'2022' Dates
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This was the 17th time I've seen Superchunk. It had been a long time since I've seen show, regardless of COVID. I wore my mask. I went with my old coworker Ricky. The venue is a cool old high school auditorium. It was great to be back at a show. It felt really good to literally feel the music again. Superchunk played lots of the greatest hits. It was so much fun. I was grateful I got to see them. Just a few days after this show, they had to cancel the rest of their tour due to COVID cases in the group. I sure hope live music recovers; I love it so much.
A fun night out with an old friend from San Francisco, Jon. The opener gave me a 80s Ministry vibe. They had a live drummer, a singer, and someone twisting a knob for sound effects. Automatic was a band with more of a nice 80s vibe, with simple fun bopping bass lines. It's been nearly ten years since I'd last seen Osees. I've really enjoyed their last few hard prog rock albums. After moving to Portland and the pandemic, I'd missed a show or two of theirs. This show was so loud and so fast. The double drummers were locked in. I had a blast. I was very grateful for my earplugs!
Mike and I arrived and there was a line of cars to get in. It took a little bit of time, but it wasn't too bad. We walked about a half mile to get to the entrance. The opener had just ended. We got to chat more while waiting with hundreds of people to get a beer. This is a big place, and the slope is just right. We were not too close at all but could see just fine. I was reminded of the time I saw The Who back in 1989 on their 25th anniversary tour. That was at Alpine Valley, and I can't remember if there were any video screens back then. Pavement played many of the hits. It sounded terrific. With all the time off from shows I've had, I've really been enjoying the experience of feeling live music again. Pavement's guitar sounds made me happy. Even though I guess I know more lyrics than I assumed, I still like the rhythm of his singing. It's unique. He changed up the lyrics to "Range Life" at the part that talks about the police to add "All Cops Are Bastards," which got a cheer from the crowd. I don't know if it was in shock or in support, but it was memorable. It made me wonder if that resonates anywhere else than Portland. All around it was a great show and a fun large venue.
The venue was a terrific not too big place to see a show. Mike and I were in the middle, and we could see just fine. It was an all acoustic show by both. The guitars were miked up to the PA. It was like an epic open-mic. Emmett Kelly did not play any songs I recognized, but I enjoyed the songs. Mike recognized one I hadn't. By the end of his set, the crowd was louder and it was harder to hear him. Ty Segall came out and his energy is something else. It was like there were rays of talent flowing out of him and into the crowd. It was really something else to see what one person with one guitar can do. He played many songs off the latest album. He also played some older ones like Sleeper and Manipulator, and perhaps a few more. I think I'd recognized all of them. A bonus was that I bought a tour t-shirt that had the actual show dates on the back. I don't think I've seen those for years, even pre-COVID. Sure seems like a gamble to do that during COVID. Excellent show; go see him when he comes to your town.