DrNo

Some more tips: Eat tacos. Dress comfortably. I second the shoe thing wholeheartedly. Don't go see anyone British unless you're pretty sure you'll never get the chance to see them again and they're your favoritest band in the whole world, because every year the fest is abuzz about the next Coldplay/Bloc Party/Arctic Monkeys, making these shows hard to get in to. Research. Research. Research. Print out a day party list (showlistaustin.com has a good one) and some maps. You'll be able to catch some stuff at day parties that you won't be able to get into at night. Use the bike taxis

Just make sure your tastes are obscure enough and no one will care. For small bands/labels with bad distribution, having an album on oink is probably a good thing.

Alright, thanks for letting me know. I kind of figured the frat boy element might turn out for them, so I took the gig. One of these days I'm gonna have to see them though.

Has anybody seen them live lately? I've been offered a gig on the night they're coming through town and I'm conflicted...

Someone sent me Donnie Davies' "The Bible Says" video yesterday, with it's chorus of "God Hates Fags!" After some investiagation, I think this is all probably fake. Besides, what real evangelicals listen to Danielson? I don't think real evangelicals even know who half the bands on the gay bands list are. Someone on a message board also pointed out that there was no church address or phone number on any of the sites, just a gmail account.

Yeah, at some point in the show he asked if people saw it and then said "I didn't get it" or something to that effect.

San Antonio and Houston are somewhat lacking in good venues from what I understand. Marfa is becoming a viable stop for touring bands between Austin and New Mexico/Arizona. It's tiny but it's super arty. The Secret Machines wrote their new album out there. Lots of authors go out there to work, and the Chinati foundation has a big collection of modern art and sculpture out there. It is also about 10,000 times prettier than Houston, which is easily the lamest big city in Texas. So even if people don't actually live there, they will come in from El Paso, the college down the road in Alpine, etc.

The Broken West--I Can't Go On, I'll Go On Has anybody mentioned this yet? I don't feel like reading back 25 pages. "Down in the Valley" is the pop song of the year so far.

I took some pics when I went out there. If you're interested, they're here. There are a bunch of pics you probably won't find interesting, though, like my girlfriend and I in front of a mountain.

Apparently Jeff wasn't too into it--oh well. Thanks for reading guys.

I loved it when i went out there to see Joanna Newsom. Definitely weird, but definitely beautiful. One of the coolest places I've ever seen a show.

Here's my list, Sam. 1. M Ward Post-War 2. Band of Horses Everything All the Time 3. Joanna Newsom Ys 4. Califone Roots & Crowns 5. Neko Case Fox Confessor Brings The Flood 6. The Theater Fire Everybody Has A Dark Side 7. Oakley Hall Second Guessing 8.. Two Gallants What the Toll Tells 9. Current Leaves Pastense 10. Neil Young Living With War Honorable Mentions: Eric Bachmann To The Races Ladyhawk Ladyhawk Beirut Gulag Orkestar Brothers and Sisters Brothers and Sisters The M’s Future Women Centro-matic Fort Recovery Notable Re-issues/Live Albums/Compilations: Willie Nelson The Comp

Some ideas: Phosphorescent Akron/Family Andre Ethier Baptist Generals Miles Kurosky of Beulah Brothers and Sisters Centro-matic Destroyer Dr. Dog Eleventh Dream Day Jesse Sykes Smog Paul Burch Pleasant Grove

No puppets. According to one puppeteer's blog, the SNL gig was their last appearance with Beck, at least for the time being. Finally, the puppeteers are blogging! It's like when the punk rockers took acid... I didn't see anyone taping, unfortunately, but it's possible someone did. If I find anything I'll post a link...

I found out at work Tuesday afternoon just as tickets went on sale. They were sold out an hour or so later. I think he's announcing these secret gigs on his website, as there were quite a few people there who'd driven in from out of town. He said they just decided to book a few club shows on their way back to LA from NYC.

I got to see Beck play a club show last night for $12. Here's something I wrote for my paper's blog. Follow the link for the setlist. Did anyone else know Giovanni Ribisi could play guitar?

A few from the iPod: Gram Parsons--$1,000 Wedding Johnny Cash's version of "On the Evening Train" Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" Antonty and the Johnsons--"Hope There's Someone" Baptist Generals--"Sweet Red Wine" Beck--"The Golden Age" Damien Jurado--"I Can't Get Over You" Elliott Smith--"King's Crossing" The Gourds--"Our Patriarch" The Handsome Family--"Passenger Pigeons" Iron & Wine--"Dead Man's Will", "The Trapeze Swinger" Leonard Cohen--"Chelsea Hotel #2" The Mendoza Line--"Triple Bill of Shame" Richard and Linda Thompson--"Down Where the Drunkards Roll" Richard Buckner--"Gauzy Dres

Here's a short review I whipped up for my paper's blog.

Setlist Airline to Heaven I Am Trying to Break Your Heart Handshake Drugs Impossible Germany Muzzle of Bees Shot in the Arm At Least That's What You Said Poor Places War on War Jesus, Etc. Walken Theologians I'm The Man Who Loves You Via Chicago Hummingbird Encore 1: Late Greats (dedicated to Dallas legend Bobby Patterson) Ashes of American Flags How to Fight Loneliness Heavy Metal Drummer Encore 2: Let's Not Get Carried Away Kingpin No surprises but a great show nonetheless.

Source, Tags and Codes is surely one of the top ten rock albums of the oughts. And "Baudelaire" fucking destroys. The band's been crappy ever since Neil left.

That was one bigass fire. Some of my friends joked about getting the Theater Fire to go set up and play in front of it, but alas, it wasn't to be. They probably would have won some new fans though. Oh--the Theater Fire also had their name a couple years before the Arcade Fire came around.

Friends of the Northlands, My favorite local D/FW band, The Theater Fire, will be playing your major urban centers in the upcoming days, including a show tomorrow night at the Hideout. If you can, check them out. You will not regret it. Go here and listen to "These Tears Could Rust A Train". Sep 29 2006 8:00P The Hideout Chicago, IL Sep 30 2006 7:00P The Fire Philadelphia, PA Oct 2 2006 8:00P P.A.'s Boston, MA Oct 3 2006 8:00P The Delancey New York City, NY Oct 4 2006 11:00P Piano's New York City, NY Oct 5 2006 9:00P Pete's Candy Store Brooklyn , NY Oct 6 2006 8:00P G

I was at this show, too. My friend booked it, and while I was on my way up she called and asked me to pick up some ginger tea bags for Matt. Hear that pretty singing? I like to think the tea had something to do with it... What a show. The guy blows my mind everytime.

is amazing.

Does that mean only 6 songs? A 20 minute "Down By The River" perhaps?