radiowilco

Radiohead

Parc Jean Drapeau

Montreal, CA

August 6, 08

Setlist:

15 Step

There There

All I Need

My Iron Lung

Nude

Arpeggi

The Gloaming

National Anthem

Fake Plastic Trees

Reckoner

Like Spinning Plates

Jigsaw Falling into Place

Lucky

Optimistic

Idioteque

Bodysnatchers

Faust Arp

Videotape

Bangers n' Mash

Karma Police

House of Cards

You and Whose Army

Everything in it's Place

The show was fantastic! You really get the feeling that you're in the company of greatness when you see these guys play live. Every song was played to absolute perfection --backed by an amazing sound system and a lighting display that was almost like a sixth member of the band. Grizzly Bear was also terrific as they debuted two great new songs. Now, off to bed...

Eddie Vedder

Boston Opera House

August 1, 2008

Boston, MA

I went to the opening night of Eddie Vedder's east coast (and Canadian) tour last night at The Boston Opera House. I have always been a big Pearl Jam fan and have had no patience for the 'hipster haters" who find it convenient to dis' the band for one shitty reason or another. That said, I was very stoked to see how Eddie would show up on his own without loads of sound behind him. I spent a good portion of the ride down to Boston from Burlington listening to the "Into the Wild" soundtrack, which is wonderful if you have not given it a real listen. In addition, it was great to pop on some old PJ shows which I have not listened to in years. What follows is the set list -- albeit a bit incomplete.

Walking the Cow - Daniel Johnston Cover

Trouble - Cat Stevens Cover

Man of the Hour

Insignificance

Dead Man Walking

I am Mine

Wishlist

Setting Forth

No Ceiling

Far Behind

Rise

Millworker - Jame Taylor Cover

Hide Your Love Away - Lennon/McCartney Cover

Goodbye

Drifting

Here's to the State - Phil Ochs Cover

Porch

Parting Ways

Society w/Liam Finn

Lukin

Elderly Woman Behind the Counter...

Man of the Hour

Hard Sun w/Liam Finn

I am missing a few tunes here, but this is pretty close. Eddie was great! One of things that he did particularly well last night was he really played within himself. He is good guitar player -- not great, and he knows that his vocals and songs hold up really well and that what connects with the audience. It kind of reminded me of the first few times I saw Jeff play acoustic. He never played shit he couldn't handle, and he let his songs speak for themselves. Now, of course, he is a monster player. Eddie's voice (despite being a bit under the weather) is simply amazing. It is incredible that with all the strain he has put on his voice over the years -- that it still holds up as one of the best in modern music. The crowd was a bit obnoxious at times, and it was nice to see Eddie take the idiots on.

"I thought I was going to make it to the NYC gigs before I had to listen to an asshole like you," he said to one butthead who kept shouting for him to play "Even Flow" over and over again.

All in all, a great night though. Liam Finn was terrific as well.

August is live music month for me. Radiohead on the 6th in Montreal. Wilco and Andrew Bird at Tanglewood on the 12th. MMJ/Black Keys at Red Rocks on the 21st, and Radiohead again at the Hollywood Bowl in LA on the 24th and 25th.

The two songs are nothing alike...

Having just seen MMJ a couple of nights ago in Montreal -- they are a must see band. The songs from "Evil Urges" translate very well live - most are way better than the record.

My Morning Jacket

Le Nacional

June 17, 2008

Set List:

Intro

Evil Urges

Off the Record

Gideon

I'm Amazed

Highly Susp.

Lay Low

Touch Me #1

What a Wonderful Man

Sec' Walkin

Golden

Thank You Too

The Way He sings

Remnants

Smokin' From Shootin'

Touch Me To

Break -

Wordless Chorus

It Beats 4 U

Dondante

Run Thru

Anytime

One Big Holiday

Well - these guys are simply superb. Seeing them at such a small club in Montreal was a real treat - you get the feeling that they are about to make the jump to larger venues, which made this night feel pretty special. There was a great blend of tunes from Evil Urges, Z, and It Still Moves. The new stuff sounds great and they really play the shit out of their older material. For my money - these guys are about as good a live band as any on the road right now. There is a terrific audience recording that was just put up on Live Music Archives yesterday - go grab it. If the tour is coming to a city near you this summer - run fast and grab a ticket.