I first came to know Aimee Mann's music via the movie Magnolia, and I distinctly remember downloading some of the songs from Napster (gasp!). Her album Bachelor No. 2 was released shortly thereafter, and this song has long been a favorite of mine. Bonus points are awarded for the album being produced by Jon Brion and featuring Largo regulars Grant Lee Phillips and Benmont Tench.
Showing posts with label Jon Brion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jon Brion. Show all posts
Friday, May 20, 2011
Monday, December 20, 2010
2010: The Best Concerts I Attended
By my count I went to 32 concerts in 2010, not including variety shows like Conan's tour. But these were the best, either musically, aesthetically, or comically. Let's start with some honorable mentions:
Morning Benders at the Music Box - they look like they're 15, but they play like they've been doing it for decades. Highlight: a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams"
Lissie at the Troubadour - one of my favorite voices was a joy to see live; Highlight: anything from her Why You Runnin' EP
Pavement, Sonic Youth and No Age at the Hollywood Bowl - the big Pavement reunion was the raison d'etre, and our seats were great...but I've seen all these bands in smaller venues. Still, it was fun for a trip down memory lane. Highlight: Pavement's "Summer Babe"
The Top Ten:
10. Local Natives at the Music Box - hipster central - moustaches, skinny jeans, trendy haircuts - and that was just on stage. Still, these guys can play. Highlight: "Sun Hands"
9. Sufjan Stevens at the Wiltern - Still not sure how I feel about the new album, and this was by far the goofiest show I've been to, but it was a lot of fun. Highlight: his story about the artist that inspired the artwork and much of his new LP
8. Faith No More at the Palladium - I'd been waiting almost 20 years for this, and it was pretty much worth it. Mike Patton is an amazing frontman. Highlight: opening the show with a faithful cover of Peaches & Herb's "Reunited"
7. Foreign Born at the Echo - I must not have purchased their Person to Person LP in time to make my favorite records of 2009 list, but it would be on there now. Highlight: "Vacationing People"
6. Greg Dulli at the Troubadour - this was my second time seeing Dulli at the Troub in the last couple years (the first was with Mark Lanegan), but this was surprisingly the better show. Not only did Lanegan come out for a song, but Afghan Whigs' bassist John Curley played on a few of their band's songs. Highlight: any of the Whigs' songs
5. Erykah Badu at the El Rey - I already blogged about this show, and it ended up as one of my favorites of 2010. Highlight: Erykah walking around the crowd before the show taking pics with her extremely adoring fans
4. Dirty Projectors at the Walt Disney Concert Hall - this was my fourth DP show in about a year and a half, and it was the biggest. Not only did the LA Phil open the show, but the band played their entire Getty Address LP with an orchestra (not the LA Phil). Highlight: I wasn't very familiar with this album at the time, so the entire show was a surprise
3. Joanna Newsom at the Orpheum - This was probably my most anticipated show of the year, and it was phenomenal. Perfect venue and I could have listened to her for hours. As a bonus, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes opened. Highlight: "Have One on Me"
2. Belle & Sebastian at the Palladium - this is high on the list not only because Belle & Sebastian were phenomenal as always, but Jenny & Johnny opened the show. Highlight: when the band brought up about 8 attendees to dance on stage
1. Jon Brion at Largo - I can't figure out whether I saw him 3 or 4 times, but Jon Brion always delivers. By far the most interesting show you'll ever see, and the quality varies from really good to mind-blowing - you can't leave disappointed. Highlight: Greg Behrendt opened one show with about 10 minutes of standup, a big portion of which was about meeting Van Halen. Brion then came out and started playing "Jump" or "Panama" (can't remember which) on the keyboards
Morning Benders at the Music Box - they look like they're 15, but they play like they've been doing it for decades. Highlight: a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams"
Lissie at the Troubadour - one of my favorite voices was a joy to see live; Highlight: anything from her Why You Runnin' EP
Pavement, Sonic Youth and No Age at the Hollywood Bowl - the big Pavement reunion was the raison d'etre, and our seats were great...but I've seen all these bands in smaller venues. Still, it was fun for a trip down memory lane. Highlight: Pavement's "Summer Babe"
The Top Ten:
10. Local Natives at the Music Box - hipster central - moustaches, skinny jeans, trendy haircuts - and that was just on stage. Still, these guys can play. Highlight: "Sun Hands"
9. Sufjan Stevens at the Wiltern - Still not sure how I feel about the new album, and this was by far the goofiest show I've been to, but it was a lot of fun. Highlight: his story about the artist that inspired the artwork and much of his new LP
8. Faith No More at the Palladium - I'd been waiting almost 20 years for this, and it was pretty much worth it. Mike Patton is an amazing frontman. Highlight: opening the show with a faithful cover of Peaches & Herb's "Reunited"
7. Foreign Born at the Echo - I must not have purchased their Person to Person LP in time to make my favorite records of 2009 list, but it would be on there now. Highlight: "Vacationing People"
6. Greg Dulli at the Troubadour - this was my second time seeing Dulli at the Troub in the last couple years (the first was with Mark Lanegan), but this was surprisingly the better show. Not only did Lanegan come out for a song, but Afghan Whigs' bassist John Curley played on a few of their band's songs. Highlight: any of the Whigs' songs
5. Erykah Badu at the El Rey - I already blogged about this show, and it ended up as one of my favorites of 2010. Highlight: Erykah walking around the crowd before the show taking pics with her extremely adoring fans
4. Dirty Projectors at the Walt Disney Concert Hall - this was my fourth DP show in about a year and a half, and it was the biggest. Not only did the LA Phil open the show, but the band played their entire Getty Address LP with an orchestra (not the LA Phil). Highlight: I wasn't very familiar with this album at the time, so the entire show was a surprise
3. Joanna Newsom at the Orpheum - This was probably my most anticipated show of the year, and it was phenomenal. Perfect venue and I could have listened to her for hours. As a bonus, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes opened. Highlight: "Have One on Me"
2. Belle & Sebastian at the Palladium - this is high on the list not only because Belle & Sebastian were phenomenal as always, but Jenny & Johnny opened the show. Highlight: when the band brought up about 8 attendees to dance on stage
1. Jon Brion at Largo - I can't figure out whether I saw him 3 or 4 times, but Jon Brion always delivers. By far the most interesting show you'll ever see, and the quality varies from really good to mind-blowing - you can't leave disappointed. Highlight: Greg Behrendt opened one show with about 10 minutes of standup, a big portion of which was about meeting Van Halen. Brion then came out and started playing "Jump" or "Panama" (can't remember which) on the keyboards
Friday, July 17, 2009
Gillian Welch and David Rawlings at Largo 7-16-09
So last night the wife and I went to see Gillian Welch at the Largo. I have one of her albums and the O Brother soundtrack, so I’m familiar with her stuff but not a hardcore fan. I just figured it would be a good show, and the Largo is an awesome venue, which seats about 280 I think. She comes out with David Rawlings, her longtime partner who I also know from their work on Ryan Adams’ first album. Two of the first three songs are from the album I have (Time the Revelator), and Rawlings is an unbelievable guitarist. Neither of them is plugged in, they just have their acoustic guitars (and occasional banjo) mic’d and it sounds phenomenal. He is also hysterical, and their between song banter is really funny. You can tell they’re having a good time.
After 45 minutes or so, Gillian says they’d like to bring out a few friends, but they’re going to take a break first to figure out what to play. They come back out, play a couple more songs, then ask Benmont Tench to come out. I knew he was the keyboard player for Tom Petty, so I thought that was pretty cool. They play a song but you can’t even hear the piano, which was disappointing. After the song they ask John Paul Jones to come out…and I’m floored. JPJ was the bassist for a small indie band called Led Zeppelin, he arranged the strings on R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People, and I’m sure he’s done a ton of other great things (and probably some bad ones). But did I mention he was the bassist for Led Zeppelin? Anyway, here he is the mandolin player.
So the four of them play a song, and after it Gillian asks if we could hear JPJ (we couldn’t) and someone yells out we couldn’t hear Ben either. So they fix that for the next song, they bring out Sara and Jon Watkins, who play fiddle and guitar, and Jon Brion, who’s playing acoustic guitar (he also owns the Largo, is a record producer, film score composer, and puts on a phenomenal show of his own…but I digress). They run through a few songs and it sounds really great, and the wife and I are having the time of our lives.
Before the end of the set, they mention that after the show a few people will be playing in the Little Room, which is a small venue in the Largo “complex.” They say only 50 can get in, so we figured we would give it a shot, but we weren’t overly optimistic. When the show ends, a mad rush of people head out to get in line at the LR, and my hopes are dashed. I go to get some cash (LR is cash-only and they want people to buy drinks), the wife gets in line, I meet her and count about 35-40 people in front of us in line. Feeling better about getting in but still trying not to get too excited.
To make a short story long, we get in, get a beer and grab a seat. It’s not even full in there, which is surprising, but we’re not sure what to expect. The Watkins get up there and play a few songs and sound really good, then they ask if Jo(h)n can come up and play. Brion comes up and they ask if any other Jons want to play, so JPJ goes up there, as does Benmont. Again, this is a concert for about 40 people, and the bassist for Led Zeppelin is playing (in case I didn’t make that clear). There is one microphone and a piano on a stage that is probably 10 x 10 feet, if that. They run through a few songs, and then Sara Watkins asks if Fiona is there. So Fiona Apple comes up and sings lead on a few songs, and she sounds unbelievable. Then they ask Gillian and David to come up, so now it’s Sara and Jon Watkins, Benmont, Fiona, Jon Brion, John Paul Jones, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings on stage playing a couple songs, including Leadbelly’s “In the Pines” that Nirvana famously played on Unplugged.
The show ends, we leave and walk right next to JPJ and Fiona, out the door and back into reality, not really believing what we just saw (all apologies to Jack Buck). Someone on the street asked if the Little Room just got out, but I didn’t hear them and they had to repeat the question. We probably looked stoned or drunk, but we didn’t care. One of the best concert experiences of my life.
After 45 minutes or so, Gillian says they’d like to bring out a few friends, but they’re going to take a break first to figure out what to play. They come back out, play a couple more songs, then ask Benmont Tench to come out. I knew he was the keyboard player for Tom Petty, so I thought that was pretty cool. They play a song but you can’t even hear the piano, which was disappointing. After the song they ask John Paul Jones to come out…and I’m floored. JPJ was the bassist for a small indie band called Led Zeppelin, he arranged the strings on R.E.M.’s Automatic for the People, and I’m sure he’s done a ton of other great things (and probably some bad ones). But did I mention he was the bassist for Led Zeppelin? Anyway, here he is the mandolin player.
So the four of them play a song, and after it Gillian asks if we could hear JPJ (we couldn’t) and someone yells out we couldn’t hear Ben either. So they fix that for the next song, they bring out Sara and Jon Watkins, who play fiddle and guitar, and Jon Brion, who’s playing acoustic guitar (he also owns the Largo, is a record producer, film score composer, and puts on a phenomenal show of his own…but I digress). They run through a few songs and it sounds really great, and the wife and I are having the time of our lives.
Before the end of the set, they mention that after the show a few people will be playing in the Little Room, which is a small venue in the Largo “complex.” They say only 50 can get in, so we figured we would give it a shot, but we weren’t overly optimistic. When the show ends, a mad rush of people head out to get in line at the LR, and my hopes are dashed. I go to get some cash (LR is cash-only and they want people to buy drinks), the wife gets in line, I meet her and count about 35-40 people in front of us in line. Feeling better about getting in but still trying not to get too excited.
To make a short story long, we get in, get a beer and grab a seat. It’s not even full in there, which is surprising, but we’re not sure what to expect. The Watkins get up there and play a few songs and sound really good, then they ask if Jo(h)n can come up and play. Brion comes up and they ask if any other Jons want to play, so JPJ goes up there, as does Benmont. Again, this is a concert for about 40 people, and the bassist for Led Zeppelin is playing (in case I didn’t make that clear). There is one microphone and a piano on a stage that is probably 10 x 10 feet, if that. They run through a few songs, and then Sara Watkins asks if Fiona is there. So Fiona Apple comes up and sings lead on a few songs, and she sounds unbelievable. Then they ask Gillian and David to come up, so now it’s Sara and Jon Watkins, Benmont, Fiona, Jon Brion, John Paul Jones, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings on stage playing a couple songs, including Leadbelly’s “In the Pines” that Nirvana famously played on Unplugged.
The show ends, we leave and walk right next to JPJ and Fiona, out the door and back into reality, not really believing what we just saw (all apologies to Jack Buck). Someone on the street asked if the Little Room just got out, but I didn’t hear them and they had to repeat the question. We probably looked stoned or drunk, but we didn’t care. One of the best concert experiences of my life.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)