MONSTERS OF FOLK.
Treasure Island was a pass this year, mostly because yesterday I had the Monsters of Folk concert and it just wouldn't work logistically - at least, not if I wanted to see MGMT and Passion Pit, who I was most excited about - because the festival doesn't end until like 11pm and Monsters started at 8. And then I have work this afternoon so it was a no go on the Flaming Lips day. Also I'm trying to save money (ha!).
So Brittany and I got to the Fox Theater at around 7:30. The hipsters were swarming and the creepers of Oakland were ogling. Walking down the alley towards the theater we passed their two tour buses, which were protected by an iron fence and a big bouncer dude who probably works as an amateur wrestler on the side. I sort of gasped when we passed the buses and would have suggested staking them out for a minute, but Big Mike or whatever the bouncer's name was just kind of glared at us, clearly used to this reaction and somewhat amused, but also annoyed. So left leg, right leg, one leg at a time we kept on walking... until we got to the theater.
That place, first of all, is this really wonderful mix of art deco and Indian kind of style, with ornately patterned ceilings lit with purple lights, these golden ikons on each side of the stage, and (in a feat of engineering genius) these little floor vents that sent just enough chilly air up to those of us in the sweaty crowd. We spent the time before the set just admiring everything and trying to ignore the couple behind us, since the man was totally evoking an Annie Hall "excuse me, you know nothing of my work" kind of moment. WHY does that always happen to me at all the best shows??? Ugh this guy was at least better than the dude in front of me at The Dead Weather... but let's focus here, right people?
So finally they started playing behind the curtain and everyone started cheering but it was really frustrating because they clearly weren't playing any real song but they just let the build up go on for so long... and then the plush red curtains drew back and there they were, the four gentlemen of Omaha, Portland, and Kentucky, plus a drummer who was just so a part of it all. They were all wearing suits, and M. Ward looked kind of like either Mr. Toad or a Victorian doctor. Mike Mogis is so adorable! People kept cheering for him, which I love - when people acknowledge the silent genius behind it all - and he just sort of held his hand up in a wave with a smile. They started with "Say Please" and then I think it was "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)" and I was put into a trance right there. I mean I almost cried when Jim and Conor sang their Dear God verses. And then M. Ward did some of his songs - I really appreciate the depth of his voice, but personally his music doesn't really reach me in a very striking way - and then they did a couple more of their Monster stuff, and then Jim did a few My Morning Jacket songs, including "Look At You" which was really beautiful. Also, M. Ward sang backup on "Wonderful (The Way I Feel)," and it was just so simple and warm, like your mom's grilled cheese. Well, see for yourself. Vocally, there is just no question that Jim is The Man. His range is ridiculous.
So then they flipped back to some more Monsters songs, and after that Jim, Matt, and the drummer disappeared and I was so excited to see Mike Mogis and Conor together, alone, on stage. They started with "Lime Tree," even though the guitar intro definitely sounded like "When the President Talks to God" (Brittany thought so too when I asked her later). He did a couple of earlier songs and then it was back to the whole band.
A few things here. I loved how each man got to shine some light on his own work, and to focus on whatever he wanted, old or new. I loved how they worked with each other, so one Jim song was sung with the drummer on backup vocals and the next was with Matt. I loved how I kept thinking they were gonna focus on one of them too much and then they didn't. I loved how the crowd was excited for every song. I loved how every time they did a Monsters song it was with all of them on stage. I loved how Conor and Matt both played keyboard when they were needed, and how Conor played bass even though you could tell he wasn't the most comfortable with it. I loved how Mike Mogis played the triangle. I loved how Jim sang when the spotlight was on him, and when it was off how he sang just as amazingly. I loved it when Conor took of his suit jacket and rolled up his sleeves like things were getting serious. They were.
A definite musical highlight for me would be the three songs from I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning that Conor and Mike played. They did "At the Bottom of Everything" (without the intro) and "We Are Nowhere and It's Now" first. Towards the end of the encore Conor went over and playfully straightened Mike's tie - it was so cute, and from their interactions you could see how long and how well they know each other. And then as one of the last songs the whole band kicked out a fantastic rendition of "Another Traveling Song." Conor was jumping up on the drum kit and they were all trading guitar riffs and it was just euphoric. The last song of the encore was "His Master's Voice," and even though that song doesn't do that much for me on its own, they just really made it shine.
Also, "Temazcal" makes me shiver, and did even more so live.
After a solid three hours of this unrelenting rock-out session, they finished their encore and the curtain drew closed. And then it opened and they took a bow and waved and were so gracious. Photos weren't allowed, but everyone seemed to be sneaking a few, so I risked it, but only during the last few songs when I felt less in jeopardy of being thrown out. I always feel really torn about taking pictures; I want to have documentation of this fabulous experience I'm having, but I also want to keep the focus on the experience instead of on documenting it. The nice thing about the picture ban was that I wasn't constantly having to duck below people's cameras just to see the stage. But there were a few moments that I wish I could have captured. Oh well, hopefully there will be something official online or something.
We filtered out with everyone else, I took a picture of the marquis, and as we turned the corner we once again headed past the tour buses and Big Mike. There was this couple lurking over there, seemingly waiting for the Monsters to leave their cave, and in a sudden rush I realized it was Alicia of Audrye Sessions and her boyfriend Scott, who basically is the band Poor Bailey. It was trippy to see them but I didn't say anything because I didn't want to seem like a stalker (which is kind of ironic, if you think about it, because they were definitely acting like mega-stalkers themselves). Then this homeless dude followed us to our car and spit on the passenger window because we wouldn't acknowledge him (gross). I had a random mix playing in my CD player, and as we drove down the alley back towards the theater, the song changed. And right when we got to the tour buses a Poor Bailey song started playing really loud in my car. Ha ha I wonder if Scott heard it and was like, "hey, that's me!" It was just funny because it was so unintentional.
Anyway, it was an amazing three hours of music and I am just so grateful that these guys decided to hang out and jam together all those years ago. And I'm pretty much resolved to see each of them live whenever I can, from now on.
Especially Jim, who I am pretty sure silently stole the night away with his honeyed howls.
All in all, I don't think I could find a better way to spend 45 dollars in one place.
