I Live for Live

This evening, I saw An Horse at a bar in Westport and enjoyed it very much, which is fortunate because I was excited about it for about a month prior (more on the gig later.) As I was in preparations for the show, I started to reminisce on some of the concerts I’ve seen over the last few years (sadly, not nearly as many as when living in Lawrence.) I truly enjoy watching bands perform for a multitude of people they have no relation to, however are a part of these persons' lives - otherwise, they would not be in attendance. Also, this is not a comprehensive list from my life, but...

A reverse-chronological list of concerts I have record of:

Spoon, Apr. 20, 2008, Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS
The last show of their tour, which was originally scheduled for September or October, but had to be postponed due to the band being on SNL that week. Their bass player is from Lawrence, so they’ve been adamant about returning on a regular bass-is. (Get it? *Rimshot*)

Polyphonic Spree, Oct. 20, 2007, Granada, Lawrence, KS
I drank extremely too much prior to this show, and regretfully do not have many recollections of a show you will read more about at the bottom.

Arcade Fire, Sep. 28, 2007, Starlight Theatre, Kansas City, MO
Because of the stationary seating with no standing room at the front, watching a rocking show at Starlight sucks, and the band realized that about :30 seconds in.

The Shins, Feb. 12, 2007, Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS

Secret Machines, May 19, 2007, Highline Ballroom, New York, NY
I took my first trip to NY to see this show. Because I attended the show as an individual, there is no second witness to David Bowie’s wave from the VIP seats along the upper edge of the venue, but it happened and that is the biggest/closest I’ve been to a celebutante. Thanks, again, Lindsey for your gracious accommodations and wonderful Dijon-chicken dinner.

Secret Machines, Death Cab for Cutie, Keane, Mates of State (Bleeding Kansas Arts & Music Festival), Aug 5, 2006, Burcham Park, Lawrence, KS
This music festival was a lot of fun, and HOT (outdoor festival in Kansas, in August, Blah.) Chris, Dan, Shawn, and I knew the girl working the beer station, so we cooled ourselves with free Miller Lites.

Nickel Creek, Apr 14, 2006, Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS

Gogol Bordello, Apr 4, 2006, Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
Monica’s idea. It was weird, but I’m kinda weird so it worked out.

Aimee Mann, Jan 29, 2006, Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS

Animal Liberation Orchestra, Nov 7, 2005, Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS

Mates of State, Sep 27, 2005, Granada, Lawrence, KS

Coldplay, Sep 21, 2005, Verizon Amphitheatre, Bonner Springs, KS
This ticket was given to my by a friend who got sick the day of the concert. We had seats, as opposed to sitting in the lawn, and they were fantastic.

Rilo Kiley, May 11, 2005, Granada, Lawrence, KS

The Shins, May 8, 2005, Liberty Hall, Lawrence, KS

The Fiery Furnaces, Apr 20, 2005, Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
This band is more upbeat than most, and on this particular evening I felt like I had taken whatever drugs they were on because the entire show was a medley being played at double-time. It was Fast and Rocked, almost like we stepped into a Fiery Furnace.

Kings of Convenience, Mar 16, 2005, Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
I went to see a girl. The band’s CD is still with me, however the girl is not.

Modest Mouse, Feb 22, 2005, Uptown Theater, Kansas City, MO

Secret Machines, Feb 10, 2005, Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
The show that started my love for this rockin' band.

Death Cab for Cutie, Oct 15, 2004, Beaumont Club, Kansas City, MO
Chris and I drank quarts of Red Bull and vodka’s on our way to this show. There are many stories that came out of the evening, including: falling off a chair, Chris spotting and approaching a table deemed the hottest in the bar and our group subsequently hanging out with girls from Oklahoma, Blaine and his friend travelling to Oklahoma to meet said women a few weeks later and having a terrible time.


Concerts I do not have record of, however are etched into memory:

Polyphonic Spree, Summer 2007, Denver
The best live performance I have ever seen. ~26 members, 2 ½ hours, and confetti cannons. I was in awe.

Tilly and the Wall, 2005 or 2006, Bottleneck, Lawrence, KS
This concert had to be in the summertime because the AC was broken in the bar, creating a sauna for the band and fans. The conditions particularly created havoc for Tilly and the Wall because the have a tap dancing percussionist. Before the show started, the poor girl was getting buckets of ice from the bar. By the end of the gig, we could barely breath it was so hot in there, not to mention all the hipster funk fermenting in the humid air.