crazybobbles

Well after the “of Montreal” gig (have to use speechmarks otherwise it looks like a typo!) I decided to goto another gig, this time it was The Dears. After realising that it takes only 10 minutes to get to the store from work, I’ve decided i’m going to visit the place more often whenever something interesting pops up. Might as well abuse the fact there are free gigs close by huh?

Anyway, arrived at the store at around 6pm, swiped a wristband with no trouble whatsoever (didn’t need to buy the album too). The band was lounging about the store so it was fairly easy to drop by and say hi, I met a few familiar faces this time, and even some folks from the “of Montreal” gig on Monday. Small world eh? Anyway, more about the show.

The crowd was a lot less than the of Montreal gig, but nonetheless a nice handful of people turned up, I saw a few people who commented on my flickr which was pretty neat (again, small small world). No doubt I’ll be seeing them more too so I’ll eventually say hi to them all haha. The lead singer Murray Lightburn was pretty cool, once the soundcheck and shelves were moved we pretty much started to crowd around the stage, there was a lot of freedom in where we walked which meant I was able to move around whenever I took photos, it’s a shame the store doesn’t have a residential photographer there because though the lighting is so basic and simple, the photos do come out pretty nice (if you avoid flash anyway).

The gig did seem to go at a shakey(ish) start, with Money Babies and Berlin Heart as their opening. The funny bit is when they started to do Crisis 1 & 2 and the keyboardist, Natalia Yanchak had trouble with the mic (faulty cable), at this stage she told Murray to vamp a bit and talk to the crowd, he wasn’t the best mind, he didn’t seem to enjoy the idea of playing in a “store”. We did though, especially a free one! He used the word “Basically” quite a lot during his speech jokingly and was relieved when the vamping was over (guess he’s shy).

I quite liked Crisis 1 & 2, that was a pretty neat song (shame I didn’t record it). Afterwards they finished up with Band Wagon, Demons and 22. I recorded a video of them doing Demons so give it a listen / looksee.

Murray Lightburn from The Dears, not the best vamper!

I noticed Natalia never smiles whilst Murray’s enthusiasm wasn’t the best for this gig, however things started to get better around the third song when the band started to get more into it, it was funny seeing so many people crammbed in one little stage, good value for money that is :p. I quickly ninja’d myself the setlist after the gig and pretty much started the journey back to homedomhood.

The rest of the evening was pretty interesting, it was spent talking to new people I met during the gig, one of which was a fellow photographer and another a fellow music blogger (her url is http://www.terriblelovesongs.com/ so do check it out!), it’s a small world huh? We exchanged contacts so we could keep in touch, I then had a nice and long conversation with another person I met at another gig and spent the rest of the evening talking to some more new friends on good old instant messanger.

Life is so much better when you start speaking up and talking to new people. The conversation trail from one person to another was pretty neat and seamless, hoepfully we’ll get more of that at future gigs, so yes to free gigs at music stores! It will most likely bump my planned gig count a bit too hehe. Sorry I only uploaded 4 shots of today’s gig, trying to keep it minimum since it’s quite a jam packed week! Catch you all later, it’s Of Montreal again but this time at the Koko! I need sleep!