Post-Schna-ulations

Cure-tastic!!

I don't have quite the way with words as many people I know. I can't give you a thorough review of the show with a detailed setlist for any of the four bands we saw last night. I can't even tell you my favorite moments (though the overall experience of being only 20 feet away from Robert Smith was pretty amazing...close enough to see the tears on his final encore "Faith"). All I can say is...wow.

One of the best parts is, I get to see it all again tomorrow (and with The Cure, at least, this could be a TOTALLY different concert than last night). For any intersted in a more thorough review of the music, I defer to Jon, who can post a link (or just his own review) in the comments. However, I will give a brief synopsis of my overall experience:

The four mainstage bands were Mogwai, The Rapture, Interpol, and The Cure. We had pit tickets (which means we were literally standing in what normally would serve as the orchestra pit), so it was all standing, all the time. We got there just into Mogwai's set. Perhaps it is due to my not knowing there music all that well, or the fact that three other bands performed after them so the experience is faded, but I have a hard time thinking back to my reactions. I know I really liked it, at least. *break for second stage band*
The Rapture followed. Opening song, the lead singer Luke Jenner hopes into the pit, walks through the pit, hops OUT of the pit, walks around a bit, hops back into the pit, walks around somemore, and by the end of the song ends up back on stage (singing the whole time, of course). *note* this was not a cordless microphone. go from there... *end note* This set was a lot of fun, very high energy, good times.
*break for second stage band*
Interpol kicked ass. At times, being so close, it was difficult to hear the vocals, but they rocked out. Awesome. *break for second stage band*
The Cure. *sigh* I feel my words would only lesson their performance. Spec-fucking-tacular. If you want to know, you just have to see them.

I was quite proud of myself in the pit though. Defending my right side against two extraordinarily drunk girls who were bouncing around and practically passing out for the first third of The Cure's set. I also had a very large couple (mostly tall, but solid too) right next to me, but I held my ground, dammit!!! One person between me and the front rail...I could ACTUALLY SEE FOR ONCE!!!! We made the mistake on the way home of stopping at the first rest stop on the turnpike. McD's was open and the line to order wasn't that long. Ten minutes and we were just waiting to pick up our food. An hour later, we were on the road. 3 am, pull into home. 8:30 am, show up for work. woo hoo!!!!

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since i've already told you more than you wanted to know i'm sure, I will leave you with this not-really-related-but-sort-of-related-as-it-deals-with-the-music-biz-and-touring article from the Times (thanks Jon!):
Chords for Change
By BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

Published: August 5, 2004

A nation's artists and musicians have a particular place in its social and political life. Over the years I've tried to think long and hard about what it means to be American: about the distinctive identity and position we have in the world, and how that position is best carried. I've tried to write songs that speak to our pride and criticize our failures.

These questions are at the heart of this election: who we are, what we stand for, why we fight. Personally, for the last 25 years I have always stayed one step away from partisan politics. Instead, I have been partisan about a set of ideals: economic justice, civil rights, a humane foreign policy, freedom and a decent life for all of our citizens. This year, however, for many of us the stakes have risen too high to sit this election out.

more in the full link....

posted by Schna @ 11:50 AM