Dirty Projectors Concert Review

I don't have any fancy pictures from the Dirty Projectors show last night at Red 7 but I do have my memories damn it! You may remember I was a bit concerned that the sound would suck ass at Red 7 and I'm very happy to report that it was actually mixed beautifully. The dude in the sounds cage of doom was even wearing noise-canceling headphones, which seems like...DUH, but I feel like I have never seen that before. Greg Ginn was in attendance, for those who don't know, he's a founding member of Black Flag and now he lives somewhere in the Taylor, TX region. Dave Longstreth jammed with Ginn during the opening slot and I must say it was pretty excruciating. But imagine you're a blues-rock style musician and you're trying to jam with Dave Longstreth, dude plays some really fucked up phrases and rhythms. It sounded messy, unfocused and almost completely unsyncopated/out of sync.

The Dirty Projectors themselves, while still noodly and weird were amazing, as expected. I saw them at a Pitchfork day party during SXSW, they only played for 35 minutes and I was immediatly in love. Seeing a full set with songs from three + records was very nice. Ginn was invited back on stage to perform a few Black Flag songs and that went much better than the opening "jam". It's hard to pick out specific highlights because so much of the set was a highlight for me. It was really nice to hear Rise Above as well as Knotty Pine, which was a great closing number. I'd say Cannibal Resource or Temecula were the songs that most captured the crowd's energy. So many familiar Austin characters in the crowd last night, including Austin's own Octopus Project.


Dirty Projectors - Cannibal Resource video via YouTube

Finally summary after the jump...

My final summation of the show, I would say out of 5 stars I would give the venue it self 3.75 stars, the sound/sound mixing 4 stars and the performance 4.25 stars. I'm discounting stars on the performance for subjecting us to that God-awful opening jam. I didn't mention before that after the opening jam someone very clearly yelled, "Play Dirty Projectors!"


Dirty Projectors - Stillness is the Move video via YouTube

Dave chuckled and turned to the mic saying, "We'll be back in a few minutes to play Dirty Projectors". The venue loses points simply because it's a dive and I'm not going to give a walled in parking lot 5 stars. I think it would be bad ass if they built a deck above the bar outside and made it a VIP area. More venues need some form of tiered viewing area. I'm 6'2" so I can pretty much always see but I always feel bad for the all of the tiny hipsters who spend most of the show trying to catch a glimpse of the artist on stage. The Mohawk has many tiers but at a sold-out show I'd say less than half the people in attendance can clearly see the stage. Seeing wouldn't be a big deal if people could STFU long enough for everyone to hear the performance. Last night wasn't too bad as far as the chatty-Cathy's go but every time I see a show at Stubb's I want to smash people's heads. Why pay $30+ to talk over the performance, especially when you're just talking about the dumbest shit on Earth anyway. If it's THAT important text each other!

Don't forget people the next really buzzy, don't miss show, that WILL sell-out is Bat For Lashes at the Parish next month look at the previous posts for a ticket link. I want to see you all there...weeping like little babies.