Fleet Foxes @ The Black Cat

A good friend and I are both leaving DC soon. This concert was kind of our farewell to one of our favorite venues - a band we liked, playing a sold out show - it was a perfect night. Unfortunately, like many of my friends, he's an idiot. Although he's 32, he let his drivers license expire two days ago, and when they checked IDs at the door they gave him two big black straight edge X's. Apparently, in his infinite wisdom, when he went to the bathroom he decided that it would be a good idea to wash them off and then go buy us beers before actually going upstairs into the show. And then of course, because he is not as clever as he was when he actually was underage, he got kicked out. At least he had time to buy me a beer.

Here's the review: They sound even better live - more impressive, immediate, and a lot louder. Seriously, go against your instinct and turn their album up loud. The songs sounded amazing. The Dutchess and the Duke were also great. The packed crowd was enthusiastic and I couldn't stop laughing to myself the entire show. NPR was taping it so you don't have to take my word for it.

awmercy's Summer Short List

1. Les Savy Fav Concert @ The Black Cat
   Renewed my faith that punk rock could be exciting, interesting, and fun.
   


2. The Blondes "Teenage Foxes"
   Classic, catchy (and creepy?) power pop with the sweet line: "I would like to meet teenage foxes/The kind that like blow pops/See me on the street/Looking spicy." Looking spicy?
   


3. Jay Reatard
   Everything I've heard from this guy is awesome; I can't wait to listen to his new singles collection.
   


4. Amoeba Records
   After living in DC (apparently the land of tiny record stores) for six years, every visit to Amoeba is a highly anticipated pilgrimage. Last time, I sacrificed precious moments at my brother's graduation to hunt down a $2 bargain bin copy of the Boggs' Forts.
   


5. Nudity
   So far it's been a good year for nudity in music! My favorites so far include the Throw Me The Statue album art, Tim Harrington's onstage costume changes (see #1), and the BPA's "Toe Jam" video (see below), which gave me a new appreciation for censorship. The enormity of all that skin is enough to induce some awesome indie rock inspired interpretive dancing.

THE BPA - THE BPA 'TOE JAM' FEAT. DAVID BYRNE & DIZZEE RASCAL