MOG

A weekend like this would wear anyone out, so after a lovely nap today, I give you a rundown of three truly amazing performances.

Friday night found a group of us at the Theatre of the Living Arts in Philadelphia to see Andrew Bird, with Joan as Policewoman opening. Joan held the stage alone with only her piano/guitar (depending on the song) and a powerful set of pipes. Her performance was mesmerizing, though there were far too many chatty, inattentive people in the crowd who didn't seem to get it--very disappointing. We made sure to approach her afterward to shower some adoration on her while she signed a record.

Andrew Bird played a few older tunes as well as those from the new album, explaining that it had been some time since he had visited Philadelphia (a couple of years if I remember correctly). He is of course wonderful, and played barefoot just like the last time I saw him!

Saturday night we caught a FREE show by CocoRosie in the World Financial Center in New York. They often hold free performances in the Winter Garden, and this one had CocoRosie teamed with a group of young poets from a teen organization in NYC who poems were interwoven with CocoRosie songs. There was a fierce gathering of talent in the room, although once again we were plagued with obnoxious concert-goer syndrome in the form of the annoying girl behind us, who sang loudly throughout CocoRosie's entire set and made fun of the kids who got up onstage to recite their own poetry between songs (on the off-chance that you might be a MOGger, little deary, let me clue you in: you were the only person impressed with your behavior, or your Saved By the Bell Halloween costume, that night) Afterward, we even caught a glimpse of Antony (of "and the Johnsons") in the back of the crowd before he realized he had been spotted and bolted from the scene--a shy one, I guess.

What an exhausting weekend to be in the Northeast! :)