Summer Music

[akirlu]

Looks like it's shaping into a good summer for live music in Seattle. The Weekly is choc-a-block with upcoming gigs I'd like to see. Turns out we missed catching Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in town last night. But the shocker of the browse was the news that Toad the Wet Sprocket are all together again, and touring this summer. The website doesn't reflect the gig yet, but they're playing the Moore on August 14. I am so totally all over that.

Comments

Positively green with envy

[kij66.livejournal.com]

I'd looooove to see Toad the Wet Sprocket!

Re: Positively green with envy

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Well, looks like they'll be in the Greater L.A. area around August 20. The Galaxy in Santa Ana on 8/19, and The Mayan Theater on 8/21. (Never heard of the Mayan. Wonder if it's new or something that's been re-named.)

Re: Positively green with envy

[kij66.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info! Maybe I can get to the August 18th show...

[intelligentrix.livejournal.com]

Well, damn. I like Bela Fleck and I've missed everytime they've come to New Orleans.

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

OMG toad! that is so awesome.

Re: Positively green with envy

[hal-obrien.livejournal.com]

The Mayan is one of the old Art Deco movie palaces that was converted to a night club/concert venue in the 80s or so. Kinda like The Palace in Hollywood. The Mayan is down around the Textile Distict end of Spring or Main downtown, from what I remember.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

And hey, they're also playing in Arlington on the 13th, which is at least marginally closer to the border.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've never caught them live, either. Sure would like to, some time, but obviously not this trip.

[samildanach.livejournal.com]

Ah, damn -- I would have loved to have seen them again. The first time I heard their music was live, at Atlanta's Music Midtown festival one summer during college; it wasn't a great venue, but the concert was amazing.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Yes, amazement seems to be core to one's first Bela Fleck experience. I very clearly rememember the first time I heard a Bela Fleck cut -- I was working at UCLA's AV Services during the time I was finishing my BA, and the guys who worked the equipment crib had, as usual, some sort of home-brewed compilation playing. I didn't *actually* come flying across the desk to grab the guy by the collar, but I think the intensity came across: "What the *hell* is this?!? I. Must. HAVE. This!!!!!"

Re: Positively green with envy

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

Yeah, why am I not surprised that you know the place, concert boy?

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

these days i mostly just fantasize about going to concerts; i no longer actually like being there. love the music, love the variations that playing live introduces -- but too many people crammed together, and so many of them screeching.

no, i am not getting old! :) i like a lot of new, alternative music. i just no longer want the whole live experience. i look with bemusement at my old pink floyd concert tshirts. *sigh*.

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

love the music, love the variations that playing live introduces -- but too many people crammed together, and so many of them screeching.

Well, not knowing how sensitive your crowd triggers are, I can't say for sure, but I would guess that a place like the Triple Door, which never feels crowded because of the dinner-theater-style layout, might be the trick. I won't say there's *no* screeching, but mostly not. Admittedly, the size of the venue limits what acts are likely to play in such a place, but I'm generally okay with that -- most of the musicians I get into aren't completely mainstream anyway. We saw Johnny Clegg at the Triple Door and it was amazing. Really the only downside was the lack of anything like a dance floor.

Not saying you should haul your ass down to Seattle for concerts, but if we've got a good venue for not-crowded, not-rowdy live music, I would bet Vancouver must.