it's a blur that moves right into focus

Shows2010 - entry2.1

A biweekly update on bands I’ve seen, because I haven’t kept track since 2006. (last)

Kaleidoscope, Brighter. I realized I glossed over this band I saw opening for Empires in Toledo, but I don’t want to do that because I really thought they were a great live band.  Unfortunately what is on their myspace right now is an acoustic EP, which is good but not as good as they were live.  I’m mostly extremely impressed with Abby, the leade singer, who is a really commanding stage presence.  I’ve always been wary of girl-fronted bands in the post-Paramore landscape, but it’s pleasantly surprising to find one I enjoy.  (A fair warning, I just realized there’s a lot more Jesus to these songs that I could hear in the live version.  Which is fine, just, not always my favorite so hopefully they can win me over.  They’ve already impressed me enough not to be an automatic turnoff.)  http://www.myspace.com/thekaleidoscopebrighter

Shows2010 - entry 2.0

A biweekly update on bands I’ve seen, because I haven’t kept track since 2006. (last)

This Is Ivy League. My very first show living in NYC was a random Paramore show my coworkers dragged me to on day one, but really This Is Ivy League (then just Ivy League) felt like my first.  They played at a venue near my old apartment and I went alone and their time got pushed back hours and hours, but I hung around and had a great time.  I believe since then I’ve been to every Ivy League show they’ve played since 2007, and every time they get better and better as a band.  www.myspace.com/thisisivyleague

Vedera.  A really good band that I had missed last time they were thru town.  This show was at the Sony building and they had waiters bringing food around, so of course I was super focused on that. We chatted with I think the bassist after and talked about Clermont Lounge in Atlanta and touring with Murder By Death.  www.myspace.com/vedera

Motion City Soundtrack.  A band I saw more times than I needed to in 2008, but I still manage not to know many of their songs.  None of that made their headline show less enjoyable.  I think they’re great at what they do and in a really good place bieng one of the last old bands standing from an era.  Time will tell if that converts into anything more than simply being a standard (which is a triumph in itself.)  www.myspace.com/motioncitysoundtrack

Empires (x2).  This band gets better every time I see them, and the two shows on this tour I saw proved that rule.  In NYC at The Delancy that started maybe 2 hours late and I accidentally didn’t pay for (I bought a shirt to make up for it) followed by a great burlesque show upstairs.  In Toledo after a very long drive in the snow, supported by two great openers and so raw and alive and into it.  I’ll see them a million more times this year if I can.  www.myspace.com/empires

The Academy Is… Not really any words for how amazing this show was.  5 year anniversary of Almost Here.  Elated, bruised and broken open — worth every mile traveled and second spent.  Our time is almost / Our time is almost here www.myspace.com/theacademyis