we saw: Animal Collective @ Grand Ballroom

"Am I Really All The Things That Are Outside of Me?"

(Photo by Jonny Leather)
Wow. That was one hell of an Inauguration. As if they'd been locked in a travel dog cage for months, Animal Collective absolutely tore the 7th floor of the ole Manhattan Center apart. Frightening squiggles of sound, industrial strength polyrhythms and guttural bass, the evening felt as much like a celebration of all things AC as it did a welcoming party for some bizarre new world order. The folks at BV said "the show could have been louder", which is perplexing considering the sound was, for lack of a better term, "in your fucking face." When Geologist dropped the bass during "Guys Eyes", I could literally feel my legs buckle. The sheer physicality of it was so raw, you couldn't help but feel moved. So much so that during "Brother Sport" I was fairly convinced the floor at the Grand Ballroom would give out and a handful of revelers would fall through and end up on the 6 floor only to continue dancing, listening as sound trickled through an Alice-like rabbit hole above. Not only did this show eclipse the mega-hype of MPP, but it proved, once and for all, that, if anything, Animal Collective are band of the people, and they do a damn good job of making the people happy. As if my general lack of hearing, and the "my face was melted by the arch of the covenant" look wasn't enough to take away from the show, NYC Taper, God bless his soul, captured the evening and has made the whole thing available in both FLAC and MP3. Download Animal Collective Live at the Grand Ballroom HERE.



Setlist (from NYC Taper)
In The Flowers
Leaf House
Blue Sky
Guys Eyes
Summertime Clothes
Daily Routine
Lion in a Coma
Lablakely Dress
Fireworks
My Girls
Brother Sport
Encore
Beat
Slippi

tonight: Animal Collective @ Grand Ballroom

"Oh Oh"
Animal Collective on Inauguration day. New World Order here we come.

we saw: Fleet Foxes at Grand Ballroom

"When I First Came To Town They Called Me The Roving Jewels"
(Photo by Play Vicious)
As expected, last nights Fleet Foxes show at the Grand Ballroom was another blessing. No surprise, considering every time we've seen them, with exception of Pitchfork Fest, they've been absolutely magical. Last night's set wasn't too different from what I've seen in the past, but it did feature a healthy Robin, a first for us New Yorkers, and a standing Robin taboot. Highlights of the evening were Robin's solo, totally unplugged versions of traditional standard "Katie Cruel", a personal favorite, and "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song." They also unleashed a not-quite-finished new song, "Silver City", which they've been playing on the road, and features Robin on electric guitar. And, of course, "Mykonos" continues to define itself as the definition of new American gospel folk, a made up genre that perfectly suits le Fleet Foxes. If our prior posts on the wonders of the Fleet Foxes didn't make you immediately buy tickets to their next show, please do yourself a favor and make it happen. You will not be disappointed.

Setlist:Sun Giant->Sun Rises->Drops in the River, English House, White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, Your Protector, Crayon Angels (Judee Sill Cover) {Robin solo}, Oliver James{Robin solo}, Quiet Houses, He Doesn't Know Why, Mykonos,

Encore: Katie Cruel (Traditional) {Robin unplugged, solo}, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song {Robin unplugged, solo}, Silver City(new song), Blue Ridge Mountains

Fleet Foxes- Silver City (Live at the El Rey Theatre) (new song)
Fleet Foxes- Katie Cruel (Nashville Sessions)
Fleet Foxes- Mykonos (BBC Sessions)