The going ons of July and August

Again, sorry for the delay in concert reviews. I will consolidate all of July and August concerts in this one post and swear to provide an update for the My Morning Jacket concert on Wednesday.

First up, Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yelstin was good. Good mellow band with their song, "Think I Wanna Die" being the highlight; didn't hurt their music video for that included the Eisley girls. Very straightforward set with some good beats and cute chicks. Spiritualized the next week provided some panache and epic staging for their songs. Shine A Light had the spotlights, the main band, and backup singers providing an astounding soundscape of music to revel in. Would have no problem recommending any of these two bands for a live show.

The Old 97's and Bon Iver always provide a good show to attend. The Old 97's have great fodder and a large amount of backlog of songs to utilize for their shows. Highlights were Doreen and Victoria. I kept waiting for Timebomb, but it never came and I had to leave early. Bon Iver was a good acoustic show that provided a large amount of cute girls, good tunes, and plentiful drinks to bring down a crazy work week. And although the show was short, Skinny Love had more oomph and emotion than any other song that July.

Earlimart and the Duke Spirit were at a new venue that I kind of liked. The Ottobar is a semi-sleazy bar with a good sound system and great sight-lines in Baltimore. Earlimart set a stage for a relaxin' night with some cozy, yet depressing songs with crickets chirping in-between songs during the set. The Duke Spirit was an awesome show. No specticule or elaborate stage. Just very good songs with a great stage presence and awesome front woman to handle and direct it all. You need to see them live, a wonderful mix of Queen, Rolling Stones, Clash, and Dismemberment Plan. A weird mix, but they make it work, really, really good.

Lucero and The Faint are on two different ends of the spectrum. Lucero is good near-southren rock about life and heartbreak. They had decent openers, but nothing to write home about. I got lost in some moments, but felt the rest of the crowd was judging me for not being "rock 'n roll" enough. I like their music and don't fit into their mold, whatever. The Faint, dance rock/post-punk about life and heartbreak, but with a more upbeat beat. No lies, I danced a bit and got lost in the moment. These people, some judging, but once I got moving, they were scared even more, but whatever.

So that was July and August. Nothing too bad and something a litte great. Up next in September are My Morning Jacket, Anthony Green, The Kooks, Straylight Run, possibly the Silver Jews, Reggie and the Full Effect with last tour, Mogwai to cap it off, and Mousetrap, a brit-pop dancehall with semi-depressed, hot girls from U of Maryland, Georgetown, George Mason. I talk a big talk, but seriously, no one expects me to talk to girls, maybe.