Show Date : May 8th, 2009
It is kinda weird how you start going to a place and you one day realize that it has become like one of your places. Cause you know the routine and it is all feel, you know. Like autonomous body function.
“Don’t have you”
“Yeah you do, you’re checking my first name not last.”
“Sorry man. You got two first names!”
ID, right forearm stamp. Step in. Rip ticket. Left forearm stamp.
Grab 2 beers. One for the open. One for the main.
Feel where the ramp carpet meets the floor because it has an edge and you could bust your ass.
Got the buzz about this ‘secret’ show yesterday. Will call only, but the line was totally manageable.
12 kids without tickets were moping around sharing their hard luck outside. And the place was juiced.
So. Malkmus. I was never a Pavement guy. ohhhhh burn me at the indie rock stake. Or throw me into the Doug Fir brier patch and make me go to this show. Boo hoo!
But Malkmus and The Jicks last album was really quite good. Not that anyone needs my freaking approval. He lives in Portland now. FTW.
Drummer is Janet Weiss. Of the late Sleater-Kinney.
“Hi everyone, I think a band dropped out and they offered us the slot. Which is good because we like to play.” Away we go.
What’s immediately noticeable about this act is 1)everyone is really good. 2)The drummer kicks ass.
Malkmus is really quite fluid and a very good guitarist. His stage banter walks the line of arrogant and engaging. The bassist looks unchallenged, and the 2nd guitarist is very mellow except on the rockers.
So, the crowd and act kinda got comfortable with each other until about the 4th song Gardenia and the fun started.
They then introduced a new song. After the following stage banter by Malkmus.
“How about those Blazers? I know some of us are disappointed. I bet some of you are like I was really happy they totally exceeded my expectation. Fuck that. That’s small town thinking. You should beat a shit ass team like the Rockets. I am cheering for the Lakers.”
Booooo. Fuck you. You’re An asshole…
“I think I took a wrong turn there.”
The new song, Senator, sounded kinda like a work in progress. The chorus was “All the Senator wants is a blow job”. And Janet Weiss looked like she was trying not to crack up…alot of the lyrics sounded improvised.
Other standouts: “Real Emotional Trash”, “Dragonfly Pie”, and “Baltimore”. I’m a Real Emotional Trash-centric guy, what can I say?
It is a little hard to get a groove on with this act because they riff, catch an edge and move on and you want the riff back but it is gone and then you want that new hook back and now the old riff is coming back, and now there is a new lick and i dont like it as much and…..etc.
Sam Coomes (drummers ex-husband, last band was Quasi) sat in for the encore on bass and sang the third song. All covers…”Emotional Rescue” (which was actually the highlight of the night for me), “All Day And All The Night”, “Shine A Light”, & “Love Train”.
Fun night. Don’t believe the word that live music is dead cause it isn’t in arenas. More like some fat cat at a major didn’t get a cut.
