a tank full of guppies

Last night I went with C to see the New Pornographers at the Barrymore. It was supposed to be three of us but unfortunately A was swamped so we had a spare ticket. The show was a make-up from last October when they had to cancel due to one of the band members having his appendix "explode in anticipation" as they described it last night. The fact that it was a make-up, and the fact that they're just cool meant that the show was sold out. C & I arrived after the doors were opened and there were a few people standing around outside but on a short glance I thought they were just smokers (ah, happy current Madison legislation). I walked up to the door and turned around and asked if anyone needed a ticket and it was like opening up a fish tank when the fish are starving.

The show was fabulous. I was prepared to be mostly really impressed by them, but only mostly since Neko Case wasn't with them. I am not a longtime fan of either Neko or the NP but I'm taken with her voice, and liked some of what I've heard of NP. Turns out I was totally impressed. Kathryn Calder was doing (a fabulous job with) the vocal lines Neko usually has, and out of 6 people on stage 4 had vocal mics (most often being used simultaneously). The really impressive thing though was to see how tight they were on stage. So together. So rehearsed. So easy going and powerful. The played strong live versions of most of Twin Cinema (including a great more energetic version of Streets of Fire than the one on CD), a very cool Testament to Youth in Verse & The Laws Have Changed from EV, and a standout The Body Says No (or maybe I just like that song). Yes I looked up all of that songX on albumY bit because even though I recognized lots, no, I couldn't have told you a song name yesterday. I'm fully converted.

The other yay surprise for the evening was the opening music. I didn't go in so much for the first act but the second act (self-labeled "meat in an awesome rock sandwich") was a group I'd heard about a while back and meant to look up but then forgot about. Hate it when that happens. But thanks to A so wanting to see this show (poor fellow) I found them again - Matt Pond PA. Go! Find. Contented mellow-rhythmic-melodic indie with a very engaging voice. Happy. I bought a CD. I can't remember the last time I bought a real CD. I've gone totally digital lately but I love the feeling of selling a CD at a show - it feels like such direct appreciation. So I own it. Of course I ripped it within minutes of arriving home. :-)