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asimplechordI know I'm about to commit music sacrilege here, but... I am not a particular fan of The Beatles. I mean, I appreciate how influential they were, and I like Sgt. Pepper as a concept album (although I really only like the movie version, with Alice Cooper and Peter Frampton), but I don't really ever think, "Hm, I want to listen to the White album right now." I have no digital Beatles, and I don't miss it. Remember that moment in Pulp Fiction when Mia talks about being a Beatles man or an Elvis man? Elvis.
So. Pretty. Odd., which owes a great deal to the Beatles and Sgt Pepper, doesn't particularly impress me. I don't dislike it. It's a good sophomore effort, and it definitely distances the Panic boys from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. The instrumental arrangement's pretty awesome (clarinet! flute! trumpet!). The songs sound like they'll be easier to perform, in terms of layers of vocals, than AFYCSO. But that style is not one that I listen to and re-listen to on a regular basis, or put on my exercise or work playlist. I like Northern Downpour, When The Day Met The Night (a love song for the sun and moon, what's not to like?), and I Have Friends In Holy Spaces. The rest of it? I'm sure it'll grow on me. Eventually.
So. Last night. Blue October at the Meridian. The show sold out, and I have never seen the place so crowded. Or so schwagged out with sponsorship ads. Thank-you, Camel, for allowing me to see them at a small venue. I'd only seen them at BuzzFest before. I know they used to play Scout Bar back in the day, but I never saw them there.
Opening act: Pretty Baby. I couldn't hear much of their lyrics -- horrendous feedback at one point, lots of crowd chatter. But the presentation was cool. I'm intrigued enough to actually download the free songs they offered.
Then Blue October. They did mostly songs off Foiled, with a handful of older songs. And the Houston crowd knows and loves them well enough that often they were louder than the band. Good lights (as an accent, not a distraction), good balance between vocals and instruments. I could see the drummer. :) And OMG, the violinist/keyboardist, Ryan. He just. Faux-hawk and ink and shades and violin and just, how so awesome? Seriously. He jammed with the guitarist. With his violin.
About half-way through the set, they did Drilled A Wire Through My Cheek, my favorite song off Foiled, then You Make Me Smile, so I was happy. And X Amount of Words and Razorblade. The ubiquitous Hate Me was performed near the end of the set. I didn't know the song they performed as their encore.
But. So worth it. They are awesome live, which I sorta suspected from seeing them at BuzzFest a few fests ago, but that's never a good indicator, because it's hard to compare (for me, anyway) when I'm hanging out on the lawn and can't really see much and the acoustics are crappy.
Oddly enough, my ears were NOT ringing when we left. So. Good sound without needing to overpower with volume. WINS.
Urgh. Work. Must go. But![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
why_me_why_not? I got more written (long-hand) at lunch yesterday. And IN ONE MONTH YOU'LL BE HERE. *cough* /capslock
So. Pretty. Odd., which owes a great deal to the Beatles and Sgt Pepper, doesn't particularly impress me. I don't dislike it. It's a good sophomore effort, and it definitely distances the Panic boys from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out. The instrumental arrangement's pretty awesome (clarinet! flute! trumpet!). The songs sound like they'll be easier to perform, in terms of layers of vocals, than AFYCSO. But that style is not one that I listen to and re-listen to on a regular basis, or put on my exercise or work playlist. I like Northern Downpour, When The Day Met The Night (a love song for the sun and moon, what's not to like?), and I Have Friends In Holy Spaces. The rest of it? I'm sure it'll grow on me. Eventually.
So. Last night. Blue October at the Meridian. The show sold out, and I have never seen the place so crowded. Or so schwagged out with sponsorship ads. Thank-you, Camel, for allowing me to see them at a small venue. I'd only seen them at BuzzFest before. I know they used to play Scout Bar back in the day, but I never saw them there.
Opening act: Pretty Baby. I couldn't hear much of their lyrics -- horrendous feedback at one point, lots of crowd chatter. But the presentation was cool. I'm intrigued enough to actually download the free songs they offered.
Then Blue October. They did mostly songs off Foiled, with a handful of older songs. And the Houston crowd knows and loves them well enough that often they were louder than the band. Good lights (as an accent, not a distraction), good balance between vocals and instruments. I could see the drummer. :) And OMG, the violinist/keyboardist, Ryan. He just. Faux-hawk and ink and shades and violin and just, how so awesome? Seriously. He jammed with the guitarist. With his violin.
About half-way through the set, they did Drilled A Wire Through My Cheek, my favorite song off Foiled, then You Make Me Smile, so I was happy. And X Amount of Words and Razorblade. The ubiquitous Hate Me was performed near the end of the set. I didn't know the song they performed as their encore.
But. So worth it. They are awesome live, which I sorta suspected from seeing them at BuzzFest a few fests ago, but that's never a good indicator, because it's hard to compare (for me, anyway) when I'm hanging out on the lawn and can't really see much and the acoustics are crappy.
Oddly enough, my ears were NOT ringing when we left. So. Good sound without needing to overpower with volume. WINS.
Urgh. Work. Must go. But
why_me_why_not? I got more written (long-hand) at lunch yesterday. And IN ONE MONTH YOU'LL BE HERE. *cough* /capslock
