fall when Andrew McMahon announced the end of Jack’s Mannequin. But thankfully, this just meant that Andrew would be working on new material without the constraints of the JM label. If you know the history behind that, you get it and were probably at this fantastic show last night. Set list for posterity….

Andrew McMahon
House of Blues San Diego
3/20/13

I Woke Up In A Car
The Mixed Tape
Watch The Sky
Television
Swim
Learn To Dance
Holiday From Real
Straw Dog
Bruised
Synaesthesia
Keep Rising
The Resolution
Cavanaugh Park
Dark Blue
If U C Jordan

Encore:
Konstantine
La La Lie

We’re lucky that AM has a soft spot for SD - he is an OC kid and he definitely has nostalgia for this town. He was super talkative during the set, explaining when/why he wrote songs, introducing the new material, and shouting out to his dad, who was in the audience. AM was his typical energetic self on the piano - but the crowd still loved it when he came out to sing, especially for the encore and perennial fan favorite “Konstantine”. I’m loving the added mix of the SoCo songs. He typically played a few at JM shows, but these recent sets have really brought back the old SoCo catalog and that is fantastic. Hope I get “Punk Rock Princesss” when I see him in a couple of weeks in NY :)

Andrew McMahon at Highline Ballroom NYC 4/9/13

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 08:16:38 -0700

Got a bonus Andrew McMahon show while in NYC. Set list first:

Andrew McMahon
Highline Ballroom
4/9/13

Holiday From Real
I Woke Up In A Car
Me and the Moon
The Mixed Tape
Straw Dog
Synesthesia
The Resolution
Keep Rising
Amy, I
Swim
Learn To Dance
The Astronaut
Dark Blue
If U C Jordan
Bruised

Encore:
Konstantine
La La Lie

Always interesting to see other city’s venues and get a feel for their crowds. This venue was not what I expected at all - I was thinking old school theatre, it was more like a supper club. The floor was open but there were booths with seating. The crowd was actually really fun, AM had some words with some bro in a tank top a few times and there was a really annoying tall dude who seemed to have his hands up the entire time, but otherwise the crowd was really there to see AM. I felt right at home with the early sing-a-longs and I totally saw some chicks crying at some songs. Now this kind of AM crowd is one that I fit into really well.

During the encore, AM crowd surfed to the bar, had a shot of Jager and surfed back. A totally epic crowd/artist moment. He made a lot of fans happy with that.

Set list is following previous ones, I am sad I was not on a date that got “Punk Rock Princess” but the bonus NYC banter made it worth it for me.

Rockefeller Center, NYC. Oh 30 Rock. You’re kinda awesome...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:20:13 -0700

Rockefeller Center, NYC. Oh 30 Rock. You’re kinda awesome with your public art and incredible view of the city from Top of the Rock.

The Empire State Building, NYC: Sunset view of Lower Manhattan...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:40:34 -0700

The Empire State Building, NYC: Sunset view of Lower Manhattan with One World Trade Center rising, ESB from Herald Square, Chrysler Building from the 86th Floor Observatory, in the ESB lobby, night view from Herald Square

Sightseeing in Washington DC - collage of The Capitol, The White...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 09:20:23 -0700

Sightseeing in Washington DC - collage of The Capitol, The White House, The Washington Monument from the Jefferson Memorial, Natural History Museum, Treasury Building, Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

The second photo is from the Jefferson Memorial - I just really liked this unusual angle.

National Air and Space Museum = total airplane nerdvana.

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 09:20:26 -0700

National Air and Space Museum = total airplane nerdvana.

“I’m in New York No need for words...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 19:09:33 -0700

“I’m in New York
No need for words now…”
PJ Harvey - This Mess We’re In

George Washington’s Mount Vernon - GW tomb, west view,...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 09:20:32 -0700

George Washington’s Mount Vernon - GW tomb, west view, east view, the greenhouse, stained glass at the visitor’s center. It was kinda crazy the day we went - lots of spring break kids still running around. But the grounds and the house is beautiful and so is the view of the Potomac. A nice way to spend a few hours.

Airborne Toxic Event at HOB SD 3/31/13

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 09:20:07 -0700

(Mikel having a moment…)

Spending a Saturday night on the opening show of The Airborne Toxic Event’s tour is not a bad way to end the week. TATE just released a new EP and is prepping for their new album so we got some new songs. Set list for posterity…

The Airborne Toxic Event
House of Blues San Diego
3/31/13

All at Once
The Secret
Half of Something Else
Safe
Wishing Well
Timeless
Numb
Changing
True Love
Gasoline
Does This Mean You’re Moving On?
Papillon
The Kids Are Ready to Die
Welcome to Your Wedding Day
Sometime Around Midnight
All I Ever Wanted

Encore 1:
Duet/Book of Love/The Graveyard Near The House
The Storm
Innocence

Encore 2:
Happiness is Overrated
Missy/Ring of Fire/American Girl/Born in the USA/Missy

(the lovely Ana)

TATE has had some great shows at the HOB SD and I am lucky that I have been to the majority of them. Last night was way sold out and the crowd was definitely excited. TATE played a long set, hitting all the old faves and throwing in a few new ones. They sounded great - no opening night of tour issues to be worked out. The double encore was especially fantastic, especially with the teasers of “Ring Of Fire”/”American Girl” and “Born In the USA” mixed in with Missy.

From my adventures in Columbus: the ART sculpture, State...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 08:54:11 -0700

From my adventures in Columbus: the ART sculpture, State Capitol, Columbia Museum of Art, North Market, Chihuly at CMA, Central Presbyterian, Broad Street Methodist, First Trinity.

Columbus was much nicer than the other cities I have been to in Ohio. Downtown has a lot of great architecture - especially the churches. The public art was also very dominant in my adventures around the city.