Fancy Claps

Wolf Parade last night. I love them. I love the album, I REALLY loved most of the new songs they played. They were a bit flat at times...seemed as if they were going through the motions in parts. Still, NOTHING beats the You Are A Runner > Fancy Claps transition. Tizzy-inducing.

Can someone please tell me tho what Dante DeCario does? Is his guitar even plugged in? are those windchimes miced? does he really add anything at all to the music? maybe he does, and I'm just not hearing it, but I listened very closely last night to try and figure out what it is exactly that he does. no luck. His guitar, at best, is mirroring Boekners 90 percent of the time. When he bangs that drum, it seems to go along with the drummer too. He had such a definitive sound with Hot Hot Heat...unmistakable, and solo he has something strong and different going on as well. But I really just don't see it in this band. Same goes for the Therimin player when he takes the keys and lifts them over his head and whatnot. Is that plugged in either? I mean, Krug already has three synths, and he's about as good as there is in the business at manipulating those things. is a 4th synth really adding anything? Beats the hell out of me.

Finally...Webster Hall was as packed last night as I've ever seen it. Odd, considering the band was playing two nights, the album came out 5 months ago, and Sub-Pop is notoriously difficult on online media getting press access (AKA, every blogger and their webmaster's sister wasn't on the list). But nonetheless, I've got my spot in the room for shows like this. No, not VIP, which is very nice for some shows, but not usually a great place to watch a set...

Looking at the stage, there is that riser on the left. The steps are really crowded, but if you go up to the top, there's...nobody there. I could have put my arms out and spun around without touching a soul. And once I got too dizzy, there's a nice wall right there to lean against. Furthermore, you're elevated, so you can see the stage perfectly without any heads in the way and you can walk up pretty close without fighting through a crowd. Obviously, if you can get all the way up front and center, that's always the best place to be. The crowd is usually the most fun, it's a totally different experience. BUT...if you just wanna stand back and watch the show, I don't see any advantage of standing on the floor.

One more thing. If you have a camera with a descent lens (which I do not) you can get some pretty amazing pictures from up there too.

Don't tell anyone about this...it's our little secret. Part of the reason why I don't seem to mind Webster Hall NEARLY as much as every single other person ever? Perhaps.

Comments

[Max Power]

What time did the Wolf Parade set start?

[cara Heller]

haha, i thought you were keeping that a secret?! Yeah, I just look at Dante the entire set and am annoyed because he just doesn't seem to fit in and doesn't do dick squat as far as I can tell. I saw them once when it was just 3 of them and it was the best damn time yet, they don't need to get all BSS on us and start hiring people to play the triangle and shit.

[Max]

So, um, what time did Wolf Parade go on?

[Jeff]

They were on at 10:30. Same tonight.

[Max]

Thanks!

[Qbertplaya]

shhhhh....the platforms on the left have been my saving grace at webster hall for the past year. why are you telling anyone?

i like your site otherwise...

[matty]

oddly, i was standing exactly where you're talking about. best view in the house. and when you're there w/ another tall person, no feeling guilty about shorter people behind you.

also, good show, though i don't get holy fuck. at all.

[jerry]

my spot? Front and center. 15-20 people back from stage.

keep it safe. keep it secret.

[indie-licious]

Had a real good time at this show. Love your comments about Dante...kept waiting for him to knock the mic stand over when he was banging the chimes, since it seemed like he was hardly paying attention. Some pics from the show here: http://indie-licious.blog.com/673579/

[maria]

dante sings back up also on a bunch of the songs...and he has knocked over the mic stand many times while banging away at the chimes...i really love his solo stuff though...it's called 'johnny and the moon'...

also, i can't see a band i love behind anyone...i almost always can be found at the very front of a show...

[matty]

also, i liked wind chime boy better when he played bass. mmm...bass.

[john]

whoa...why are you dissing on Hadji???

you have no idea the sounds that guy produces with the Theremin. The sound at webster hall stinks so the mix wasn't good but if you stand in front of Hadji you can hear all the weird and cool sounds he makes on the album.

[Jeff]

Nonono...nothing but love for Hadji. The theremin is amazing on some of those songs. But when he's away from it and jamming away on the keys, I'm just not hearing anything.