Last nights show at the High Noon Saloon was amazing. First because Andrew Bird put on a fantastic performance of songs from his back catalouge and also debuted quite a few new ones as well. Second because I was introduced to the great music of Haley Bonar.

Andrew was experiencing technical difficulties for the majority of the night with his guitar. He seemed to not let it bother him too much and just kind of rolled with it. The last song he played with the full band was a new one called “Fiery Crash,” which is written from the perspective that the plane you’re about to get on will meet that destiny. Apparently Mr. Bird thinks about that every time he gets on an airplane, “so I don’t get surprised if it happens.” The song was a fitting end to the night because of the instramental problems he was having.

All problems aside, I think that Andrew is one of the best live acts out there today. I know my friends and I all had a great time. I apologize that my pictures turned out dark. The High Noon Saloon keeps it pretty dark and I refuse to use a flash because I don’t want to bother the artist.

Andrew is wrapping up his US tour tonight in Minneapolis, but please make sure you check him out or buy his albums. I really don’t forsee you being dissapointed. If any of you were at the show last night feel free to drop a comment and let me know what you thought.

Tonight I will be heading to the High Noon Saloon to see Andrew Bird.  The sold out show is the second in a row for Andrew here in Madison.  His last appearance at Cafe Montmartre was one of my favorite shows I saw last year.  I had his album, The Mysterious Production of Eggs as my 3rd favorite album of 2005.  I’m also very excited to see Haley Bonar, who was given some praise by You Ain’t No Picasso.

In case you missed them last month, go here for MP3’s of Andrew Bird’s performance on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Anyone else going to this show or seen him on this tour?

I saw Micah P. Hinson open for the Crooked Fingers last year at the High Noon Saloon. He was great, I bought a few of his albums afterwards and I still listen to them pretty frequently. I just got an e-mail with some new information on his upcoming release, The Baby and the Satellite. Here’s the description from Jade Tree:

MICAH P. HINSON’S first release for Jade Tree harkens back to a stripped-down, self-professed “lost” period for the critically acclaimed singer/songwriter. Hailing from Abilene, Texas, HINSON’S introductory EP, The Baby And The Satellite, animates the emptiness of backcountry roads and late-teenage displacement. HINSON’s distinct brand of country-noir is delivered over hushed vocals and subdued guitars, shaded by fragments of Dylan’s storytelling and Bill Callahan’s (Smog) ability to tap into the darker emotions of real life. The Baby And The Satellite is an endearing journey through HINSON’S fractured past, searching for signs of hope in the somber halls of a downtrodden Middle America.

Micah P Hinson – The Leading Guy [mp3]

You can pre-order the album here (w/free poster).

I just got a promotional copy of the upcoming Parks & Recreation disc, and think a lot of people will dig it. Here is the description that came along with it.

Parks And Recreation make warm, 70s AM radio pop with a postmodern twist, a kind of genre-less pastiche of pop music trends that comes straight from the first cassette mix tape your high school crush gave you. Inspired by bands such as ELO, Wings, Queen, David Bowie, Squeeze, The Smiths, The Cars, Blur, The Divine Comedy, The Magnetic Fields, Belle & Sebastian and The Flaming Lips, Parks and Recreation’s songs are about the stuff of modern poplife: spy movies, piano lessons, food courts, parking lots, grocery stores, kissing in motels and cyber sex.

Parks and Recreation was born out of Michael Johnson’s solo project, Reclinerland when in 2005 the band swelled to a five piece, justifying, even calling for a name change. Michael, together with Anthony Georgis (American Girls), Jason Hughes (Periscope), Joe Ballman (Nordic) and Bob Ham (Rally Boy) have forged an undeniably entertaining live combo. What Was She Doing On The Shore That Night? — recorded with Adam Selzer at Portland’s Type Foundry Studios (The Decemberists, M Ward, Norfolk and Western, Blanket Music — is their debut, bridging the transition from songwriter to tightly knit, full tilt band. Whereas the wide open spaces of the opening title track recall Reclinerland, the band ratchets it up on track two with disco Bass, Pulp inspired vocal swagger and both a string and horn section into the mix. This is no garageband. This is ambitious pop, ebullient and clever, and destined to raise eyebrows and get toes tapping.

Parks & Recreation – The Perfect Love [mp3]

Be their friend on Myspace!

Yesterday, Kevin at So Much Silence posted the Of Montreal performance from KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic, which reinforced how much I love this band. Below are the two tracks off of the sold out (300 copies) 7″ Microuniversity by Of Montreal.

photo by Courtnie

Of Montreal – Microuniversity [mp3]
Of Montreal – I’m A Christian’s Son [mp3]

BONUS MP3:

Of Montreal – Know Your Onion (The Shins)

Check out Cable & Tweed for some additional Of Montreal goodness.

Jane’s Addiction meant everything to me growning up. I listened to their tapes and CD’s constantly. Perry Farrell’s lyrics spoke to me in a way that very little music had up until I discovered Jane’s Addiction. Yesterday, the widely rumored announcement that Lollapalooza would once again grace the city of Chicago was confirmed for August 4-6. This got me thinking about the first time I went to Lollapalooza in 1996. I saw Rancid, Screaming Trees, Metallica, Soundgarden, and the Ramones. I remember the last two like it was yesterday. Soundgarden covered the Doors, Waiting For The Sun and there was something special about the Ramones show. I was to young to really appreciate it, but it means the world to me today that I got a chance to see them live.

Where is this all going? Jane’s Addiction broke up and Lollapalooza started sucking and it ended up stoping as well. There was Perry Farrell’s side project called Porno For Pyros. I never really got into their first album, maybe it’s because that Pets video scared the shit out of me. I did manage to fall in love with Good God’s Urge in 1997, and it’s one of those albums that defines a short period of my life. Were they one of the 1990’s most disappointing bands, probably, but they were always in the shadow of Jane’s Addiction. I very well may be the only person besides my group of friends in high school that liked it, but I loved this album. I hadn’t listened to it in a long time, but I was at my parent’s house and found it amongst some of my old books, and brought it home and threw it on the iPod.

It’s not that the music is so groundbreaking or ahead of it’s time. It’s more that I can put this album on and remember some of my exact steps in the summertime, staying out too late and trying to sneak back into the house, driving around for hours just because we could, and being together with your friends meant everything in the world.

Here are a few songs that I really loved a long time ago:

Porno For Pyros – Tahitian Moon
Porno For Pyros – Kimberly Austin
Porno For Pyros – 100 Ways

for less than $10, or I’m sure you can find multiple copies where you do your used CD shopping.

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It’s my friend Kara’s birthday today. Check out her website and wish her a happy birthday!

Also, do yourself a favor and check out the random writings of my friend Jake.

I found out today that I won’t be able to make The New Pornographers/Matt Pond PA/dios (Malos) show at the Barrymore in Madison next Wednesday. I will once again be back in Washington, DC. Black Rebel Motorcycle and Elefant are playing the 9:30 club while I’m there. I’ve never seen or really gotten into either of those bands so if anyone can tell me if it will be worth the $15, I would really appreciate it.

The thing that bothers me the most about missing the New Pornographers is that it’s a rescheduled show from October of last year when the band had to cancel due to an emergency surgery. That combined with the fact that two other awesome bands will be playing on the bill. I guess I can find solace in the fact that Neko Case will not be performing.  Anyone going to the New Pornographers show is welcome to report back here, I’d be more than happy to publish your review of the show.

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Here’s a funny bumper sticker dealing with the recent Dick Chaney hunting incident.

While I don’t forsee this being a very original post around the blogs you read, I thought I would feature some love related tunes. I hope you enjoy them.

Bus in the middle of nowhere in Nikko, Japan.

Joseph Arthur – There Is A Light And It Never Goes Out (The Smiths)
M Ward – Let My Love Open The Door (Pete Townshend)
Bruce Springsteen – Valentine’s Day
Gary Jules – How Can I Tell You (Cat Stevens)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Is This Love? (Live At The Black Cat Washington DC)
Iron & Wine – Cold Town (Unkown Early Sessions)
Jens Lekman – If You Ever Need A Stranger (To Sing At Your Wedding)
Loose Fur – Wanted
Lucero – Kiss The Bottle
Freshwater Collins – Silo

2/25 – Voxtrot – Journey Music, Madison
3/11 – Ben Folds – Orpheum Theatre, Madison
3/17 – Heartless Bastards – High Noon Saloon, Madison
3/27 – Zion I – The Annex, Madison
4/6 – The Appleseed Cast – Club 770, Madison
4/17 – Wilderness – High Noon Saloon, Madison
4/18 – Soul Position (Featuring Blueprint and RJD2) – The Annex, Madison
4/19 – Clem Snide – Cafe Montmartre, Madison
4/22 – Rhett Miller – The Barrymore, Madison
5/7 – Belle Orchestra – Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee