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Dear People Standing Behind Me At The Concert Last Night,

I know you want everyone to think that you’re cool, interesting people that have important things to say but, really, no one cares about what TV shows you watch or what seasons you liked best or anything of that nature. Bearing that in mind, please don’t shout your conversations at such a level that the people around you can’t hear the opening band’s set. Also, please take note of the irony you create when you berate people who talk during a band’s set then continue to do so yourselves for the entire set.

Fuck You Very Much,

Brian Connolly

So the show last night was a good one. It’s the first of two nights that Band Of Horses is playing at Neumo’s this week, the first one being an all-ages affair and the second a 21+ shindig. Barring the assholes standing behind me who wouldn’t stop talking the entire night, it was an all around pleasing experience as far as concerts go.

In regards to the taping experience, though… not so much. I had permission to tape from Ben Bridwell himself and I even had the email stored on my phone so I could show security that everything was cool. They didn’t jive so well with me on that front. I was told that without a press pass I was not allowed to tape and since Ben wasn’t even at the venue yet, I couldn’t talk to him and straighten anything out.

Rather than cause a fuss, I resorted to Plan B and took my gear back to the car. I rigged up the stealth equipment and I was all set to go, but realized that my Microtrack wasn’t charged at all since I hadn’t actually planned on stealthing. I knew what I had to do. I shoved a 9v Li-Ion battery in the front of my pants and the voltage regulator in my back pocket. I wasn’t going to let some venue’s lame security get between me and this recording.

This is the second time I’ve stealthed at this venue. Since it was an all ages show and it was still early in the night, the 21+ balcony was pretty much deserted. I set up at the balcony’s outcropping that is about twelve feet away from (and directly in front of) the left stack. The results of taping in this location are very nice. I used the balcony railing to stabilize myself the entire night which cut down on phasing in the recording.

The opener was Sera Cahoone who, I believe, used to drum for Band Of Horses before they got a full band together. Her voice is very much in the style of Aimee Mann but the overall sound is very country/folk sounding. I really liked it.

Sera Cahoone – 2006-04-13 Neumo’s – Seattle, WA
Download: scahoone2006-04-13.at943.flac16.zip
MP3 Sample: scahoone2006-04-13sample.mp3

Band Of Horses fucking killed, of course. I love a band that can not only perform their songs well, but be entertaining the entire time they do it. Ben Bridwell is the goofiest guy on stage and I love him for it. After every song, he cheers himself along with the audience with raised fists and a big grin on his face. I honestly don’t think he can play a show without smiling the entire time, he’s just not capable of it. They played a set similar to the last time I saw them, but this time they threw in “I Go To The Barn Because I Like The” and “Weed Party” which were both welcome additions to the setlist. They also busted out a Gram Parsons cover and closed the show with a blazing performance of “The Funeral”.

Suffice to say, I’m pretty stoked to see the second show tonight. Here’s hoping I don’t have to stealth again.

Band Of Horses – 2006-04-13 Neumo’s – Seattle, WA
Download: boh2006-04-13.at943.flac16.zip
MP3 Sample: boh2006-04-13sample.mp3

This entry was posted on Friday, April 14th, 2006 at 1:22 PM and is filed under Main, Taping.