The show was at The Fine Line in Minneapolis, a smaller size club that is set up more like a small restaurant with a bar along the side and a small balcony along the back and one side. The sound is decent unless you're in the back under the balcony, and I'd say that capacity is probably 400-500, maybe less.
Louis XIV 9:00PM-9:40PM
I was expecting them to be pretty good and they didn't disappoint. I always thought they were from the UK, but they're from San Diego. My bad. Anyway, my initial thought was that these guys really dress well. I'm not usually that interested in that type of thing, but seriously, they looked very stylish, but not in an annoying "hey look how cool I am" kind of way. I've only listened to their new album about twice, so I don't know it very well, and I've really only listened to a couple songs from their first album, but I would describe them as a cross between ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and Art Brut, with a little AC/DC thrown in (run-on sentence, sorry). I was a little thrown by the fact that there were six guys on stage, but two of them were violinists, and I don't think they're part of the actual band- they aren't listed as members on the album, plus, they're violinists. I don't know if it was the fact that it's been super freezing here lately (Oº to -10ºF) or people just didn't know the band's songs, but I was expecting more movement in the crowd, especially when they played "Finding Out True Love Is Blind." To be honest, the song was a little flat, but it did build to the point were people should have been moving more- it turned out to be a little more bobbing of heads than anything else. I almost was embarrassed that the crowd didn't seem to "get it." I hope it looked better from the stage.
In the end, I purchased a copy of their new album on vinyl that came with a free copy of it on CD. I looks like they're coming back in March, and I think I'll try to hit that show as well.
Hot Hot Heat 10:00PM-10:40PM
I actually thought that these guys were headlining, but in retrospect, it's probably a good thing that they didn't. I also thought they were from the UK, but they're from Canada, eh. Even though they've released three albums and I casually listened to the first two, I didn't really get into them until this past year when they released "Happiness Ltd." I thought that the singer's voice was a little annoying on the first two albums, but either I got used to it and was able to enjoy their newest, or the music was so good that I was able to overlook it. "Happiness Ltd." was one of my favorite albums of the year (top 20), so I was excited to see them live.
Maybe it was coupled by the fact that I'm really not that familiar with all of their songs and have focused on their newest album, but because I didn't recognize a lot of the songs, I couldn't really get into the act. And the singers voice was rather annoying live. A couple other things bother me as well- even thought the stage is pretty small, the four members of the band seemed very distant from one another. I guess if I was in a band where the singer moved around as much as this one does, I would fade to the back too. Overall, I got the feeling that this band was more suited for a Pop audience than I had originally thought- the singer actually reminded me of old footage of Leif Garrett, but maybe it was just the hair. They did end on a high note though- the last song they played was "Goodnight Goodnight." A fitting end, and probably the best song in their set, even though the ending was a bit grand for a rather uninspiring performance.
Editors 11:10PM-12:10PM
This was the band I was least excited to see out of the three. A few years ago I saw Interpol and was so bored that I almost fell asleep. Because of the comparisons to them, I was expecting a yawn-inspiring set from Editors. I was completely wrong. These guys stood out from the opening bands- their lighting (simple, but great colors), a little bit of smoke, and a really cohesive sound, was perfect. It was obvious that each member plays an equal part in creating their sound and it was amazing that you could listen to each instrument separately and understand how they all come together to have one distinct sound. Although they have been compared to Interpol and Joy Division, after hearing them live, I think they owe more to Kevin Shields than Ian Curtis. My overall thought was "I can't believe that these guys aren't bigger than they are." I went into the show thinking that they were a second-rate Interpol, but I guess they are one of those bands that you really have to see live to appreciate.
A few final thoughts-
• The state-wide smoking ban is such a blessing! It's so refreshing to be able to actually breath at a show and not go home reeking of cigarette smoke.
• The older the audience is, the less camera phones you see in the air. I swear most of the shows I've gone to over the last year people seem to be more focused on taking crappy photos than actually watching the performance. You saw them live and want a souvenir? Cool, take a picture. But seriously, do you need dozens? I only saw a few people taking pictures last night.
• Mid-80s short hair is coming back for women, and while I'm not usually a fan of shorter hair, they can pull it off if they're cute :p
• Somehow I was surrounded by couples in which the bf spent the entire show with his arms wrapped around his gf. Let them go for a second. Jesus, are you afraid that some guy might swoop in and steal them away if you even slightly loosen your grip? You only came to the show because you were afraid to let her out of your sight. If you don't even know that bands, stay home.
• Bands have a set list prior to the show. Annoying dude next to me- do you really think that they are going to play the song you're yelling the name of when they are four songs into the set? Shut up. And stop waving your arms in the air and "singing" (yelling).
• $6.25 is too much for one 12 oz. beer. Even if it is an import.
• $4.75 is too much for a shitty 12 oz. bottle of beer from Wisconsin.
• $1.25 for parking on the street a block away, priceless.
Louis XIV 9:00PM-9:40PM
I was expecting them to be pretty good and they didn't disappoint. I always thought they were from the UK, but they're from San Diego. My bad. Anyway, my initial thought was that these guys really dress well. I'm not usually that interested in that type of thing, but seriously, they looked very stylish, but not in an annoying "hey look how cool I am" kind of way. I've only listened to their new album about twice, so I don't know it very well, and I've really only listened to a couple songs from their first album, but I would describe them as a cross between ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead and Art Brut, with a little AC/DC thrown in (run-on sentence, sorry). I was a little thrown by the fact that there were six guys on stage, but two of them were violinists, and I don't think they're part of the actual band- they aren't listed as members on the album, plus, they're violinists. I don't know if it was the fact that it's been super freezing here lately (Oº to -10ºF) or people just didn't know the band's songs, but I was expecting more movement in the crowd, especially when they played "Finding Out True Love Is Blind." To be honest, the song was a little flat, but it did build to the point were people should have been moving more- it turned out to be a little more bobbing of heads than anything else. I almost was embarrassed that the crowd didn't seem to "get it." I hope it looked better from the stage.
In the end, I purchased a copy of their new album on vinyl that came with a free copy of it on CD. I looks like they're coming back in March, and I think I'll try to hit that show as well.
Hot Hot Heat 10:00PM-10:40PM
I actually thought that these guys were headlining, but in retrospect, it's probably a good thing that they didn't. I also thought they were from the UK, but they're from Canada, eh. Even though they've released three albums and I casually listened to the first two, I didn't really get into them until this past year when they released "Happiness Ltd." I thought that the singer's voice was a little annoying on the first two albums, but either I got used to it and was able to enjoy their newest, or the music was so good that I was able to overlook it. "Happiness Ltd." was one of my favorite albums of the year (top 20), so I was excited to see them live.
Maybe it was coupled by the fact that I'm really not that familiar with all of their songs and have focused on their newest album, but because I didn't recognize a lot of the songs, I couldn't really get into the act. And the singers voice was rather annoying live. A couple other things bother me as well- even thought the stage is pretty small, the four members of the band seemed very distant from one another. I guess if I was in a band where the singer moved around as much as this one does, I would fade to the back too. Overall, I got the feeling that this band was more suited for a Pop audience than I had originally thought- the singer actually reminded me of old footage of Leif Garrett, but maybe it was just the hair. They did end on a high note though- the last song they played was "Goodnight Goodnight." A fitting end, and probably the best song in their set, even though the ending was a bit grand for a rather uninspiring performance.
Editors 11:10PM-12:10PM
This was the band I was least excited to see out of the three. A few years ago I saw Interpol and was so bored that I almost fell asleep. Because of the comparisons to them, I was expecting a yawn-inspiring set from Editors. I was completely wrong. These guys stood out from the opening bands- their lighting (simple, but great colors), a little bit of smoke, and a really cohesive sound, was perfect. It was obvious that each member plays an equal part in creating their sound and it was amazing that you could listen to each instrument separately and understand how they all come together to have one distinct sound. Although they have been compared to Interpol and Joy Division, after hearing them live, I think they owe more to Kevin Shields than Ian Curtis. My overall thought was "I can't believe that these guys aren't bigger than they are." I went into the show thinking that they were a second-rate Interpol, but I guess they are one of those bands that you really have to see live to appreciate.
A few final thoughts-
• The state-wide smoking ban is such a blessing! It's so refreshing to be able to actually breath at a show and not go home reeking of cigarette smoke.
• The older the audience is, the less camera phones you see in the air. I swear most of the shows I've gone to over the last year people seem to be more focused on taking crappy photos than actually watching the performance. You saw them live and want a souvenir? Cool, take a picture. But seriously, do you need dozens? I only saw a few people taking pictures last night.
• Mid-80s short hair is coming back for women, and while I'm not usually a fan of shorter hair, they can pull it off if they're cute :p
• Somehow I was surrounded by couples in which the bf spent the entire show with his arms wrapped around his gf. Let them go for a second. Jesus, are you afraid that some guy might swoop in and steal them away if you even slightly loosen your grip? You only came to the show because you were afraid to let her out of your sight. If you don't even know that bands, stay home.
• Bands have a set list prior to the show. Annoying dude next to me- do you really think that they are going to play the song you're yelling the name of when they are four songs into the set? Shut up. And stop waving your arms in the air and "singing" (yelling).
• $6.25 is too much for one 12 oz. beer. Even if it is an import.
• $4.75 is too much for a shitty 12 oz. bottle of beer from Wisconsin.
• $1.25 for parking on the street a block away, priceless.
