Items filtered by date: November 2007

This past Thursday, my cousin invited to see a band play at Goose Island on Clybourn. From the Mouth of Babes was the name of the band. “Sounds fun” I said. As a drummer, I am always open to seeing bands and having a few drinks.

Subwoofers were kicking out some serious air through the crowd of standing room only under 30’s. Interesting hair styles and leather studded everything was the classic look for the evening. The Misfits took the stage at the House of Blues opening with a sample of the theme to the movie Halloween and then proceeded to play their single by the same name. It was like watching a horror film that was set to demonic music.

The Fleet Foxes have changed. Last summer they were good live, but they were timid and withdrawn. Saturday night at the Metro was a different band playing the same songs and a few more. A year on the road has taught the Foxes how to have confidence, and that folk songs can rock.

Opening for the Fleet Foxes was Dungen from Sweden, a psychedelic-folk-rock band who seemed surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response from the audience. They said, “You guys are here to see the Fleet Foxes, right?” before beginning their encore.

I've been a Talking Heads fan since I was 13, and I've seen Byrne perform four times before, but nothing to top last night's show, which featured a huge number of performers -- three backup singers, three dancers, two percussionists, various guitar players, a keyboard, a bass -- and the sweetest, goofiest, most lovely choreography since Stop Making Sense...

Counting Crows at Taste of Chicago (06/27/09)--Going to this show was a very last-minute decision.  I had seen the Crows once before and was very disappointed.  I went this time because it was free and I was sure they couldn’t be much worse than last time.  They were NOT worse at all.  In fact, they were actually good...