TrickyBuddha Studios

Yesterday we:

Drove into the city, listening to Earth to the Dandy Warhols all along the way. We went to Chicago to see It Might Get Loud and, despite crazy 3:30pm traffic, got there literally as the movie was starting.

The movie was great. It’s a documentary that looks at the playing and sound of three guitarists: Jack White (White Stripes), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), and The Edge (U2).

Jimmy has a crazy history with music, playing since he was 5, playing professionally doing jingles and what-not. Then moving on to playing in bands, playing a style of rock that was not really known or popular at the time. They showed a clip of him surrounded by a collection of CDs and records and he said he would pour over them to pick up new sounds and techniques.

Jack started out focused on drums but switched to guitar for an early band, The Upholsterers. He mentioned that when he tried to find his sound, when he tried to dig deeper into guitar, it led him to the blues — how it was all minor chords and anti-establishment. He also said he likes to struggle. He wants his guitar out of tune, he wants to have to battle against it.

The Edge seemed to have stumbled across playing guitar and seemed more interested in the sounds he could make with it than anything else. He was big on effects and computers, and the documentary spent time with his guitar tech — talking about the knobs and fiddles he uses. The Edge said he liked to simplify and strip down to get at his sound, too.

The three of them talked a bit in a room, together, as well as jammed a bit on one another’s songs, when they weren’t individually discussing their playing and showing how they got where they are now. It was definitely a good documentary, entertaining and educational about a chapter of music.

After we finished, we walked around for an hour or two and then had dinner at the Counter. I went for the grilled chicken this time and have to admit it was much better than the burgers I had previously. Mmm…

From there, we hit Border’s and Starbucks to waste a little time, then went to the Empty Bottle to see Autloux — with Ken and Mychelle, and Tif and Brian and Bowser. I was so excited to see the band as I had never caught them in concert before and they are one of my favorites. The last show we went to at this spot was so loud that this time we bought ear plugs, so for me this was my first show with ear plugs in. They were a little weird to wear but my ears felt completely fine afterward. As for the show, Autolux was great. They played a dozen songs — and even played one of their songs twice. A string had snapped on a guitar and the band went on to finish the song while Greg fixed his string. Then someone in the crowd shouted out that the band should play it again with Greg this time, so they did. Haha. The band was somewhat smiley through the show and seemed to be having a good time.

After the show, Candice and I bought band tee shirts from Carla, the drummer, while Eugene, the singer and a guitar player, played Galaga next to us. Haha. It was a cute scene. And it’s always neat to stand around with the musicians you love who just put on a great show.

We capped off the night with a trip to Lazo’s Tacos with Ken and Mychelle where I got a delicious Mexican sausage and scrambled egg sandwich. Mmm…

My ears are ringing. I mean, really ringing. I can’t remember the last concert I’ve been to that was a) that loud and b) made me regret not wearing ear plugs. But tonight was both of those. Despite that, it was a good show. We caught two (of the three) openers (Gliss and Morning After Girls), and loved both of them. And, of course, the feature act was great.

We’re going back to the same venue in a few weeks and I may have to make that the first show I go to with ear plugs. We have a couple shows between now and then, but they’re at venues that aren’t as loud. Also, next time we go to this place (The Empty Bottle), we’re ignoring Google’s directions. They told us to go the wrong way!

Before the concert, we hit a place called The Counter. It’s a burger joint and it was pretty good. Candice got the veggie burger and loved it. I got a beef burger and thought it was quite tasty. We split a 50/50 order of onion strings and fries (though I only ate fries). I hear they have good shakes but after that burger I wasn’t really tempted. Maybe next time.

And before The Counter, it was a trip to Starbucks (mmm… Tazo Chai) and a trip to Lush.

I have so much fun on days like these. The only annoyance is driving and parking. I wish I could park as soon as we hit the city and then walk around. But everything in Chicago is too spaced apart. Not that I can complain because the weather was perfect and everyone was out and enjoying it and there was so much to look at and do. It makes me wish I had a job in the city so we could find an apartment and just walk around all weekend long finding stuff to do and concerts to go to.

Anyway, a great day that reminds me how much I love the big city and how much I want to be there. A tighter big city on the ocean, of course, would be teh [sic] perfect.