Pittsburgh, Copenhagen, Stockholm

I really need this vacation.

Fight Bite, Dan Deacon, Teeth Mountain at the Modern 4/18/09

It was a miracle that we arrived on time since openers Fight Bite went on at 8pm sharp and the show was in Fort Worth.  I was really excited to see FB perform at the prestigious Modern Museum of Art.  The setting outside was picture perfect.  Their dreamy songs went well with the breathtaking clouds naturally displayed behind them.  I forget if they played five or six songs but they were all superb.  Jeff addressed his usual unnecessary yet charming, "Sorry" to the audience.  What for?  God only knows.

Teeth Mountain can't avoid being described as tribal.  I wasn't really captivated by their large sounding rhythms.  I should've just left the show and watched the Mavs win their 2nd playoff game against the Spurs like my friends did.  That would've been more entertaining.  My friends (that ditched me there) also ate quesadillas while i had almost no other option than to buy a smoked turkey sandwich for $8.  It was just ok.  The beef and cheese taco i (and many others) would go on to eat afterwards at the Chat Room was probably better.  (I wouldn't recommend the hot link, though).

It was really great that all the exhibits are open until midnight.  I was able to see a bunch of stuff, including local Rossin Crow's FOCUS exhibition, while missing more of the show.

As stated above, I failed to watch any of Future Islands set but was back upstairs and outside for Dan Deacon's frenetic set.  I had never heard Dan Deacon before but have been hearing his name dropped for over two years.  I believe some or all the members of Teeth Mountain and Future Islands comprised his ensemble.  I guess he used to roll solo.  Some people figure more is better, quantity over quality, the more the merrier, etc but not in this case.  He seemed to have a lot of fun playing in/interacting with the crowd.  Although it depends on the performer, i'm generally not into taking commands from an act i'm watching.  This audience was doing his bidding all over that yard:  lining up, racing each other, flailing their arms up, backing away, moving foward.  Anything Dan said was done by most.  Maybe he's the antichrist and not Obama like some crazed conservatives say.  Did i mention they were selling beer at this show?  That was a plus.  

I mainly went to this show to see one of my favorite local bands at a less commonplace venue and i believe we all had a great time.  The Modern 'til Midnight gets an A+ in my book. 

Blixaboy/Farah at good records anniversary 4/18/09

These were the only 2 acts of the whole line-up for Good Records anniversary show that i wanted to see.  Glad we were able to catch 'em before we headed to Ft. Worth for another show.

I was a little late into Blixaboy's electrodub set, but what i saw was on point.  This was really good dub for a one man show and maybe the best solo shit i've ever heard from Wanz over the last ten years.  I've always thought if he concentrated on one genre he could really shine.  Maybe he should stick to dub.  What do i know, ya know?

Farah went on next around 6:15pm or so.  She played five songs well, including 'Law of Life' and 'Die'.  Wanz was playing the Johnny Jewel produced backing tracks from his laptop.  She was commanding him to stay at the helm for the duration of the set once there was the slightest of technical sound difficulties.  The chanteuse seemed a little out of it but i think that's normal for her on show nights.  Maybe it's just performance anxiety?  Either way her new haircut looked great.  Farah's voice sounded aurally pleasing and her exuberant dance moves are an added quality to her live performance.  I enjoyed seeing a few WTF looks on peoples faces during this set.  She is definitely underappreciated in Dallas.  I wonder what her shows in LA are like?

VEGA at fallout lounge 4/14/09

It sounds like it was a disappointing evening if you wanted to see Crystal Castles last night in Dallas (read separate excuses from the band and the Granada here).  I saw CC a little over a year ago with HEALTH at Hailey's and they were ok.  The most interesting thing about them to watch was the live drummer.  

While others may have been discontent with the Canadian headliners canceling, i was glad for the chance to see VEGA for free at Fallout Lounge (after he was kicked off the Granada bill).  This place was packed.  I don't believe it was the 'regular' crowd there, either.  Seemed like a lot of different types of crews at this show that were probably bleed over from the canceled show.  Vega went on around 12:15am and excitedly played their Italian disco pop songs well.  Alan started the set with an endearing "Fuck Crystal Castles!" then went on to play the first song of about four.  Having a live drummer definitely adds something to this group that may have been lacking from Ghosthustler.  The live electric bass lines added warmth and complimented those analogue synths.  Alan's voice sounded great when there wasn't feedback attacking my eardrums thanks to some sound issues.    

Overall the music sounded great, it took too long to get a drink, and the bar was crowded as fuck.  Still fun music and times, though.

Serengeti-"Dennehy"

Serengeti, aka David Cohn, has made a catchy rap song with the best Chicago references ever.  

This chorus, along with the amazing repetition of a few choice words (i.e. "onions, onions, onions, onions, onions...), has been cracking my friends and me up for days .  The little kid with the mustache is a nice touch, too.  

Sidenote:  After the Morrissey show, we watched this video then grabbed some Chicago-style hot dogs and Polish sausages made with 100% Vienna beef.  If you're downtown, go get one from Uncle Vinny off Main St. at Akard.  He's the affable street food vendor in all White Sox gear.  It was like a touch of Chicago in the middle of downtown Dallas.  If only he sold O'Douls.

Morrissey at the paladium 4/10/09

It it undeniable that Morrissey still sounds great for a crooner about to turn the big 5-0.  (Anyone wanna roll to his 50th birthday show in Manchester next month?)  The opening number 'This Charming Man' was the highlight of the show for me.  For fans anticipating lots of Smiths material, this blastoff was quite the fluffer.  He performed five more Smiths songs out of twenty two:  'How Soon is Now?'(come on, sorry but this still reminds me of Charmed), 'The Death of a Disco Dancer', 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others'(''Look around", he ad libbed during the chorus), 'I Keep Mine Hidden' (b-side to 'Girlfriend in a Coma) and 'Ask'.  

Besides those Smiths songs, Moz performed mostly material from his last three albums.  Mostly.  'Let Me Kiss You' and 'The World is Full of Crashing Bores' sounded marvelous and reminded me of the last time i saw him on 2004's You are the Quarry tour.  He mixed up the set with  'Seasick' from Your Arsenal, 'Billy Bud' off of Vauxhall and I, and even 'Best Friend on the Payroll' from Southpaw Grammar.  It was good to see Morrissey sweat as it proves he is actually human.  Some amdmirers went nuts when he changed shirts and you could catch a brief glimpse of that Irish blood/English heart-filled body.  He finished with 'First of the Gang to Die' during his only encore.  Anyone who attended this packed show to see such a charismatic character could not have been disappointed.  

Even though this show was pleasing, I couldn't help but to think of how the previously mentioned show in Fort Worth at Will Rogers Auditorium had a better set list.  Smiths songs included that night were 'Bigmouth Strikes Again', 'Shoplifters of the World', 'Last Night I Dreamt That Someone Loved Me', and 'How Soon is Now?' (again).  At the end of his second encore, he closed with an enthusiastic version of 'There is Light That Never Goes Out'.  This show also covered solo classics like 'November Spawned a Monster', 'The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get', and 'Everyday is Like Sunday'.  oh, well...

Duel (1971)

Watching this movie definitely feels like watching a 90 minute episode of the Twilight Zone or Night Gallery.  Good thing i love both of those shows.  

It wasn't surprising to learn (on the "Conversation with Steven Spielberg" feature) that this was his first feature-length film after successfully directing a couple Night Gallery episodes.  Not trying to sound like Dawson, but you can't argue that he hasn't directed some good movies.  

What really attracted me to this movie was the screenplay written by the ingenious Richard Matheson.  Duel was originally a short story published in Playboy about a crazy truck driver chasing down and driving a businessman mad.  This accomplished writer has written some masterful science-fiction, horror, and psychological thrillers (I am Legend, Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, Death Ship were all adapted for the screen).  He was a big influence on Stephen King and ahead of his time.