The night began with a very bad decision. It was either chase a rumor and get in line at 6 to try to see a Beastie Boys show at 7, or get down to Auditorium Shores for VIP seating and free drinks for Spoon. We chose the latter, largely because it meant we could eat at Green Mesquite. Bad choice. Not the barbecue, but the rest of it. We couldn't get backstage, couldn't see well and missed a big chunk of it wandering around trying to find the person who would get us in to the big hookup. Oh well. We stood around with the families amid the blankets and day glo necklaces for a while and then made our way back to the bikes to roll downtown.
A quick trip across the bridge brought us to Jazz, or Parish II as it's called this week, where we had some time to kill before Detachment Kit. We went up and watched Jon Vanderslice for a little bit, then went back downstairs. As they came onstage, Eric turns to me and says, "Hold on to your ass." Glad he warned me. Them boys just laid it all out there, thrashing their way through a fierce set of Chicago rawk, intense and loud and relentless. Great great show.
We walked across the street to Buffalo Billiards for Earlimart, which was ok but sort of boring. Didn't really stack up to Detachment Kit, nor to the rest of the night. Rock was becoming the theme. Follow the rock.
The Fiery Furnaces brought it, transforming loads of songs off Blueberry Boat from orchestrated art rock to straight up rock rock, done four piece style with the focus on heavy guitars. Great set, not at all what I was expecting, but perhaps they've got sick of the freaky flitty stuff and want to get back to it. They did, Eleanor all in white and looking like a young and hungry Patty Smith.
After that we went to Emo's IV, where we saw Vietnam, who weren't so fun. Wandery jam rock, all teeth and hair, so we went down to check the line at Eternal for CYHSY. Huge, badges only, f' that. We went back to Emo's IV to see We Are Wolves. Good decision. Inspired, really. They were fantastic, way high energy hard ass guitar drum keys and synths, all screamy and fuzzed out and tremendous drum beats. Really fun show and a great way to move the night to the next pitch. Eric dug it too.
From there we made our way to Fox and Hound to see what the deal was for Brazilian Girls. We got in, but this band called Particle were still onstage, where they stayed for what seemed days, playing their hippie jam band crapola way beyond their allotted time. They even brought Jon Popper's fat stupid ass up on stage to sponge that godawful harmonica garbage all over a watery Once In a Lifetime. It was a travesty, a crime almost, and the kids ate it up. As a wise young South Park resident might say, Stupid hippies. Finally, about 1, me and Eric broke out of that mess and made our way back to Soho for Thunderbirds Are Now! Another great decision. We're on a roll. We got there as they started and they rocked it out for an hour solid, high speed spazzy punk like there will be no tomorrow. An amazing set, alongside We Are Wolves as the best moments yet.
Riding homeward, as we approached Fox and Hound, Cathy sent Eric a text saying the Braz Girls had just started. Friggin Bingo. We parked the bikes and ran in to the tented parking lot and caught much of the set, which didn't even start until just before 2. They were outrageous and fantastic, the singer the sexiest person I have ever seen on a stage anywhere. Amazing lithe Euro hottie just playing the crowd like a cheap flamenco guitar--hard and overtly sexual. Wonderful. We all loved it. We left at 3, and they were just starting into their encore, Lazy Lover.
A nice ride home, to bed at 4, and now we're heading out to do it again. We're trying to get into the Insound party for CYHSY, but we'll see if that'll be possible. Fingers crossed.
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