- got engaged.
- moved into a new apartment.
- went to Delaware.
- went to Texas.
And all the while we have waited on Time Warner to give us the Internets so I can tell you about the following:
- The Pitchfork Music Festival
- The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
- Sriracha
- The Daptone Revue at SummerStage
Pitching Forks in the always-uncomfortable Second City
Is it just me or does Chicago always suck? It's either hot as a Saharan scrotum or so cold my future children are forced to don sweaters. This visit, true to form, it was both rainy AND hot as shit. But it was okay because the beers were surprisingly cheap and it made the hipsters in tight black jeans all the more amusing.
There were bands there too! We skipped Friday's performance by Public Enemy because, as witnessed at Rock the Bells last year, Flava Flav has completely lost it. Here's what I thought of some of the bands:
Things that Make You Go :(
- Spiritualized should always have a choir and orchestra with them. Otherwise they're just a bland rock band.
- Jay Reatard is a nightmare of a person and should refrain from doing anything in public, ESPECIALLY with a guitar.
- I just don't get why people like the Hold Steady. The 90s have passed.
- Spoon is surprisingly bad live. I actually didn't see them at Pitchfork because I saw them at Prospect Park this year and getting out early sounded more attractive at the time.
Things that Make You Go :)
- Vampire Weekend surprised me. I cannot stand that kid's voice or his UWS attitude, but they were better than expected as a whole. Plus the drummer was wearing a Phish shirt, which amounts to 20 cool points, redeemable at the gift shop for an eraser or Chinese finger trap.
- Fleet Foxes can sing, in case you ain't heard. Plus the drummer is packing a sense of humor, albeit without a permit.
- I prefer my Wu-Tang Cocktail with all the suggested ingredients, but Ghostface & Raekwon made it enjoyable enough to sing along and let everyone in the vicinity know that cash does, in fact, rule everything around me.
Things that Make You Go :) !
- King Khan and his Shrines was a great show. I heard somewhere the guy's kind of a jerk, but he wears a cape, which negates most things.
- I don't care for their recorded stuff, but holy shit is !!! awesome live.
- Occidental Brothers Dance Band International: If you like world music and shaking what your mother gave you, you will like this band. I know I did.
The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
According to their site they don't have any more scheduled shows this year, so for your sake I hope you caught them recently, either at a bar or in the subway. They've been known to frequent both. They are one of the best bands around and put together one of the best music videos I've ever seen. And get this: They're all brothers except the drummer, who I believe is a cousin. I haven't seen a family of musicians like this since little Mikey Jackson was discussing his ABCs.
Sriracha
How is this shit not in every goddamned grocery store by now?
The Daptone Revue
This past Sunday I sucked it up and made the 70 mile trek (felt like it, anyway) to Manhattan's "Central Park" to catch the last show of SummerStage 2008: A sexy as all get-out revue presented by Daptone Records, the hottest thing out of Brooklyn since me, earlier that day. The first act was Naomi Shelton, to whom I paid little attention on account of trying to find a decent fucking spot to stand. The second band up was the Menahan Street Band, a new project involving members of both the Dap-Kings and Antibalas. They're already making a name for themselves, having been tapped even before their first show to provide the beat for some guy named Jay-Z, apparently also from Brooklyn. Their second show is at Southpaw in Brooklyn in October. I highly suggest checking it out. Don't expect lyrics, but you may be treated to a delicious serving of the Rocky theme song.
Naturally, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings caboosed the revue by showing everyone how it's done.
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