Andrew Bird & Tortoise
After taking a day or two to reflect on the Inauguration (as well as thaw out) I thought I'd drop a quick review of Monday's pre-Inaugural Big Shoulders Ball at the Black Cat in DC. Sponsored by Hideout Chicago, the "Ball" featured a number of Chicago artists as well as Ted Leo who records for Chicago-based Touch & Go Records.
My buddy Mike and I arrived around 9:30 to hear the music of Sun Ra interpreted by Jeff Parker and John Herndon of Tortoise and jazz saxophonist Ken Vandermark. Looking around we found an odd array of the usual Black Cat crowd combined with those in actual Ball garb (both ironic and formal). Tortoise, for whom I was most excited to see having never seen them live before, were next. They ripped through five or six songs in their alloted 25 minutes including Along the Banks of Rivers and Seneca although I was a little sad that Herndon didn't bring his vibraphone, cause really who doesn't love a vibraphone?
Andrew Bird, who for all intents and purposes, was considered the headliner hit the stage at 10:30 with Tortoise backing him for the first few songs - as well as Sally Timms of the Mekons and Janet Bean of Freakwater and Eleventh Dream Day on vocals. I don't Andrew was given enough time (~25 min) to hit his stride although his rendition of Syncthian Empires was really quite amazing.
After a bizarre set of covers by the Waco Brother - a sort of TexaCali rockabilly outfit fronted by a set of aging Brits - Ted Leo hit the stage. Ted, to no one's surprise, was the rare performer who expressed a degree of cynical reservation about the new administration before launching into some of his more cautionary tales like Bleeding Powers and The High Party.
After another drunk ranting by Ball emcee Tim Tuten, Eleventh Dream Day hit the stage. By this point in the evening it was past midnight and Mike and I knew we had to rise early to hit the Mall for the Inauguration so we left mid-set although what we heard sounded awesome.
I don't have any comments about the Inauguration to share here that haven't been shared by
others in far better terms. Let's just say I'm cautiously optimistic. Enjoy the music.
Andrew Bird performing live on the UK show From The Basement (video)
Ted Leo performing The High Party at Rolling Stone Studios (video)
Tortoise Eros (mp3)
Eleventh Dream Day Writes A Letter Home (mp3)
My buddy Mike and I arrived around 9:30 to hear the music of Sun Ra interpreted by Jeff Parker and John Herndon of Tortoise and jazz saxophonist Ken Vandermark. Looking around we found an odd array of the usual Black Cat crowd combined with those in actual Ball garb (both ironic and formal). Tortoise, for whom I was most excited to see having never seen them live before, were next. They ripped through five or six songs in their alloted 25 minutes including Along the Banks of Rivers and Seneca although I was a little sad that Herndon didn't bring his vibraphone, cause really who doesn't love a vibraphone?
Andrew Bird, who for all intents and purposes, was considered the headliner hit the stage at 10:30 with Tortoise backing him for the first few songs - as well as Sally Timms of the Mekons and Janet Bean of Freakwater and Eleventh Dream Day on vocals. I don't Andrew was given enough time (~25 min) to hit his stride although his rendition of Syncthian Empires was really quite amazing.
After a bizarre set of covers by the Waco Brother - a sort of TexaCali rockabilly outfit fronted by a set of aging Brits - Ted Leo hit the stage. Ted, to no one's surprise, was the rare performer who expressed a degree of cynical reservation about the new administration before launching into some of his more cautionary tales like Bleeding Powers and The High Party.
After another drunk ranting by Ball emcee Tim Tuten, Eleventh Dream Day hit the stage. By this point in the evening it was past midnight and Mike and I knew we had to rise early to hit the Mall for the Inauguration so we left mid-set although what we heard sounded awesome.
I don't have any comments about the Inauguration to share here that haven't been shared by
others in far better terms. Let's just say I'm cautiously optimistic. Enjoy the music.
Andrew Bird performing live on the UK show From The Basement (video)
Ted Leo performing The High Party at Rolling Stone Studios (video)
Tortoise Eros (mp3)
Eleventh Dream Day Writes A Letter Home (mp3)
