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Maggie

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Posts posted by Maggie

    Dawes

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    Never too many guitars

     

    This used to be my attitude, but sometimes I like a band with one guitar.  Duane is definitely very talented and they sound great together - I'm not complaining, just a little perplexed.

    Dawes

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    So I just got home, and Dawes rocked it out, even though it really was a beautiful but less-than-ideal venue for them and the bass was way way too high in the mix from where I was sitting, about 12 rows back.  They played the title song from the new record, which is my favorite. You gotta love an anthemic rock song that contains this lyric: "When I think of you, you've still got on that hat that says 'Let's Party'.  I hope that thing is never thrown away." Even some of the 8 zillion teenage girls there to see Hozier were getting into it.  

     

    I had to leave about 45 minutes into Hozier.  The young crowd (mostly teens and 20s and about 75% female) were really excited and knew the words to most of the songs, but they all kind of sounded like hook-free celtic rock to me.  

     

    I just got back from my show and my experience was the same as yours, down to leaving after 45 minutes of Hozier.  I don't really get what the young ladies see in him, but good for them enjoying themselves I guess.  Something about this guy just rubs me the wrong way.  He seems like a competent musician but his music doesn't make me feel anything. 

     

    Dawes was great as always.  I'm  just not quite understanding why they've added a second guitarist to the band.  I thought Taylor did a great job on his own and it's strange seeing another guy playing some of the solos.  Oh well.

     

    I managed to swindle my way into a business trip in September, so I'll be seeing Dawes headline a show in Baltimore in a couple months.  Apparently they're playing with the city's symphony orchestra, which should be very cool.  Glad I'll get to see them headline a show this year, and I'm hoping they'll make it back to my city for a headliner next year as well.  

    Dawes

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    http://viachicago.org/topic/48851-dawes-stories-dont-end/?fromsearch=

     

    Well there is that this one.

     

    I don't know, the last few have kind of bored me. They put on a great live show but the last few records just seem so AOR easy listening. Love the first album.

     

    Dawes is continually a grower for me.  I start out kind of liking an album, but eventually it clicks and I can't get enough.  It took until last summer/fall, but I finally got into the last one and now really enjoy it.

     

    With that said, I'm liking the new one but it's not blowing me away.  I thought I had read that they were going for more of a live feel, but that's not really coming through for me.  They could definitely benefit from loosening up a little bit on the records.  I'm sure the songs will be much better live.  

     

    I'm also seeing them open for Hozier - I think it's toward the end of July.  Dawes seems to come to my city as an opening act more often than not, so I decided to go for it even though I don't know much of Hozier (and I'm not crazy about what I've heard).  

    Love of Music Declining With Age?

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    I haven't posted here in a long time, but I felt compelled to join in because this is something I've been thinking about lately.  For reference, I'm 32 years old.  :)

     

    I hit my peak of music buying probably around 2008-10 or so when I was buying a ton a downloads, mostly via eMusic..  Vacant Horizon, I think you and I may have commiserated several years ago about how digital music was changing our habits.  I was buying far too much back then.  It was like it became about the sport of getting new music.  I have a ton of stuff from that era that I wouldn't recognize if I heard it.  Probably around 2011-12 I slowed down, stopped downloading torrents, stopped posting on music sites very often.  

     

    These days I primarily buy new releases by artists I already enjoy.  Some of my purchases this year include Justin Townes Earle, My Morning Jacket, Dawes, Calexico - All bands I've been listening to for at least 5 years.  The only newer artists I see on my 2015 playlist are Courtney Barnett, Ryley Walker and Will Butler (though I've been listening to Arcade Fire for years).  Those three new artists have only gotten a handful of listens while I've played that MMJ album at least 25 times since it came out.

     

    Over that last 16 months or so music has actually been a big part of my life again.  Last year both of my grandmothers passed away, several acquaintances passed away in tragic accidents and cancer, I was the victim of attempted sabotage by a co-worker (that sounds so dramatic) and I spent quite a bit of the last year working ridiculously long days and feeling like I was getting nowhere.  I was feeling really bad about my life, and music often came to the rescue much like it did when I was a teenager.  I took a lot of encouragement from Conor Oberst's Upside Down Mountain (was only a casual fan prior) and related a lot to Jenny Lewis's last album as a woman in my 30's.  I can't imagine my life over the last year without those albums.  I also must add that I saw My Morning Jacket last week and once again they completely blew my mind.  I've never been one to go to a lot of shows, but when I do it's a huge deal to me.

     

    Anyway, I've found that my habits continually change as I get older, but I'm glad to say I'm currently in a place where music has a lot of meaning for me again.  I'm sure it will continue to cycle like anything in life, but right now I'm at a little bit of a high.

    The first album I ever picked up turns 25 tomorrow..

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    I believe the first album I purchased was Shut up and Dance by Paula Abdul (on cassette). Funny thing is, I just googled it and found out it was actually a remix EP. I had no idea.

     

    I had some Janet Jackson and New Kids on the Block before that, but I think my parents bought those for me.

     

    The first CD I purchased was probably the soundtrack for a musical or Disney movie.

     

    It seems that many of us have come a long, long way.

    Avett Brothers

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    I'm not terribly excited about a new album. I saw the Avett Brothers live for the first time in May. I was expecting to be blown away based on everything I've read about them, but I wasn't feeling it. This was the first time I left a concert early (other than a case where I went to a show to see the opening band).

     

    They're definitely a talented group of guys, and they have a great attitude, but an hour was enough for me. I've been told that I tend toward depressing music. I don't necessarily think that's true, but I do appreciate a balance between light and darkness. These guys are a little too happy go lucky and sappy for me.

     

    On top of that, I was suprised by the contingent of young swooning girls. To be clear, I'm a 29 year old woman who could pass for a teenager, but I don't hold up signs of proposal for the bands I go to see or scream at the top of my lungs. It was highly distracting. Not to mention that I expected the Avett's crowd to skew older and a little more masculine.

    My Morning Jacket...

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    I had an incredible time at the Pittsburgh show the other day. I probably said this last August when I saw MMJ, but this was by far the best concert I've been to. The evening was absolutley peferct. The entire night was wonderful, but seeing Jim join Band of Horses for a song was a really cool, unexpected moment.

     

    It was POURING rain on my way to Pittsburgh, but miraculously the storm missed the city. We just had a few rain drops at the end of Band of Horses set and while MMJ's crew was setting up. I would have been devestated if the show was cancelled.

     

    Somehow I ended up on the rail - I can't believe how easy it was to do that despite showing up 30 minutes after the gates opened. I decided to take my little camera with me and ended up with some great photos. I was pleased to find that I was capable of taking photos and singing along at the same time! I know some concertgoers hate the amateur photographers, but I think it was worth it this time. I put some up on Flickr if anyone's interested: trampled_moss

    My Morning Jacket...

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

     

     

    The recordings sound fine, although there is occasionally some weird editing between the tracks (gaps, some repeated transitions) that gives the downloads something of a slapdash feel. The Wilco downloads are more professional. I think MMJ made a mistake by announcing these downloads before the shows were played, and then they scrambled to get them on the site before they really knew what they were doing. Still good shows, though.

     

    Those repeated transitions are the one thing that's bothered me about the recordings. I can ignore gaps and static, but those repeats are really strange. Overall I'm really happy with the purchase.

     

    Regarding the missing tracks, I read that there were some techinical issues during the show which may be at fault. I wasn't there, but that sounds like a reasonable guess to me.

    My Morning Jacket...

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    anyone been able to d/l the red rocks shows yet?

     

    I thought I'd downloaded the first show a couple nights ago, but it turns out two songs were missing. I looked at MMJ's message board and it looks like others had the same issue. I guess they're still working on it.

     

    Something was clearly wrong, as each song was downloaded multiple times.

    My Morning Jacket...

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    I'm seeing MMJ and Band of Horses in August! I think these two bands are a wonderful match.

     

    This will be my third August in a row seeing MMJ, which is saying a lot because my city seems to miss out on a lot of good tours. Apparently MMJ loves us.

     

    I was about to go on and on about how much of love this band live, but then I realized my post from last year saying the same thing is still on this page. Let's just say that I can't wait until the big day comes along.

    Son Volt live?

    in Someone Else's Song

    Posted

    I saw them play an outdoor show a couple years ago and thought they were great. As long as you know what you're in for (lack of banter and theatrics) you'll be fine. The nice thing is, less talking can equal more playing.

     

    The show I saw was at a park that presents free concerts throughout the summer. I guarantee you the majority of the audience has never heard of Jay Farrar or Son Volt, but they seemed to go over very well anyway.

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