Bring the "Illinoise"

Sufjan Stevens and his fellow "Illinoise-makers" floated into Chicago's Riviera Theater Tuesday night under cover of blacklight. The 15 people on stage (Mr. Stevens included) walked out wearing butterfly wings and mardi-gras masks, started into a beutiful, quiet instrumental melody and immediately captured the attention of all 2,500 people in the old, grungy theater.
Sufjan played a solid set clocking in at just under two hours long. Debuting one new song about a giant, imaginary bird that had the talons of a hawk and the stinger of a wasp. This opus continuously crescendoed into a mass of noise created by the six violin players, the two cellists, the drummer, two trumpeters, the trombone player, the guitarist, bass player, and Sufjan himself clutching his acoustic guitar while hammering away on the pure white grand piano. It was jaw-dropping - like watching art come alive on stage.
Highlights of the evening for me were "Detroit, Lift up your weary head (Rebuild! Restore! Reconsider)," "Jacksonville," "Casimir Pulaski Day," a haunting acoustic version of "John Wayne Gacy," and "The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts." "Chicago" was saved for the last song of the set with the video screen behind him showing grainy home movie style video of our beloved City of Broad Shoulders (even though I'm in another state, I kind of call it 'ours')
Sadly missing from the set was one of my favorites tunes "Decataur, Or, Round of Applause for your September" No biggie though - you can't hear every tune when some of them are taking a 10-minute slot in the set.
Opening the evening was "My Brightest Diamond." Having not heard them, or of them before I didn't know what to expect. Rock, indi-pop with a string section ... hmm I may have a new album to purchase.
Overall, I'd definitely see Sufjan Stevens again. The fullness of sound, the heartfelt lyrics, and the goofiness all packed into one made for a great night for April and I.
-DJr.0

Another day ... umm - nothing

My lack of writing here lately is due to the fact that nothing is really going on.
I haven't picked up too many new albums to chat about - Golden Smog, Sonic Youth, Hank III, Shooter Jennings are all I've purchased in the last few weeks. I'll write what I think about those soon.
We're going to see Sufjan Stevens Tuesday night at the Riviera in Chicago - should be fun. Both April and I like his music, it's a rarity that we both like the same thing coming out of the radio that isn't on the 'Oldies' channel.
Went to another Purdue football game this past Saturday. This time they finally got a decent opponent in Minnesota. It was a great game and the weather didn't wash us out like all were in fear of.
Tailgating is good - it can be hectic and a lot of work, but it's gathering with friends that are your family and family that are your friends that make it worth the time.

Anyway .. here's the daily (sporadic) list:
Charles Mingus, "Folk Forms"
Dinosaur Jr., "Where you Been"
Hank Williams III, "Lovesick, Broke and Drifting"
Sufjan Stevens, "The Avalanche"
Art Brut, "Bang, Bang, Rock n' Roll"
Band of Horses, "Everything all the Time"
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, "S/T"
Beck, "Sea Change"

So, what's with Hank III? His daddy is Hank Jr., his grand-pappy is Hank Sr. and III may be full of more piss and vinegar than the two of them combined. I picked up his disc when we (http://www.mile44.com) were asked to do a poste for his show in West Virgina. I couldn't say no when I heard him sing about drinking himself legally blind on moonshine in "Mississippi Mud." Apparently his backing band, Assjack, isn't always with him, and this is one of his more straight-forward country albums. None of that Toby Keith, Keith Urban, "HonkeyTonk BeDonkaDonk" shit you hear that could pass for teenie bopper flash-in-the-pan wannabes. This is 'call your mama cuz your life is in the pisser' country - and I love every minute of this album. Slow, twangy tunes to upbeat backwoods rhtyhms that make me wish Hank III was playing a little closer than West Virginia!
-DJr-

OK, an update

It's now been one month since my last update. Not much has happened - Purdue football started, and God are they terrible. Winning ugly, but winning. I've seen three Cubs games since last post. All three were Cub victories. We got into a fender bender with some crazy lady on Lakeshore Drive - of course, in our new car. We've lined up three great poster jobs - Hank Williams III, Shooter Jennings and Pretty Girls Make Graves.
I haven't seen anyshows, but I did see the Lemonheads were coming to the Double Door in December ... gotta get a ticket for that one for sure.
Anyway .. music has been short lately as my iTunes at work has somehow lost about 90 percent of my library of music. I'm slowly loading it all back on ...

So, this is what I heard today:
Cake "Motorcade of Generosity"
Billy Bragg and Wilco "Mermaid Avenue Vol. 1"
Al Green "Greatest Hits"
Belle & Sebastian "Dog on Wheels"

Cake is tasty - the band that is. I'm not a fan of actual cake - I like pie better. I was first exposed to Cake through a girl I used to date and it hit me with the simplicity and balance of a Mondrian painting. Talk/singing (not rap btw) over low-fi guitar, bass, drum and horns.
My favorites being "Pentagram," "Jesus Wrote a Blank Check," "Rock n' Roll Lifestyle" and "I Bombed Korea Last Night."
Everytime I listen to "Rock n Roll Lifestyle" I laugh. A nice ditty ripping into people who act the part of rock fan, but are only in it to be seen. Hopefully, I don't become a poser of this type over the years - I want to be hip, even after my hips go out!
-DJr-