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puchuupoetThis feels so dorky to write, but there are no words that can accurately describe the concert tonight (there are potential typos though, and if so, blame them on the brandy :p). And I'm watching the Sharks/Kings game right now, and if it ends up the way I want it to, this will be the most epic of nights ♥
(eta: omg ilu Sharks. So much right now)
Old Crow Medicine Show was up first, around 6pm, and I vaguely remember trying to listen to one of their songs beforehand, but obviously picking the wrong one. Cause omfg, they're amazing. Talented and adorable and fucking hot, and the music is mindblowing. There was standup bass, harmonica, all sorts of stringed instruments that I wish I could name by sight but can't. If I could roll around in the sound, I would, no questions asked (this statement is true of all the bands that played tonight). There was a linen suit and leather cowboy hat and nuzzling and harmonica solos and just, so much perfection there. Also craploads of twang and accents, which unf ♥ (again, which happened the whole night long).
What draws me to this music, this mix of country indie folk revival, are the lyrics. Which isn't too surprising, but god, what wordsmiths they are, such simple statements set to music and suddenly everything becomes clear, obvious, and I wish I could do the same.
I wish I could play music, any type, really. Just so I had that ability to connect my words to something else, to make them tangible, to bring them to life in a different sort of way. Tonight's music was about hearing the words in a different light, a new interpretation, and god, I learned so much.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes were next, and honestly, before this show, I loved them and then meh'd towards them. I only knew of "Home" beforehand, and saw a video, which was adorable and flirty (which in turn made me feel jealous and voyeuristic). Their music was amazing tonight, but I think it's a band I'll be more prone to listening to rather than seeing them live (and that's based massively on personal preferences). The main male singer is prone to dressing in tunics and coming across as a revival minister in his actions/dance/stage presence(![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
playthefool agreed with me on this one lol). It isn't a bad thing, really, but the image and the music don't connect in my brain. I can't see myself seeking the band out just to see them live, but if they were paired with another band I loved, I'd be down to see them again.
(I'm listening to ES&TMZ right now, and am enjoying them more than I did before the concert. Not sure what it is, but that's what happens 99% of the time. It takes seeing an artist/group live for me to fully enjoy the cds).
And then omfg Mumford & Sons. Just. I really have no words for this. There was a lot of flailing and singing and grabbing atplaythefool during their set. It was epic. And I'm pretty sure I lost my voice singing along with them.
Started off with "Sigh No More", ended with "Awake My Soul" and then "The Cave", with all sorts of favorites in between. I may have teared up/cried during the last two. Again, those lyrics + his voice + the instruments and just, guh, so perfect on all levels. And there were new songs, perfect songs, and I'm waiting for people to upload videos on Youtube just so I can get the lyrics down, get them cemented in my brain because yet again, there was something sung that I saw reflected in myself.
(and omfg, how is Marcus Mumford so adorable? "If it's okay with you guys, can we play another new song?" God yes please. Again and again, however many you want. Because the crowd will continue to stand in silence, until we all pick up the beat and lyrics and are able to join in once more. And he swore, something along the lines of "fucking shitload", which somehow made me adore him even more.)
They were more of a blur than the other two, and I think it's because they were the reason I was there. Songs flowed into songs, flashing lights in the background and the white cloud of pot smoke hanging over the crowd's heads. It was an Experience, and I'm pleased I can cross off seeing Mumford & Sons on my bucket list, and even more pleased to add them back on again, for another round. Hopefully in a more intimate setting next time, but fuck, I'll take what I can get with those boys.
And god, there was such a feeling of family going on throughout the show. Bands joined each other on stage, either a few added in or the whole crew jumping in to bring the crowd to their feet. You could see Marcus Mumford on the side of the stage during Old Crow's set, drinking his beer and loudly singing along with them, his bandmates joining in on the stage. The accordians from Edward Sharpe joined in Mumford's set later on, and at the very end everyone was on stage, extra mics crammed on there so that everyone could sing along:
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Don't carry nothing but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
A perfect end to it all; a song of promise and hope and you could see on their faces that tonight pleased them as well. The first show of a six show tour, and the crowd was left singing and clapping along, chanting and giving them thumbs up.
And I'm listening to them now, Mumford and Edward and Crow, and god, trying to hold onto the feeling for as long as I can. I'm crying again now, and I'm nto sure if it's the brandy or the lyrics or exhaustion, but it's happy crying. It's that relief that comes when you find someone that can sum up your thoughts perfectly, even if you can't yourself.
I came away from the concert with loads of story ideas and inspiration, weak legs, a lost voice and an awesome concert t-shirt. And I'm sort of torn between wanting to describe it more, the way the stage looked against the San Francisco Bay, how the music was punctuated with the bellows of the steam engine and how it tied it all so tightly together. But I want to be selfish too, to replay the night over and over again in my head, roll around in the emotions and thoughts as much as possible before they disappate.
There are other concerts lined up on my horizon that make me squeal when I think of them, but tonight was everything I was hoping for and more. The bands kept bringing up the point that this was the first stop on a special tour, that we were all a part of something greater. And it's true, that there are five more chances to catch this collection of music and artists. And even with Youtube and the internet, there's no way either can accurately capture what happened tonight: the energy and love and excitement that vibrated through everyone, from instrument to voice to the crowd echoing it all back to them.
And now I'm off to bed, to sleep in my concert t-shirt and cling tight to what just happened, and to dream of kettle corn and flaming snails and steam engines.
♥
(eta: omg ilu Sharks. So much right now)
Old Crow Medicine Show was up first, around 6pm, and I vaguely remember trying to listen to one of their songs beforehand, but obviously picking the wrong one. Cause omfg, they're amazing. Talented and adorable and fucking hot, and the music is mindblowing. There was standup bass, harmonica, all sorts of stringed instruments that I wish I could name by sight but can't. If I could roll around in the sound, I would, no questions asked (this statement is true of all the bands that played tonight). There was a linen suit and leather cowboy hat and nuzzling and harmonica solos and just, so much perfection there. Also craploads of twang and accents, which unf ♥ (again, which happened the whole night long).
What draws me to this music, this mix of country indie folk revival, are the lyrics. Which isn't too surprising, but god, what wordsmiths they are, such simple statements set to music and suddenly everything becomes clear, obvious, and I wish I could do the same.
I wish I could play music, any type, really. Just so I had that ability to connect my words to something else, to make them tangible, to bring them to life in a different sort of way. Tonight's music was about hearing the words in a different light, a new interpretation, and god, I learned so much.
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes were next, and honestly, before this show, I loved them and then meh'd towards them. I only knew of "Home" beforehand, and saw a video, which was adorable and flirty (which in turn made me feel jealous and voyeuristic). Their music was amazing tonight, but I think it's a band I'll be more prone to listening to rather than seeing them live (and that's based massively on personal preferences). The main male singer is prone to dressing in tunics and coming across as a revival minister in his actions/dance/stage presence(
playthefool agreed with me on this one lol). It isn't a bad thing, really, but the image and the music don't connect in my brain. I can't see myself seeking the band out just to see them live, but if they were paired with another band I loved, I'd be down to see them again.(I'm listening to ES&TMZ right now, and am enjoying them more than I did before the concert. Not sure what it is, but that's what happens 99% of the time. It takes seeing an artist/group live for me to fully enjoy the cds).
And then omfg Mumford & Sons. Just. I really have no words for this. There was a lot of flailing and singing and grabbing at
playthefool during their set. It was epic. And I'm pretty sure I lost my voice singing along with them.Started off with "Sigh No More", ended with "Awake My Soul" and then "The Cave", with all sorts of favorites in between. I may have teared up/cried during the last two. Again, those lyrics + his voice + the instruments and just, guh, so perfect on all levels. And there were new songs, perfect songs, and I'm waiting for people to upload videos on Youtube just so I can get the lyrics down, get them cemented in my brain because yet again, there was something sung that I saw reflected in myself.
(and omfg, how is Marcus Mumford so adorable? "If it's okay with you guys, can we play another new song?" God yes please. Again and again, however many you want. Because the crowd will continue to stand in silence, until we all pick up the beat and lyrics and are able to join in once more. And he swore, something along the lines of "fucking shitload", which somehow made me adore him even more.)
They were more of a blur than the other two, and I think it's because they were the reason I was there. Songs flowed into songs, flashing lights in the background and the white cloud of pot smoke hanging over the crowd's heads. It was an Experience, and I'm pleased I can cross off seeing Mumford & Sons on my bucket list, and even more pleased to add them back on again, for another round. Hopefully in a more intimate setting next time, but fuck, I'll take what I can get with those boys.
And god, there was such a feeling of family going on throughout the show. Bands joined each other on stage, either a few added in or the whole crew jumping in to bring the crowd to their feet. You could see Marcus Mumford on the side of the stage during Old Crow's set, drinking his beer and loudly singing along with them, his bandmates joining in on the stage. The accordians from Edward Sharpe joined in Mumford's set later on, and at the very end everyone was on stage, extra mics crammed on there so that everyone could sing along:
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
This train is bound for glory,
Don't carry nothing but the righteous and the holy.
This train is bound for glory, this train.
A perfect end to it all; a song of promise and hope and you could see on their faces that tonight pleased them as well. The first show of a six show tour, and the crowd was left singing and clapping along, chanting and giving them thumbs up.
And I'm listening to them now, Mumford and Edward and Crow, and god, trying to hold onto the feeling for as long as I can. I'm crying again now, and I'm nto sure if it's the brandy or the lyrics or exhaustion, but it's happy crying. It's that relief that comes when you find someone that can sum up your thoughts perfectly, even if you can't yourself.
I came away from the concert with loads of story ideas and inspiration, weak legs, a lost voice and an awesome concert t-shirt. And I'm sort of torn between wanting to describe it more, the way the stage looked against the San Francisco Bay, how the music was punctuated with the bellows of the steam engine and how it tied it all so tightly together. But I want to be selfish too, to replay the night over and over again in my head, roll around in the emotions and thoughts as much as possible before they disappate.
There are other concerts lined up on my horizon that make me squeal when I think of them, but tonight was everything I was hoping for and more. The bands kept bringing up the point that this was the first stop on a special tour, that we were all a part of something greater. And it's true, that there are five more chances to catch this collection of music and artists. And even with Youtube and the internet, there's no way either can accurately capture what happened tonight: the energy and love and excitement that vibrated through everyone, from instrument to voice to the crowd echoing it all back to them.
And now I'm off to bed, to sleep in my concert t-shirt and cling tight to what just happened, and to dream of kettle corn and flaming snails and steam engines.
♥
no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 10:08 am (UTC)♥
no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 10:13 am (UTC)I have a couple of blurry phone pics, as does
I've always had a love for the combination of road + rails + water, and the fact that these bands do as well? Gives me so much hope that I can eventually mold it into a way that others can relate to as well /drunkenrambling
♥
no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 10:17 am (UTC)It's great that they've captured what you love so much. I have no doubt you'll be able to do it too.
♥♥♥
no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 10:23 am (UTC)Heee, thank you ♥♥ (I have original fic that ties into that same love/desire, and while it needs repoking at, I'm hoping I can make it into something greater one of these days).
no subject
Date: 2011-04-22 10:26 am (UTC)Awesome. Maybe this'll help you connect the dots, or whatever you need to do.
no subject
Date: 2011-04-23 05:55 pm (UTC)I think I just need a new set of eyes to look at it and either tell me to keep poking at it, or that yes, it's self-indulgent and to push it to the side lol.