I went to the Fruit Bats show last last Wednesday night up at Spaceland in Silverlake and I am just now getting around to blogging about it since there were much more pressing issues such as ice cream poo gods and making pumpkin animations. If you haven't heard their music before, it's kinda like The Shins, but maybe a little more folky. I took a bunch of pictures at the show but I don't have access to them right now because I am on my laptop so just imagine four dudes that look like they have nothing in common standing on a stage that has silver and blue metallic drapes surrounding it, supposedly to emphasize that you are in a "spaceland
There were two superfans standing next to me at the very front of the dance floor and they were using it for what it's for. Behind me was a girl who decided she wanted to sing along to every song loud enough to make sure everyone within ten feet of her knew that she studied the lyrics before coming to the show. I understand the urge that people get to sing along to the music but if you are trying to drown out the actual band you should probably not go to live shows anymore because you're a jackass and nobody likes a jackass. I didn't realize it was three years ago and I accidentally walked into a Dashboard Confessional show; I thought I was seeing the Fruit Bats. The music sounded really good which is sometimes hard to accomplish in small clubs like Spaceland, but the sound system that they had sounded really clean. They didn't move around the stage very much and I think I saw a pigeon take a shit on the bass player's head, but then again, they aren't exactly the rockin' out type of band.
Yesterday I was given the opportunity to go see LCD Soundsystem at the House of Blues Anaheim for free because Lani is cool and has connections. Can't pass on a deal like that. When we first got there, it had been an hour and a half since doors opened and the place was as empty as the Ball Hair Museum on Christmas morning. I thought I had been victim to a very elaborate practical joke, but it turns out that the HOB just doesn't know how to market their shows to the right demographics.
The Juan Maclean was the opening band and they were surprisingly really fun. Their music had a really good energy and beat that made you move. The best part of the set was that the guy on the right, who I will refer to as "the guy on the right", was playing a Moog Theremin. This was my first encounter with the instrument and I must say that it blew my fucking mind. The way you play it is by waving you hands above the actual unit and you never actually touch it. I guess it uses a combination of magic and kind thoughts to create the semi-electronic noises that are then incorporated into a song. After what seemed like a very quick set change, LCD Soundsystem took the stage with 7 musicians, 2 of which were from The Juan Maclean. I like it when there are a lot of members in a band because if watching one member gets boring you have many more to choose from. It didn't take long for everyone to start dancing.My favorite part of the set was when there was music playing, which was pretty much the whole time.
It was a really good show. Afterwards, Morgan, Lani, Doug, Natali, Robin, and I went to TGIF's at the Block to have dinner since most of us didn't eat before hand. If anyone ever tells you that the fried zucchini is really good at Friday's, punch them in the face. Do it quickly and run away because they're probably a terrorist. But if that same person tells you to order the zucchini and the Sesame Jack Chicken Strips too, pretend like you are going to punch him in the face, stop, and keep a close eye on him til the end of the meal.
haha.