What's There Left To Believe In?

Good music, if nothing else. I never did mention how great The Veils show was a couple weeks back at the Empty Bottle. The sound's shite there, yeah, but it's such an intimate setting, which is perfect for The Veils. I didn't take this photo (my iPhone decided to flake on me that night), but this was my view to a tee. The photographer was probably right next to me.... This article nicely sums up the feeling you get at a Veils show. They put it all out there for everyone to soak in. Finn's mesmerizing, which made for one of the better shows I've seen in a long time.

And if you're wondering how Lolla with a stranger was... it was fun! Saw The Bird (Andrew) and the Kings of Leon, who never fail to disappoint, even at a festival full of... festival issues. They are so humble and sincerely so. The lead Followill bro kept thanking the crowd and telling us how surreal it was to see all the people (there were loads of 'em) there for them when just a few years back they scared away the 10 people who actually showed up to see them play a small Lolla stage within 10 minutes. Between songs he'd remind everyone that he knows how lucky they are to be in this position... that so many bands deserve it as much if not more than them, and so on. It was actually really sweet and kind of touching. They played a good set, a few songs off each album, and it sounded surprisingly awesome. We perched to the side where we could watch the screen and hear them without getting elbow to elbow with too many 16 year olds blowing j smoke in our faces. Not that I mind a whiff here and there, no not at all, but it has a way of making one feel a bit ... old.

The rest of the evening followed suit... late dinner at Fox & Obel, saw a damn nice view of the city (how the other half lives), and got home via an empty Lower Wacker Drive (think Batman) at about 100 mph in a car that could take it. It's not often in the city you can go very fast... anywhere, so it sated my craving for a little speed. All in all, a very fun night. So often it's those nights I least expect to deliver that surprise me.

One More Thing

And then, yes then, I'll put full focus on the mound of work floating about in front of me... terrorizing me. So tonight I see the one, the only, The Veils for the second time in the flesh. The first time resulted in a very shy version of myself meeting a couple members of the band and leaving very very pleased (as punch, even) with the show...

It also resulted in the venue where they played stalking me in the months to follow. I made the mistake of filling out one of those "win something!" forms at the door. And admittedly criticized D and his bandmate for NOT filling one out too... why wouldn't they??? Well, I'll tell you why. Because about 2 times per month the Lakeshore Theatre calls to offer me TEN FREE TICKETS! to a no-name comedy show I don't want to see. And they won't let me off the hook 'til I've admitted I don't know 10 people, let alone 10 people I could convince to join me at a shite comedy show. Once I've been made to feel a bit of a loser and a bit of a bitch for rushing to get off the phone, the trauma's over but not without its ripple effect. By the time they call me again, I've forgotten the number, don't recognize it, think b/c it's "312" I might should answer... and am proven wrong, friendless, and thankless. Once again. It's a lovely cycle.

Tonight, however, the show's at the Empty Bottle (cheers), one of my favorites, which happens to be just a couple doors down from the cat I'm sitting this week... and so it's going to be a lovely night of biking to cat, then hoofing to venue where I'll meet my fellow concert goer, getting my veils on, and biking back home... whilst praying I don't get hit by a car.... so i don't damage gg's lovely wheels (nor myself).

photo via thinking about stickers, soph the bassist's blog that gives you a v entertaining glimpse into a young band's life on the road.

Currently Revolving

Through my iPod and into my ears. Can't stop repeating it.

"Not Made For These Times"

On a less gloomy note, I'm all sorts of revved up to hear the new Veils album, coming out April 7th. Here's one of the new songs, which feels more reminiscent of songs from the former albums than some of the other new tunes I've heard. But we shall see... I'll resist voicing any opinions 'til I get the full effect from the complete album.

Finn and Dandy

How could I forget to mention that seeing The Veils last week was dandy times dandy. Ideally they would have played their entire discography, but they were the opener, and they performed in a tee-tiny theater and stood mere feet away from my lovin' ears. Alas... much like the adorable homo heckler who deliriously screamed out his appreciation during the show, "I couldn't have been happier than I [was] in that moment!!"

I actually met Finn Andrews before the show whilst he sucked down a ciggy and again after whilst... he sucked down another ciggy. Finn is the caboose in a train of musicmen I've "met" here and there over the years. "Met" having a wide variety of definitions, such as "making ass of self with" (Mike Skinner), "translating French boyfriend's nonsensical statements to" (Libertine's bassist), and the awe-inspiring "dating the roadie of" (no name needed), to name a few. Most recently there was Andrew Bird, who nearly tripped over my dog's leash coming out of the local hipster shop. I apologized, he ignored me and proceeded to speed-walk to his Honda Element. Be not afraid, Bird, I was merely following your skinny arse, not stalking you. Big diff. Besides, we've met before... the time I stood beside him after a show, and that other time he stood near me at Lula while we waited for brunching space. Yeah, we're BFF.

Most of these encounters leave me oddly tongue-tied, which was pretty much the case with darling Finn. It's not that I think they're super human (though I usually think them pretty super), but there's something weird about me recognizing them, them not knowing me from eve, and steamrolling them with excited conversation all the same. Not that I'm ever one to steamroll anyone with conversation, but in those cases I often get particularly frozen in a flurry of taciturnity. Unless I'm good and drunk. Which I was not in this case. Even after a few shots of Tequila (sad attempt at reliving Mexico).

Luckily D was there to pick up my sobering overanalytical pieces, thereby qualifying this one as an official meet and greet. Well done, D. Finn made polite conversation through puffs of smoke and told us the next album should be ready by March. Other meaningless conversation ensued, but who cares. He's handsome, breakably skinny, less effeminate than I imagined, and his bassist, Sophia (Finn's grammar school pal), was awkward cuteness at its best, both in person and hunched over on stage. Dandy indeed.

Dissever

I'm feeling a little like that gummy bear at the moment. Finally finished the second half of the plaintiff's deposition that started late last month. The thing went 7 hours all told. Highly unusual in light of the low level of complication, but probably speaks to my inexperience and the plaintiff's penchant for non-stop ramblings (useful at times, brain-burning at others). There were some awkwardly funny moments (discussing the changes in the "motion of the ocean" with a 66-year-old man comes to mind), but I'm too brain-blur-overloaded to elaborate at the moment.

But.... there's been a buttercream frosting-coated carrot (gross) dangling before me all day to help me through. That's right, my night with The Veils is finally upon me, and I couldn't be more excited! Unless I won the lotto, in which case a lot of things would change around here. Feeling very glad I scheduled the dep for today and not tomorrow. Now I can enjoy me some Finn Andrews & Co. hook, line and sinker.

Will report back tomorrow...

Earworm du Jour

This is "The Tide that Left and Never Came Back," by The Veils. Probably my favorite musical find in the last year or so, Finn Andrews, the virtual one-man-band behind the "veil" seems to be a bit of a musical genius. This song is off their first album, The Runaway Found ('04), which I had to buy from Japan. Ridiculous, but you do get two extra songs that way. Other songs to check out from that album:

The Wild Son, Guiding Light, Lavinia, and The Leavers Dance. Ok, just check out the whole album. Please.

Then there's their second album, Nux Vomica ('06), with more gems like: Calliope, Advice for Young Mothers to Be, and Under the Folding Branches, just to name a few...

In my layman's opinion, this band is seriously underrated.