The Head and the Heart/Howler 4/19

I kind of slacked last week and didn't write a review of the First Aid Kit or Cults shows. I've been kind of busy and let's be honest: 4 reviews in one week would have been too much. To compromise, here's my reviews of both shows in 10 words or less!

First Aid Kit:
Beautiful. Melodic. Swedish. No amplification sing along.

Cults:
Adorable lead singer. Too short. Slighly disappointing.

Okay, now that that's over let's move on to the task at hand.

Yesterday, I did something I had never done before. Actually, I did two things I had never done before. The first and most important one was that I went to two concerts in one day (in a non-festival setting). The second... Well, I'll get to that eventually.

First off yesterday was the Head and the Heart. Now, it's no secret that I'm obsessed with them. Like follow-them-home-hide-in-their-bushes-go-through-their-garbage obsessed.

No, it's not that bad. But I do tweet at them pretty often.

Anyway, considering that I fell in love with them instantly the first time I saw them at SXSW last year, I knew it would be a great show and they didn't disappoint. The concert was outside in front of the student union at my school and, unlike how April usually is, it was colder than a witch's teet. But I stuck it out and it was well worth it.

Unlike a lot of bands I've seen, the Head and the Heart have this way of genuinely seeming like they're having fun on stage. It's like watching a bunch of old friends hang out... Friends who are all insanely musically talented. And incredibly attractive.

My favorite part of the concert was when they did Josh McBride, an unreleased song that's pretty easy to find on YouTube. And I happen to love. My other favorite part was when they did a new song that, no surprise, I loved. And I loved Rivers and Roads. And I loved when Charity mentioned her family's meat shop in northern Minnesota. And... Fuck it, I just loved the whole goddamn show.

I tried sticking around to meet them after so I could tell them HOW FREAKING AWESOME THEY ARE, but they had to go before I had a chance. It was disappointing, but they'll be back in July for the Basilica Block Party so maybe I'll get my chance then. IF YOU'RE READING THIS PLEASE COME SAY HI TO ME AFTER I'LL BAKE YOU COOKIES.



Later that night, I went to concert number two of the day, Howler. They're a local band who's been getting a lot of press lately because they're fucking rad/their lead singer said some things about the Minneapolis music scene that got taken way out of context.

These guys definitely lived up to the hype. The energy was incredibly high the whole show. The audience, including myself, couldn't stop moving. It was awesome. The one criticism I have is that it wasn't long enough. They were on and off in 45 minutes.

Even more awesome was when I ended up selling merch for them after. I'm not really sure how it happened but I found myself behind the table taking cash and handing out CDs and posters. It was kind of cool, especially considering one of my dreams has always been to be "the merch guy."

Awesome. Absolutely awesome. Yesterday was so awesome.

Tonight, it's off to see Dessa for concert #8 this month. I just can't get enough live music!!

Ellie Goulding In-Store 4/5

In one of my psychology classes we talked about the concept of planned happenstance. Basically, it says that you create opportunities for good things to happen to yourself. When people ask me how I get to have so many amazing experiences in my life, I refer them to this concept. I create opportunities and good things happen.

Today, Ellie Goulding, who I adore beyond reason, had an in-store performance at the Mall of America Best Buy. The performance started at 7 so what time did I get there? 1:30. Obviously.

And obviously I was the first one in line.

It may seem like a long time to wait in line but I brought with homework to do to make the time pass. Did I end up getting much done? Of course not! This is me we're talking about. Turns out there were some really cool Ellie fans who came soon after me and we got to talking and telling people who asked what we were waiting for that we were in line for the Playstation 4. I'm an asshole.

While waiting in line, a man came out and asked how long we'd been waiting. He then went on to explain that he was Ellie's handler (basically, the guy who keeps Ellie out of trouble and makes sure that no one asks her to sign their vagina) and that because we were such dedicated fans, he wanted to give us a little something extra. The show already included a meet and greet so I didn't know what that extra could possibly be. Well, he explained that he wanted someone to take pictures and it would be my task to get some good shots for her Facebook page.

After I regained consciousness, I agreed. Obviously.

Skipping ahead to show time, I managed to get front row center. When Ellie came out, I was like 3 feet away from her. I could have probably have tackled her if I wanted to... but I didn't. Because I'm not crazy. Obviously.

Ellie started out the set with "Guns and Horses." She played her acoustic guitar and sweet lord was it amazing. It was like the heavens opened up and sprinkled sweet, sweet love on the eardrums of everyone present. Ellie really has a voice that can't be matched. It's soft and strong. It's heart wrenching and inspiring. It's like nothing else you'll ever experience.

In between songs, Ellie was charming and funny and couldn't stop smiling. She really seemed to be enjoying herself, as did the audience. During her second song, "Your Song," an Elton John cover, one of my friends from the line was even moved to tears. It takes something real special to be able to do that.

I, on the other hand, was swept over with this overwhelming feeling of joy. Everything felt so right. Listening to Ellie's gorgeous voice and seeing her shining face brought out feelings that were so overwhelmingly positive that I haven't experienced in a long time. I have a feeling I looked like an idiot because I couldn't stop smiling.

After, one of the younger audience members had requested that Ellie do "Starry Eyed" so, even though she had only been planning on doing three songs, Ellie decided to do an extra. Normally, the song is an electronic dance type song so I was surprised how well it translated into a stripped down acoustic version. But really, should this have surprised me? No. I mean, this is Ellie Goulding we're talking about. She can do anything. Obviously.

Ellie closed the set with "Lights." And it was rockin'. Everyone was dancing and bopping around. And at the very end, it went into the Bassnectar remix of the song with live vocals from Ellie, to the delight of everyone there.

After the show came the meet and greet where Ellie showed that not only is she a great talent and freaking gorgeous but she's also a genuinely nice person. She said she saw me up front and asked my name and gave me a personalized autograph. I then asked if I could get a hug and she was like, "Of course!" I walked around the table and hugged her and told her that she was wonderful. She was incredibly gracious and super kind. I got a quick picture and then was on my way.

I left the show feeling so overwhelmingly happy. What an amazing experience. Today was a day that I don't think I'll ever forget.

Obviously.



This was my third show of my whirlwind Month of 10 Concerts... These shows keep getting better and better! Next up is First Aid Kit on Saturday. What will that bring? Only time will tell!

Gotye and Kimbra 4/4 @ Epic

My power concert series continues!!! Last night was the sold out Gotye and Kimbra show. I found out a few hours before that I won VIP upgrades so I got to watch the whole show from a side booth. It was an awesome experience and there were some super cool people who were there to watch the show with us.

Kimbra went on first and was absolutely amazing. The woman has some pipes! She was belting it out and dancing around the stage the whole time. "Cameo Lover" was a favorite of mine as I got to dance along with her.

Gotye hit the stage after Kimbra's set and was incredible as well. In addition to singing, he played drums and keys so he was always busy. He brought out Kimbra for "Somebody That I Used To Know" and that was a magical experience.

The big gripe that I had with the show had nothing to do with the performance but with the audience. It seemed like almost no one in the pit was moving the whole time and they weren't responding to the performers' energy. I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been for them as it was pretty frustrating for me. I'll never understand why people go to shows and don't get into it. I mean, how can you not?! Even if you don't know the music that well you can still bop along.

Anyway, that's a quick update. Today is Ellie Goulding's acoustic performance at the Mall of America. I'm legit giddy to see her again. Should be a great show!

The Ting Tings at First Avenue 4/2

I’m going to start out with a pretty bold statement: The Ting Tings are the most underrated band making music right now. A lot of people dismiss them as just noise or as not a serious band and I don’t really understand why. They’ve developed their own distinct sound that not only defies genres but stands out from anything else out there today.

Where they really stick out is in their live show. Last night’s killer set at First Avenue was  a gleaming example of this. The show started out with MNDR, an electronic singer who had never heard of before. While at first I was a bit skeptical of the strange woman wearing a short gold top and red booty shorts, by the second song my friends and I were all dancing along. It was hard to resist her charm and infectious dance beats.

Speaking of dancing, this woman was not afraid to shake her thang. Yes, I just used the word “thang.” I imagine this was pretty awkward because her parents, who apparently are from Minnesota (she mentioned she used to live here), were in the audience. Dirty dancing aside, I imagine they must have been proud of their daughter because she won the audience over and made at least two new fans.

Ballin' with MNDR.

As great as MNDR was, the main attraction of the night was the Ting Tings. They started off their set by coming out in darkness and Katie silenced the audience. This led perfectly into "Silence" and the band quickly brought the rock as Katie grabbed her guitar and Joules hit the drums. At the end of the song, Katie announced, "I have only one request for you tonight and it's that you fucking dance!"

Oh no, what a horrible request!!! Of course, they made it easy to dance with their high energy and rockin' dance beats. The band constantly had the audience clapping along and Katie kept those of us near the front on our toes the whole time as she would regularly come and sing at the very front of the stage to dance or shred on her guitar.

One thing that really impressed me was the number of different instruments the duo plays. Katie had to keep track of keys, guitar, bass, cowbell, various pedals and knobs and things that I had no idea what they were. Joules did all that plus drums plus backing vocals. Seriously, these guys are legitimate musicians.

One highlight of the evening was when they played one of their most well known songs, "Shut Up and Let Me Go." The whole audience erupted and you could hear everyone in the place singing along. Everyone danced harder than usual. Speaking of dancing, the only time during the whole show I stopped dancing was during the short intermission between the main set and the encore. Even then, my dancing was really only replaced with screams for more.

The only real criticism I have of the show, if you can call it that, is that it ended. I could've kept dancing all night long had they continued to play. For now, I'll just have to wait until they come back. I know I'll be one of the first to buy tickets to see these two wonderful Brits again.

What a bunch of badasses.

As many of you know, this was my first concert of what I'm dubbing the Month of 10 Concerts because... Well, I'm going to 10 concerts this month. Here's to hoping that they're all as great as the one last night. Tomorrow is Gotye and Kimbra. Look for my review Thursday!

O Canada 2012

I have some very exciting news!

This week, Osheaga announced their 2012 lineup. This lineup, which includes Metric, Feist, and many other great acts, is probably one of the greatest lineups I've seen for a festival in a long time, if not ever. I looked into my schedule, bank account, and at various travel sites and I came to the conclusion that I can actually make this work!

I'm super excited because I'm going with two friends, Steph and Merrijoy, who both like the same music that I do, so I know it's going to be a good time! Also, the festival is in Montreal which means I get to travel to Canada! I've never left the country before so I'm quite excited/nervous for my first international trip.

While I'll mainly be at the music festival, I should have time to do a bit of exploring of the city. I'm looking forward to trying some authentic (vegetarian) poutine and seeing what Montreal has to offer! I also can't wait to get a Montreal shot glass to add to my collection and possibly put the little French I know to use.

On a less exciting, but still exciting, note, I also scored tickets to see Gotye and Kimbra when they're here in two weeks! Some tickets were released for First Avenue members and I managed to swoop in and snag a pair for my roommate and I. That means that I'll be going to three shows that week and nine in April! It's going to be a whirlwind month but I'm more than a little excited.

That's really all the updates I have for now. I'm off to work on anatomy pre-work and study for my physiology test tomorrow. Wish me luck!

The Joy Formidable 3/19 @ The Fine Line

The first rule of good journalism is to admit your biases. Actually, it's probably to avoid stories where your biases would come into play. Or maybe it's respect for the story? I have no idea. But thankfully, this isn't a lesson in journalism. My point is that it's hard for me to write an unbiased review of last night's the Joy Formidable show at the Fine Line in Minneapolis because they happen to be one of my favorites at the moment (and, if they keep it up, they're well on their way to making a permanent appearance on my favorites list).

Because I was smart and spend an exuberant amount of money on music related things, I purchased a "special ticket" and was able to have one of the coolest experiences of my life because of it. The "special ticket" allowed me to get in to watch part of the sound check... where the band invited people who were interested to come on stage!!!

 

J + Rhydian

After spending a few minutes living out my dream of being a rock star, we got to have a meet and greet with the band. They were absolutely charming and super nice to all their fans (even though I'm sure I freaked Ritzy out by telling her that she was even cuter in person... WHAT?! SHE IS!!!). I managed to get a picture the guy in front of me was nice enough to give to me signed AND I got a picture with the band.

 A new supergroup I christened "The Joey Formidable"

God, I'm clever.

All in all, one of the coolest experiences of my life thus far. Showtime came around and I managed to get front row, center... which, surprisingly, was in the middle of a group of pretty rad optometrists. Who knew your eye doctor liked such good music?! The first to take the stage was Exit Music from New York. They were good but nothing I was overly excited about. Their sound was a bit mellower than the other two acts so they seemed a little out of place.

Following them was A Place To Bury Strangers, who have the title of loudest band from New York (how they earned that title is a mystery to me) and holy queen of Shiva were they great. I'd never heard any of their music before but they brought the noise. It wasn't just noise of the sake of being loud, either. Their music was really melodic and actually had substance. I've never seen a band play until the bass player's strings broke but they did... Thoroughly impressed!

Next, the main act: The Joy Formidable bounced to the stage and quickly reminded me of why I was looking forward to seeing them again. These guys have so much energy that you can't help but get into. A special treat this time around was being close enough to pick out all of Ritzy's, their singer, facial expressions... She makes quite a lot of interesting ones!

What most impressed me was that they all looked like they were genuinely having fun up there. The chemistry between Rhydian and Ritzy was infectious and was especially apparent when Ritzy jumped on his back, still playing her guitar.

Oh, and did I mention that Ritzy continued her tradition of massacring the stage during Whirring, their final, climactic song during the encore, by not only tossing her guitar at the on stage gong but knocking over Matt's drumset at the very end. HOW BADASS IS SHE?! Super badass is the answer to that question.

Another highlight was hearing their new song, Silent Treatment, for the first time. It's a lot quieter than their other music but you can really hear the emotion as Ritzy sings. In fact, I thought she was going to cry a few times during it. It made me really excited for the new album to come out which, incidentally, they announced is finished. While they gave no indication of a release date, I'm hoping it will be soon as I already want to see them again, not even 24 hours later.

Next month, I have my whirlwind concert tour with the Ting Tings, First Aid Kit, Kathleen Edwards, Cults, the Head and the Heart, Howler, Dessa, and Lights. WHEW!!! It's going to be a long, but awesome, month! Stay tuned!

An Ode to the Superfan

In addition to being a celebration of one of my favorite desserts, pie, today is the 25th anniversary of the first show of one of the greatest things to ever happen to my life (and let's be real, to the world too!), No Doubt! I can't believe they've been around longer than I've been alive. I'd like to think that in some sort of blobby spiritual gob of ethereal Joey form, I was at the first show. Just kinda there, being a spirit, boppin' along...

I often get described as a No Doubt "superfan." Some mean this as a compliment but others have more sinister intent behind their words. To that second group of people I have this to say: So what if I'm really into a band?! It's my life!

... And yes, that ND reference was on purpose.

But really, superfans often get a bad rap for being so intensely invested in their music and I see absolutely nothing wrong with that. You see, a lot of people on the outside haven't ever had an experience like we have with music. For them, I feel bad. Worse, however, is those who haven't had an experience like we've had with anything.

To me, and so many others, No Doubt is about more than just the music. Yes, that's a huge part of it but there's more to the story. There's the experiences. Seeing a band you love live, along with hundreds, thousands, or even just a handful of other people who feel the same way, knowing all the words and singing along, and just plain letting go is something that my words will never be able to adequately capture.

No Doubt has been therapy to me and so many others. Just listening to Gwen sing about exactly what I'm feeling... It lets me know that someone out there gets what I'm going through and has lived through it. And not just lived through it, but has something to show for themselves. It give me hope that things will get better. I know many other people who've gone through similar experiences with No Doubt and with other bands. It doesn't matter who it is, really. It just matters to them that someone out there got it, got them, when they needed it most.

Most importantly, however, there's the PEOPLE. I've made so many connections with some of the coolest people out there through music. My good friend Carly and I first became friends because of No Doubt. A few years later, we were front row seeing them in Minnesota. There's Kenda, the sassy silversmith from North Carolina who I would have never met if it weren't for our mutual ND love. There's Merrijoy, my awesome Asian lady twin, who I randomly decided to follow on Twitter one day when she tweeted about Metric. And there's Alex and Amy and Kara and SO MANY OTHERS, too many to list, who I know because we share a love of the same bands. My life wouldn't be the same without the musicians that I love.

So you can call me, or anyone else who loves their music, crazy but I truly feel bad for you for not having the same experiences and meeting the awesome people I have. Yes, we sit in line for ridiculous amounts of time. We spend a ton of money on tickets and anything and everything with our bands' names on them. We get tattoos. We travel around the country and world to see them. We collect magazines and photos and treasures from shows.

But you know what? We enjoy every moment of it.

Not just enjoy it.

We have a fucking blast doing it.