Tis The Season

My god, I love Zooey...

DMB - The Last Stops - Boston

Phew, I have finally re-cooped from the most amazing November of my life. 7 DMB shows in a little over two weeks, including the final two shows until further notice. A dream come true! A lot of memorable moments happened during the fall tour and I want to thank everyone that I came in contact with on my trip. So, Thank You! Lets get right into it...in my previous post I summed up the Albany show in detail...I want to touch on the other six shows but I will not be talking about every song. I know some of you were not huge fans of me writing about every single song and how many times I've seen them...so I won't do that, as much.

 The story of Boston starts the night before. I was working...my cell phone rings and its a random number, it's Cali from 104.1 Boston...he had some good new for me. I won the opportunity to meet Stefan Lessard and watch the Cali interview with Stefan, which you can listen to right here! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I can't believe I was one of the few winners chosen. Pete and I got up to Boston nice and early hit the Volcano and then headed to Ben and Jerrys. The interview as you can hear, is very well done. Cali is a real DMB fan that asks questions that the true hardcore fans want to ask. Not to mention being 3 feet away from Stefan the entire time was unreal.

After the meeting Fonz and asking for Lover Lay Down there was about two hours before we wanted to head into the venue. We had floor seats and wanted to get close to Fonz and see if he would remember us. We settled at around 10th row. Great views of everyone all night long. The people around us were really cool too. There was this crazy bitch that made her way in and we all got her the boot and the whole crowd was singing good bye, it was priceless. The show started with Proudest Monkey into Satellite which is not the most energetic combo to open with...but they are two familiar songs that everyone in attendance knew and the crowd was into it right off the bat. After some Big Whiskey, they played DDTW, Last Stop, then Seek Up. That was one of my favorite runs of the tour. What a powerful three songs to play in a row. I was thinking Grey St. when I saw the 12-string, but a mid-set Last Stop is always a treat. Then I was floored after I heard the start to Seek Up. When Boyd is going crazy and Dave is wailing, I get goosebumps just thinking about it. The downfall in this part of the set was when two people right next to us passed out on the floor. It was way too hot and people were so dehydrated. Pete missed most of Gravedigger because he ran to get help for the people that fell.

The next four songs were a bit slow, I figured Big Whiskey was going to get played and here it was. I really do love Stay or Leave..it was just in the wrong spot. LITHOG is a real monster now...it's the best song from Big Whiskey by far. I really enjoyed the next four song run of #41, Grey St, Il Back You Up, and Crush. That's the kind of stuff I like to see. Crush was a good one! It was one of the highlights in the set in my opinion. However the ending run was just pathetic!!! Ants Marching was the only saving grace...but I was a little disapointed. It was just such a boring finnish. You and Me in the second to last slot is awful...and don't get me started on Can't Stop. The encore was okay. I love Some Devil, it's my favorite Dave E1 solo song. It's just so emotional. Everyday was meh, it did have a nice little #36 reprise which was a cool change of pace. PNP Rapunzel is a great closer. I prefer it to open but it works in the closing roll too. They always push it on that song every time. Too bad Boston was the only time they brought it out all tour. All in all it was a decent set and I had a great time on the floor. I was expecting a lot for N2. 

Night two started off with meeting up with my friend Ryan and his friend Jessie who we got floor tickets with us for N2! We had drinks at Boston Beer Works, which was a stones throw away from the venue. It was great to catch up with Ants and chat before n2. We left early again to get in for decent floor spots. John Butler Trio were the openers again, they are very impressive. I enjoyed watching their set for all four opening acts they played. The show started out perfectly with The Stone. There is no better opener in my opinion...The Stone is my favorite song. However the crowd could not sing the outro to save their lives! Squirm works out much better in the two slot but imo doesn't translate well live. After a killer What Would You Say, I looked at Pete and said this was going to be a fun show. Sadly I was escorted out of the building during Crash because someone else handed me a J and a cop saw...I missed the rest of the show. Highlights were Cry Freedom into Granny and then Lie In Our Graves. I was really bummed to miss that run. But shake it off, still got 4 more shows to get to and they were killer! MSG review will be posted tomorrow!

Tennis Rulez

This blog is on its way back! I am finishing up my fall tour write up for DMB and crafting my albums of the year list that I will have posted in time for the 1 yr anniversary of this here blog. In the meantime here is a video of Tennis playing their new song that I am obsessed with 'Pigeon'. Cheers! Talk soon.

Yours Truly Presents: Tennis "Pigeon" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

DMB - The Last Stops - Albany

Dave Matthews Band took their show to Albany on Friday night. The show was my 'golden show' as dmb fans call it. It's when your show number and age are the same. This was my 22nd show, and I'm still 22! I was hoping for a special set to call my 'golden' show, but we did not receive that. Sitting in the GA was tough. I love being so close to the band (we were about 5th row right in front of Boyd) but we were so crammed in there, it was hard to dance. I saw the little guitar on stage and that means it could be Shotgun, Sugarwill, Idea of You...but I knew it was going to be Squirm, its a popular opener, and it's a pretty bad one in my opinion. Shows that start with Squirm tend to start slow and this show did.
You Might Die Trying was the second song of the night, it's not my favorite either...this was also my 10th time seeing the song, so I'm tired of it. I will say this though....this was the best version of YMDT that I have ever seen....Dave's scat during the outro was fucking awesome...my favorite scat of the night, actually. Don't Drink The Water was 3rd up, my 9th time seeing the song. It's a song they have down perfect, it doesn't change much, but gets the job done. I would have rather heard something different, but this wasn't a bad choice. Lying In The Hands is the best live Big Whiskey song, they really jam it out now to almost 15 minutes. Jeff Coffin and Carter run this song, they are really unbelievable. The band kept it going with Crush, a song that seems to follow me around, this was 9th time seeing it, and I love it every single time. Then Dave decided to kill the mood by playing Seven and then So Damn Lucky which I am so damn sick of. They have been playing this same outro for 3 years now, and it's time for this song to take a rest. It was my 10th time seeing this song too, which is a bummer. Then, the highlight of the show for me was I'l Back You Up. It was the first song Dave ever wrote, and it was the first time I have ever seen it performed. A very touching moment for me. It was also the only song of the night that I got to see for the first time.
Great choice by the boys to keep the flow going with #41 next, it was also my 10th time seeing this song, something I will not complain about because this song is so good. It ran less then 10 minutes long with no real jamming except a little bit from Boyd. This song is top 5 for me, so I'm really glad that it is among my top songs heard. Shake Me was next, which is high energy and they seem to have finally figured out how to play it without rushing. It served as the perfect smoking song...turns out I should have waited for the next turd, Cornbread. Ive been to 22 shows and have now seen this song 15 times...PLEASE STOP PLAYING THIS SONG!!!!!!!!!! This version sucked too. The rest of the show, really picked up. Thank God.
The band brought out Sam Kininger for What Would You Say, which was very reminiscent of the way Roi played on this song. This version was pure fire and a top 3 moment of the night for me. It was only my 2nd time seeing the song. Screaming MOM ITS MY BIRTHDAY with everyone was really fun. I must say the crowd my section was pretty into it, going crazy when Boyd did anything. Jimi Thing people tend to hate on, but it always gets a nasty jam from everyone, and Sam stayed out to do some Sax dueling with Jeff. Ive seen this song 10 times now too, I am ready for a break from it honestly, but I will enjoy it every time they decide to play it.
Spaceman was a mood killer that should have been subbed out for another song. It could have been any song from the big 3 and I would have been happy. It was just the wrong song in the wrong spot. Next, however was the perfect placing for The Song That Jane Likes. My highschool art teacher was at the show tonight and she said before the show started she really wanted STJL and I was shocked/so happy they played it. It's really represents what early dmb is all about. Next, I saw the 12 string come out and I figured it would be the set closer and I was praying for Last Stop. They played Grey St (again for my 10th time) but I do love this song. The end is a frenzy and everyone jams hard on it. I thought it could close the set, they do that from time to time and in my opinion its not a song worth closing the set with. Instead they stayed out, and played Watchtower. This song first so perfectly in the set closer position more then the encore closer spot, its not even funny. I really enjoyed this version with a nice intro by Fonz and Dave's voice was on for the FIIIIRE outro.
The encore started with just Dave. He played Rye Whiskey, and when Dave hits those high notes, I get shivers! Love this song when he decides to play it. Next they played You and Me. What a bad choice for an encore song, almost any other song would have been better. It was so slow and the crowd was begging for something more! Throw Granny in there! Thank god after that disaster I saw the 12 string come out. I knew what was coming...The Last Stop. The scheduled closer was Tripping Billies, but there was a sign in the audience for Last Stop that Dave acknowledged a few times during the show saying 'just wait, just wait'. Me and about one other guy around me knew as soon as we saw the guitar come out what we were getting and then the band unleashed the beast. I havn't seen this song since Hartford 06 and that was the show, and it was that song that really made me become obsessed with this band. I was so happy to finally hear it after such a long wait. Everyone plays perfectly on this song, I only wish I could have heard more Boyd. Carter's build up right before going into the outro is so intense and then it goes into the most beautiful slow outro with Dave singing lightly over top of it. What a moment, one that I will never forget. The band dragged it out until there was nothing left, Dave thanked everyone and it was time to go home.
Overall this show was great to the average fan and it was a good time no doubt. However there were a lot of songs that I have seen too many times for my liking...5 or 6 songs that I have already seen 10+ times leads to a not so epic show for me. However seeing I'll Back You Up for the first time was a real treat. It was also only my second time seeing What Would You Say, (that's a shame, it should be played as much as cornbread) Song That Jane Likes, and The Last Stop. One of the best parts of last nights show was the lighting. This is by far my favorite lighting set up done by the band. I hate having huge TV screens behind the band. This tour, there are lights everywhere and the lighting rig overhead is always on the move, very very impressed sir Fenton. I am expecting much bigger and better things to come from the setlists in Boston, MSG, and Cville. Cheers everyone, talk to you after MSG! PS. Sorry I dont edit my posts, I dont care what you think.

Halloween

Last minute Halloween post. Sorry this blog sucks right now...well no, its just lacking. The music that is being posted is still great, Im just not posting enough of it. And its not looking like Nov/Dec is going to be much better. Lots of concert going in November...7 DMB shows and Im really excited to see everyone. So the new year my resolotion will be to get back to the blogging world, full steam ahead. Until then enjoy the fall and the rest of the year...check back every now and then...there will still be some posting :) Happy Halloween!

Girls - Heatbreaker

Girls have a new EP coming out in November called 'Broken Dreams Club'. The song 'Heartbreaker' is a live staple for Girls shows. The song is a sad sad number, like most of Girls music...but I love it so much. I guess I can just really relate with Chris. Grab the track for free below.

Free Download of Heartbreaker

Morning Benders Acoustic Performance

Check out Morning Benders playing over a half hour live set! Really wish I could have made it out to NYC to see them...they have one of my favorite albums of this year.

Best Coast - Boyfriend

TONIGHT!!! HPSU PRESENT: Beach Fossils & MT Bearington

Tonight in Hartford at Arch St Tavern Hartford Party Starters are having Beach Fossils! They are a band fronted by Dustin Payseur who wrote the music for their first album and brought in a few friends to round out a live act. They remind me of Surfer Blood and The Drums, two of my favorite indie rock bands. Their debut album came out in February on Captured Tracks.

Opening for them is MT Bearington. They remind me of Beach Fossils in a way, they are lo-fi, a little bit more expiremental, but also have pop influences like Beach Fossils. I have yet to catch them live, I did get to see Titles (Same lead singer) at their CD Release Party a few months ago. I was very impressed.

Tonight's show is going to be a good time, the music fits the mood too...perfect fall time concert. More info at the Facebook Event Page.  The show starts at 9 and its gonna run $8. See ya there!

Boast

This shirts are classy. I want one.
http://www.boastusa.com/products/listing#

Happy Birthday, John....We miss you

Gayngs Sex Up Fallon

These guys are classic. This is by far the sexiest album I have ever listened to. Seriously, just perfect sex music. Here they are last night on fallon. Justin Vernon be singing from Bon Iver

Keep

Yes, this is my first post on fashion, but I got style yall. Buy these shoes, they are dope. Super creative, stylish, I love em. Check out the rest of their stuff too
http://www.keepcompany.com/category.aspx?id=16

Dave and Tim Farmaid 2010

Gotta Have Daytrotters

Daytrotter is killin it of late. Just recently they had Toro Y Moi and Tennis in studio to give the Daytrotter spin to their tunes. Both of these artists make enjoyable, relaxing summer music. They simplify their songs to the bare necessities for these sessions. Purely delectable. You can download them for free once you register for Daytrotter, which should have been done months ago.

http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/tennis-concert/20031378-51552.html - Download Tennis


http://www.daytrotter.com/dt/toro-y-moi-concert/20031389-51558.html - Download Toro Y Moi

“Infinity Guitars” - Sleigh Bells

Sleigh Bells "Infinity Guitars" from Phil Pinto on Vimeo.

Wild Nothing In The Streets

Check out Wild Nothing performing 'Gemini' and 'Your Rabbit Feet' from their 'They Shoot Music Session' These guys are really cool, they played at Daniel Street in Milford this summer and the entire band is chill. Enjoy these acoustic street versions :)

My Vampire Weekend

This past weekend was bananas.  I headed up to Boston to see Dum Dum Girls, Beach House, and Vampire Weekend. All three bands are amazing and I was very excited to see Vampire Weekend live for the first time. Boston is a beautiful city...it reminds me of our past, and it has a very vintage, colonial feel to it. Rachel and I made the trip up Saturday to enjoy an extra day in the city.

Sunday morning I awoke to the Dum Dum Girls tweeting for spirit lifters. Our party was more then happy to help them out and they said to meet up with them after their set! The Dum Dum Girls are badass live. Just four girls completely rocking out for 45 minutes and harmonizing beautifully together in hot outfits. Di Di sways back and fourth with a little shimmy and Bambi their bass player literally shows zero emotion on stage. Beach House sounds identical to their record, which is exactly what you want because their albums are perfect. Victoria has one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard. Their light show was really impressive too, it added a real dreamy feel to the show.

Vampire Weekend opened their set with 'Holiday' from Contra and continued to play for almost 80 minutes covering all the hits from both of their albums, and a Bruce Springsteen cover. During 'Bryn', The Dum Dum Girls were roaming around our section and were having trouble spotting Zack's Surfer Blood Tee that we told them to look for. Instead we went to them and they brought us backstage for a smoke during 'California English'. The DDG are really cool, it was great to talk with them for a little bit and recap their performance. They were heading out to their next show quickly, and we wanted to get back to Vampire Weekend. We said our good-byes and went back for the second half of VW. They are insanely tight live. Every note is played right and Ezra has a lot of interaction with the crowd. They ended the show like they end every show, with Walcott...one of my favorite tunes. What a special weekend in Boston.

Then I wake up Monday morning and see that their next show is in Holyoke Mass, only an hour away from me. I figured, why not email Dum Dum Girls and see if they could get me in and have the same situation set up as the night before. They were 100% down for that, so I got to go and see all 3 bands for free the next night! The shows were very similar but performances were different. Beach House was way more into their set in Holyoke, Victora was stomping the ground and doing all sorts of robotic dance moves. Vampire Weekend loved the feel of Holyoke, Ezra said 'I've got a real Halloween vibe goin on tonight, it's officially sweater weather...I love it'. It was cool in Holyoke because it was a much smaller show,  only 1500 people max versus what I thought was around 5000 in Boston this weekend. Holyoke was also GA, and a much, much younger crowd. It made for a more rowdy show up front. Boston was much more reserved. I had a blast seeing all 3 bands twice in two days, thanks to The Dum Dum Girls for hooking everything up, love yall!

The sound on the Vampire Weekend vids aren't great...and here is my favorite Beach House song 'Norway' from the Boston show.

New Childish

My boy Childish Gambino has a new track for you. I can really relate to his self confidence issues. You're the man Donald... I'll never forget that first show in NYC. Can't wait for Community to start back up either. This new song 'Untouchable' is true to the man spitting on it (he made the beat too). Donald Glover is truly untouchable right now. If you don't follow his blog http://www.iamdonald.com/ well then you don't know whats up. He is on top of his game in every aspect of his career. Killing it on TV, doing stand up, rapping in clubs, or writing scrips...whatever you have for him, he will succeed. Donald Glover for Spiderman? nahhh, Donald Glover for President! Listen and then download.
Now I'm gonna have myself a nice little weekend in Boston and see Dum Dum Girls, Beach House, and Vampire Weekend in one show. I know Donald can appreciate that!
Untouchable by Childish Gambino
UNTOUCHABLE

Must Have Daytrotter Sessions

The last few days of August were ended on a good note thanks to http://www.daytrotter.com/. They put up sessions with Surfer Blood and The Beets. I was lucky enough to see both of them in concert this year, and both are really strong live. Daytrotter is the best and if you haven't been on their site before, download their app, sign up for their music, follow them on twitter...get involved with what they do because you get free music and its all amazing. You can download these two sessions if you click the bands names above. All of their sessions have free mp3 downloads with links for lossless. Check out their list of sessions.