kicks, man

'what give this mess some grace, unless its kicks man, unless its fictions?'

i saw Okkervil River last night. it was awesome. i got there early. i expected traffic to be a nightmare, but i think im getting to know my way around the city. anyway, i was among the first in the door. when fate hands you an opportunity i say take it, so i staked out a spot right up front. i could have untied Will's shoes and was almost too close for comfort with the keyboardist(whose name escapes me and i dont feel like looking it up...).

anyway, i could not have been happier with the set list. i was worried that they would play a bunch of slower songs, or the real old ones, that i am not so much into and dont know all that well. they played my favorites from the newest album, The Stage Names, as well as my favorites from older ablums like Black Sheep Boy. Will also did a solo of a real old song i had never heard, but that was great.

like my post about John Banville yesterday, Will has a way with words. and music. it was awesome. i think that i like these guys so much because the music and lyrics all seem to grow from a story. the lyrics are not necessarily metered, and the rhymes just sort of flow. anyway, what i had loved recorded was even better live. i am always happy when a bend outdoes their recordings. Okkervil River joins the ranks of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, the Hard Lessons, Flogging Molly, Less Than Jake, and early Modest Mouse performances in that respect. i cant give them enough props. all around great show.

the New Pornographers played next. just a two band lineup. they were good. very polished, sounded great. not my thing tho. i kind of felt bad for leaving 6 or so songs into their set, but it just doesnt do it for me. they obviously are doing something right, the crowd seemed to love it, but i just wasnt feeling it. the polished indie-pop just was just kind of a let down after Okkervil River's performance that was raw and passionate. i had to get up at 5:30 this morning too...

at one point, while Will was changing a string, the aforementioned keyboardist said 'youre here tonight, are you going to see the Pope tomorrow?' a few laughed, a few screamed. Will stepped up to the mic, still tuning his guitar. 'i like classic Pope better than new Pope.'