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Showing newest 24 of 36 posts from October 2009. Show older posts
Showing newest 24 of 36 posts from October 2009. Show older posts
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
LIVE REVIEW - Amy Millan @ Doug Fir 10/26/09
--- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
I haven't done a live review in a while, even though I've been to several shows lately. The Gossip at Wonder Ballroom was good, even though the venue was like a big gym. Grizzly Bear was good as always at the Crystal Ballroom, but nothing really worth noting, as I've seen them like 15 times now. But after last night's show, I felt like I needed to write something up, not just because of Amy's performance, which was great, but because of the venue itself. Apologies for the iPhone blurred pics in advance.
Let's get into the opener, Bahamas, first. They were quite an interesting duo. When we walked into the show, which is in the basement of this place, the Mercury Hotel, there might have been around 15 people watching. Most of the attendees were situated around the tables on the surrounding walls, only a few people choosing to stand in front of the stage. This seemed to bug the Bahamas lead singer a bit, and he frequently mentioned this fact throughout his set, though no one really moved to the stage until two really loud, drunk girls came in and went right up to the stage. He joked with them a bit before telling them to be quiet and went into another bluesy, reverb soaked song with his drummer following blindly. His songs were interesting at best, though they didn't really catch my attention enough to focus on the lyrics. Overall, not the most memorable music, but at one point he did take a swipe at one of the drunk, very loud by this time, girls by saying, "This song's for you, it's about a pregnancy scare," to which everyone in attendance, around 25 or more people by then, started laughing hysterically. Everyone except the girl, who refused to face the stage until the band finished. After they finished, the singer went over to the merch table to pitch his CD to anyone who walked by, like my girlfriend, whom he offered to "Rip it up" with for the evening. Ass.
Anyways, I'll pause here for a moment to speak of the lovely venue, the Doug Fir. I'd heard since I moved here that it was a favorite spot for many people, including bands, and I could see why upon entering. There's a reddish glow around the stage which is situated on one side of the venue, the other side a yellowish glow around the bar,which is framed with layers of logs. In fact, the entire venue is framed in logs, the two back walls angling in towards the stage are wood, yet the side walls are acoustic foam designed to look like logs in a cabin. The stage is fairly high for such a small venue, and the bar is about a foot or so higher than the stage area. Why am I explaining all this? Because the acoustics were perfect in the venue and the sound was magnificent, probably one of the best I've heard at any venue anywhere. This fact was mentioned by Amy herself during her set, which kept her from wanting the night to end. Besides Bowery Ballroom in NYC, it may be my new favorite venue.
Onto Amy's set. She was joined by a plethora of multi-instrumentalists, a guy who doubled on guitar, drums, and mandolin who had a real bluegrass cut to his voice, a bassist who played both Paul McCartney's trademark style electric bass and a stand up, a banjo/guitar/backup vocalist who was like 7 feet tall, and a girl who seemed to do everything from drums to electric and acoustic guitar to slide guitar and more. Amy mostly stuck to her acoustic, playing song after song from both her solo albums, as well as some old bluegrass tunes in between. A few highlights were the triple requested "Skinny Boy," whom the drunk girls asked for twice after it had been played. Also "Baby I," Ruby," He Brings Out the Whiskey In Me" and her bluegrass tinged Death Cab for A Cutie cover of "I Will Follow You Into the Dark" had everyone into the show.
The drunk girls made no qualms about making their presence known, dancing throughout the night. Amy joked with them goodheartedly throughout, never losing patience. She seemed to be having a great time, actually saying that while their show in Seattle the night before was good, this night was more memorable. "What a small audience with a big heart," she exclaimed. "Much better than the other way around, which is what I'm used to when we come here. Though it is Monday night right?" She then went onto confessing that her bandmates and her had been up till 5 am the night before jamming in their hotel room and drinking heavily. You couldn't have been able to tell, because they were on point all night.
After the encore, which consisted on the mandolin player shredding some craziness for about 15 minutes, and another couple songs, Amy seemed content to play until the bar closed. Her band, didn't however, as they seemed to sneak backstage while she was talking. So she played one more alone, and then ended the hour and twenty minute plus set by raising her whiskey glass and heading off.
I really enjoy Amy's solo work, it shows a different side to her than the emotional wrenching work she does for Stars, whom I also love. While Stars' music is a bit more poppy and aims at making the audience feel something, Amy's solo stuff is just fun, whiskey drenched good times, and I really think that was the overall feel of the night. While I did like her first solo album a bit more than the newest one, "Master of the Burial" I think it's important that she doesn't seem to take herself too seriously when presenting these songs. In fact, the band came out to that old college joke MP3 discussing the merits and downfalls of tequila.
Overall, very solid evening, I scored a poster of the show off the bathroom wall, and will be returning to see Fanfarlo on Nov 19th, a show I've been waiting to see since their demos were released over a year ago. Can't wait to go back to Doug Fir though, it may become my new hang out fast, especially with no show costing more than $12.
Monday, October 26, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Virtual Piano"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Best Virtual Piano
Enjoy!
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Virtual Drums"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
For the beat makers... Happy Monday...
Enjoy!
Friday, October 23, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Live Microphone Package"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
4th day sick...awesome...
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Panasonic's TC-L37X1 LCD TV Review"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Here's my review on the Panasonic TC-L37X1 LCD HDTV that has an iPod dock that works with the TV.
Enjoy!
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Drum Microphone Package Overall"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Ugh....feeling the sickness, it must be going around. As I lay in bed while the water company jackhammers into my front yard, I'm going to post some Bestcovery action I did last week...
Enjoy!
Friday, October 16, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Mastering Software Overall"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Confucius say, "Don't try mastering unless you have mastered being mastered."
Or something like that....
Enjoy!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Notation and Composition Software Overall"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
For the composers...
Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Sony's KDL-52Z5100 LCD TV Review"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Here's my review on Sony's Z series of LCD TVs, specifically it's 52-inch model.
Check it out here - http://www.lcd-hdtv.org/lcd-hdtv-reviews/sony-kdl-52z5100-review
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "LG's 47LH50 LCD TV Review"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Here's a review on a sweet LG LCD TV with NetFlix streaming...
Enjoy!
Monday, October 12, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best Drum Machine Overall"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
Happy Monday...right? Meh...
Let's just get to the point, some of us actually have to work on Columbus Day... Remember, he didn't find America, he found the Caribbean, so here's to half-assing it...
For the beat makers...
Best Drum Machine Overall - http://www.bestcovery.com/node/50227
Enjoy!
Friday, October 9, 2009
THE TASTING ROOM - "Best DJ Software Overall"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
A bit of Bestcovery action for Friday... Another one for the scratchers.... Everyone have a good weekend!
Best DJ Software Overall - http://www.bestcovery.com/node/50221
Enjoy!
THE TASTING ROOM - "Samsung's LN52B750 LCD TV Review"
-- A Taste from TheInkFlowsLikeWine.com
To end the week, here's a review on Samsung's LN52B750 55-inch LCD TV...
Check it out at - http://www.lcd-hdtv.org/lcd-hdtv-reviews/samsung-ln52b750-review
Enjoy!
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