Cat Fight! Shine a Light versus Shine a Light versus Shine a Light

  

(also titled: Holy Shit, EZArchive works again!) 

We cats have been on a little break ever since our filehost, EZArchive, decided that having a Web site that worked wasn’t that important. Well, it works now. Hoozah!

How often do three of your favorite bands’ favorite songs all have the same name? The correct answer is once. If you said anything else, go back to stupid camp because you are stupid. And stop by fat camp next door, because seriously, you’ve let yourself go a little.

So here we have the second Cat Fight! Three songs enter, one song leave. The theme? They’re all named “Shine a Light.” The downloads are all live-ish, and the actual individual performance was not taken into account. This is about the song at its core…it’s heart…it’s entrails…it’s tasty, tasty entrails. So please, when listening take that into account.

The Contestants

Wolf Parade - Shine a Light 

Wolf Parade are from Canada, and they love to entertain. This is one of Dan’s tunes, meaning it rocks a bit more and has less yodeling than Spencer’s songs. This is a CBC Radio 3 Session version of the song, so it sounds pretty studio-ish. I know what you are thinking… they have radio in Canada? Yes, they do.

Best part of the song: It may sound contradictory to what I wrote before, but Spencer yelping in the background while Dan grinds out lyrics sounds particularly badass.

Worst part of the song: The end… I just don’t get it.

Best lyric: The second time he says, “I keep my head uptight, I make my plans at night, and I don’t sleep I don’t sleep I don’t sleep til it’s light.” Cuz that’s how I roll too.

Spiritualized - Shine a Light 

Okay, this contest really isn’t fair. I mean, who is going to beat Spiritualized? The answer is no one. If you answered anything other than no one then you are stupid and should go back to stupid camp. This version is from 1997, at the Garage in Highbury, London. 1997 was pretty much a peak for the band, when they had three amazing albums to choose material from–Ladies and Gentleman, Pure Phase, and my favorite, Lazer Guided Melodies. I swear to fucking god that this song will be played at my funeral.

Best part of the song: The entry into chaos. You’d understand if you were a heroin addict. What’s that? You are? Sweet.

Worst part of the song: n/a

Best lyric: “When I’m tired and all alone, Lord, shine a light on me.” Well, that’s about all he says actually.

The Constantines - Shine a Light 

The finest rock ‘n roll band in America (North, that is) turns out another insanely good rock ‘n roll tune. I don’t know what this song is about, all I know is while listening to it I want to scratch up the curtains, piss on the rug, and slit the dog’s throat. Any song that makes me want to do that and makes me feel like I have a right to do that is A-OK in my book. They’re so fucking blue-collar that your fingernails get dirty just listening to the song. I’d say they belong in Pittsburgh if I didn’t hate Pittsburgh so much. You and me both, Sienna Miller.

Best part of the song: The intro. It’s a great hook that leads into a mellow beginning. Kind of like someone punching someone else in the face and then cooing, “Now I told you not to do that. Okay?”

Worst part of the song: The abrupt ending. Bry Webb just tears it up and then takes off. It’s not awful, but it’s not the best part of the song. In fact, I don’t even know why I included “Worst part of the song” in this post anyway. What a jerk I am.

Best lyric: “Don’t talk to me about simple things. There is no such thing. All a man can build is his vision, and I love my man for trying.” Blue-fucking-collar.

The Winner

They’re all winners! Just kidding, this isn’t the Special Olympics and I’m not taking that gutless route. The clear winner here is Spiritualized, in fact it was never a contest. I tricked you. All of you. Except for you, you knew what I was doing.

Second place is a tie! Just kidding, I’m not taking that gutless route. The Constantines wrap up second place, because if I don’t, I know the Buffalo Pipefitters Union #243 will kick myass. Blue-fucking-collar.

Flopping in third place, or as I like to call it, last place, is Wolf Parade. Now don’t get me wrong, I love their Shine a Light. I really do. But as in life, someone has to finish first, and someone has to finish last. Except in basketball tryouts. I wasn’t last on the depth chart, I was first to leave. Now give me another glass of delusion, please.

 

48 minutes of live Spiritualized

Well, technically 48 minutes and 5 seconds, but who’s counting?

This is Spiritualized live at the Portsmouth Pyramid from sometime in 2001 as part of the Let it Come Down tour. It’s one big chunk of music–just one 44MB MP3.

Set list is a bit different from other shows I’ve heard as Jason starts off with an “abbreviated” 14-minute version of Cop Shoot Cop, a typical show closer. From there it’s possibly the best live version of Let it Flow, a rare performance of Out of Sight (I don’t think it was played much outside of this tour, for shame), No God Only Religion, Take Me to the Other Side (Yes!), and Come Together. The recording ends there, so I’m not sure what else was in the show.

If you have shows that you’re willing to part with, send me an e-mail…I’d love to get as many as I can. Will trade the blood of your enemies, first-born children for quality bootlegs.

Spiritualized @ The Pyramid
Portsmouth, England    October 7, 2001

1. Cop Shoot Cop 
2. Let it Flow (@ 15:45)
3. Out of Sight (@ 23:10)
4. No God Only Religion (@ 29:34)
5. Take Me to the Other Side (@ 34:17)
6. Come Together (@ 41:4

 

Animal Collective smoke Hot-lanta.

Animal Collective is fucking awesome live.

Yes, it’s true bro-dudes and chick-dudes, Animal Collective are some serious ass-kickin’ mind-meltin’ fools onstage. The shows are very popular among fans because, well, it’s a lot of noise that they can’t get anywhere else. I suppose it’s a bit of a mind fuck for people hoping to get a full helping of “Feels” when they see them, but that’s okay because they should be so out of their gourd at an AC show that it shouldn’t matter.

Peace Bone. Reverend Green. Safer. Street Flash.

These songs are really some of their best work and in my mind, work so well live that they should probably never even be committed to vinyl, plastic, cassette, papyrus, or whatever the fuck else can make sound.

In fact, seeing some of their studio stuff (except for Banshee Beat and We Tigers) live just doesn’t compare with these newer tracks. Sure, it’s always nice to be able to scream out “Never met a girl who likes to drink with horses, knows her Chinese ballet!” at a show, but I prefer to stand in stunned silence, mouth agape. Just like I do with pretty much everything, bro.

Now that I’ve collected a few shows, Sung Tongs and Feels don’t really get the spins they used to–the live stuff is that much better. Plus, after listening to the shows that much more, I can sing along next time I see them.

Why do I post these shows? I post them for you. But this one’s actually for Lindy. (By the way the picture above right is from Coachella 2006.)

Animal Collective @ Variety Playhouse
Atlanta, Georgia    March 19, 2006

1. Flesh Canoe
2. Fireworks/Allman Vibe
3. Peace Bone
4. The Purple Bottle
5. Safer
6. Reverend Green
7. Cuckoo
8. Chores
9. Grass
10. Street Flash
11. Banshee Beat
12. We Tigers

Special thanks to the folks at Collected Animals for the show. AC fans are the best. Also - just noticed this post looks eerily similar to a post on Kwaya Na Kisser, one of the best music blogs out there. I assure you, the stars or planets or comets were aligned and on fire or something, because it was a total fucking coincidence.  

If there are any mistakes in there, just leave a comment–WordPress is acting buggy.

 

Serena-Maneesh @ Bottom of the Hill

Crazy-ass Norwegian psychedelic space-rockers Serena-Maneesh played at Bottom of the Hill on Thursday. Which means my crazy psychedelic space-rockin’ ass was, like, so there. They were originally supposed to play two days, alternating a headling slot with locals Film School. However, inexplicably the two shows were cancelled and Film School bailed. Start your conspiracy theories now, but please, take a tab first. It makes conspiracies that much more lifelike.

Lame-ass picture of the BotH sign.

Serena was out and about before the show, because honestly, who knew what Serena Maneesh looked like? Well, maybe the one blonde who was like 6′8″ gave it away. The band looks exactly like one would expect them to–that is to say they look like Scandinavian drone/noise rockers. Slightly dated, but obviously uber-cool for Norway. Part Captain Jack Sparrow, part Liberace. 

Captain Fantastic and the sunglass posse.

The band got on to a thinned-out crowd, which I didn’t understand, and immediately they sounded a bit…off? I’ve seen several “wall of sound” type bands, and they always sound great. Serena should have been the same, but something was amiss. Hearing the whisperish vocals was a no-go–which was a total bummer, because they’re really important to their tunes.

I’m generally a terrible judge of sound quality for many reasons (well, mostly because I’m blasted out of my mind and end up hearing with my eyes–”ooh! Purple sounds great!”), but I’m pretty sure even I was right on this one. The band played a really short set (less than an hour?) and afterwards the two ladies in the band left the stage and retreated to their tour bus in a huff, before having a discussion with the sound man (did I see tears?). Rock-and-fucking-roll.

When the band was playing, however, it was absolutely insanity. Homeboy pretty much molested his guitar on stage, the blonde was pogo-ing with her bass, and the venue was absolutely draped in feedback. Wish I could hear them with good sound though.

I’m not going to pretend like I remember what songs they played, so I’ll just mention the following: Selina’s Melodie Fountain, Chorale Lick, Candlelighted (which sounded awesome, sound problems be damned), and Beehiver II. They did not, to my knowledge, play Drain Cosmetics. However, I have never been known to be knowledgable, so I’m sure they did.

Awful pics:

  

EZ Archive is being a whore right now, so I don’t have any MP3s for ya. But you can listen to them on their Web site.

 

Cold War Kids @ Cafe Du Nord

Hey what do you know? The Cold War Kids played San Francisco…again. I swear, these guys are in this city more than me. Anymeow, I certainly am not going to complain as these guys are an absolute blast live.

The show was at the cozy Cafe Du Nord, and a buddy was having an after party with the band, but I went to eat. Unless they had statues made out of cocaine and three-tittied strippers, I think I made the right choice. It’s Tops pancakes are THAT good.

This was their first headlining gig in the Bay Area (the other two being opening for Apollo Sunshine and Tapes ’n’ Tapes), but the crowd was definitely thicker than one would have expected from four kids who just signed a deal with a record company. Much taller, too. I guess indie buzz comes with a healthy dose of height. Because taller people clearly are more Internet savvy. Short people are too busy looking for shoes that make them look taller, they don’t have time for Web browsing.  

Setlist
We Used to Vacation
New*
Rubidoux
Red Wine, Success
New*
Saint John
Robbers
Hospital Beds
Hair Down
New*
Hang Me Up to Dry
===
Quiet Please

*New means either God Make Up Your Mind, Pass the Hat, or unidentified future hit. Listen to them below. I forgot when they played which one where…

Cold War Kids - God Make Up Your Mind (Daytrotter Session)
Cold War Kids - Pass the Hat (Daytrotter Session)

 

Feist @ The Fillmore

 

Man. Being busy sucks. Not much time to write, but this was the set list at Feist’s show at the Fillmore on September 8, 2006. Well, best I can remember.  

Setlist
When I Was a Young Girl
???
Sally’s Song (aka Four Teenage Boys)
Secret Heart
So Sorry
Feel it All
(some song about the Ocean)
One Evening
Inside and Out
Phantoms
Fighting Away the Tears
The Build Up
Mushaboom
Sea Lion
—-
?
Gatekeeper
Let it Die

There was a tap dancer, a guest vocalist from the audience (whoa Sarah, good job!). She (Feist, not Sarah) wasn’t wearing white pants, but she was still a knockout. Feist, one word for you: Zoophilia.

Live Feist things:
Feist - Secret Heart (Live 89.3 The Current)
Feist - Sally’s Song (Live at Park West)
Feist - Nothin’ In the World Can Stop Me Warryin’ Bout That Girl (Kinks cover - Live)

The entire Park West is available at the most excellent rbally Web site.

 

SHUTUP! I’m listening to these songs…

I’ve kind of been internalizing alot recently, which means all my friends think I’m a dick, when really all I want to do is listen to music by myself. Yeah, you know the word. There are a few songs that are particularly sticking out right now, all of which are relatively new to me. Ahhh who am I kidding, I’m bored at work and needed a reason to post. YES I’M CRANKY SOBER!

Destroyer - Here Comes the Night
This song reminds me of everything I wanted to listen to back in the mid-90s. It just sounds…old. Maybe it’s the quality of the MP3 or something, but it’s a total trip in the way-back machine. Plus–”Here Comes the Night?” Totally anthem. And totally dark. But it’s the 4:20 (hee hee) mark that really kicks the song into another gear…the bass tumbles into the riff it has been teasing for the whole song and everything just goes to another level. SHUTUP! I’m listening to this song!

Lyrics–I know what Dan Bejar is saying but I have no idea what he is saying.

All the skies opened up and now they’re mentioning your name
In connection with a drowning when you’re just saying: “Ah, let it come down!”

So you stole that Schwinn to ride into the Winner’s Circle of the Sun
Now Mile-End is claiming:”You’re one of those!
Take off those clothes! You’re one of them!”
But you won’t!

I couldn’t turn around, I couldn’t wrap my head around it
Best to forget that things change. Hanging outside in the rain is OK.
I walked into the festival. Did these cacophonies please you?
(They please me too)
Back when we still had our sight
But don’t look now, people… Here comes the night! Here comes the night!

I heard those traps you’ve been living off of and on have come undone
I heard you only poach to save your children. Well save it…
‘Cause a real thief! thief! thief! thief! thief! thief! thieves!

I couldn’t turn around, or phrase it as a question
‘Cause when it comes to that prize a temple your size was too big
I walked into Festival (I know you know The Festival)
of Symphonies pleased you…(They pleased me too)
Back when we still had our sight
But don’t look now, Angel…
Here comes the night! Here comes the night!

The Foundry Field Recordings - Buried Beneath the Winter Frames
Talk about stumbling onto a gem. Heard this on WOXY and it was lust at first sound. Initially (after the somewhat curiously placed drum intro) it sounds like a shnazzed up version of Broken Social Scene’s “Swimmers” because they both use the same rhythm, but it quickly turns into a countryside stroll. Soon to appear on every single mix tape I make in the near future. SHUTUP! I’m listening to this song!

Lyrics–By ear, so they’re probably VERY wrong

Don’t carry on
Don’t count me out
We’re buried beneath the winter frames
And then all gone

Then it rained for an hour
Caused the shift in power
The next one sticks and stones
and then all gone

Nobody knows who you are
And I want to see it again

If you always get up late
You’re never gonna be on time
If you always get up late
You’re never gonna be on time
(ok - that’s “Swimmers” but still, it’d make a great mash-up)

Akron/Family - Gone Beyond
Another tune I can’t get enough of at the moment is the leaked song from Akron/Family’s upcoming album, Meek Warrior. It’s pretty much everything I hoped it would be–just a taste of what’s coming up. A simple campfire song that shows off the band’s ability to throw layer upon layer a groove, culminating in their trademark four-person harmonies. I’m still unconvinced that all these guys can sing, when put together it’s unlike anything else I’ve heard. Dammit! SHUTUP I SAID! I’m listening to this song!

Lyrics–again from ear but you’d have to be really tripping your balls off to not know them

Gone, gone, gone beyond
Gone completely beyond.

And so am I.

 

Zach Galifianakis @ The Fillmore

 

Yeah - it’s not exactly music, but I’m letting it slide for a couple reasons. First, the show was at The Fillmore. Second, he plays the piano. Third, he was fucking hilarious.

The man can tell jokes… and make the silence between jokes be just as funny. He closed the set with his usual written jokes on a gigantic pad of paper (which were handed out at the end of the show by roadies to adoring fans) while wearing a Little Orphan Annie outfit. It looked good on him, too.

Set list:
Masturbating onto his headshot
BET Canada
The honor of sharing the same stage as The Spin Doctors
Improv of him telling people they are losers
Armenian babies
Chinese roommate

I’m not saying he’s as funny as David Cross, but I sure am trying to imply it. Think Steven Wright and Carol Kane’s illegitimate bastard son.

 

Wolf Parade @ The Fillmore 8/24

 

Earlier I wrote about Wolf Parade playing at The Fillmore, and commented on how the tickets were too expensive. It’s partially The Fillmore’s fault obviously, but it’s also the inevitable result of the band getting bigger and bigger.

I told myself, “Cat, no way are you paying the ticket price and the ‘processing’ fee and the ’service’ charge and the ‘ink’ tax for the show. You have morals, and you should stick by them.”

Well, I went to the show. BUT–I went morally intact. Instead of getting raped by Clear Channel, The Fillmore, and TicketMaster, I took matters in to my own paws and raped my friend for a ticket. Figuratively, of course. I only condone rape in role play.

So this was the third time I’d seen them, and it’s more or less the same everytime. That is, “Hey look, it’s Wolf Parade. Yep, that’s them alright.” I never get excited to see them, but I leave the show very satisfied. Do they put on a good show? Not necessarily, but dammit they sound fucking fantastic.

 

Spencer: “Moustache rides–5 cents!”

Watching the show, my cat-like mind was aflutter with various theories/conspiracies. I’m not too sure I get one of the sounds coming out of Canada these days. The whole Spencer Krug/Frog Eyes/Sunset Rubdown school of rock just doesn’t jibe with me, dig? I can see how some people like it, and at points during the Frog Eyes set I realized that there is some goddamned brilliance in there. The sound is like the whole hip “bedhead/messy hair” look. To get the look, you put everything in place, get it perfect, then fuck it up a bit.

But why does Wolf Parade work so well? It’s the yin/yang between Spencer Krug (pictured - lying on top) and Dan Boeckner (pictured - center). Most people jock Spencer, but me, I’m a Dan man. “Shine a Light,” “It’s a Curse,” and “This Heart’s on Fire” are three of my favorite tracks from Apologies to the Queen Mary, and those are very “Dan” songs (the fourth being “I’ll Believe in Anything”). However, put the two together and it’s all just completely badass good.

It immediately got me thinking of another band with a beloved frontman and a second songwriter that I preferred–Sebadoh. Lou Barlow was the darling, but I was always a Jason Lowenstein kind of guy. Even Rob Corddry agrees. Bakesale is a fantastic record, and combines both songwriters’ efforts well. But it’s Lowenstein’s songs that really nail it for me. If I were an angry teenager, “Not Too Amused” would be my anthem.

I digress… here’s the setlist from the show (to the best of my knowledge–and yeah, that new one from Dan is some of their best work yet, let me know if anyone has it or knows the name)

Wolf Parade @ The Fillmore   August 24, 2006

Things I Don’t Know (new)
Shine a Light
Grounds for Divorce
It’s a Curse
Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts
Killing Armies (I think)
You are a Runner and I am My Father’s Son
Fancy Claps
We Built Another World
New Spencer one
New Dan one that was totally, like, bitching
I’ll Believe in Anything
This Heart’s on Fire
–ENCORE–
The National People’s Scare (I think)
Dinner Bells

Sorry–no pics. Some live-ish Wolf Parade MP3s:
Wolf Parade - This Heart’s on Fire (Live)
Wolf Parade - Thing’s I Don’t Know (Live)
Wolf Parade - Shine A Light (Live on CBC Radio)
Wolf Parade - I’ll Believe in Anything (Live on CBC Radio)
Wolf Parade - Lousy Pictures (Live on CBC Radio)

 

Broken Social Scene @ The Greek in Berkeley

Going to keep this short, only because there surprisingly was very little to say about the show. About a week ago Denmark’s Mew (meh), San Francisco’s Two Gallants (yeah!), Toronto’s Broken Social Scene (ace!), and England’s Bloc Party (meh, but not as meh as Mew) played an out door show at The Greek Theater in Berkeley.

I remember more about the hot young indie chicks running around than I do about the performances. But in Broken Social Scene’s defense, they were missing Feist, Amy Milan, and Emily Haines. It was kind of like watching the 1972 Man United squad without Georgie Best.

  
Lobinger was there. These three weren’t.

Here’s the setlist:

Jimmy and the Photocall
7/4 (Shoreline)
Cause = Time
Fire Eye’d Boy
Stars + Sons
Superconnected
Handjobs for the Holidays
Ibi Dreams of Pavement (A Better Day)
It’s All Gonna Break

(Superconnected and Handjobs may have been played in reverse order, I couldn’t read my notes. Fookin’ catscratch.)

That’s right, no “Almost Crimes,” no “Anthems,” no “KC Accidental,” no “Major Label Debut (slow),” no “Major Label Debut (fast),” no “Major Label Debut (acoustic).”

Even with all that, they’re still one the best.

Maybe this will satisfy my Feist-less Major Label Debut-less experience.

While we’re on BSS, I quite enjoyed this quote from a review in New York Magazine: “I think there’s another reason Broken Social Scene sounds better this time around. The context of indie rock has changed. The last two years have seen an explosion of young retro-obsessed bands who name-drop the likes of Joy Division and Gang of Four as their influences but usually sound more like Duran Duran. It’s hard to explain why this is happening, but their lack of musical ambition is a bummer. Give me a collective over that any day.”