This is what you get instead...

Lets start back early last week. I went to go see Sunset Rubdown while I was out in LA. It was the first show they had played together in a long time, first tour ever, etc. Considering Krug just played a show (their last?) with Wolf Parade two days earlier, it was very impressive to so effectively change gears like that. Despite his constant lowering of the crowd's expectations, (This isn't gonna be very good, OK?, We've never played these before, etc.) it came off great. Aside from that, he bantered a bit with the crowd, not seeming to have really enjoyed himself at Coachella. Had a classic line about how it was great to be back in a club where the boys wore shirts and the girls wore pants. Sounded pretty overwhelmed by the whole weekend, but mentioned he really dug Dungen and Deerhoof, the latter of which he watched next to Danny Divito and some other funny Hollywood celebrity.

So musically, they were pretty phenomenal. Aside from the Slowlands album, I don't think I've listened to anything as much this year. Hearing these songs realized on stage was a treat. Should mention, what I can assure you will be the theme of the blog reviews when they play New York in a couple weeks, that this is not Krug and friends. The whole band is really strong. Krug is the centerpiece, but it's by no means all him. The whole product was extremely well executed.

Above all else, it seemed like Krug was really happy not to be playing Wolf Parade songs anymore. Remember how, when they played Bowery, they said they were sick of playing Grounds for Divorce? And they had already started playing a handful of new songs. I have to imagine, after supporting their album for the last 6 or 7 months, playing the same set night in, night out, it all got pretty old for them. He seemed thrilled to finally be doing something different. Not sure if the shows are sold out in NYC yet, but jump on them if there are still some left.

Last night I saw a great Phoenix set. Can music sound skinny and good looking? Cause these guys do. Played a lot of new songs and all the old hits. Don't know what else to say. Just a really fun band to see live, played great music, had a blast.

Two nights ago I saw Pinback. I reviewed it for Gothamist here. Didn't see Beirut last night, but did see Devotchka last summer tho...

Seriously, he's not bad. Might actually be good. But never have I seen such a rush to dub someone so unproven to be the next big thing. And these days, that's saying a lot. I mean, before I even got a chance to listen, Pitchfork was already making self-referential comments about how he was what everyone was talking about. I just don't get it.

It's really all about Tokyo Police Club anyway. I'm just sitting tight for that one to come around.

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