A few months back I added show numbers seven and eight to the show list; the first of the two being the wonderful fellas from NYC, Interpol.

I’ve wanted to see these gents every since they fell into my lap back in 2002. It would be perfect. A show in a mid sized venue, dank and dark, with a classy bar enveloped in red and yellow light. A stage only slightly higher than the crowd, consumed by red lights, the crowd full of easy going classy ladies and gents drinking their beverages and singing along. Something with a feel much like the cover of “Turn on the Bright Lights.” That’s what I wanted, but that is definitely not what this naïve girl got.

What she did get was the most horrible venue, the most irritating show mates and the most disgusting and overpriced beer she’s ever had. The B.G. Civic Auditorium and Sierra Nevada respectfully. As the name suggest the venue was a large, gymnasium inspired, sort of place with an open floor plan and a few hundred lofted seats, where people could feel free to “rock out” while sitting down. The kind of place where people squish into half the space they previously occupied when the lights go down and get irritated when you accidentally bump them while dancing. The kind that will charge you $8 for a small cup of beer from a beer cart and expect a tip. Lame lame lame.

The show itself was awesome, though I only saw about 15% of it due to my lacking in the proper vertical height for the occasion. They played most of my favorites and as well as a few songs which have seriously grown on me since hearing them played live. The crowd was really into it and every song got loud hoots, hollers and hoorays from the crowd. Lead singer Paul Banks voice wasn’t as leg weakening as it is on the albums, of course, but it was still lovely and the band was excellent. They were all on point and looking, and hopefully playing, their best. The only thing I would have changed is the venue.

I still find myself wanting to see Interpol live whenever I listen to them. I don’t know if they just aren’t the kind of band that leaves and imprint on your mind after you’ve seen them, or if the venue just fucked it up. I’ll go see them next time they’re in SF if they aren’t playing at the Auditorium and hope to goodness it was just the venue.

Those furs. The dreamboat and i went and saw the Handsome Furs on Monday of this week. They were AWESOME! I hadn’t heard much of the Handsome Furs stuff, just what the dreamboat would play every now and then, but he told me i would like them seeing i’m a big fan of Wolf Parade (the male half of the Handsome Furs is 1/4 of Wolf Parade). As usual, the dreamboat was right. I found myself stomping my feet and shaking my ass. Hooray ass shaking! They had serious energy, and the lady was making sweet love to her equipment and music makers. She was great.

The two opening acts were pretty good as well. The dreamboat picked up a local band by the name of Social Studies cd. He really likes them, even though we both agree that they don’t really know how to end a song. I can’t get really into em, but to each his own. Maybe they will grow on me.

I also picked myself up a cd by a band called Johnny and the Moon. Dante DeCaro, the lead singer of Johnny and the moon is also a member of Wolf Parade (ooo, i see a trend!). Mr. DeCaro can croon, and I can get with almost any band thats got a banjo somewhere in the mix. There’s only one thing i disagree with. Having a Myspace page is not, I repeat NOT, a suitable replacement for having a website for your band. Show some pride! Even if it looks like crap, it would be better than Myspace. I hate having to link to that damn website to tell people about some good music, they don’t need any more publicity. Geez. Other than that, Hooray Johnny and the Moon!

And i’ll swing my legs! Kings of Leon last night was amazing! The shows at the Warfield are always so good! They had a great line up of songs, each one just getting better and better. It was good to save “Knocked Up” for after then encore. After a slew of good songs and a break it was the perfect thing to get you back into it. And they played “Molly’s Chambers”! I had forgotten about that song, even though its one of their bests. YEAH!

KoL played with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, who were, sadly, kind of boring. I was disappointed because i like BRMC, i can be found stomping around the house in my boots to them fairly often. oh well.

Sadly, I don’t have any pictures from the show because it was no cameras allowed, but i’m sure you can imagine it. Good looking boys in pants as tight as all get out dressed somewhere in between hipster and country boy rocking out to their hearts delight, and a drummer blowing impressively large pink bubbles with his gum while his hands fly about in front of him, keeping your feet and hips moving. Can you see it? I knew you could.

This puts me at 5 shows seen out of 10, the others being:

4. Laura Veirs at Cafe Du Nord, June 6, 2007
3. The Decemberists at the Warfield, Spring 2007
2. Mates of State at The Great American Music Hall, December 22, 2006

and

1. Hot Chip at the Mezzanine (i think), November 17, 2006

Five more shows to go!