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in concert

Originally written 25.02.2002.

This past weekend was full of good music. I could give you a thousand reasons why I love music and going to shows. However, I’ll just give you a hundred reasons, or actually the band Hundred Reasons who Iain and I went to see at the Liquid Room Sunday night. The show was opened by some British punk mainstays, Douglas and Capdown, as well as some other ska-punk meets youth crew band whose name I don’t remember. The first band was a bit typical, but they were having fun, as was the rest of the crowd, so I was down. The Gorilla Biscuits cover was good at least. Douglas played second, and I was really impressed. Basic slowed down, punkish rock music, but really good. The only low point was when the singer climbed on the balcony and dove into the crowd, landing on some kid and seriously injuring him. Not cool. The lead singer was really sorry, at least, and urged the rest of the kids to not attempt any further stage diving. It was at this point that I realized how nice of a guy Iain really is because he was really bothered by the irresponsibility of the lead singer at a point where even I found myself being a bit of a show antic apologist. Despite the injuries, they still played a good set. Capdown was next, and they were pretty good. Pilfers-esque ska mixed with some speedy hardcore punk. Not really my thing anymore, but they were good and energetic. Rob’s friend, who accompanied us to the show but didn’t really say much, thought they were better than Hundred Reasons. She was so wrong. Hundred Reasons played last. Iain said it was one of the best shows that he had ever seen. I wouldn’t go that far, but it was the best show I’d seen in a while. No frills, just great intensity. The band were clearly a bunch of old pros at playing shows, because the pacing of the show was spot on. They seamlessly transitioned from some of their more metally songs into the slower, more melodic numbers and back again. I thought we were camping because they were in-tents.

After the show, we stayed up late to watch the rock hour on Viva Plus, the German music TV station. Before the show came on, we got a chance to experience Marco’s drunken antics. Iain grabbed his camcorder and got some prime footage. Marco managed to get partially naked, whip it out, make a man-gina, and then shake his butt, all in front of the camera. He then started brandishing a chair as Iain retreated to protect his rare footage of the king monkey in his natural habitat. I would like to secretly send the video in to the auditions for the reality TV show Big Brother. It would be pure carnage.

By the time the Rock Hour came on, it was pretty late, but I still watched most of it before they started showing lame Marilyn Manson videos. The early part of the show featured live footage, videos, and interviews from Andrew W.K., an American artist who I had never heard before, but is probably huge. They play this cheesy Ramones-meets-hair-metal sort of music, and it’s pretty bad, but strangely fun. His interviews are interesting, but the weirdest thing is that one can’t quite tell if he’s serious about the whole thing or not. Anyway, it’s a good antidote for jokers like Fred Durst who take themselves far too seriously and really shouldn’t.

Saturday didn’t have any shows, but I did buy a ticket to see the consummate Scottish indie rock band, Belle & Sebastian. That’s right. I get to see Belle & Sebastian on the only Scottish date of their spring tour and you don’t. Suckers. I was afraid that I wouldn’t get a floor ticket, but the guys at Ripping Records were nice enough to go through the trouble of giving me the ticket in the front of the store window. Wow! Yeah, so I’m really excited. Seeing Belle & Sebastian was secretly one of my goals in coming to Scotland, and I’m glad that I’m going to make my dreams a reality.

Friday, I went to see the Scottish Symphony Orchestra play a program of contemporary Scottish (I think) composers (Alasdair Nicolson, Karen Francis, Nigel Osborne, Selena Kay, and Malcolm Hayes) in some cool old church. I went with Pete who was cool enough to hook me up with a free ticket. He has been introducing me to a great deal of music outside of my traditional staples and has also been kind enough to answer my questions about music theory and has done his best to explain, despite my utter stupidity when it comes to music theory. I think the concert was being broadcast on one of the BBC radio stations, so that was pretty ace. The concert was pretty good. It didn’t blow me away, but it was nice. I couldn’t help but think that Pete, despite the fact that he was pretty stoned, could get so much more out of the music than I, given his musical background and uncanny intuition into all things musical.

glossary:

  • Hundred Reasons

    Hundred Reasons is probably the best UK band that you’ve never heard. Surely they’ll soon release a big album in the states and be adored by the newly post-hardcore loving mainstream rock media (much to Iain’s chagrin). These guys have a very straight forward post-hardcore type sound. It’s nothing new, but they do it so well. In my opinion their best asset is the three way screamed/melodic vocals. It is vaguely reminiscent of Hot Water Music and Recover, and, as is the case with those bands, adds a wonderful richness to the music. They recently released a split with Boston new-emo rockers, Garrison.

  • The Liquid Room

    The Liquid Room is a medium sized venue (Columbus kids think slightly smaller than the Newport, Mid-Atlantic kids think the 9:30 club) in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It tends to cater to a punk, indie, post-hardcore, etc. crowd with shows from fairly well known bands in the aforementioned genres. It is also the home to Evol, the weekly Friday indie club night.

    9c Victoria Street

    Edinburgh, UK

    225 2564

  • Ripping Records

    Suck-ass in terms of record selection, but absolutely the place to buy tickets and check out show listings in Edinburgh. The older guy who runs the place was even nice enough to give me the last Belle & Sebastian ticket from the store window so the shop is ace in my book.

    South Bridge

    Edinburgh, UK