Coachella 2009

Coachella certainly wasn’t getting high marks from everyone. We were stoked to be able to go again this year. Waiting patiently in January for the day when they would announce the line-up. And finally when the line-up made it’s appearance there was a bunch of hand wringing from the local news rag – the Desert Sun – how could Paul Tollett ruin Coachella by inviting Paul McCartney, the Killers and the Cure. Mr. A. had told me of his experiences at past McCartney concerts – what energy Paul would put out on the stage and I was sold. We both wanted to see Morrissey, Leonard Cohen, the Presets, Los Campensinos!, Franz Ferdinand, Joss Stone, Drive By Truckers, TV on the Radio, Henry Rollins, Booker T with the DBT, GlassVegas, the Chemical Brothers, The Killers, Lykke Li, Antony and the Johnsons, Paul Weller, the Orb, the Kills, X, Peter, Bjorn and John, Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Tall order and then with the set times bumping into each other we saw some – missed others and added some new sounds to our experience. It was a great time.



Somehow out of some greater luck and Mr. A working for the resort he does we not only had bought tickets but we got Side Stage passes – we had entered the realm of the world of the proper wrist band, a purple cloth band with the words SIDE STAGE in black that got us through the entrance gates for the VIP areas, and to the backstage areas for Outdoor Theater, Gobi, Mohave and Sahara Tents. The plus side of these wrist bands was that we were allowed into areas that had clean toilets, alcohol (really expensive for the shit scotch brand they carried (Dwers) and down right miserly poured and to top it off ice seemed to be as precious as it is in the small bars in France), and the advantage of moving around the back areas although we were not allowed into the main stage area – we didn’t have the proper rank and of course when the act became higher ranked – at the outdoor theater – the less access we had. When Leonard Cohen was slated to be on stage – access was closed as it was for Paul Weller and the security guys got to be pretty testy during the Lykee Li concert. As for the downside – well the worst thing you could say about it was that instead of seeing your favorite group head on you were on the stage with them off to the right or left and you got a side view of the whole process. I really would rather see the show from the front of the house instead of the side – but it was an experience I wouldn’t pass up on again.

The weather could not have been better. There were some slight breezes and the temp the first day Friday was in the mid 70’s. We had spent the morning out in the desert on our bikes and had a great ride and Mr. A went off to work and I was to come get him later in the morning. Taking Avenue 50 from the LQResort made for a straight and easy road to get into the line going directly into the parking lots. I think it took us about 20 minutes from the moment we left LQResort. It was to be a very long and enjoyable day.

Once we were in and sure that the side stage passes were for real and usable we called up some friends who had asked if we would give them our Friday tickets if we weren’t using them. We passed on our good fortune and walked over to the VIP area for a drink and to scope out how the day would open up for us. We sat and listened to the Courteeners and We Are Scientists while we at some lunch, the vegi burger with cheese – barbecued – it was tasty and filling with a coke. I have to say everybody working behind the counters of all of the food and drink concessions were very nice. I really liked We Are Scientists. After a while we decided to drift over to the tents and took in a group called Cage the Elephant. I’m not sure what they were like from the front of the stage but they certainly were exciting from the sidelines. The group hails from Bowling Green, KY and their intensity for their music is energetic. Matt Shultz (vocals), Brad Shultz (guitar), Daniel Tichenor (bass), Lincoln Parish (guitar), Jared Champion (drums)  really put on an exciting electric blitz of sound – these guys were a great find. This is the first song of their collection on iTunes and the rest of the songs are of the same great sound. The lead singer Matt Shultz was truly enjoying himself and jumped out into the crowd to be carried away across the sea of hands. Great act. Enjoy.

After Cage the Elephant we walked over and took in the crazy sounds of Los Campesinos! The drum crazy lead singer was downing the beers like there was no tomorrow and had the crowd going crazy with his quick voiced lyrics. Posted on their myspace page is a couple songs they have posted – of course their “We Are Beautiful We Are Doomed” is loud and upbeat. They remind me of PWEI and some Bloc Party thrown in – oh yeah I forgot to say we got see Bloc Party on Wednesday right before the Coachella Festival – at the Palladium – oh my god they are back and back with a vengeance – with their bass player back in the lineup they redeemed themselves from their horrible set at the Glass House… And what ever happened to PWEI – that’s what I want to know - 

After Los Campesinos! we wondered over to the outdoor theater hoping to see if we could get to the side stage for Leonard Cohen but that was a no go – so we stood out front and listened to Conor Oberst – his set was enjoyable but I have to admit I was only interested in one thing getting in close to the center and as close to the front of the stage as we could. It was surprising how many young people were crowding in to see Mr. Cohen. There was a bit of a wait – I think he came on ten minutes late but the anticipation was like a smell in the air that the desert breezes could not dissipate. Although disappointed that we wouldn’t get on the side stage – getting right smack in the middle about 10 rows back was a great vantage point. I can’t tell you how long I have been listening to Mr. Cohen’s music – I remember listening to Judi Collins, Joni Mitchell and others covering his songs and then when I’m Your Man came out I couldn’t get enough of him. The Jennifer Warnes covers album, I’m Your Fan covers by many of different groups and the tribute to Leonard album were all cds that have been on Mr. A’s and my playlist since the 90’s. Of course the Antony rendition of “If It Be Your Will” is the most heart aching song I have ever heard sung. And to think that we were about to see Mr. Cohen. What an honor. He came out and just started singing after a look of surprise at how many people had gathered before him. Dressed dapper with suit and hat he did each song with a showmanship that is missing in many acts these days and at the end of each song he would tip his hat to the audience and to the members of his band. When those musicians he had on stage with him were playing solos he stood raptly watching them, paying them his respect as we all were as he sang songs from I’m Your Man and The Future, and he sang Bird on the Wire and Who By Fire and then finishing up with Hallelujah. I have heard Rufus Wainwright sing Hallelujah and he does it justice unlike KD Laing who tortures it, John Cale is my all time favorite singer of the song, but we have never seen him do it live and now – now we have heard Mr. Cohen sing his great song in person and the feeling was overwhelming because of these things, the combination of desert night air, the presence of Mr. Cohen and his band, and the crowd who joined into the chorus as if it was a hymn. The night air was filled almost as if a cathedral with all of us raising our voices louder and louder as we moved through the song. I think we were all regretting that the show was about to end. Mr. Cohen chose to do one for song which was unfortunately having sound bleed from the Morrissey show that had started. This was definitely a highlight of the Festival and we had been able to see it.

Unfortunately we had to eat so we missed some of the Morrissey set, but from what I heard he sounded great – especially when he did two songs from the smiths and I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris – one of the best songs in my opinion he has ever written and sung. We made our way as close as we could to the stage to see and hear Paul McCartney – for all of the poopooing that went on about having the old Beatle being part of Coachella the area was filled with expectations of sharing a special evening. He came on about 15 minutes late – not like the hour wait we had for that ass Prince the year before and he did such a much better more energetic set. Starting off with Jet, and playing so many songs from the Beatles’ catalog is is impossible to say which ones were the best – it was like a mounting crescendo of pure joy and energy. He play some songs from Wings, and he did My Love which brought tears to a lot of people’s eyes (everybody around us was wiping the tears away), and then there was Live and Let Die with the fire bombs and the fireworks – and then it was Helter Skelter, Sergeant Peppers, The End. And the evening was over and it was the best day we had at Coachella. Unfortunately we had to miss the Presets whom we really wanted to see and we missed seeing the new sensation Silversun Pickups whom I would have really like to catch.

Silversun Pickups:

 

The Presets:

Saturday we caught Drive By Truckers twice once in the afternoon set and then later than night we saw them play a very simple elegant set with Booker T. It was a very cool set with Booker T and the DBT playing Green Onions. We were able to watch the act from the side stage and I think we got some rather good shots. The Henry Rollins talk was enjoyable and of course I don’t agree with Mr. Rollins on alot of things, but he had the entire tent filled with people listening to him intently – a small miracle when you think of the din that is the sound of coachella. We were hoping to see Glasvegas unfortunately the lead singer got sick and they had to cancel hopefully they will be back next year. Tinariwen were great sounding but I got to be frank I have a hard time watching these guys in their desert robes without thinking about the killings that have gone on against gay people in the Muslim world – we left the tent rather quick – I’m sure their music is good just can’t get past that though. We went to the dance tent and enjoyed the set by the Bloody Beetroots and then headed over to listen to TV on the Radio from the VIP area. We had no desire to sit and watch the Killers and so instead joined the dancing with the Chemical Brothers – that was a great evening of just plain dance music really ramped up. We left after the Chemical Brothers – watching one song by the Killers and found that to be saccharine enough for our tastes – and we did have to be back for Sunday so we called it an early night – 12.

 

Sunday kind of sucked because we wanted to see alot of different groups but they all were playing at the same time. We watched Okkervil River and enjoyed their music, I would have like to see Peter Bjorn and John, Brian Jonestown Massacre, X, Devndra Banhart, but we did get to see Lykee Li – we were back stage but were not able to get up on the stage as there were alot of people who were there before us. And as I told Mr. A I wanted to see Antony and the Johnsons from the front of the stage. We enjoyed the Lykke Li set and moved quickly to center and 3rd row to see the Antony show. Although there was a sound glitch on the second song – he did and his group did not disappoint. I found myself overcome with emotion with each song he sang – I can’t say much more about how much he thrilled me, other than we were able to steal back stage and have his organist get us an autograph – oh my god Mr. A was just choked up by this small gesture by Antony. He will never know how much joy he brought us that day. We wandered around after than sort of in a daze and watched Yeah Yeah Yeahs from the VIP area and then wandered over to hear Paul Weller. Weller was great and we got some great photos of him but we were just drained by Antony’s set and slowly made our way out of the crush of people seating themselves for the Cure at 7:30 and they weren’t going to play for another 3 hours. We exited and were totally wiped after a full three days without seeing the Kills and the Cure. Oh well.

Just a short shout out to the blog staff at TDS (the Desert Sun) maybe if you had left your little tent in the VIP area you would have seen the surprises you complained weren’t available this year. Cage the Elephant and Los Campanios! put down some fun sets, the surprising silence in the body filled tent when Henry Rollins gave his talk, Paolo Nutini’s set at the main stage, Leonard Cohen’s singing Bird on a Wire and Hallelujah with a rousing chorus from the crowd that sounded like a chant, the energy that was Lykke Li and the songbird tremulous sounds of Antony and the Johnsons, the great dj set by Busy P sunday afternoon, the Bloody Beetroots, Crookers, Chemical Brothers and of course 2 and half hours of Paul McCartney. Come on Fessier you need to think about how bloated with self importance you must be when you trash on a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people to see one of the Beatles, let alone it being Paul, who played Jet with the energy we saw the young kids play in the afternoon, and to do Helter Skelter better than U2 and man who would have thought we would ever hear it  – not in a million years – and then to finish off with Sergeant Peppers and The End from the While Album – have you become so bloated with your backwater paper bullshit to believe you could come up with a better set list that included Live and Let Die, Yesterday, Long and Winding Road, Paperback Writer and everybody and I mean everybody in the crowd singing with him and never drowning out his sound system. Bruce Fessier you are a hack.

Arras Main Square Festival Lineup Grows

The Arras Main Square Festival lineup keeps growing and is looking like a phenominal showcase for great talent for the first “green festival” in the North of France.

July 2nd: Coldplay, The Ting Tings, Amy MacDonald, M.Ward
July 3rd: Placebo, Lily Allen, Birdy Nam Name
July 4th: Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, Gossip
July 5th: Lenny Kravitz, Moby, Franz Ferdinand, Duffy, Katy Perry, Justin Nozuka, Michael Franti

Tickets for the four day festival can be purchased on line: 4 days: 175,00 €, 3 days: july 3-5: 145,00€, single day 60,00 €. Tickets are available through FNAC billet, Digitick, Tickenet, SFR billetterie, Office de Tourisme d’Arras for the festival and for camping.

more about Arras

Bicycle Race – I Still Love This Song – Queen

I just love this song – have ever since it was released unfortunately I only have a greatest hits cd and this video to remind me how great Queen was – I left the lp, the great cover and all my memories of this great time in my life back in Boise with the ex – thank god for youtube and the many people who love this song and cycling. Also here are some photos from our bicycling adventures in Paris.

The Homosexuals Announce 3 dates in Southern California

The Homosexuals have been getting some great reviews of their show – check out the review of their show at the Mercury Lounge. Late Night Wallflower

Thursday March 26 – Long Beach, CA – The Prospector – The Part Time Punks, The Homosexuals, Deadly Finns

Friday March 27 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah – The Part Time Punks, The Homosexuals, Kill Me Tomorrow

Sunday March 29 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo – The Part Time Punks, The Homosexuals, Silver Apples, Shark Toys.

the Homosexuals out on tour

The homosexuals are out on tour in the US. They have set 3 dates in the Northeast, Wed. March 4 at Johnny Brenda’s, Philadelphia, Pa with Davila 666, The Tough Shits, Casual Viking. Sun. March 8, Mercury Lounge NYC, NY with the Unscared Hearts, Pterodactyle, Miracles of Mdern Science. Fri. March 13 at Comet Pizza and Ping Pong, Washington DC with Fiasco, Arrinton de Dionyso.

Bruno Wizard and The homosexuals are also planning to be at SXSW and then heading out for the west coast. Oregon and California. Even LA. Dates coming and so is a new EP “Important if True” (SBR36).

Loving their EP “Love Guns” and the song 3am(Pink Pony). Here’s the video.

The homosexuals are out on Serious Business Records. Their song “Slow Guns” is included on “The Year in Business 2008 Serious Business” free download on the Serious Business website. There are other enjoyable artists on this sampler – Benji Cossa’s “Volcano” is great.

holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy holy Holy Shit

After reading the crabby tight-assed review by Mark Swed for blogs LA Times I had to wonder if he indeed existed on the same plane of this world that Mr. A and I. We sat in row “O” not zero center and found ourselves enjoying another Patti and friends experience. Of course if you read the introduction notes provided by UCSB in their Winter Program book, one could only wonder what one could imagine what the evening was going to provide.

We drove into Santa Barbara and found our hotel down on Cabrillo Ave, Blvd, whatever – it was a tourist trap and I honestly worried all night about bed bugs and had to pound on the walls to get the neighbor at 2 am to turn down his tv that was mounted on the wall above our head board on the otherside. We did find a nice noisy place to eat on the beach – Brophy Bros. The food was enjoyable as was the tight table arrangement and we enjoyed each other’s company over a combination plate of shrimp soaked in beer, clams casino, mussels and oysters. After enjoying our meal we drove over to UCSB…my god it was out in the wilderness it seemed but once there we found the parking garage and sauntered over to the round building where the concert was to take place. There was no marketing, no branding nothing to take note that this was a special occasion. Not only was it the celebration of Allen Ginsburg, it was the joining of Patti, Lenny, Jay Dee and Philip on stage. What a special treat. The crowd of course seemed like a somber college crowd gathering for intellectual stimulus, sauntered in slowly – not arriving until the last minute and some meat heads that managed to wait until the performance of Wichita Vortex Sutra to find their seats and block the view of those of us who somehow managed to set our clock to the correct time to arrive.

The performance Patti gave was one of the best we have had the pleasure of experience. It was a different performance in that she seemed vulnerable to her audience. Yes there was some idiot who kept calling out “I love you Patti” and he was rightly set straight, but she was almost gushing with emotion over her lost lover Fred “Sonic” Smith, and then her talk of the naturalist and her remembrances of Ginsburg’s passing were interesting and touched with that personal aura that is usually missing from most musical performances, the only performer I can remember who takes the time to talk to her audience is Lucinda Williams, both women go beyond the audience’s expectations sometimes, rambling, sometimes letting crack through the veneer of their brand and public personality their personal emotion. We both had heard a variance of Patti and Philip’s experience at the Ginsburg waiting for death, but the evening’s recounting of the experience was interesting and added new complexity to the story.

Notes to the Future – Power to the People read by Patti accompanied by Philip lended a new perspective to the poetry of Patti as Philip added to it’s intensity the counterpoint from Metemorphoses.

Witchita Vortex Sutra – I have been listening to excerpts from Hydrogen Jukebox from the Glass Box, that Mr. A recently bought me in celebration of my 55th birthday. When Mr. A and I met we found we had a common interest in our admiration of Philip Glass’ music. I had been living in Seattle back in 82 and had not been to see a movie in over two years and decided one day to go to a film premiere of Koyaanisqatis. Of course I was mesmerized and had bought the soundtrack. Mr. A had in his possession an LP entitled “NorthStar” – during those early months of our relationship we listened to these recording over and over. We even went and saw Philip Glass and his ensemble at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion in 1985, that was an incredible evening for us. Over the years we have purchased Glass’ music, Mishima, Piano Solos, Hydrogen Jukebox, Heros, Songs for Liquid Days and recently Glass Box (a Compiliation of his music). As I said I had been listening to Witchita Vortex Sutra and listening to Allen Ginsburgs voicing, inflection and emotion and last night while listening to Patti and Philip I felt moved, deeply moved by the emotion of the moment, the combination of the music and the emotional voicing of Patti, yes she had a different sound, one all of her own, but it embodied the majesty of Mr. Ginsburgs recording. I am not easily moved by music and poetry, not one to let my emotions overwhelm me – but i felt a deep tremor within as Patti and Philip brought to life for a brief moment in my soul the sound of Allen’s voice in the recordings i had been earlier listening too – i was happy and sad and tearful.

As to the “Beneath the Southern Cross” I have to say it was one of my favorite performances of this piece. When we saw Patti and band at the Orpheum, she did this piece of music- and it sounded engaging – unfortunately it was interrupted from behind by some meat head who decided that he was more important than the person we had paid to see and listen to, this time our attention was not distracted. Mr. A. says he liked her performance of this song better at the Troubadour – a difference of opinion I would say. I love “My Blakean Year” and this is when Patti talked about watching over the leaving of Allen from this plane, I liked it. “Helpless” the Neal Young song held emotion – Patti said it was for Fred, she seemed very vulnerable up there on the stage – probably because it was Valentines Day. It was a great way to spend Valentine’s Day.

After this performance Patti, Lenny and Jay Dee left the stage and Philip Glass came out to play three pieces of music he seemed interested in seeing if they worked well together. An incidental piece from his score for “the Screens” by Genét, Etude #2 and Etude #10. I have difficulty with piano music performed live. My mind wonders to the higher aspects of my thinking, I lose touch with my thought process and i get soaked up in the sound, feeling and emotion of the piece, often losing track of time. The first piece and second piece of music were simple and elegant, Mr. Glass did seem to miss a few minor notes, but they did blend and swell in the expectation of the third piece, and what a interesting combination they were – slowly building, vibrating in the cold hall until it seemed to bounce with the rhythm of Etude #10. When it ended I was floating somewhere above the room and shocked back into my world. What an interesting feeling. The ending was abrupt, clean and lingering.

The Magic Psalm – Patti and Philip joined again on the stage to do service to Ginsburg’s poetry and although Mr. Swed didn’t seem to enjoy the evening I heard people walking out of the auditorium saying it was an enjoyable memorable evening – so much for critics getting paid to be negative. Did Patti stumble over words, did she give it a sense of herself instead of making a mockery of Mr. Ginsburg’s voice – yes, was it a heartfelt performance – yes. I felt as if in that rarified air of creativity that there was an homage to the poet of the Beats from the Poetess of Punk and the master composer of Modernism. And from the applause from the crowd they didn’t share Mr. Swed’s opinion. The encore – “Because the Night” after a story about Michael Stipe was enjoyable as the rather staunch crowd decided to join in the singing of this lover’s song for Valentine’s Day. And the the final performance of the night “Holy, Holy, Holy” – well -it was incredible. I don’t know how she, and Lenny Kay do it – but after all this time playing together – there is such a mesh of collaboration, such a feeling of poet and musician and humanism that rings through it all.

Oh by the way to UCSB – you should have included in your booklet that Patti has been given the Legion of Honor from France – jezz.

of Montreal Glass House Feb 19, 2009

Just noticed that one of my favorite music groups is landing here this week in Pamona at the Glass House. of Montreal. Tickets are $25.00. http://www.ofmontreal.net/

Marianne Faithful Release March 17th

Marianne Faithful will release her 22nd album “Easy Come, Easy Go” on March 17. From what I just heard of her cover of “The Crane Wife 3″ featuring Nick Cave, it’s going to be an exciting new group of music by one of our favorite singers. Ms. Faithful is covering songs written by Dolly Parton, Billie Holiday, The Decemberists, Bessie Smith, Biran Eno, Randy Newman, Smokey Robinson, Sean Lennon, Morrissey and Merle Haggard. She is joined by a great line up of guest, Nick Cave, Rufus Wainwright, Teddy Thompson, Antony Hegarty, and Keith Richards. She has even announced two shows in NYC 3/27 and 3/28.

SSion cover Pop’s “Nightclubbing”

Ssion the Kansas City, Missouri band have posted a video of their cover of “Nightclubbing” by Iggy Pop. . Resurrecting the Grace Jones hit, Ssion has filmed an kitche drenched house scene, with trash bag crying house kids. Every one of Ssion’s videos strike me as a group of people enjoying making music and videos. Check out their videos and music.

Coachella Line Up Announced

Finally after alot of speculation and rumor the line up for the 2009 Coachella Music Festival was announced. Some interesting artist and a definite must see Leonard Cohen is on the line-up. Paul McCartney, Franz Ferdinand, the Cure, Morrissey, Amy Winehouse, the Killers, the Kills, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Paul Weller, Peter Bjorn and John, Antony and the Johnsons, Drive By Truckers, Hercules and Love Affair, Perry Farrell, the Presets.

Tickets go on sale 9 am January 30, 2009. 3 day pass $269.00, Single day pass $99.00. A layaway plan has been established for ticket buyes feeling the economic crunch which can purchased at Sears and other retail chains.

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