I remember a McCutcheon post where he talked about going to a show by himself, standing in the corner, smoking cigarettes and feeling estranged from the audience. Sometimes there are shows you just have to see even if you can't get anyone else to go with you. Last night I went to see Iron & Wine at The House of Blues in Chicago.
I got there around 7:30, went to the bar and ordered and over priced Bud Light and six shots of Jamisons. I sipped the whyskey and chased it with the beer until 9:00. "A Band of Horses" was the first opening act and has definitely shaped their music in the shadows of Iron & Wine. It was the second opening act was terrible. This guy Eric Johnson epitimizes everything I hate about the Indie Rock scene with his tie and dark rimmed glasses but more so for his generic folk. The only line he sang that stuck to me was "stars in the western sky" and only for it's cliched usage.
But on to Iron & Wine.
They came out and opened with "Jezebel" off their new EP "Woman King." It was a great opening song and set the mood for Iron & Wine's display of their transition from their older "simpler" (but brilliant) stuff to the more sophisticated sound they are working with now. After "Jezebel," they brought out a bassist and two percussionists. I was surprised and eager to see how a 6 piece band could work with such delicate material. They went into an updated and more moving version of "Passing Afternoon" and the song only got better with the added instuments. They ended up playing everything off the "Woman King" EP. I'd listened to it a couple times before the show and it didn't catch me right away as much as their earlier work. However, their live performance brought out the intensity in the songs (and it is an intense album). It was enough to get me to revisit the album and really start to like it. And who can't like the line "We were born to fuck eachother?"
The show was a good mix of upbeat moving songs and the trademark post-folk songs that have showcased Sam's great lyrical writing, his voice, and probably his best attribute--his memorable melodies.
I can't say much for the Chicago crowd though. Between each song Sam has to constantly change his tunings to create Iron & Wine's unique sound. While tuning he was met with obnoxious jeers from F.I.B.s who thought they were at a Cubs game.
"Freebird!!!"
"Jesus! The Mexican Boy!!! Undalay!!!
Sam did give the crowd twenty seconds of "Freebird" before saying "I don't think so." and turning away from the crowd to start the band's next number up.
All and all it was a show worth going solo for even dealing with all the ghosts I have at the House of Blues, the high drink prices, and the ticketmaster charges that turned my $16 ticket to a $32 ticket.
Review: Iron & Wine @ The House of Blues - Chicago
Review: Iron & Wine @ The House of Blues - Chicago
Last edited by bfj on Fri Apr 22, 2005 5:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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sara
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sara
"We were born to fuck each other"
Yes, I know. Great line. I said this on another website, but I'll say it again. The cd goes sort of plodding along, there's that really sweet soft number five, and then number six . . . with that line; it really was like an electrical shock to my nervous system during the first listen. I love the first listen. It's a great little thing.
Glad to hear it was good to see.
Yes, I know. Great line. I said this on another website, but I'll say it again. The cd goes sort of plodding along, there's that really sweet soft number five, and then number six . . . with that line; it really was like an electrical shock to my nervous system during the first listen. I love the first listen. It's a great little thing.
Glad to hear it was good to see.
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sara