Post by Meghan on Jul 20, 2008 11:27:41 GMT -5
So, I hit up the NJ, NY, and D.C. show this week and thought maybe I should make a brief post how each of them went. The New Jersey show was probably the smallest of the three, but it was still wonderful. I instantly befriended their opening bands, Johnny Action Figure and Ha Ha Tonka as they came off as having the same amiable attitude as SSLYBY.
I put in a random request for Travel Song to Phil before the set and he said maybe someday they'll play it again. Right before their set, Phil found himself in an epic battle with a 15 year old outside the venue when he went to make a phone call. And by epic value, some kids were trying to mug him, but he didn't have any money so they punched him to the ground, but a police car flashed their lights and stopped it.
Phil was a trooper and played the set like nothing happened. Good show, the sound was not the best, vocals were hard to hear over the instruments. But there were other people dancing, which I always appreciate so I don't appear entirely crazy. I'm trying to start a new thing, where you do-si-do (sp?) your partner during the chorus of dead right. so i adamantly forced my friends to succumb when they started playing it. someone was filming the entire show and its going to be posted on their site so i will definitely update with that. especially since they filmed me climbing on top of an amp in a gogo dress and leather boots dancing with a tambourine during oceanographer.
On my way to NYC the next day, I decided to get some gas in my town in NJ, so I pull up to a WaWa (look it up if you dont know what it is) and pull up to a pump. I see what I believe to be a mirage in the burning pavement of the parking lot, to which I yell, "Will?" Apparently wherever they were staying was right near my town. I felt like a stalker even though it was an accident haha I do not want to be Mel from Flight Of the Conchords.
The Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY was fairly interesting. This show had the best lighting out of the 3. Wakey! Wakey! was pretty okay, however I prefered SSLYBY's cover of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy than theirs. I met some girls behind me who were more than tipsy, but we agreed we had to dance at this show. Ha Ha Tonka tore up the stage better in NY, I really thought they would sell more than 1 or 2 CDs though... A lot of my friends actually preferred Ha Ha Tonka over SSLYBY (they never really listened to either band beforehand) The sound for Boris' set stood better than the night before, still, John Rob's voice didn't leave as much of a mark as I know it can at a show.
I met Jolie at this show! She was pretty cool and seemed to have a good time finally seeing the Boris kids in action. Once more, I taught new friends my determination to perform a do-si-do jig during Dead Right. I tried to get some strangers around my age who were standing still to have a little fun by during some swing dancing during We Can Win Missouri. The crowd was very enthusiastic, I had a lot of fun at this show.
After, Phil and I bonded over our drunk driving accusations by cops (I had gotten pulled over the night before for doing 45 in a 35) He showed me his battle wounds from Asbury as well. I don't know how anyone could be capable of hitting Phil in the face honestly.
It seemed like a good idea to head down to Baltimore on Friday since I had no one to go to the show with in Philly. I came down to pick up an old college buddy and see Katie, who I met at my 3rd boris show. It was fun catching up and I was really stoked to see SSLYBY finally play the main stage at the Black Cat. This show was twice 3 times as big as the Black Cat's backstage and man, it was packed! I'm so proud of D.C.
The sound was the best out of the three shows, however NY's small audience enthusiasm demolished the nearly sold out D.C. venue. Whatever, like that was going to stop me from having a good time. I actually got some people to follow suit with me and do-si-do without forcing them! John Rob's voice finally matched the skill level when I first heard them oh so long ago. Chalk it up to whoever was managing the mics. I was confused at a moment when Phil point at me with his drumsticks and then I realized, hey, he actually remembered my request for Travel Song! It was good to hear it live, since I'm sure I never would have otherwise. I gave Katie a maraca and pulled out my portable tambourine when the opening chords of Oceanographer echoed in the room, by the finishing chorus her and I were on stage rocking out with the Boris kids and some of Ha Ha Tonka. I hope someone blogged about that or at least got a photo.
It has been a good week, but now they're booking it back up to Ohio to play with Nick and as much as I would like to see that show, I'm a bit tuckered out with cash. But definitely get out to see them! Here are my setlist tips:
We Can Win Missouri - Best Song to Dance To
Beach Song - Good Feet Kicking Intro
Dead Right - Do-Si-Do your partner during the chorus
Oceanographer - Do Whatever the Heck You Want
-Meg
P.S. They did a collaborative illustration on my tambourine of an abstract interpretation of Phil's old house. I'll post a picture later. It's quite beautiful.
I put in a random request for Travel Song to Phil before the set and he said maybe someday they'll play it again. Right before their set, Phil found himself in an epic battle with a 15 year old outside the venue when he went to make a phone call. And by epic value, some kids were trying to mug him, but he didn't have any money so they punched him to the ground, but a police car flashed their lights and stopped it.
Phil was a trooper and played the set like nothing happened. Good show, the sound was not the best, vocals were hard to hear over the instruments. But there were other people dancing, which I always appreciate so I don't appear entirely crazy. I'm trying to start a new thing, where you do-si-do (sp?) your partner during the chorus of dead right. so i adamantly forced my friends to succumb when they started playing it. someone was filming the entire show and its going to be posted on their site so i will definitely update with that. especially since they filmed me climbing on top of an amp in a gogo dress and leather boots dancing with a tambourine during oceanographer.
On my way to NYC the next day, I decided to get some gas in my town in NJ, so I pull up to a WaWa (look it up if you dont know what it is) and pull up to a pump. I see what I believe to be a mirage in the burning pavement of the parking lot, to which I yell, "Will?" Apparently wherever they were staying was right near my town. I felt like a stalker even though it was an accident haha I do not want to be Mel from Flight Of the Conchords.
The Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY was fairly interesting. This show had the best lighting out of the 3. Wakey! Wakey! was pretty okay, however I prefered SSLYBY's cover of Gnarls Barkley's Crazy than theirs. I met some girls behind me who were more than tipsy, but we agreed we had to dance at this show. Ha Ha Tonka tore up the stage better in NY, I really thought they would sell more than 1 or 2 CDs though... A lot of my friends actually preferred Ha Ha Tonka over SSLYBY (they never really listened to either band beforehand) The sound for Boris' set stood better than the night before, still, John Rob's voice didn't leave as much of a mark as I know it can at a show.
I met Jolie at this show! She was pretty cool and seemed to have a good time finally seeing the Boris kids in action. Once more, I taught new friends my determination to perform a do-si-do jig during Dead Right. I tried to get some strangers around my age who were standing still to have a little fun by during some swing dancing during We Can Win Missouri. The crowd was very enthusiastic, I had a lot of fun at this show.
After, Phil and I bonded over our drunk driving accusations by cops (I had gotten pulled over the night before for doing 45 in a 35) He showed me his battle wounds from Asbury as well. I don't know how anyone could be capable of hitting Phil in the face honestly.
It seemed like a good idea to head down to Baltimore on Friday since I had no one to go to the show with in Philly. I came down to pick up an old college buddy and see Katie, who I met at my 3rd boris show. It was fun catching up and I was really stoked to see SSLYBY finally play the main stage at the Black Cat. This show was twice 3 times as big as the Black Cat's backstage and man, it was packed! I'm so proud of D.C.
The sound was the best out of the three shows, however NY's small audience enthusiasm demolished the nearly sold out D.C. venue. Whatever, like that was going to stop me from having a good time. I actually got some people to follow suit with me and do-si-do without forcing them! John Rob's voice finally matched the skill level when I first heard them oh so long ago. Chalk it up to whoever was managing the mics. I was confused at a moment when Phil point at me with his drumsticks and then I realized, hey, he actually remembered my request for Travel Song! It was good to hear it live, since I'm sure I never would have otherwise. I gave Katie a maraca and pulled out my portable tambourine when the opening chords of Oceanographer echoed in the room, by the finishing chorus her and I were on stage rocking out with the Boris kids and some of Ha Ha Tonka. I hope someone blogged about that or at least got a photo.
It has been a good week, but now they're booking it back up to Ohio to play with Nick and as much as I would like to see that show, I'm a bit tuckered out with cash. But definitely get out to see them! Here are my setlist tips:
We Can Win Missouri - Best Song to Dance To
Beach Song - Good Feet Kicking Intro
Dead Right - Do-Si-Do your partner during the chorus
Oceanographer - Do Whatever the Heck You Want
-Meg
P.S. They did a collaborative illustration on my tambourine of an abstract interpretation of Phil's old house. I'll post a picture later. It's quite beautiful.