On Sunday the 25th we struck out for Hartford where Alan Palomo's two projects were playing at the Wadsworth Atheneum. It's the first time I've seen crowdsurfing in a room lined with Picasso, Dali, Munch and Ernst originals, and probably the last. The sound was pretty wretched and Neon Indian had a rough start. By the time the band switched over to Vega for three encore jams, though, shit was tight and the catchy-as-all-get-out electro pop sounded great.
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Tuesday the 27th found yours truly in Palmer, Massachusetts, at the Diamond Junction Bowling Lanes. The bill was No Kids, Tara Jane O'Neil, and Mount Eerie, and the show seriously ruled. Maybe not as mind-shattering as Phil Elverum's appearance at the Shed back in '05, but a six-piece Mount Eerie really brought to life the gargantuan "black wooden" sound of new-ish LP Wind's Poem. Apparently it's the largest band Elverum's ever toured with. He should do it more often. So good.
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A little closer to home was Growing and Fuck Buttons at the Iron Horse, just last night. I've been digging Growing for years but always seem to miss them live. Last night's performance was loud, proud and fucking solid. They played for nearly an hour, no breaks. More beat-driven/dance-like than their records, apocalyptic post-disco was the general atmosphere, with dual guitars and tables upon tables of samplers and pedals directing everything. Reminded me of the Black Dice set I caught over the summer, in a very good way. The threesome just put the final touches on a new album, slated for release in the spring on Vice. Excited.
Fuck Buttons was equally loud if not louder, yet about as boring as Growing were enthralling. We ditched the joint fifteen minutes into their set. Sorry dudes.
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Most of these bands are still on tour... catch 'em if you can.
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