December 30 2007: Harvey Danger - Neumo's, Seattle WA

We got to Neumo’s about fifteen minutes before Harvey Danger came on, just enough time to get a Mirror Pond and a spot about halfway back where we could see, and where we once again ran into Keith.

And then the band comes on stage and Sean says, “Hi. We’re going to play our first album from start to finish. Starting now.” And he wasn’t lying.

Maybe six or seven songs were played immediately after “Where Have All the Merrymakers Gone?,” including “Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas” and “Picture, Picture,” and they closed the set with Simon and Garfunkle’s “Hazy Shade of Winter.” Kind of a long set, and we (especially Caitlin, who it seems did not anticipate a solid five hours of music when she agreed to see “some music while we’re in Seattle”) were a little worn out by the end of it. But then, to start the encore, out comes someone Sean described as “more special than the special Olympics, more special than Charlie Brown Christmas Special.” Yes, John Roderick. He played lead electric guitar and sang Lennon’s part on “I’ve Got a Feeling.” Highlight of the show. Arguably highlight of the month. And then they finished up with “Wine, Women and Song,” “War Buddies” (which was amazing), “Moral Centralia,” and the Velvet Underground’s “The Gift.”

No “Little Round Mirrors,” no “Pike St./Park Slope,” kind of long, but a fabulous show. Glad I was there.

December 30 2007: Siberian, Damien Jurado, the Long Winters, Sean Nelson, Peter Parker, Pale Pacific - Chop Suey, Seattle WA

So! Caitlin and I were planning to be in Seattle anyway, to see Harvey Danger. And then just before Christmas I heard the Crocodile Café had closed. Sad news. And that there was to be a benefit show for the Croc’s recently-out-of-work employees, on the very same night as and just six blocks away from the Harvey Danger gig. Happy news.

We showed up at Chop Suey a few minutes before eight, just missing Sonny Votolato, brother of Rocky. Which was too bad. But Pale Pacific were great, and Peter Parker were fabulous. Two groups I’d never listened to before, but it’s amazing what the three-songs-in-quick-succession format will do. Like musical tapas. And when you’ve got a Mack and Jack’s in your hand, what’s not to love?

Sean Nelson came on next. He sang three songs I didn’t know, while playing keyboard. It was fun to see him by himself, but he didn’t blow me away. Caitlin loved him though. I loved my second Mack and Jack’s.

And after a quick field trip down to Broadway to get a quesadilla, during which time we ran into none other than Keith Blood, who I didn’t know was living anywhere near Seattle, we were back in time to see Damien Jurado. But it wasn’t Jurado setting up on stage. It was a bunch of hairy guys. And I swear I didn’t have any idea who on earth they were until it suddenly hit me that Hey! Isn’t that Mike Schorr on drums? And then wait! Is that a really hairy Eric Corson there? AND DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE REALLY REALLY HAIRY GUY WITHOUT A FRONT TOOTH IS JOHN RODERICK???!?!?!?!?!!!!!!!! SWEET JESUS IT IS! SURPRISE UNANNOUNCED SET BY MY FAVORITE BAND IN ALL OF SEATTLE!!!!, WHO I HAVEN’T SEEN IN OVER A YEAR!!! HIP HIP HOORAY! And I about shit myself as they, collectively arguably my favorite formation of the Long Winters to see live, went into “New Girl.” Roderick’s guitar, after the first chorus, disattached from its strap but John continued without it and went on to play maybe the greatest strapless solo I’ve ever seen, and without resorting to the old going-down-on-the-knees trick. I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed “New Girl” so much.

And then “Carparts!” During which Roderick broke a string and just let Corson’s bass take over during the bridge. It was great to think that here Roderick is, still playing “Carparts” in Seattle after all these years (at least ten, I guess), and still finding ways to maye it interesting.

But after the broken string they called it quits, even though Dave Bazan offered John his telecaster. Cause they had to make way for Jurado! Who played “Lose My Head,” a new one and then closed with “Paperwings,” which Bazan came out to play drums on. But everyone was talking all through the set.

And we stayed for one more act, who kind of sucked ass, before moving on to Neumo’s.

December 22 2007: Bryan Free, Deepest Darkest - Tonic Lounge, Portland OR

If you had told me, three years ago, that "Lust" would be turn into one of the highlights of Bryan's shows, I would have called you out on that bullshit. Or else felt really sorry for Bryan. But it turns out that song can grow on a person.

And I don't think I'd seen Bryan play since July '05, when he had just Graeme on bass and I knew most of the tunes. But tonight it was a full band and all tunes that I didn't know, excepting "Lust." Graeme was on guitar, Bret Vogel on sax and keyboards, the guy who plays guitar for Crosstide on slide, the rest of Crosstide on bass and drums, and Bryan spent most of his time on a Rhodes. I was hoping for more tunes I knew, though. Two nights in a row of some of your favorite musicians make for fun times, but it gets a little old when between the two nights you only know six songs, total.

And it really was a whole lot of fun, mostly cause it seemed like I knew everyone in the room. Graeme (who was nice enough to get a hold of me in advance and let me know about the show and put me on the list) and Bryan and Bret, of course, but also Adam and Sairi (who were in Chehalis over Christmas and came down for the night), Livingston (also in town for Christmas), Eichenberger, Boyd, Blanchard, my sister Sara and her boyfriend Jarek, and even Eidan showed up by the end of the night. Many Deschutes beers were consumed, full advantage of indoor smoking was taken, and I didn't leave until two. Lots of fun.

December 21 2007: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Blitzen Trapper - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland OR

I'm home for Christmas and Malkmus is playing at the Doug Fir. How great is that!? And Janet Weiss is now a Jick! So that was kind of amazing. And Joanna Bolme is still a Jick. So seeing them these days is really like seeing bits and pieces of all my favorite groups all on stage together.

And Katie came with me! It was pretty good times. I drank Black Buttes and Mirror Ponds. She drank various gin-based drinks. And we somehow found ourselves in the front of the room, right in front of Steve. I like the Doug Fir.

Blitzen Trapper played first, and they were pretty good. I think Katie liked them more than I did. And Katie played a pretty excellent bad cop to the assholes who shoved their way in front of us during their set. Assholes: "Sorry, this is our favorite band and we haven't seen them in a while." Katie: "Um, well I've never seen them and now I never will because you fat head is blocking my view....and WE'VE WERE STANDING HERE BEFORE YOU SHOVED YOUR WAY IN FRONT OF US." I love Katie. And I love the Jicks. I hadn't seen them play since I left Portland 2 years ago. It was too long.

They opened with "Baby C'mon." How can you beat a show when it's Janet Weiss on drums and you've got a Mirror Pond firmly in hand and they open with "Baby C'mon"? The show was mostly new tunes though, which I didn't know, and which I was unable to really appreciate cause I couldn't sing along in my head. They were pretty good tunes, though. With lots of the boring-type guitar solos that Malkmus seems to really get a kick out of these days, but there were some really top-notch ones too. Only a few tunes off the old records. "Animal Midnight" and "Mama" were both somewhere in the middle, and they closed the set with "Pencil Rot," which was pretty fantastic. That song is about ten million times better live than it is on the record. And they closed the encore with "Church on White." Great fucking night. Cries of MALLLLLLLLK-MUUUUUUUUUUS, at the pitch of a foghorn, went out as people unsuccessfully tried to get the band to come out for a second encore. In the men's room someone had graffitied Malkmus Is God above the toilet. It was a fun way to spend the evening.

And then Katie bought a pack of Marlboros and we went to sober up at a certain Burnside establishment that I'm not going to mention by name here. But somehow I found myself with another Mirror Pond in front of me. So after Katie went home I needed a little more time before driving back to the parents' house in Hillsboro. I got in the car, turned up the heat and fell asleep, and when I woke up I was out of gas. Maybe, just maybe, a ten-block walk to the Shell station on Grand and Washington at 330am is the only reliable way to know, to REALLY know, that you've had a better time than most that night.