MOG - nik3787's Posts

Pete Yorn at Workplay, Birmingham AL March 31, 2007

nik3787 — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:52:01 GMT

So, I'm usually up to date on my favorite artist's tours, but good ole Pete Yorn snuck one up on me. Luckily I was able to grab a few tickets to this standing room only venue. I've been to Workplay many times (The Black Keys, Ben Lee, Jay Clifford of Jump, Little Children) and these shows were in the Workplay Theatre, which probably could fit 300-500 people. But this show was in a magical place of Workplay that I've never seen before. Just a pretty big warehouse type deal, with a stage and that's about it. I figure it could fit about 2000 people in it, and that was probably the number of people that was there. My girl and I got there in plenty of time and checked out Minibar, which is a band that consists of Pete Yorn's band, and they have a cool album out called Desert After Rain that has a cool sound to it, a little indie, a little alt-country. One track called Biker Night was actually written in Birmingham, Alabama and there was an article about them in The Birmingham News on Friday. But anyways, we caught Minibar, and then Moses Mayfield which is a really cool local band that I think is really gonna hit it big soon

So, back to Pete. Back in November, me and my girl saw him perform in Mobile (scroll down to see my review of the Mobile show...http://mog.com/nik3787/list/posts/4 ) The concert wasn't as intimate as Mobile's show, probably due to the large number of people, and Workplay doesn't have that dirty feel to it that Pete seems to like (he mentioned during his set that he really like The Nick, which is this real gritty venue in Birmingham, he performed there this past summer). Here's the set list, which I was extremely happy about due to the fact that he started out with Vampyre:

Vampyre * Closet * Pass Me By * For Us * The Man * Undercover * Never My Love (The Association) * Strange Condition * Policies * Long Way Down * Black * Murray * Splendid Isolation (Warren Zevon) * Life on a Chain
- Encore: Dead Flowers (The Rolling Stones)
- Crystal Village
- The Good Advice
- I Feel Good Again (Junior Kimbrough)
- For Nancy

So there were like three Unexpected Surprises of the Evening:

1. During Minibar's set, Pete came on stage, introduced as an inexperienced drummer named Ribs McGee, who graciously showed up to give the guys some relief. He played drums for the song "Retrospect" which appears on Minibar's Road Movies album.

2. Pete sang with Moses Mayfield during their set. What was funny about it was that the song was Oasis's Wonderwall... I think. Oasis songs have that inexplicable ability to mesh together into one gigantic song and I have a hard time differentiating them.

3. Pete signed my CD. And I got to meet him. We had to wait around after the concert for this, and it was well worth the wait. We kinda hung around the back of the line so we could get some more Pete time. So here's our conversation pretty much verbatim.

Pete: Hi Nik: (As I pull out my wallet) So Pete how much for an evening with you? Pete: (with a puzzled look on his face) Huh? (Then I think he kinda gets it) Candace: Hi, could you sign this?

Then I proceed to tell him about the time we saw him on the street in Mobile and didn't want to bother him

Pete: Yeah, I was goin to the candy store Some guy, maybe Pete's cousin that I met in Mobile: Hey I remember you! Nik: So, my name's Nik and this is Candace Pete: (Talking to Candace) You don't talk much Nik: (This is where I start being a douche, but not on purpose, I was nervous as hell) Yeah, she doesn't talk much. Candace: Hi! Pete: Do you want me to make it out to you? Candace: Sure! Nik: (I notice the word Ask. written on his hand) Is that a tat? Pete: No, its just a reminder Nik: Cool. (Then I see him chewing gum) Hey, whatcha chewin? Pete: Gum.

And that's when I realize that we (by the word we, I mean I) were probably gettin on his nerves, so we told him how incredible we thought his music was and went on our way. I pretty much felt stupid, but hey, at least I got to talk to him. We didn't have a camera, but if we did, I would've taken a picture of us arm wrestling or something cool like that. I also wanted to tell him that we saw his performance on Conan, and that Candace has a celebrity crush on both of them, but I didn't get that far. Candace had just kinda frozen up, she said that she didn't really know what to say to him except that she really liked his music.

So all in all, I got to make an ass outta myself again, but we did get to dance and rock out with one of our all-time favorite musicians.

Bees ATTACKED my brothers' apartment

nik3787 — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 15:34:56 GMT

Nothing to do with music, unless you find the buzz of about two thousand bees particularly delightful... Its spring break at my brothers' and girlfriend's university. She's student teaching this semester, so she has to stick around the campus and she's staying at my brothers' apartment for the week because she's not allowed to stay in the dorms. So she comes home yesterday after teaching and finds this!

Crazy Bees! They called pest control and the guy that came out said they were honeybees. I was worried they might be those African Killer Bees, but the guy said that he knew they weren't because they hadn't tried to sting him. I think he got a local beekeeper out to collect them, but I'm not sure how the whole thing worked out...

Karaoke

nik3787 — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:04:35 GMT

My brother and his girl are strollin into town tonight, and we are gonna hit up the local karaoke club. it has personal booths like in Lost in Translation. Its gonna be so great being a total fool...

Late night jazz...

nik3787 — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 01:44:34 GMT

So the local music station really sucks, its a college station that has revamped itself from a indie station to alt rock. And in my quest for different music, I have come across late night Jazz on the NPR station down here. Its fantastic... they played Lee Morgan the other night, so I had to get his album "Expoobident" and I've been chillin to it ever since. tried to upload it on here, but wasn't that successful... obviously

here's a vid of him playing though...

300

nik3787 — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:41:36 GMT

Alls I gots to say is, the 300 trailer is awesome and cool and the music for it compliments the visuals. I don't really care for NIN, but the song is just awesome. Just like the Sin City trailer using The Servant's "Cells". I wish I could make movie trailers for a living.

Ben Gibbard's Solo Tour

nik3787 — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:33:23 GMT

So here's the dates for Ben's solo tour this May, and I've got my tickets already for the Atlanta show. You have to become a member of the Death Cab fan club to get presale tickets, which is forty bucks. and the tickets are 25.

But that is a small price to pay to see my generation's greatest lyricist.

5-3-07 First Avenue Minneapolis, MN

5-4-07 Metro Chicago, IL

5-7-07 Somerville Theatre Sommerville, MA

5-8-07 Town Hall New York, NY

5-9-07 Theatre Of Living Arts Philadelphia, PA

5-10-07 9:30 Club Washington, DC

5-11-07 Cat's Cradle Carboro, NC

5-12-07 Center Stage Atlanta, GA

5-14-07 Granada Theater Dallas, TX

5-15-07 Emo's (Outside Stage) Austin, TX

5-17-07 Royce Hall Los Angeles, CA

5-18-07 The Fillmore San Francisco, CA

5-19-07 Roseland Theater Portland, OR

5-20-07 Showbox Seattle, WA

Ben Gibbards gonna be in movie!

nik3787 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:31:16 GMT

So I read this the other day and wanted to post about it, although I'm sure some else has posted it already. Apparently, Ben is gonna be in the movie "Brief Interviews with Hideous Men" directed by John Krasinski, who Jim in NBC's The Office.

Heres a link to the full story:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/40471/Ben_Gibbard_Goes_Hollywood

So, I think that Ben should write a MOG post about this... seriously.

Guster at The Tabernacle

nik3787 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:26:05 GMT

In December, I bought two tickets to see Guster in Atlanta on Feb 17. I bought them because A) Guster is the most talented band I have ever seen live and 2) my girl didn't get to go with me when I saw them in Birmingham in August. And I got a lot of flack about it b/c Guster is her favorite band. So these were super secret surprise tickets for her... it was my 4 year anniversary gift to her (Yes, our anniversary, Valentine's Day, and my birthday fall in the same week... Its a Celebration, Bitches!).

Atlanta is an hour and 45 minutes from my parent's house, so we left early Saturday afternoon so that we could get there on time and get good seats, cause at The Tabernacle, its first come, first serve. And The Tabernacle is a really cool venue, by the way. Its an old church building with like four stories in downtown Atlanta, and its all wooden so it creaks a lot and you feel like the house is about to come down. The second story is where the main stage is, with a smaller stage on the first story. So around the main stage is standing room only and the third story is a wrap-around mezzanine with seating. Then the fourth story is a balcony that doesn't wrap around the sides and its probably 20-30 seats deep. There is a huge number of little side rooms where you can sit and make out, and the decor of the place looks like a three year old came painted the place. So, all in all, it was a cool venue. Not as cool as the Alabama Theater, in my opinion, but cool nonetheless.

Alright, a review of the Band(s). Mason Jennings opened for Guster. My friend gave me a copy of their cd "Use Your Voice" a few days before the concert and I have to say my favorite track is "Lemon Grove Avenue." Of course, Mason didn't think it was pertinent to play the song on this particular night, probably because he knew it was my favorite song on the cd. Its called verbal irony. Anyways, they were cool, not as good an opener as Ray LaMontagne was back in August.

And Guster was just as good as they were before. Not much really new to say, other than my girl thought it was really cool that they could swap instruments as much as they did. And I didn't stop to buy Ping Pong balls, so we didn't get to throw them at the end of Airport Song like I wanted to. However, we did get to yell "Dirty, oh so Dirty" during Airport Song, so it kinda made up for it. They didn't play FaFa, which I should have tried and email them like crazy to get them to play that song for my girl, cause its her favorite. Hindsight! Guster's sight doesnt' have the setlist up yet, so I'll put that up there as soon as I can.

Biggest Surprise of the Evening: 1) Guster debuted a new song they are working on, apparently its a cover of a song. Made me want to get in a Conga Line. This is what Geoff has to say about it:

"So we worked up a six-man version of "Brazil" for this tour, and it's been steadily improving every night. It was written in 1939 as "Aquarela do Brasil" and it's been covered by a lot of dead guys. Jimmy Dorsey. Frank Sinatra. Chet Atkins. Django. We're basing our arrangement on it from Geoff Muldaur's version, which was the theme song to the movie Brazil from the 80s. Muldaur's a Boston guy, very much still living, and Ryan somehow found him over email to tell him we'd worked it up from his rendition for this tour. He responded (!)...

Hey Ryan...

Feels nice to have spawned. You and your band mates must be slightly deranged to have chosen to do Brazil a la Pottery Pie... so for this I am encouraged about the future. Take care and enjoy.

Best wishes, Geoff "

A very awesome song.

Biggest Surprise of the Evening: B) Brian (the drummer, aka The Thunder God) got on the mike and sang an awesomely horrible rendition of "Whats Up" by 4 Non Blondes. Everybody was really wondering what was going on...

Biggest Letdown of the Evening: Completely unrelated to the bands, but some very immature high schoolers sat behind us and I got drenched with beer right at the end of the set... not cool, high schoolers. Learn to hold your damn beer...

Gonna try and get some pics up in here...

I think birthdays should be abolished, much like slavery was.

nik3787 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 15:37:34 GMT

So yesterday was my birthday... and it totally sucked. That sounded a little sophomoric, so let me rephrase. The cumulative events that comprised the anniversary of my birth were disappointing, to say the least. There, that's better. Not exactly what a 24 year old would say though. Anyways. I was sick for the majority of the day, feeling dizzy, kind of drunk without the alcohol consumption. Sure, I saved a few bucks, but I really don't drink and teach labs, so it was a lose-lose situation. From 2-5 I taught Chemistry 102 lab, and I normally don't yell at my students, however they just wouldn't shut up yesterday. I mean 18-19 year olds acting like they were in Junior High doesn't fly with me, and normally I would just be quiet during my lecture until they caught on and then remind them that they get to leave when they get finished with the lab. But yesterday my impulses took over and I just slammed my hands on my desk and yelled shut up as loud as I could. Sure it got their attention, but I did feel embarrassed right after I did it. And then a kid walked in late and wanted to hand in his homework and I told him I wouldn't take it because I already took everyone else's up. He tried to give a lame ass excuse, and I told him we weren't in high school anymore and that I wouldn't take his lame ass excuses. But thanks to Facebook, some of my students knew it was my birthday, and the class sang to me. Which was kind of weird. Thanks Facebook!

Then I had a great Einstein moment and decided to make my softball team's practice, but in self defense I was feeling better after lab. I at least got to let off some steam.

So after practice I went home and sat on the couch. I played some Wii, watched Heroes and talked to my girl on the phone. She couldn't make the hour drive to my house b/c she had too much homework to do.

And the sad thing is, I get sad on my birthdays anyways. But I didn't want to post this to get sympathy points or anything... I just had to write it to get it off my mind. But you know what? Its in the past and so I really shouldn't have to worry about it any more.

A piece of warm advice

nik3787 — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:36:51 GMT

Don't tell people about other people's sexual harassment lawsuits... it could come back to haunt you...

Little Willy's Blues Bar

nik3787 — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 22:30:56 GMT

So I've been going to a local Blues and Jazz bar lately. Either on Tuesday or Thursday nights. Always by myself, though. Just to grab a few beers and listen to the live music and meet some new people. I enjoy it, kind of my getaway from the Blues of my house. And I've really learned to love Jazz in doing this.

So I ask this question... is it kinda creepy that I go by myself? I don't go to pick up girls or anything like that... its just that I'm drawn to the atmosphere there. Good beer, good music and good cigarettes. I'm relaxed, and I get in this state of mind where I think about shit, deep shit. And none of my friends in T-town want to go, mainly because they work their asses off so much during the week that they don't want to go out on a weeknight. I have one friend who is supposed to be going with me this weekend, so that should be fun.

But anyways... just wondering about those kind of things.

The Shins new CD out today!

nik3787 — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:55:09 GMT

So I just picked up my copy of "Wincing the Night Away", and literally just put it into my notebook to burn it to iTunes. To celebrate, I'm wincing the night away at Bad Ass Coffee in Tuscaloosa, inputting grades from the chem labs that I teach. What can I say, I got bored at home. I haven't listened to it yet, other than Phantom Limb. Anybody got anything to say about it?

SNL Digital Shorts

nik3787 — Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:49:36 GMT

Step 1: Cut a hole in a box

Step 2: Put your junk in that box

Step 3: Make her open the box

Basically, I think that the Andy has brought SNL back to life. Not just Andy, but his friends Jorma and Akiva who write for the show. If you've liked what all the fuss is about with the whole Justin Timberlake vid, Natalie Portman rap or even Laser Cats, you should check out www.thelonelyisland.com. The Bing Bong Brothers music video is my favorite, as well as Just Two Guys and the theme song for their Fox pilot "Awesometown." If you haven't seen the SNL digital short with Justin Timberlake, here's a link for it. Not a big fan of ole JT, its just pretty funny to me.

Okay I decided to embed Bing Bong Brothers and A Special Christmas... so there you go

my stat

nik3787 — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 22:43:47 GMT

my mog-o-meter is blazin yo...

The Black Keys at Workplay

nik3787 — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 03:38:16 GMT

Modern rock at its best... what else can I say about The Black Keys? Nothing. They played at Birmingham at Workplay, probably the best venue in Birmingham, however I would've loved to see them at The Nick or somewhere where smoking is allowed. It just seemed like you should smoke during this show. I don't really know why. Now, what you would be smoking would be up to you.... ha. Anyways, back to the review. The music was great, the mood was great, the lights were even great, probably the best utilization of a light show I have ever seen at a rock concert. Ever.

I wish I had the setlist. I really do. I'll try and get it off of The Black Keys' website, but I seriously doubt if I'll be able to.

Dan Auerbach looked like Sam Beam on heroin. Or at least that's what my friend said. And then I believed her. And he played like nothing else I've ever seen or heard, just rocked it out. Patrick Carney on the drums just looked like he was beating a dead horse with everything he had, and I mean that in a good way. So that's it, two guys, one on guitar and the other on drums, and they sound so much better than The White Stripes. I'm trying to think of some way to describe their sound and this concert . .. every person that I introduce this band to asks me if they're from the 70's, and then I say no, that they're modern, but really they do sound like they are from that little bit in time when Blues started to merge into Rock. If you are a fan of Hendrix or any Blues genre band, I seriously suggest seeing this band in concert sometime during your life. Seriously. Or at least pick up any one of their 5 albums. You won't regret it...

PS 12/22/06

I found the setlist for this show... I know nobody else cares, I just post it on here so that I can remember it. Maybe Melissa cares though... by the way, I found a live recording of the show and I'm trying to download it, although its awfully slow.

01 Thickfreakness 02 Girl Is On My Mind 03 Just Got To Be 04 Give Your Heart Away 05 Stack Shot Billy 06 Busted 07 You're The One 08 Set You Free 09 Elevator 10 Your Touch 11 Strange Desire>The Flame 12 10AM Automatic 13 No Trust 14 Grown So Ugly encore 15 Everywhere I Go 16 Have Love Will Travel

and I'll be looking for some pics

Moral Conflict

nik3787 — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:22:34 GMT

So I've got this moral conflict.... obviously. And I just wanted to see how many people would respond to this question.

Ever lied to a loved one (significant other, family etc) in order to sneak out of town for a day or two and watch a concert?

I know I have. So why is this a moral conflict now, you ask? I dunno, it just is... I hate morality and all its guilt trips. I mean come on, this is a trip to New Orleans. I shouldn't feel bad for this, right?

The Fountain Soundtrack

nik3787 — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:09:21 GMT

I just picked up The Fountain Soundtrack, and it scares the shit out of me.

So Birmingham Sucks

nik3787 — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:11:29 GMT

I just found out that Birmingham's only alternative station is going off the air tomorrow. 100.5 the X has been around since I was an early teen, and even though the majority of their playlists sucked, they had some good programs, notably Reg's Coffee House, which played lighter singer/songwriter stuff and Coyote Jay's XPod, a post-modern show that usually kept me up on Sunday nights, while I'm driving for hours from my girl's house back to Tuscaloosa. I usually would listen to a CD, but my player is broken in my car. So now I get to listen to classic rock or country . . . I think NPR is gonna be my new best friend.

Unbelievable Covers of Pop Songs

nik3787 — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 05:40:31 GMT

So, I'm not that big a fan of pop, not really. Serioiusly. I know, I know, you say to me "Nik, Death Cab for Cutie is your favorite band!", but I was a DCfC fan for a loongg time before Plans came out, even before Transatlanticism. So I'm talkin more about the Beyonce, B. Spears pop. You know? I just generally don't care for it. But I ran across a Snow Patrol cover of Beyonce's "Crazy in Love" and its awesome. I mean, I don't know how to describe it. Its, um, crazy. So, its kinda like Nickel Creek's ( which I guess they can be considered pop now) cover of Spears's "Toxic", pretty cool, and Ben Gibbard's solo acoustic stuff is composed of Avril Lavine's "Complicated" as well as Backstreet Boys' "I Want it That Way." I've only heard his stuff off of live recordings, pretty sure he doesn't have any albums with it on there, and its funny b/c of the crowds' reaction. They can't believe he's playing that stuff and being serious about it, but I'm pretty sure he's joking when he plays them. Buts its cool nonetheless.

So, what's yall's opinion of the best pop cover by a non-pop band???

Birth, Death and Rebirth of Vinyl. Its a Ressurection, Baby...

nik3787 — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 04:48:41 GMT

Alright, so I've noticed that a lot of my favorite bands put out vinyls (The Shins, Iron and Wine, Death Cab etc), and in the spirit of supporting local indie music stores as well as the artists, I've decided that I'm gonna start a vinyl collection. I've already bought TPS's Give Up on vinyl, so there's a start. Problem is, I don't have a record player. Cause I grew up in the age of CDs. So what I'm sayin is, I have no freakin idea what to buy, what's good, what's not etc. So if anyone has any suggestions, ideas, whatever, I'll be open to any advice on what to buy. I was thinkin about goin down to the local Thrift Store to see if there were any in good condition, so there's a start, I suppose.

Thanks in advance, holmes.

Damned Capitalism

nik3787 — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 04:38:23 GMT

Waking up at 4 am + waitng in line for hours + cold weather + lots of people + more long lines = 22 in. widescreen monitor for $200

I love/hate black friday. This is the first time I've done the whole get up early thing, and there were some really good deals, and I wouldn't have done it if my girl hadn't wanted to and now I'm seriously paying for it with delerium. but overall it was okay, one of those experiences that I might not want to live over again, unless you know, I could get a PS3 for $300. And that's not gonna happen anytime soon...

I felt like a freakin zombie out there.

My Epic iPod Story

nik3787 — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 06:04:57 GMT

A'ight, so I'm not sure its so epic but here it is.....

One year ago, to the week, my girl bought me a brand spankin new 30 gig iPod, black, the best present ever. She bought it for me because we were going to go visit her parents in Ohio, and you say to yourself, "Well, what does that have to do with you getting an iPod?" Well, here was the dealio... we were going to Ohio via Greyhound Bus. Now, I don't know how many of you have actually conducted business with the fabulous and customer friendly Greyhound Bus, Inc., but at the time I hadn't. But I had heard horror stories. She looked up the info, and it was supposed to be a 17 hour trip from B'ham to Youngstown, OH. But it only takes around 13 hours if you're driving by car. Well, the route had us going out of our way by about an hour to Cleveland then going back down towards Youngstown. And you have all those nice little Bus Stations along the way filled with nice smelly people who are always asking if you have a few dollars to help them fix their car (One guy actually asked me this in Cincinnatti while I was pissing). So the stipulation was this: I'll go to Ohio on a Greyhound, and you buy me an iPod so we'll have something to do on the trip. And i bought her ticket. . . I think. But anyways, back to the story. She bought the iPod and the trip went well, other than that being on the Greyhound bit. Flash Forward to April. On Easter, we had just gotten back from church, and I decided to take a nap, which is typical for me on any afternoon, particuliarly Sundays, and when I woke up, my girl let me know that she had washed my dress slacks. And then I said, "Well you did get the iPod out of my pocket, didn't you?" Here's a lesson for all those sweet women who do their men's laudry: Check those damn pockets before you throw those pants in the machine! She had, in fact, washed my iPod, complete with Tide detergent, washing cycle and everything. So we took it out, let it dry, and it wouldn't come on. I decided to send it to a third party company to see if they could restore it, and about two days later I get a call letting me know that my iPod was working! The guy read off my artists for me so I knew he couldn't have been lying. I was freaking ecstatic! Then, and I'm not kidding, two minutes later he gave me another call, saying that my iPod had just died and that it would cost $500 to fix it. I mean really? I went from cloud 9 to cloud shitty in two minutes. That day sucked. And $500 dollars to fix something that cost $300? I just told him to send it back to me. So a few weeks after I had gotten it back, I was just fooling around with it and decided to charge it. I left it charging overnight, and when I woke up the next morning, the freaking thing came on! It was incredible... So I started playing music on it and everything, but there was one thing I couldn't do. It wouldn't add any new music or videos. So I thought to myself, "That's not bad, I've got 13 gigs worth of stuff on this thing." So for the past 6 months I've been casually enjoying my gift, listening to it here and there, but not really getting a lot of anything out of it, b/c I was listening to a lot of new music I had bought. And iTunes kept asking me if I wanted to restore my iPod, meaning that it would take everything off of it and I would risk not having anything on it ever again. Well the other day at work, I just decided to screw it. I mean, I would spend the rest of my life wondering what would happen if I pressed that little button, I felt like Locke in LOST, but kinda in a reverse way. So I pressed it. And everything was taken off of my iPod. And then everything in my Library was added to it. That was freaking amazing... I mean, my girl thought I was gonna break up with her over this, which is silly in the first place. If she had wrecked my Massarati, maybe. But I don't own a Massarati, so it doesn't really matter.

But yeah, Apple makes an impressive product, one that can withstand water, Tide Detergent, and a Full Wash Cycle. Good thing she didn't put it in the Dryer.

Dirty Secrets...

nik3787 — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:15:38 GMT

Wow, I love how MOG tells your dirty little music secrets.... my page has up on recently added music Laura Ingalls Wilder.... I downloaded like three Little House audio books for my mom so she can have something to listen to on her hour-long commute to work.

Or did I?

MOG Meter

nik3787 — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:08:42 GMT

I'm not gettin this MOG Meter thing.... and I'm really not that stupid. Seriously. I thought it might be based on the number of trusted MOGs you had, but then I've seen peeps profiles that only have two trusted MOGs and they are blazing.... and MOG's FAQ doesn't have anything on it.

Trusted Mogs

nik3787 — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:51:56 GMT

So, I really would like to have more Mogs that Trust me . . . it sure would make my status blazing....

I mean, it already is, but you know, its just a silly formality....

Guster at The Alabama Theater

nik3787 — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:57:39 GMT

Guster, probably the most harmonic band that utilizes bongos ever.... They played on July 23 in B'ham, probably the most beautiful show I've heard. Ray LaMontagne opened for them, and his music is just amazing... of course he had his uncomfortable look about him, but I think it was b/c of all the drunk chicks yelling at him. I really felt bad for him, b/c he looked like that he would be more comfortable playing in my grandmother's living room, and honestly, I would've preferred to see him in a much more quite and intimate setting. But back to Guster: these guys are awesome and so musically talented that its ridiculous... they know how to put on a show, and they know how to change up their songs so that you are being constantly surprised...

Here's the setlist (thanks to Guster's website)

Careful Barrel of a Gun Ramona Satellite New Underground Come Downstairs and Say Hello Manifest Destiny Long Way Down Airport Song Ruby Falls Captain Demons Center of Attention Hang On Amsterdam Happier

Lightning Rod C'Mon I Spy

Jesus on the Radio

Pleasant Surprise, Part 1: Their "Airport Song" was performed with a kind of techno voice for a good bit of the song, which gave you a really creepy feeling, which was appropriate b/c its a song about a cult...

Pleasant Surprise, part 2: After their first encore, they came out again, with acoustics and edged up to the front of the stage and told us to be really quiet, and played an acoustic "Jesus on the Radio." This was great, a fantastic way to end the evening. I mean, a second encore is awesome in and of itself, but an acoustic encore was unbelievable.

Unpleasant Letdown: They didn't play "Fa Fa." I was really disappointed about it, but all in all it was okay, b/c I went to the show w/out my girl. She was out of town, and Guster is her top favorite band, and "Fa Fa" is her top favorite song, so I told her that she didn't miss much. And she might have a pleasant surprise coming her way that would totally rectify that...

Sister Hazel at The Jupiter

nik3787 — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 05:15:52 GMT

Alright, Sister Hazel at The Jupiter on the Strip in Tuscaloosa. I really don't have much to say about this concert.... I've seen Sister Hazel in their better days. They know how to pump a crowd, and plug their albums. So they mostly played a lot of new stuff, and of course had to mix in their radio-played songs. I was really disappointed with the show, it just seemed like an obligatory drive-by concert. And there was just a two song encore.... I mean, come on. We were worth at least three, Sister Hazel.

The Black Keys at Workplay

nik3787 — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 05:02:52 GMT

I just found out about The Black Keys coming to Birmingham, at probably the coolest venue in town, Workplay... this has made my week, and gives me something to look forward too....

Gah!

Pete Yorn at Soul Kitchen

nik3787 — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:53:10 GMT

My girl and I drove down 4 hours down to Mobile last week to check out Pete Yorn, probably the best thing that has ever come out of New Jersey, ever. He was playing at Soul Kitchen, which is a dirty, grungy dive in downtown Mobile, complete with three bars as well as three non-functioning pool tables. We got there around 7 to make sure we would get to see everything, and by everything I mean the opening band Minibar, which also composes 2/4 of Pete's band. I had never heard of them, and I must admit that they were pretty much awesome. There from somewhere in England I think, and I talked to the bass guitarist Sid, for a few seconds. He seemed pretty cool, and by cool I mean high, and by high I mean stoned. After Minibar and about 20 minutes later, Pete Yorn came out. Thank God for Myspace, only b/c Pete posts his setlists up there so I can know exactly what he played....

i feel good again (junior kimbrough), sense, for us, undercover, pass me by, intro > come back home, turn of the century, georgie boy, splendid isolation (warren zevon), burrito, june, alive, closet, atlantic city (bruce springsteen) > murray, just another, the good advice, for nancy

encore strange condition, life on a chain, the man, crystal village, suspicious minds (elvis presley)

So his cover of I Feel Good Again is excellente, I'm a big fan of Junior Kimbrough, and if you haven't heard, The Black Keys released an E.P. over the summer that is composed entirely of Junior Kimbrough covers, Chulahoma: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough. and by the way, I just found out the The Black Keys are coming to Birmingham, and I'm in the abandoned Shelby Hall studying for a test, and I just ran up and down the corridors in excrutiating excitement.... Anyways, back to Pete. This is by far the best concert I've ever been to, with Death Cab coming in close second, and it is for only one reason. Intimacy. Yes, I said it. Soul Kitchen was a small, stand up and fight for your spot venue, and get as close to Pete Yorn as you possibly could was pretty much the object of the night, as well as singing with him, b/c a fan like me knows those words... Death Cab was at a concert hall, so being stuck in a seat was no fun, so Pete wins out on this one. Pleasant Surprise of the Evening: The Good Advice, off of Pete's "Westerns" E.P. This is only being sold at shows for now, and is an awesome CD with a little bit of country influence, but not enough to make you stick out your tongue in distasteful disgust... So let me talk about the Soul Kitchen for a minute.... you walk into the bar/pool table area, then walk around a wall to the back. This is were two more bars are, as well as the stage. Now the stage is located so that the band members have to walk around the audience to get to it, and so you could see Pete walking up to the stage, and it was awesome to see him leave, being escorted by Security, and pumping his fists in the air, which let you know he had a great time. Best. Concert. Ever.

Oh, let me say this. My girl and I were walking to the concert around 7, and I'm on the phone with a friend who lives in Mobile, and I hear my girl say "It's Pete!" talking about a group of guys walking right by us on the street. Then she says "No its not..." and then I get off the phone, thinking she was kidding about it being Pete. It was totally him though, goin to get something to eat. We should've totally harassed him to sign my girl's chest....

Death Cab for Cutie at the BJCC Concert Hall

nik3787 — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 04:07:33 GMT

So, I went to the most pleasant surprise concert of the year. We'll, not so much a surprise but more like a "I didn't know they were planning on coming here" concert. My all-time favorite band, Death Cab for Cutie, and yes, seriously all-time favorite, decided that Birmingham, AL was a worthy stop on their tour. Well, it probably wasn't DCfC, but more like their new label, but anyways, whoever it was that made that brilliant decision is my new friend, whether they know it or not. It wasn't the best venue, although Ben Gibbard liked it and compared it to an obscure 1979 animated movie "The Black Hole" and I'm sure only a handful of people knew what the heck he was talking about. I would have definitely preferred a more intimate venue, like The Nick or Workplay, but with all of DCfC's new found fame from their album "Plans", I'm sure that wouldn't have been a feasible, um plan... And yes, most of the audience only knew the three songs that are being played on the radio right now, and yes, I got really weird looks from the peeps in front of me b/c I sang along with Ben for all the songs, except for the one I didn't know, which was "I'm Going Home" by The Sonic, the greatest band to come from the Pacific Northwest, according to B.G. And that rocked, and rocked and rocked some more. They also went deep into their earlier albums, with "President of What" from You Can Play These Songs With Chords; "We Laugh Indoors", "Why You'd Want to Live Here" and "Movie Script Ending" from The Photo Album; "Transatlanticism", a 10 minute version of "We Looked Like Giants" (complete with a drum battle (reminiscient of the version of the song from the John Byrd E.P.)), "The New Year", "Title and Registration", "Expo '86", and "The Sound of Settling" from their kick-ass album Transatlanticism. From Plans, it was (of course) "Soul Meets Body", "I Will Follow You into the Dark", "Crooked Teeth", "Marching Bands of Manhattan" and "What Sarah Said". They also played "Photobooth" from the Forbidden Love E.P. I have to say, the biggest surprise I got of the night (besides the cover in their encore) was "Company Calls" off of We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes. It would've been awesome if they followed it up with "Company Calls Epilogue" but it would've also been great if they would've played all 70 odd songs, along with Ben's All-Time Quarterback! stuff and then add The Postal Service in there too. And if my Aunt had balls, she'd be my Uncle, right? So all in all, if I had been smart, I would've taken some paper and a pen and written down the songs in order to have an adequate set list, but I can't quite remember the order of the songs. If I missed any, then I'm sure that somebody won't correct me, since as of this date I have no trusted mogs... all I have to say though, is Ben Gibbard has the greatest stage presence of any lead singer ever... I mean, for Christ's sake, he played a synth drum for two songs, that's just awesome....