For the first time ever at last nights Modest Mouse show i had front row, dead centre seats. I bought the tickets through the fanclub expecting to be somewhere in the middle like i was for Radiohead last year, but not the case. Needless to say i didnt bother recording from up there because i didnt think it would turn out. In hindsight though, the sound up there was pretty good. The show was good but way too short. They played for about 70 minutes, totalling 14 songs. Atleast 3 songs too short, I think. It was also an early show with the opening act taking the stage at 7:30pm and off by 8pm. Modest Mouse took the stage at 8:45pm and was gone by 10pm. The show itself was great. The band ripped through a few songs before saying anything to the crowd. Actually, Isaac didnt say much all night, just a few “hello’s” and “thanks”. Their live show has improved in the 3 years since i last saw them. They seem alot tighter now. I think its also due to the fact that the band has grown in number aswell. Adding Johnny Marr certainly strengthens the guitar parts. Anyways, the new songs sound pretty good live. Im not sure which one i liked the most, but if i had to pick id say “Education” or “Fire It Up”. Looking forward to their next show in town.

With such great seats i was anticipating some really good pictures. But, apparently the Hummingbird does not allow photo’s because security was enforcing this all night. So no recording and no pics, just my half assed review.

If someone out there recorded the show, or knows someone that did, please get in touch with me.

Setlist:
01 Paper Thin Walls / 02 Ocean Breathes Salty / 03 Dashboard / 04 Fire It Up / 05 Bukowski / 06 Missed The Boat / 07 Float On / 08 Education / 09 Trailer Trash (Extended) / 10 Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes > Lucky Me Again (Lyric Tease) / 11 Doin’ The Cockroach / 12 The View
Encore:
13 Bury Me With It / 14 Breakthrough (Extended)

Band Info:
http://www.modestmouse.com
http://www.modestmousemusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/modestmouse
http://www.interstate-8.com

This past Tuesday Umphrey’s McGee were in town. First off, I had never listened to anything by this band before, be it a cd, mp3, or live recording. I have to say that one of the predominant reasons i went to this show was to see what the fuss was about. The band encourage their fans to record their shows so the taper websites are chalk full of Umphrey’s posts. I had to check them out first hand. I was going to listen to a few recordings in the days prior to the show, but having never been to a club show where i had not heard any music by the headlining band is quite rare. I went into the show expecting nothing. I didnt know if i was going to like them, or stand there bored for 2 and a half hours. Fortunately for me, I liked them. The show for me went by really quick and when that happens, I know it was good. It was. Going by what some friends told me, UM havent played Toronto in quite a long time. The all ages crowd was extremely enthusiastic throughout the whole show. The whistler’s were in full force too, right infront of our mic’s ofcourse. Umphrey’s McGee, much to my surprise, is not a hippy jam band as I once thought. They are a prog-rock (guess that’s what you’d call it) type band. Their songs, on this night, were mainly instrumental, with the odd song having lyrics. The show was divided into two sets. The band took the stage around 9:15pm and played for about an hour. There was a 30 minute break and then the band took the stage again. I’d have to say, for me, the second set was alot better than the first. The second set lasted around 75-80 minutes with a 15 minute encore. Which was one song.

For you tapers out there, UM give guestlist spots to those who tape the shows. Contact Jon who runs the UM Street Team.

Set One: Hurt Bird Bath* > Dear Lord > Hurt Bird Bath, Walletsworth, Dump City > It’s About That Time > Dump City, Intentions Clear, The Triple Wide^
Set Two: Ocean Billy > The Bottom Half > “Jimmy Stewart” > The Bottom Half > Resolution** > When the World Is Running Down You Make the Best of What’s Still Around^, Mail Package, #5 > Ocean Billy, White Man’s Moccasins
Encore: 2×2

Notes:
* with March of the S.O.D. jam
^ with Darren Shearer (The New Deal) replacing Kris on drums
** with Norwegian Wood jam

Recordings for this show will be available here: http://www.archive.org/details/UmphreysMcGee

Band Info:
http://www.umphreys.com
http://www.umlive.net
http://www.archive.org/details/UmphreysMcGee

Great Lake Swimmers played the Church of the Redeemer on Saturday. Twice. The first show started just before 7pm to a full house. I had never seen a show at the Redeemer before but was told it is a beautiful venue with great acoustics. And it is. It was very nice to see the band on the raised floor area where the alter is, with the backdrop of three large stained glass windows. The sound was great for both shows. I find Tony Dekker’s voice to be both soothing and haunting and the atmosphere in the church brought out both qualities. The band played all the new songs off the excellent new record “Ongiara” with some old songs thrown in the mix aswell. The second show also saw a couple of covers played. Well, one cover, a Neil Young song, and a few verses of a classic Led Belly song mixed into “Catcher Song”. In the end, i think its safe to say that a great night was had by all. Great Lakes Swimmers are headed out on a European tour this month, so if you’re reading this from Europe, go check them out. Record the show if you can.
Thanks to Phil and Tony for letting me record the shows. CBC also recorded the shows and im guessing they’ll be part of a special or some radioshow at some point.

Early Show
Setlist:
01 Your Rocky Spine / 02 Backstage With The Modern Dancers / 03 Various Stages / 04 Bodies And Minds / 05 Put There By The Land / 06 I Am Part Of A Large Family / 07 Changing Colours / 08 Moving Pictures Silent Films / 09 There Is A Light / 10 Catcher Song / 11 Lets Trade Skins / 12 I Will Never See The Sun / 13 Passenger Song / 14 Where In The World Are You / 15 Song For The Angels / 16 I Became Awake
Encore:
17 Imaginary Bars

Late Show
Setlist:
01 Your Rocky Spine / 02 Backstage With The Modern Dancers / 03 Various Stages / 04 Bodies And Minds / 05 Put There By The Land / 06 I Am Part Of A Large Family / 07 Changing Colours / 08 Moving Pictures Silent Films / 09 There Is A Light / 10 Lets Trade Skins / 11 Catcher Song > Where Did You Sleep Lastnight? (Led Belly) / 12 I Will Never See The Sun / 13 Passenger Song / 14 Where In The World Are You / 15 Song For The Angels / 16 I Became Awake
Encore I:
17 Imaginary Bars
Encore II:
18 Dont Cry No Tears (Neil Young)

Band Info:
http://www.greatlakesswimmers.com
http://www.myspace.com/greatlakeswimmers
http://www.weewerk.com

The Black Angels were back in town again this past Thursday. Along with them were Vietnam. A band i didnt know much about, nor had i heard anything live by them prior to the show. I was really impressed with both the music and their performance. They are a four piece blues rock / soul band from New York. They’re touring in support of their debut full length album, which is instores now. Vietnam played for about 40 minutes. As im not familiar with their songs yet, im guessing Thursday’s show consisted of most, if not all, of the songs off the new record. Taking the stage just after 11pm, the Black Angels started their set to a full house. Great crowd by the way. The band has a nice following here in Toronto. They’re still touring in support of “Passover” which was released last year and made everyones top ten lists. They played for just over 40 minutes. The usual songs were played and the band ended the show with a cover of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” by Iggy Pop. Great night of music, unfortunately though, my recordings are not that good, so i wont be posting them. Looking forward to seeing these bands again, hopefully sooner than later.