A Dandy Set List

Nearly forgot this.

A Dandy Week

I must have done something right lately because Heather let me see two, that's two Dandy Warhol concerts this week. Then again, she might of resigned herself to the fact that I was going one way or another. They tour so little. Well, they tour as much as any band but that's just not enough for me. I check their blog regularly waiting for the slightest hint that a new album or a new tour will be announced. And then I pounce. You know that guy who waits in line a couple days before tickets go on sale? Well, I'm that guy when the Dandys release anything.



















The top pic was taken at the Belly Up with the Hipstamatic app for the iPhone. The DEC 80 date is Hipstamatic's annoying inside joke for hipsters. "We've dated it 30 years before, cool, huh?" No, not cool. And there's no way to adjust the date - very not cool. Spencer joined me at the Belly Up and we had a good time talking family, work and surf. Bummer he doesn't live any closer to San Diego.

The second pic was taken at new Club Nokia near the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Another good venue, and as you can see, I scored a good spot near the stage again. Lee came along for the two hour show and the two hour drive home. LIvely conversation kept me from dozing off at 2:00 a.m.

I think that makes nine live Dandy shows I've seen. Maybe I'll go to their turf, Portland, for the tenth show.

Dandy Land

We had quite a weekend. Friday night we went to the grandparents, dropped off the kids, and saw the Dandy Warhols in concert. We were three rows from the stage, dead center. Another great two hour set. I can't enough of this band. I'd see them anywhere but what I'd like to do most is see them at Roseland or the Odditorium. The opening act, The Meek, were kinda funny. Lead by a charismatic emo, the rest of the band were trying their hardest not to have any fun. The guitarist/keyboardist did his best impression of Anton Chigurh to no effect. He was so wrapped up in himself that the lead singer had to lean over during the middle of the second song and turn on his keyboard - I kid you not! But it didn't matter. We just wanted to see the Dandys and they were amazing.

After four and a half hours of sleep, we awoke Saturday morning, dressed the kids, and ran off to Disneyland. First to arrive, we ran around the park for two hours never waiting in a single line. At 10:00 a.m. we went to an empty California Adventure. The lack of a crowd was, well, a little sad. We rode the bumper cars but there were only a few other cars to bump into. The crowds picked up in the afternoon and the kids were pooped by 6:30 p.m. We took them to the grandparents and Heather and I went back for another three hours of adult rides. That's right 8:00 a.m. to midnight coz that's how we roll.

Dandies' Set List

Here's the set list from last night. Twenty-one songs on the list, maybe two more that were not included. Two hour plus show. How many bands play that long anymore? As enjoyable as the Raconteurs were last week, they only played for 45 minutes. The Dandies' catalogue is so deep they could have played another dozen songs without exhausting my favorites. No encore which I appreciated. Encores are annoyingly phony. I appreciate a band that says "alright, we've given you a great show, here's out last song." Great show.

The Dandy Warhols

I've seen the Dandies half a dozen times and they were never better than last night. They've always delivered a great show but last night's was their best yet. Scott and Tommy came along. Kudos to the sound mixer. We sat next to the board and he played that thing like a violin. Scott recently observed that most mixers are partially deaf due to constant touring so they unwittingly crank up the volume. Their damaged ears hear the music as if their wearing earplugs hence the best way to listen is to wear earplugs. Not so last night. The mix last night was spot on, never too loud, never muddled, and you could hear every note. The group has created their own Portland version of The Factory hosting artists and bands from around the world. This is their first tour on their own label, no doubt a difficult undertaking. I was concerned they were beginning to wear too many hats but I was proven wrong. Can't wait for their return.

http://www.dandywarhols.com/