July, July
Sunday was the second day of Pitchfork's Intonation Festival, and the only day I decided to attend. I drove Gina down and we met some Chicago peeps, and we saw Andrew Bird, the Wrens, and the Decemberists. They were all good, even though the weather was hot, sticky, and gross. Combined with the dust and sand blowing around Union Park by the time the Decemberists came on, we were incredibly disgusting by the time we left.
Andrew Bird played for a little under an hour (that was the standard festival set). It's hard to compare his performance to the one I saw in Madison. On one hand, he of course didn't get to play as many songs yesterday. He also didn't seem quite as intense as he had in Madison (though that's not exactly a complaint.) On the other hand, his longtime collaborator Kevin O'Donnell was there playing drums, which added a whole new cool dynamic to the show. And he didn't have nearly as many false starts and screw-ups as there were in Madison. All told, I enjoyed the performances about equally (though I could actually see well this time.) But someday I shall see Andrew Bird in a setting where I'm not in danger of melting from the heat.
I don't have as much to say about the Wrens - they put on a really good show. I haven't listened to the Meadowlands very much, but they really performed the hell out of everything. During one song they invited some fans up onto the stage to play percussion with them. I enjoyed that very much.
The Decemberists were the last act of the festival, and played for about an hour and 20 minutes. A really fun, upbeat set. This was the third time I'd seen them (fourth including Colin solo) and there were two songs I'd never heard live before but always wanted to - Song for Myla Goldberg, and The Legionnaire's Lament. We got both last night. Plus a lovely solo version of Red Right Ankle. I'd probably have rather heard some other songs (or The Tain) instead of the Mariner's Revenge Song, but I can't really complain. My favorite Decemberists show was still the first time I saw them, at Luthers (R.I.P) ... but this was probably second. The crowd was very enthusiastic.
I should have some pictures later, if all goes well.
Andrew Bird played for a little under an hour (that was the standard festival set). It's hard to compare his performance to the one I saw in Madison. On one hand, he of course didn't get to play as many songs yesterday. He also didn't seem quite as intense as he had in Madison (though that's not exactly a complaint.) On the other hand, his longtime collaborator Kevin O'Donnell was there playing drums, which added a whole new cool dynamic to the show. And he didn't have nearly as many false starts and screw-ups as there were in Madison. All told, I enjoyed the performances about equally (though I could actually see well this time.) But someday I shall see Andrew Bird in a setting where I'm not in danger of melting from the heat.
I don't have as much to say about the Wrens - they put on a really good show. I haven't listened to the Meadowlands very much, but they really performed the hell out of everything. During one song they invited some fans up onto the stage to play percussion with them. I enjoyed that very much.
The Decemberists were the last act of the festival, and played for about an hour and 20 minutes. A really fun, upbeat set. This was the third time I'd seen them (fourth including Colin solo) and there were two songs I'd never heard live before but always wanted to - Song for Myla Goldberg, and The Legionnaire's Lament. We got both last night. Plus a lovely solo version of Red Right Ankle. I'd probably have rather heard some other songs (or The Tain) instead of the Mariner's Revenge Song, but I can't really complain. My favorite Decemberists show was still the first time I saw them, at Luthers (R.I.P) ... but this was probably second. The crowd was very enthusiastic.
I should have some pictures later, if all goes well.
Labels: Andrew Bird, concerts, Decemberists, Intonation, Wrens
posted by BeeKay at 5:49 PM
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