Where Your Shadow Goes When You're Asleep and Each Heart Beats In Symmetry

AUDRYE SESSIONS. DAVE SMALLEN. POOR BAILEY.
Bottom of the Hill. 3/13/10.

also

AUDRYE SESSIONS. WORKER BEE. ACID TAPESTRIES.
The Crepe Place. 3/12/10


Yeah, I saw Audrye Sessions two nights in a row. Which pretty much equals bliss for me. Seriously, watching my favorite live band two nights in a row, without even needing to make a long drive out of it (obviously the Crepe Place is close, and I was going to San Francisco on Saturday anyway) equates to a great weekend, no matter what. I bought the ticket to Bottom of the Hill way before they announced the Crepe Place show - and what a bill, with Dave Smallen and Poor Bailey too. I mean, that is some solid Bay Area talent right there. So yeah, I was looking forward to that one for a while.

I'm gonna say this: sonically, the Bottom of the Hill show kicked the Crepe Place's ass. Experientially, the Crepe Place beat SF.

We got to the Crepe Place in the middle of the first band's set. I guess that was Acid Tapestries. The lead singer's voice was kind of annoying so Danielle and I basically ignored the music and observed the weird black and white Godzilla rip off movie that was playing above the bar. The members of Audrye Sessions were already there, chilling on the other end of the bar, so I went over to say hi and tell them how happy I was that they were playing in Santa Cruz. Ryan, the lead singer, was so friendly and sincere. I think the thing about most of their shows in the Bay is that they're sort of surrounded by their friends and it's hard to get a chance to say more than, "awesome show!" This show gave me the opportunity to really talk to them.
The second band, Worker Bee, was better than the first, but I honestly don't remember much about them. I think they're local, so that's cool.
When they finished their set, we sidled up to the front and stood right in front of the microphone. The Crepe Place is so weird because there's no stage, so if you're in the front row you're really right up in the musicians' grills. But I was actually pretty stoked about that this time.
They started with a bunch of new stuff, Ryan on the keyboard. The other thing is that they're back to their old drummer Alex, who was their drummer back when I first saw them years ago. Oh the mystery - what happened to James?
Ryan took up the guitar and they played some more new ones, including "Hands Full," which just hits me so hard. I love it.
They were sort of disorganized and arguing over what to play. I really liked that atmosphere. It was so relaxed. At one point you could see them discussing which songs to play and Alicia was looking unhappy. Ryan's like, "Alicia's pissed at me. She's always pissed at me." Finally they decided on "Where You'll Find Me," and Ryan's all, "does anyone know what this song's about?" and I was like, "Well, there are a bunch of Beatles references." He asked if I knew what references, so I said, "'The Fool on the Hill' and the Walrus," and he goes, "and 'the girl's eyes will blow your mind,' and I was like, "yeah. 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.'" He said he was impressed, and Mike goes, "Sounds like someone's been reading Wikipedia". They played it but his mic got turned down or something so it was sort of hard to hear. Then they did "Turn Me Off," which they said they hadn't rehearsed, but it sounded good. And we badgered them to play more, so they did this slow one with Mike on piano and Ryan singing, no drums or bass at all. Alicia was like, "don't play that! It's boring!" Ryan said, "Alicia doesn't want us to play this one, but her boyfriend wrote the lyrics, so you'd think she'd be like, 'Yeah! This song's awesome!'" The boyfriend to whom he was referring was Scott of Poor Bailey, who is a pretty amazing lyricist. It's funny to know that he wrote the lyrics, because I can't imagine him singing the song the same way.
Anyway they finished their set (it went so fast!) and I ran to the restroom. Mike was standing in line for the men's room when I came out so I just told him what a great show it was and he was very gracious. Kristain told him I hadn't found the lyrics on wikipedia, and he was like, "Yeah, I know. That stuff's not even on Wikipedia." Ryan came over and was really sweet and inclusive. I told them how long I've loved their music. I was probably gushing. Eh, well. What are you gonna do?
Kristain decided she wanted another beer so we sat at the bar for a little while. Ryan came over to us and was hanging out with us while the rest of the band loaded up in the van to leave, I guess, because they started honking. Ryan's like, "What do you think that means?" and I said, "I bet it means, 'Ryan get your ass in the van before we leave without you,'" and he seemed to think I was right because he dashed off.
I looooved getting the chance to talk to the band, and hear so much new stuff, and it just felt like everything aligned perfectly. Seriously, the Crepe Place is quickly becoming my new favorite venue.




Audrye Sessions
The Crepe Place


BOTTOM OF THE HILL.

I got to the venue right at the end of Poor Bailey's set. I was disappointed to miss them, but oh well. Ryan and Mike were both playing as a part of his band, it seemed.
Then Dave started setting up. He played a pretty familiar set, and it was really enjoyable because the crowd was so into it and a bunch of people were singing along and everyone "sha la la" -ed to "I Think It's Getting Better." Dave was in top form, saying how he was sharing the stage with a bunch of his best friends, and that he felt like he knew everyone in the audience. The backup band was the same as the one from his album release back in November, I think. They called themselves "The Serious Commitments." Cute.
Audrye Sessions followed with a set that was almost exact to the one from the Crepe Place, with the added quality of a real venue's sound equipment, a cellist, trombone player, trumpet player, and Scott from Poor Bailey noodling on various instruments. They sounded amazing and I just can't get over the fact that they are always developing into something better than they were. They were really good three years ago. They're maturing into a more interesting sound, though. It seems like there's more collaboration going on.
I basically can't wait until they release something new.
The crowd was totally electric and it was clear that I'm not the only one who gets how wonderful they are. We all clapped along to "Turn Me Off" and demanded an encore (the same slow song that Mike and Ryan played last at the Crepe Place). Before the encore they finished with a song called "Bad Day" ("about a bad day," Ryan said), and the crazy thing about that song is that it starts out really quiet and slow and sad and then swells into this expansive, melodic force. It's something to witness, trust me.
After the show I went over to say hi to Dave, and after awhile I found Ryan and got to chat with him for a minute. I so admire them for doing what they love, and for doing it well, and for knowing who they are. It shows in their music and in their live shows. I hope it never diminishes. I don't see how it could.



Dave Smallen and the Serious Commitments
Bottom of the Hill





Audrye Sessions
Bottom of the Hill

Monster of a Night

MONSTERS OF FOLK.

So this morning has been insanely stressful, but in spite of all the weird worrying I've been doing, I'm still determined to record what my experiences at each concert I attend have been. So...

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.