Ultra8201's Birthday at the Parish.

It's somewhat short notice but I wanted y'all to have a friendly little reminder about my brethren in blogging's birthday bash tonight at the Parish. Cherish the Parish while enjoying the sounds of Bloggy favs L.A.X.. Make sure you bring your dancing shoes 'cause those kids like to get down. Of course the more rockin' side of indie will also be represented with Love at 20, as well as Politics and the Redboys.


Even though it's the day of the show I'm pretty sure you are still welcome to RSVP over at the Do512 site in order to get $2 off the cover. Also, you can see if your friends or enemies are going over at the event's Facebook page. Bloggy <3's Ultra8201 so I'll be making an appearance. I'm thinking of gifting myrrh or frankincense they seem like good, traditional birthday presents. Either that or an iPod Shuffle, I haven't decided.

All you need to bring is yourself, enough money to get in and a positive attitude. The music, excellent sound and good times are all included in the cover price. See you at the Parish?

Oh, by the way, word on the street is there's an after-party at a certain sweaty dance club named for a certain Jane Fonda movie that will certainly have loud dance music and cheap beers. Come on, you know the one.

LCD Soundsytem at Stubb's (Video)

It was strange to walk down, a vacant, 6th street in the 7 O'clock hour last night on my way to Stubb's but after a blistering 2 hour set from LCD Soundsystem I was happy with the early start time. The weather wasn't ideal since there was a fine mist/light rain as the doors opened so it was pretty humid with all those people packed in. I will say, the amphitheater itself, didn't seem as muddy as I had expected, I don't know much about dirt, but kudos to Stubb's for using a non-muddy dirt(?). LCD took the stage at 8:30 and didn't take a break for 90 minutes. All of the songs were huge pulsing affairs,w hich were intensified by the epileptic's nightmare of a light show. I literally had to shield my face from the stroboscopic assault but I wouldn't have things any other way. Here's the BloggyCam interpretation of LCD's opening number.


LCD Soundsystem - Us v Them video via YouTube


This is the part of the post where I complain about the crowd, since really the band is only one element to the live experience. The show was sold-out so the place was packed with a wide-variety of Austin "types" but the people who stand out in my mind are the ones who meet up at a concert to "catch-up". There was a couple adjacent to me who talked so incessantly I almost videod their conversation. Another couple, squeezed in front of me, so one was beside me and one was in front in an area of crowd that was already packed to the gills, then they started chatting with each other, with me between them. After a complete song of this, I turned and looked at them and I said, "SERIOUSLY!?!?! SERIOUSLY?!!? I paid to hear this band play." I hate doing that, but I want to ask these people, why are you here? Give me $40 and you can talk all you want and I won't bother you BUT I pay to listen to bands perform and while I can still hear the music when you're talking I can also hear your banal conversation.

So that's what I have to say about talking during a concert. My other annoyance was the people constantly trying to get closer, or see better or generally moving about constantly. Pick an effing spot and camp there people. Then, maybe after a few songs, find a different spot but saying, "Excuse me" doesn't make it ok for you, to stop, with the back of your head 4 inches in front of my face. Not cool. If you say excuse me and you're moving THROUGH that is one thing but don't squeeze into my spot bro, that's not polite no matter what words come out of your mouth.


LCD Soundsytem - I Can Change video via YouTube

With all of that said, the majority of the crowd was really into the show the whole time. People were clapping along, singing, dancing having a jolly-good time. Overall, most of my issues are issues you will experience at any show but especially the high-capacity venue shows. Each visit to Stubb's reinforces to me that I will never be cut out for Austin City Limits Fest or any other similar summer fest. I've decided I like music more than I like people, so I want to hear music where there aren't as many people around to bother me. Except you of course. You, I love. Obviously.

Mumford, Sons, Middle East, La Zona

Damn, y'all I haven't been checking ShowListAustin.com or Do512 very much lately, for the same reason I haven't been looking for bills in my mailbox. Now, I'm really regretting I didn't try to work some schmoozy, bloggy magic to get into the Mumford & Sons show at La Zona Rosa tomorrow night. At this point, it's too late to "get on the list" but I might go pretend like I'm already on the list and see how far that gets me. Not only am I a fan of Mumford etc. but I effing adore The Middle East. They have this song called Lonely on their EP that kills me (in a good way). It's over 7 minutes of beautiful, passionate, somber transcendence. Not to over-sell it. You might remember they were one of my bands to watch during this past SXSW. In any case, tickets don't seem to be available online but you MAY be able to get them at a local retailer, or at the door. If not, you can always hang out at Backstage Bar and pretend like you were at the show, there's no shame in that. Well, maybe a little bit of shame.

Speaking of shame, it's kind of lame of me to not post an original song in this headlining spot, but I effing love cover songs. So...


Mumford & Sons - Cousins video via YouTube


I keep hearing people say how much they love the sound of the banjo and it seems to be infiltrating hipster-culture and I fully approve. It's just logical that as we get more and more tech-savvy our music will go back to the hills. I predict the next Panda Bear album will feature lots of jug and banjo. You heard it here first people.


Mumford & Sons - The Cave video via YouTube

Like many of you, I don't always make it to the show in time to catch the opening act, but if you are going to La Zona tomorrow night, make sure you catch the Middle East and try to think about me and what I might be thinking about while you are listening but picture me listening too, with a Lonestar that you bought me. Thanks.


the Middle East - Lonely video via YouTube

If any of you are reading this and thinking about how you'd like to invite me to join you on your dime, thanks. It'd be my pleasure to join you on your dime. May I offer you some gratis earplugs? Otherwise if you're reading this and can't invite me along or simply don't want to go to the show. Thanks. I like you just for reading what I wrote. I feel like we should really hang out more IRL. Call me.