Flipside Movie Emporium

[j miller]

7-1-05

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (w/ the Black Crowes)

Summerfest

Although the Black Crowes gave only an OK performance, the Heartbreakers put on a unforgettable show. Petty included all the fan favorites, including a great rendition of "Mary Jane's Last Dance" and "Breakdown", as well as some covers and new songs. One of the songs was even from his upcoming album, "Highway Companion", due out later in December/early 2006. As part of their encore, they covered Dylan's "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" (earlier in the show was the Animals' "I'm Cryin'). At almost 2 hours of Petty alone, this may be the best concert I've been to so far. :D

My next big concert is U2 in Milwaukee this September.

Josh
_________________
My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.

--Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

[beltmann]

[Danny Baldwin]

[j miller]

U2 Vertigo 2005

Opening Act: Dashboard Confessional

Bradley Center, 9/25

What a show! Last night, I had an unbelievable time at the U2 concert in Milwaukee. Playing almost two hours, they included many of their hits as well as songs from their new album. I really liked that they mixed in songs like "Electric Co." and "40" to their set list.
_________________
My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.

--Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)

[beltmann]

We were on the floor at the Bradley Center, and U2 put on the exact show we anticipated, no more, no less. They certainly are polished, proficient performers, despite lacking spontaneity. The setlist and encores didn't deviate very far from what they've been doing on this current tour, but no matter--I still found what I was looking for. I only wish Bono hadn't altered the vocal rhythms of "With or Without You," but that's nitpicking, I know.

Many people were griping about the political content, but that seems churlish: U2 has always had an agenda and has always used their stage to advocate their causes. Exactly what did these naysayers expect? Besides, since the band's politics are deeply intertwined with their music and their image, a U2 show without Bono's political thoughts really wouldn't be a U2 show, would it?

I had hoped that a live Dashboard Confessional might help revise my unimpressed opinion of their records, but no dice: By the third song I had zoned out. They seem like smart, sincere, talented guys, but they produce music and lyrics that mean nothing to me.

Up next: Son Volt, Guster (in Chicago, not Madison), Jeff Tweedy solo (hopefully), and Riviera.

Eric
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"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

[Jordanio]

Did you get your tickets for the Jeff Tweedy show at the Orpheum Theatre yet, Mr. Beltmann? If so, I'll see you there; I just bought mine today. = )

- jordan.
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www.myspace.com/jordanmuehlbauer

[beltmann]

[beltmann]

Son Volt

10-14-05

The Rave II, Milwaukee

Last night Son Volt played in the underground dungeon of the Eagles Club, to a surprisingly sparse crowd (perhaps 300 people). I had the good fortune of occupying the spot at the rail directly in front of Jay Farrar.

The band sounded great, but the sound sounded terrible. Jay's voice was completely dwarfed--virtually the only way you could identify the songs was through the bass--which is particularly unfortunate since Jay's voice and lyrics are two of Son Volt's primary attractions. And the volume was cranked up far too high for the room's size. I had plugs and still my ears are ringing this morning. It was a great set, though, generous in length, with some terrific older choices (huzzah for "Caryatid Easy").

On a side note, the Fruit Bats opened and were fantastic. I haven't enjoyed an opening act so much since Riviera last spring.

Another sidenote: Upstairs in the Rave, the goth band Lockjaw was simultaneously playing. When I first arrived, I ran into one of Jay's flustered fans who mistakenly went upstairs. Hurriedly hopping down the steps, she warned "You do not want to go up there!"

Eric
_________________
"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

[beltmann]

Guster

10-29-05

The Riviera, Chicago

Another Guster concert, another ridiculously good time. No real surprises in the setlist--no "Fa Fa" but we did get the acoustic "Jesus On the Radio" that often serves as the encore--and the crowd in the seated balcony was unusually sedate, at least until a few of us in the front row stood up for "Barrel Of a Gun" (forcing the balcony's entire left side to stand). Our efforts were immediately appreciated by Ryan Miller, who smilingly mentioned the change in the balcony as soon as the song was over. Is it rude to stand up when others are seated beyond you? Perhaps, but it's simply unnatural to sit during a rock show. Fortunately, nobody seemed to mind in the least.

The perfectly serviceable opener was Matt Pond PA.

Eric
_________________
"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

[beltmann]

M. Ward

9-7-06

The Pabst, Milwaukee

I've seen a lot of good shows this year--Neko Case, Belle & Sebastian, New Pornographers, Wilco, Jenny Lewis, Andrew Bird, Guster, Northern Room--but each one merely confirmed my admiration for the artist in question. Seeing M. Ward, though, was unexpectedly revelatory: By the time we left, my admiration had deepened considerably. Even my wife, who had previously been lukewarm towards him, admitted that the show was among the best she's ever seen. (Didn't hurt that his set concluded with "Big Boat," which is her favorite Ward tune.)

His records display a remarkable gift for songwriting, and accurately capture his singular sound, which is a strange synthesis of old-timey conventions and modern rhythms. (It wasn't odd to hear him namecheck Vic Chesnutt and the Carter Family, while tearing it up as if he were a member of Radiohead.) But I needed a live setting to really grasp how Ward is a genuine virtuoso, especially on guitar... there were long stretches where the audience was clearly astonished at what was happening in front of us.

Here's a link to video of Ward's network debut a few weeks ago on Letterman, playing "Chinese Translation" from his new album Post-War. It's more subdued than the version I saw, but it's still pretty good:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xFp1oXoNuE

The opener was Shelly Short, a folk singer I found very bland.
_________________
"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment

[beltmann]

Since M. Ward in September, I have caught the following shows:

2006.10.03 - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins (openers Michael Runion; Vietnam) - Pabst Theatre, Milwaukee

2006.10.30 - Jeff Tweedy solo (opener Autumn Defense) - Pabst

2006.11.10 - Guster (opener Freshwater Collins) - Eagles Ballroom, Milwaukee

2006.11.21 - My Morning Jacket (opener Wax Fang) - Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee

The best was probably Tweedy or MMJ, and while Guster put on a good show, I'm feeling Gustered out right now.
_________________
"When I was in Barcelona they showed pornography on regular television. I'm assuming it's the same way in Mexico since they also speak Spanish." - IMDb user comment