DISQUS

Your giant red-reflective pupils have never been more appropriate! Great look!

I love BRMC too much not to try and find some positive qualities in this experience. I'm definitely coming at this with WAY more of an open mind than I would for other experimental albums.

Truthfully I miss the soulful singing, beautiful lyrics and gut wrenching guitar. But I had a little fun pretending this was a soundtrack to a movie and walking through my imagination what Peter and Rob might have been experiencing with all the ambient noise and screeching.

Still, I don't think I have more than one ... maybe two listens in me.

Everything Raymond said!
DITTO DITTO DITTO

When he looks into the camera his eyes look haunted. It's harrowing and touching. Makes me catch my breath. I alternate between wanting to give him a hug and make out with him. [Except the bleached out highlights are strange]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the tattoo sleeve on what's his name is hilarious. it's all in the subtle details

hmmmm. I respect Raymond's defense of SF music scene (there's no doubt I'm lucky to have access to all the SF provides) but as far as the two arguments that are made, HRCs seems more fact based. More about cause & effect. The effects of SF cost of living and the venue diversification trend are more persuasive arguments than one that denotes Bay Area music goers for some strange reason aren't devoted enough or are more influenced by the sparkly lights of big tours.

Still, it's an interesting point of view. I think this calls for some consumer research ...

Robert, play in my face. IN MY FACE!

My crush continues to grow. I can't believe I didn't know about these after-show performances before the last few times I saw BRMC.

I'm thinking that the Presets maybe drew a bigger crowd (or at least a more enthusiastic one) than Cut Copy. Of course I'm biased because I'm a super fan for many of the good reasons you mentioned: great singing, good energy on stage, dark heavy beats.

And because I like you, I'll try to forgive you for this little quip: singing "borders on this cheesy ’50s crooner meets run-of-the-mill generic dance track". ahem! ;0)

So true with Sian. I was thinking that I should have painted fake eyes on my eyelids (just to be polite.. kinda like a screensaver) and gone into sleep mode to save my energy resources for the main act. Though the last song was redeeming and more in tune with the night's sound like you said.

That evening, the cards were not dealt in my favor. I starting getting tunnel vision/blacking out right when APTBS were coming out (dehydration I think). I was so excited to finally experience this show live that I actually tried to tough it out in the beginning. Alternating between standing at the side of the stage to sitting in the back to try and regain consciousness before standing back up. On the positive side it was kinda fun mixing that with strobe lights. Well worth it. Wish I could have seen the whole show but apparently I needed to pass out.

That's kinda rock'n'roll, right?

Finally, theatre I can drag you to!

That really is a perfect summary. Spot on! (uh oh, I might be suffering from Foreign Accent Syndrome)

Especially the crowd which turned the GAMH floor into a trampoline. You physically could not have stood there and not bounced around!

Great 'character' recap on the band!

I think, based on their music videos, I had expected the performance to be more theatrical and... graceful? (not the right word...) Though I now think that impression came from how effortless his voice sounds). In reflection I have to say I really appreciated that it was grittier and bare bones on the stage. (Though, I too, struggled to see through the dark shadows on stage) I especially liked that they pushed out the heavier industrial beats and frenetic dancing.

Also loved the juxtaposition between his feminine frame/voice/style and 'manly' 3 day beard! ;0)

Truer words were never spoken:

"For the band's current Lights in the Sky tour, Reznor has not only raised the bar for what's possible in an arena tour, but has also produced what could arguably be one of the most technologically ambitious rock productions ever conceived." (from the article)

Isn't Liam the more controversial/outspoken one? With the whole 'better than the beatles' comment and attitude that alienated American fans. I'm surprised that idiot went for Noah. What a terrible surprise! He didn't even see it coming.

Did you hear Robert say "we'll see you next time. we'll be back soon"? That got me excited. I need more. Around 5 o'clock I started to think Wait! There's no BRMC tonight? I have to just go home? Noooooooooo

Perfect description of Robert "blurring the boundaries" of stage and audience. The way he plays guitar, holding it up high to his ear as if he needs to hear the sound as it's being made in the hollow body. On more subdued songs he almost caresses it. And to do THAT crouched on the floor 3 inches (no exaggeration) in front of a girl's face? Hello!?! I hope that this girl was just shell-shocked as she surely didn't show any appreciation for that intimate experience. Next time they're at a small venue I'm going for 'rail'.

Robert, please play in my face. In my face! (Sounds almost dirty doesn't it? Maybe it should be. I think it's my new fetish.)

I was one of those, who said "Maybe I'll just go to the electric show. It's really what their sound is about anyway" I am SO glad I went to this acoustic set though for all the reasons you describe. Especially their interaction. The past two performances I've seen, it seems like they kept to their own sides of the stage.

This time it was so intimate I couldn't help but walk away feeling as if we were all friends now. That they sat down and played a set for me.

Plus I was able to really immerse myself in their voices since they didn't have to fight with a wall of sound that usually accompanies their performance. Truly beautiful and often gut-wrenching. I feel a little spoiled.

Oh, and are they not adorably shy? It's such an interesting dynamic when an artist performs so strongly on stage but when the last chord rings on the guitar, they tuck back inside their shell with a shy smile and brief glance to adoring fans. I just want to eat them up. ;0)

I am CONVERTED!! Hallelujah, praise NIN. [Insert speaking in tongues here] Somebody give me a goddamn candle to light in HIS name. [HIS = TR, of course]

Don't get me wrong, I knew the show was going to be pretty fantastic. I never doubt HRC's taste, but I didn't know it was going to be mind-altering. A totally sober uber-high that I will tell my better-be-music-freaks-or-else grandkids about.

I must have done something right to have been lucky enough to replace someone at the rail. Realizing that this girl was heading downhill I won't lie that sabotage didn't crossed my mind. But instead we gave her a snack bar to try and pick her energy level up but sadly she was yanked out. Sad for her, I mean. Best thing in the world for me.

Not only a virgin-NIN, but also a virgin rail-goer, I now see what all the fuss is about. Worth every second of arriving early, stressing and line-waiting. (even though that was kinda fun too) Being up close makes it so personal. I've never seen such a solid intense performance, perfect vocals combined with brilliant stage props, lights and antics. Really, the show was better than the best rock show I could have imagined. Thank you HRC for bringing me into this experience!

I was wide-eyed and opened-mouthed the entire time. awe. awe. awe. awe. awestruck!

... I just wished he would have played 'Me, I'm Not'. Oh well, guess it's not a bad song to have stuck in my head for the remaining years of my life.

I was just trying to figure out if HRC was being funny or if OTEP really played at the DNC. It's a reasonable question being Michael McDonald was our entertainment for Obama's speech night.

I'm starting to lean your way on the festival setup in general (though specifically about your Vegas comparison. It was ridiculous!), but I think a good time can be still be had depending on the company you keep. Festivals can be a great time to hear great tunes, discover new music, hang out with friends, walk around, be outside and people watch. And let me tell you, there were some interesting people to watch. Only in SF would a hippie chick have a french pedicure...

Mind you, if you're bundled up because it's 40 degrees at the end of August... that undeniably sucks.

But yes, festivals just do not compare to the intimate focused setting of an indoor show at say... Mezzanine. I just have to show up with the right expectations. Though to be honest, I think Treasure Island Festival get's as close as you can with an outdoor event. Looking forward to that one.

This is a joke, right? OTEP played at the Democratic National Convention? How is that possible?

After reading the comment below (or above?) I couldn't resist looking up R y G's cover of "Orion".
Wow...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGQ6imfUrSs&...

I'm scared .. but i think i'm finally ready.

I'm talking about both shows. Seriously. Micky Avalon groupies are vicious little bitches.

Seeing air guitar styles through the genres was Hiiiiiilarious. Great videos. Nice to get a behind the scene look at the guys, though they seemed a little overwhelmed with the pushy New York accent.

I wish there was more of Jacob!
And I had no idea Dapose's voice was so low. A pleasant surprise.

Great paranoiaattack video!