So many shows so little time

Wow… what a weekend… what a great two weeks actually. For tons of reasons…. I have been to three shows in two weeks… I know it isn’t a lot compared to some people on my friends list but they were all high quality.

Ben Folds Aug 19 2005

Wiltern Theatre

1. Bastard
2. Gone
3. Bitches Ain’t Shit
4. Lyle Lovett “LA County’ improv/ Careless Whisper (with Rufus Wainwright)
5. Landed
6. You To Thank
7. Jesusland
8. Late
9. One Angry Dwarf
10. Philosophy
11. Gracie
12. Narcolepsy
13. Rockin’ the Suburbs
14. Brick
15. Missing the War
16. Not The Same

How many people can cover Wham! And Dr Dre in the same set and get away with it? He played all my favorite songs off of the new album and a couple of my favorite all time…

Plus I finally got to see Ben Lee whom I have wanted to see for years…

Anyways I know a lot of people don’t listen to Ben, or aren’t familiar with his stuff besides “Brick” do me a favor and take a listen:

http://www.myspace.com/benfolds

The first single from his new album “Landed” is on this page. Take a listen… It’s a great song.

Moving on… So on Saturday Night I went to the Sunset Junction Street Fair… I have to say it is the first time I have attended this event and hell would have to freeze over for me to go back again. Trying to park is next to impossible (it took close to an hour to accomplish that feat) and the crowd was an eclectic mix of people. I wasn’t impressed with the food offerings (think low grade county fair) but I wasn’t there for crowd or the food. I was there to see a band that one of my “myspace friends” turned me onto. (And I can’t thank her enough.)

Rilo Kiley…

They were headlining the Saturday Portion of the shows. While their set was short I have to say that I was blown away. I got pretty close to the stage and I was just in shock how talented this band is. It has been very rare in my life where I have seen someone perform and have almost been made physically ill because they are so talented. The lead singer Jenny Lewis played five instruments in their short set; she has a great voice, great lyrics, and great stage presence. I actually felt like I was watching something special.

Go to their page right now:

http://www.myspace.com/rilokiley

At least listen to Portions for Foxes and It’s a Hit… I have turned a few people onto them already… But these guys are seriously the next big thing. They are opening for Coldplay starting this week… I just can’t believe that they will not just blow up.

Finally on Sunday I made my way down to Carson to catch my usual summer show, The Dave Matthews Band.

First let me comment on a couple of things.

The Home Depot Center is really nice. I am glad the US National Soccer Team has a home, and I want to go back to see a game there very badly. It was a great setup and I was impressed.

The second thing is I think this was the first Dave Matthews Band concert that I have been to that hasn’t sold out or has been super close to selling out. LA sucks… Plus the crowd was eh… It just wasn’t the same as seeing them at SPAC or some of the other east coast venues I am used to. I love the fact that LA people love to show up late and leave early… Ugh… You know you gotta beat traffic!

The John Butler Trio opened the show and they were great. I have been listening to them for a little bit now and I was happy to see them live. It was disappointing though that like 1/20th of the crowd was there at best… I mean the place was EMPTY. Once again LA sucks.

http://www.myspace.com/johnbutlertrio

Take a listen… All three songs on there are good.

Jason Mraz was next… He sucks… let’s move on.

DMB played… One of the better set lists I have been to. The show was good, the crowd sucked, and I think the version of Lie in Our Graves they played might have been one of the better ones I have seen. Also watch tower with Robert Randolph was unbelievable. It was the first time I have seen him play with the band… I have seen DMB for about ten years in a row every summer… I can never complain about there shows… Good times everyone.

Sunday Aug 28 2005
Home Depot Center

Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel
What Would You Say
One Sweet World
When The World Ends
Stand Up
Lie In Our Graves
American Baby Intro
Dream Girl
Warehouse *
Steady As We Go
Hunger For The Great Light
Ants Marching
Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd
You Might Die Trying
Tripping Billies
All Along The Watchtower *+

__________________

Old Dirt Hill
What You Are

Show Notes:
* Leon Mobley
+ Robert Randolph