Miike Snow w/ Delorean at Wired Live - 3/20/2010I've been listening to Miike Snow for about a year now. I can't believe it took that long for me to see them perform live. I was astounded by how mesmerizing their performance was. The opening act was Delorean, hailing from Spain. How would I describe them: a better version of Passion Pit. It's not that I don't enjoy Passion Pit's earlier music, but I'm not necessarily a captivated fan. They performed for only about forty-five minutes, but they truly made a statement with their energy and visible passion for their work. That's why I love bands like this. They are still showcasing music that they truly believe in. Here is a clip of them performing their hit single "Deli". Now, on to Miike Snow. Each band member was clad in a white mask as they eased into the track entitled "Cult Logic". "Silvia" (my favorite track on their self-titled album), "Black and Blue, and "Animal" were a few of the high points of the performance. Its refreshing to see a band that makes their live performance special. If I want to hear the studio version of a record, I'll just listen to it on my iPod. Miike Snow tailored each song for their live show and it was quite apparent. Live performances like this make you fall in love with the artist all over again. Let's just say, I will probably be listening to Miike Snow for the rest of the week. Oh, and Andrew Wyatt (the lead singer) isn't as creepy as I thought he would be. He's just extremely tall and skinny, just as any hipster musician should be. He brushed past my shoulder as he strolled through the audience between sets, and I was a little starstruck. Don't judge me.
Steve Aoki w/ GRRRL PARTS at Rich's - 3/19/2010
Xiu Xiu w/ Girl in A Coma and Noveller at Warehouse Live - 3/12/2010
Steve Aoki w/ GRRRL PARTS at Rich's - 3/19/2010Although I've seen Steve Aoki three times and have never been disappointed, the most recent show was on another level. I arrived at Rich's at10:45 pm, shocked by the surprisingly small crowd that was loitering on the edges of the club. I knew more dance fanatics had to show up at some point. Thank god I was right about that one. Although it wasn't disgustingly packed, there was quite a crowd. I was second from the stage, awaiting the moment Aoki would allow hipsters and bros alike to rush the stage. Sadly, this never took place, but it didn't take anything away from the show. I was sprayed in the face with two bottles of good champagne, had confetti guns shot at me, was sprayed by a water gun, shook hands with Aoki, danced until I could feel the sweat running down my back, and almost fought a bitch. Those are all the makings of a good dance show. I hate it when DJ's never step away from the booth. One reason I have a greater respect for Aoki is that he is all about crowd interaction. It is very clear that he wants you to have good fucking night. He spun his new track, "I'm in the House", along with other singles such as "Warp" and "1967". Playing "Bohemian Rhapsody"towards the end was a good way to get the crowd to utilize their vocal cords. I pretty much lost my voice. Ending the night with Taco Cabana seemed like a good idea at the time, but I didn't feel the same way when I woke up. Can you say gassy?
Xiu Xiu w/ Girl in A Coma and Noveller at Warehouse Live - 3/12/2010Although it was a much smaller concert, all three acts put on quality performances. Instrumental artist Noveller, consisting solely of artist/film maker Sarah Lipstate, was a very ambient and relaxing start to the evening. I would say her sound is a cross between Mogwai and Jonsi's Riceboy Sleeps solo project. Next up was Girl in a Coma, a high-energy, garage rock female trio from San Antonio. Many of you have probably listened to them. I had never actually seen them live before, but I was thoroughly entertained. Last but not least, Xiu Xiu. Its hard to believe that so much sound can come from two individuals. They definitely pack a punch. The emotion in their vocals and lyrics are intense. Luckily, they played one of my favorite tracks, "No Friend Oh!". Xiu Xiu's latest album, Dear God, I Hate Myself is out now. Be sure to check it out! I appreciated the fact that the concert was on the studio side of Warehouse, which allows for a much more intimate performance. I love going to shows like this because the artists are always going back and forth through the audience, and most don't even know that they are the ones about to take the stage.
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