i dunno - it means so much just to see the boys in action, but this was a
pretty half-assed example. Last night was the "Monsters of Indie Rock"
show at the NYU student center, which made for a hilarious crowd. the ads
said "last hipster standing wins" but i had no idea how much folks would
take that to heart. folks got haircuts and thrift-store dressing down to
a science. the make-up (suprisingly) opened up and did their best not to
seem to bored with the proceedings, and mostly failed at that. I'm a huge
fan of the band, but they feed off the crowd and when everyone's just
standing there with arms folded and blank looks it shows in the
performance. Ian went through the motions and all, but was mostly
uninspired. The sound was muddy and not loud enough, and when they left I
was only sad they didn't bust out their "hey joe" cover. i left at this
point to get properly wasted for MM. i'd seen blonde redhead before and
it always equalled boredom. I showed up for their last couple and was
blown away, though. the sound was crisp and loud and their singer clearly
excited to be there - she absolutely wailed and cried over this symphony
of guitar feedback. i wish i'd caught more than their last two songs.
and the mouse: (if i get the setlist wrong: i was drunk and i'm doing this
from memory.) they opened with one of their new ones which i think i'd
heard before. the sound was back to shitty and you could hardly
make out isaac's vocals at all. it's got this guitar part where he
doesn't strum at all, just plays everything with taps and hammers, if that
sounds familiar at all. next up was an ecstatic "doing the cockroach"
(which was my friend's "i-gotta-hear"). then they busted out "dramamine,"
a pleasant surprise, but kinda lackluster. then they busted out another
newbie: that one about how "my only art is fucking people over". good
song - anybody know its name? then they really got
going with an epic "cowboy dan" - they fucked aroung with it for a good
ten minutes or so. and that was it. a measly goddamn five songs,
shitloads of encore applause, and yet, no love from the boys. and i gotta
say, their attitude throughout was of a bored, let's get this over with
nature. maybe that had to do with the crowd: i can't imagine getting
excited about trying to entertain a roomful of hipper-than-thou college
kids. maybe they're just saving their energies for the coney island show
on sunday (which i'm sadly not gonna be around for).
personally i'm kind of sick of getting dirty looks from short ugly
fuckers with complicated hair and pretty jackets just because i believe in
a little audience participation. yes, i'm gonna get drunk, yes i'm gonna
dance like an idiot, and yes i'm gonna sing along (loudly). that's how i
enjoy a show and i could give a shit if it bothers anybody. i call it "DC
Syndrome," and it will be the ruin of indie rock!
blonde redhead won.
LUV
DUK
