DC ROCK CLUB
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Hopping on the Bon-wagon


The other week we saw the current kings of the blogopshere: Vampire Weekend. They have a new album out with some catchy tunes and some not so catchy tunes. They're fun but the reality simply doesn't match the hype. Along with the hype comes the predictable backlash. Now you have bloggers either declaring them geniuses or saying they suck taint. There's very little middle ground.

This trend online to crown the next big thing annoys me for many reasons. I'll spare you the rant and just list two:

1) If the band comes to DC the show will be packed beyond belief. The Vampire Weekend show was ridiculous. Potsy, always the stickler for the rules, was appalled by the total disregard for fire laws. I was a little concerned too. I was silently mapping out the closet exit in case of disaster. Another example of large crowds was the Yeasayer concert last month. The whining about them not playing the Black Cat main stage was pathetic. Is it that hard to buy a ticket in advance?

2) Along with the hype comes the jackasses. Let me be specific: people who yell "Free Bird!" at shows. Lamest. Joke. Ever. It's even worse than using Comic Book Guy speak. To those who yell "Free Bird!": shut the fuck up already. The only thing that annoys me more is people who wear Dr. Seuss hats to concert festivals. I thought that trend died in the '90s but I saw it once against the Pitchfork Festival last summer.

Okay, so what's the next band to get the music blogs all excited? It could be Bon Iver.

Potsy was the first to give them the thumbs up. He heard a few songs on WOXY and said "me likey". Then Audiogram wrote a nice little something-something. There was also a very positive review on Pitchfork along with an interview. Anytime something is hailed by Pitchfork you have to be a little weary. They got it right on this one though.

You can stream his new album here. His songs have a stark, affecting quality. It reminds me of the first time I heard Iron & Wine. I was amazed how he made such great songs that we're so simple, stripped down, and spare. There are a million guys playing acoustic guitar but 99.9% aren't worth noting. So, take note, and check out Bon Iver tonight at the Rock & Roll Hotel as he opens for weed rockers Black Mountain. Unfortunately, illness, obligations, and travel means we can't make the show tonight as planned. I guess I'll just have to listen to it on NPR as I paint my apartment. Hey, anyone want to buy a swanky two-bedroom place in Courthouse?

2 comments:

KCG said...

I laughed. I cried.

I laughed at the hilarious observation about people who wear Dr. Suess hats to music festivals. So true! What the hell is up with that? It's nonsensical and silly, although so is Dr. Suess, so maybe I've just answered my own question.

I cried at the prospect of Rock Club not going out tonight because Jumbo has to paint his bedroom because he's selling his place. This does not bode well for us Rock Club fans. It does not bode well.

Anonymous said...

When I see someone in a Dr. Seuss hat, I think "how 90s." And that's not a compliment.

That guy at the top looks like a soap opera dramatization of being pensive. Not a quality I look for in a musician.