The Living Rockumentary

Tiny, I'm all ready to post the latest Gig Diary. If you have something to add post it today. Here's my thoughts:

Feb. 21, 2003 - Eagles. This was the first time School for the Dead has played at the Eagles, although each of us has graced the stage at one time or another in other projects. It's a strange venue and I can't seem to make up my mind about it, which is fine. Like many clubs it is owned and run by people who have no interest-in or understanding-of the local music scene, however it is booked by two guys who go out of their way to organize great shows. They seek out interesting talent and try to build sets that go together well and they are extra-enthusiastic about getting the word out. They have a nice big sound system but it is always too loud and screechy and reverby. They have really cool stage lights. The atmosphere is of a strange afterschool cafeteria, the bar is very limited. The whole place is run with no pretension, I think that's why people dig it. There are, though, a lot of really drunk guys on power trips who help out with things like checking ID's and flipping breakers on and off during sound check.

We were pleased to be added to this set on Friday and were very squeezed in, playing our shortest set ever. It was rushed and energetic and we did ok. I asked the audience if we were too loud at one point because they seemed to all move to the back of the room. Nobody really answered and then one person sort of said, you sound good. I am pretty sure we were way too loud (nothing we could do about it) but it's really hard to get any response from an audience when you ask such things. We debuted the new song "Something's Taking Over" but it felt like a whole other song. I never meant it to be that fast and hopefully we can figure it out at practice tonight. The rest of the songs sounded good, the harmonies especially were excellent.

A Pollinaire Rave was fun. I think I enjoyed it because I just couldn't figure out what they were trying to do. They were at their best when they were at their most absurd. I like what I have heard from Of Montreal. When Lesa and I went to TT's with Ken to see them, we were completely overwhelmed by the thick crowds, thick thick smoke, and the super loud music. It was the type of atmosphere that I could only overcome if it was a band that I already completely loved, like Ken did. But as it was it was just too abrasive in the room (not the band, just everything else) to endure.

Back to the Eagles, at the end of the night, I realized I hardly took any pictures at all, and none of A Pollinaire Rave which was really too bad. We got four drawings.