Oasis: 08/26/08

O-O-O-asis. I'm a terribly indecisive person, and I'll often say several bands are among my favorites, but I can say with absolute certainty that Oasis are my favorite rock band. Ever. They've been the bees knees since I first heard (What's The Story) Morning Glory? 13 years ago. That record changed my life; it introduced me to modern British culture (outside of the Victorian picture I'd previously had in my mind) and was probably the catalyst that propelled me into becoming the anglophile that I am today. It also opened my world to much of the music I listen to and revere. Unfortunately, for one reason or another (such as Oasis always skipping Portland) I'd never seen them live. So, I've just been sitting at home waiting and waiting for them to tour again - and lo my prayers were answered! They played the WaMu Theatre in Seattle on Tuesday 8/26, only six days after seeing Radiohead in Enumclaw (a Seattle suburb). I couldn't have dreamed anything better. Matt Costa opened for Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, and they opened for Oasis. But Ryan deserves his own post, and this one is dedicated solely to the boys from Manchester.

Though I never got to see them in their booze-filled, coked-up youth, much like The Mary Chain, I'm just as happy having seen them now. They're older, more mature (well, by Gallagher standards), and relatively clean (again, by Gallagher standards). I'm now old enough to look upon them with a fond nostalgia, but young enough to still be moved by a live concert. Well, dear reader, let me just say it: Oasis were in top form. Top. Liam and Noel looked good; and all of them, the entire band, appeared to be having a good time. Even Old Man Noel. They sounded amazing, the visuals were great, and though they didn't play Live Forever (number three on my Oasis top five) or Some Might Say (a tied number five on my Oasis top five) the set list was... It was the best.

SET LIST

Rock 'n' Roll Star (can't. believe. they. opened. with. this. class!!)
Lyla (personal favorite)
The Shock of the Lightning (new)
Cigarettes and Alcohol (personal favorite. stick it to the man - yeah!)
The Meaning of Soul
To Be Where There's Life (new and totally psychedelic)
The Masterplan (my absolute favorite oasis song - and possibly my favorite song ever. I just about died )
Songbird (personal favorite)
Slide Away (number four on my oasis top five)
Morning Glory (personal favorite)
Ain't Got Nothing (new, reminiscent of don't believe the truth...)
The Importance of Being Idle (personal favorite)
Wonderwall (number five tie)
Supersonic (see above... )

---

Don't Look Back In Anger - acoustic (number two on my oasis top five - just noel and a guitar and seven thousand people singing their hearts out)
Falling Down (new, and hells frickin' bells... awesome!)
Champagne Supernova (personal favorite)
I Am The Walrus (the end)

*dies*

Maybe I just want to fly
Want to live, I don't want to die
Maybe I just want to breathe
Maybe I just don't believe
Maybe you're the same as me
We see things they'll never see
You and I are gonna live forever...

Show: Radiohead 8/20/08

My goodness gracious.

Sara, Nick and I made the long trek to Enumclaw, Washington a few days ago to see Radiohead play the White River Amphitheatre, and, yeah, it was the concert trip of a lifetime. We battled several hours of torrential rain - literally - just to get there; more rain once we were there, and then, as we reached the venue, the clouds miraculously parted and the sky was clear clear clear. The band walked out and opened their show to a beautiful, albeit cold Pacific Northwest summer evening. The dry respite was short lived, however, as the inclement weather returned about halfway through the set. Ah well. Short of seeing them play one of the massive (though notoriously wet) English festivals, it was about the best Radiohead experience a person could have. Period.

Brilliant band. Awesome set list. Kick ass lights. Just Brilliant.


SET LIST

15 Step
Reckoner (number five on my radiohead top five)
Optimistic
There There
All I Need (number four on my radiohead top five - beautiful)
Pyramid Song
Talk Show Host (personal favorite)
The National Anthem
The Gloaming
Videotape (personal favorite)
Lucky (number two on my radiohead top five)
Faust Arp (thom had some difficulty getting through this one - it was quite hilarious)
Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Climbing Up the Walls (personal favorite - one of the most haunting songs out there, man)
Dollars and Cents
Nude (personal favorite)
Bodysnatchers

- - -

How to Disappear Completely
Weird Fishes / Arpeggi
Idioteque
In Limbo (personal favorite)
Street Spirit (Fade Out) (oh. my. god. number one, man... number one. if this song doesn't give you nightmares, then you've missed the point completely)

- - -

You and Who's Army (thom dedicated it to the seattle wto protesters... radiohead supporting civil disobedience - what?!?)
No Surprises (personal favorite)
Everything In Its Right Place (great way to end, boys... cheers)


Immerse your soul in love.

Show: The Jesus and Mary Chain 7/17/08

Sweet. Holy. Sweetness.

Behold, dear reader: Last Thursday night at the Wonder Ballroom, from the third row, I witnessed true rock and roll greatness. After an 18 year absence, The Jesus and Mary Chain returned to Portland in full swagger, gracing us with their personal brand of sonic brilliance. Long hailed for a genre-dodging sound, they have influenced countless bands over the past three decades, whilst their own success has always been limited to just outside the mainstream. But Thursday was all about the Mary Chain, old school, playing their veiled, elusive best. Their once youthful punk attitude was carefully distilled and interpreted from the perspective of middle-aged men who have seen, heard, and done it all. And though I never had the opportunity to see them live at their Psychocandy purest, I think age and maturity have only worked to improve the Reid brothers and their wall-of-guitar style of self-expression.

Thanks for coming back around, fellas, and God bless. Consider this my way of praying...

Highlights:

Head On
Between Planets
Some Candy Talking

And of course:

Just Like Honey
Reverence  


I get so wild on my motorbike
I'm breaking loose on this moonlit night
I cut the road like a sharpened knife
And I'm in love with myself...

I dare say, the colonies seem to be quite unhappy with the King's current taxation system...

Three cheers for another Fourth of July weekend!




(This could also be titled: American Trash Theatre Presents:
"Lord of the Flies 2: Hey, Bitch, Where's My Citronella Candle?")

Local Show: Weinland 6/28/08

My friends and I spent some quality time in Portland the evening of Saturday 6/28, once again breaking away from the weekend nightlife purgatory that is Hillsboro. We started with pre-funk libations at the Matchbox, followed by dinner at Pok Pok (fast becoming one of my favorite restaurants), then an all local show at the Aladdin. Good times. A Weather and Norfolk & Western opened for Weinland's homecoming gig, which was a pretty big deal, as the boys had just returned from their first national tour. The crowd was enthusiastic and proportionately sized to the venue, and a palpable mood of high spirits permeated the overall atmosphere. (Plus, the theatre itself was frickin' hot after A Weather finished the first set - so the atmosphere was quite literally thick.)

This was the first time I'd seen Norfolk & Western perform, and I was thoroughly impressed with their indie-americana/alt country sound. Their set was understated and unpretentious, and Adam Selzer, the frontman, played some sweet rockin' guitar reminiscent of My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth; an effective juxtaposition in contrast to their otherwise folksy repertoire. I believe they're playing during PDX Pop Now at the end of the month, but I haven't any other details. Worth checking out, though, definitely.

As for the headliner that night, Weinland - a band I had seen only once before a couple of years ago at the Doug Fir - they played a strong set worthy of all the homecoming excitement generated. Whilst they were quite fond of the (well-rehearsed) informal jam band/hootenanny presentation, they managed to pull it off tastefully. Their songs were all heartfelt indie-folk numbers; nothing experimental, nothing artificial. And they seemed quite at home playing with the Portland Cello Project.. so, yeah. Rock on, Weinland, rock on. Their next gig will be at the Doug Fir, 8/08, and then sometime during MusicFest NW in early September. They've officially set the bar for themselves.