After my fun time at ACL Live Moody Theater a couple of weeks ago, I figured I would take some time to point out just how ridiculous they, as well as any other venue, are in aggressively enforcing a camera policy at the front doors. It’s real simple. The way that communication technology is advancing, it is impossible to stop any kind of pictures anywhere and hurts the experience for everyone involved. Continue reading It’s Time We Boot Ridiculous Camera Policies At Concerts
I was at NMASS a month ago and now I’m getting around to talking about rightcheer. The New Media Art and Sound Summit was put together by the Church of the Friendly Ghost to help celebrate alternative media in the arts. Events ranging from musical performances, workshops, and films sprinkled the weekend of June 14th. I was super busy that weekend so unfortunately I only had one evening to help support their efforts. And what an evening it was. Continue reading NMASS 2013
Sometimes for some shows, you pay the premium price of admission because the legend status the star brings in. Most of the time what you get is a decent showcase of the classic songs and maybe a few new ones. You’re also left wondering if the huge ticket price was a worth it. Paul McCartney ended up doing two shows at the Frank Erwin Center and I sneaked my way into the 2nd show. Paul did not fall into that category. He put on a helluva show.
So this was my first time at the Frank Ewrin Center. It will probably be the last, unless I’m desperate. I’m not sure if the facility was well suited to serve cold beer. They tried, but failed miserably. Warm tepid beer all around! I think it was an afterthought because of it being a school facility. Besides that major issue, the rest of the place was decent. The age is showing and I’m not surprised of the whispers of its impending demise as a building.
At any rate, I wasn’t there for the building, I was there for Paul McCartney. So my wife asked who was opening up for him. I didn’t know and didn’t bother to look it up. I’m glad I didn’t because he really didn’t have an opening act. Sure, some guy was out there spinning dance remixes to his songs but that doesn’t count. Mainly because it sounds like every other bad dance remixes of classic songs. People, usually old people, feel that just throwing a beat behind a song and speeding up the tempo makes it a dance track. Nope, it just makes it tacky. Stop it.
So he was off and we were presented with a retrospective slide show thingy that lasted about 40 minutes. The photos and graphics blended nicely but I did catch some repeats. Overall, I think opening festivities worked well in setting the stage for Paul but it by no means stood out on its own. If any major act had a prelude to a show, this was the primo example of how to do one.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Finally, it was time for Paul to come on out. After about two songs, I knew it was going to be magic. It reminded me alot of what John Fogerty did at his SXSW set this year. Just a clean, cut, straight up performance of selections of Paul McCartney’s music catalog. I was really getting into it. Then the show unfolded in front of us.
Stage lights, lasers, moving stages, all helped set the mood to different songs. I didn’t expect it at all. So when the penultimate moment came and the damn stage nearly blew up during ‘Live and Let Die’, I leaped up and yelled “FUCK YEAH!” I couldn’t help myself. Coming down from that and riding out other great stage moments wiped me out. I’ve rarely been to a show when I was wiped out afterward. Especially when sitting up in the nose bleeds and not standing in general admission.
It was well worth it. I recommend anybody who has a chance to see Paul McCartney to do it quick. The guy is 70 and can still put on a helluva show. If I can do that when I get that age, it would be real magic too.
It was only right that a weekday after my best man showed up for the weekend that I had the opportunity to relax and recover with the soothing sounds of Sigur Ros. Welp, it mostly happened. I’ve seen them before at the Uptown Tehater in Kansas City way back when and remember such a jovial, quiet style. I guess I didn’t remember everything correctly. They somehow managed to kick my ass in a completely eloquent style.
First off, let’s talk about the Cedar Park Civic Center. It’s WAY up north of Austin and especially from where I live. Apparently the arena hosts a multitude of minor sport teams from hockey and basketball. Good for them. More importantly, they have buffalo style chicken strips with a massive amount of fries. While the strips were tasty, it was few. I think they made up for it with the ginormous amount of fries that came with it. Well that and the condiment cart that left lots of dippins free for the take.
First up for the night was the crowd warming Oneohtrix Point Never. Okay, more like chilling. His style, a laptop musician with experimental ambient beats, fits well at a local bar but just doesn’t translate well to an arena. Oh, I enjoyed the beats and how they trickled out, but I left wanting more of an intimate situation with them instead of sitting way back in the arena hearing echoes bounce off minor sport achievement banners. I will make a note to check a club headlining tour with this guy.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Sigur Ros came up and kicked things off in their familiar, giant sheet with bright light set style. I guessed that it was going to be that way for the whole show like in KC but was proved wrong (again) when the sheets came down and they opened up the show. Boy did they open it up. I was used to some of the classics, but I did not expect the full on harsh assault that existed in their new material. Is it a reinvention? Or mere evolution? Doesn’t matter to me, they do it with such a genuine emotion that I believe in whatetever feeling that they are trying to get across. That’s a rare breed of band and you will not see it in even the biggest stadium sellers around.
It was a real treat being able to see Sigur Ros again. Now, the next time they come, I’m not sure. I know now what to get, in all of its sweet, genuine discourse but I’m not sure I want to ride it again. The curtain thing is great but it’s been overplayed. It’s all fantastic and I think everyone should go out and see it at least once. But be sure to bring some tissue and perhaps extra napkins.
Oh what’s the twist? Finally getting something knocked out. Yeah, I went this year and am now just getting around to saying something about it. This year’s take was different in the fact that I went all wristband and not the badge. Did things work out as well? Yes and no.
First off just check out the playlist of videos. I uploaded dumped a whole bunch of videos this week on the YouTubes and they say more than I could right here. Highlights included John Fogerty, Eric Burdon, Orange Goblin, Houses, Bear Mountain, and Black Pistol Fire. It was another eclectic year and I didn’t bother trying to get into some of the bigger name acts. That said, and what you could tell from the list, I did alright seeing both big and small acts.
Click here to view the embedded video.
The only real downside with not getting a badge was missing out on the day parties. Yes, it was more music, but it was also tons of free drinks and food. It’s no wonder I survived this year and didn’t get sick like I did the last two times. Oh, I still got mine, though. Especially Tuesday night and Saturday. But I digress. The point is, the lows weren’t too low and I still managed to see some great acts.
I even got to see a KC buddy of mine’s band. They drove all the way from KC (on tour) to hit up the Dizzy Rooster and rock out Saturday afternoon. Good times were had by all who came to see Get Busy Living. We even had room for them to crash at our place. It gave me a good glimpse of what life on the road could be like. That van was HUGE. I can’t wait to see them again.
So that’s my short capsule review of SXSW 2013. The usual suspects applies but it was just different enough that it sold me on next year already. And I don’t have to feel pressured into getting the ginormous badge. That is, unless I want to perform and/or sell my musical chops. I guess we’ll have to see what 2014 will bring me. Until then, enjoy the videos.