TrickyBuddha Studios

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.

I have not posted about new music in a while so I thought I would take a moment to mention a few new (to me) albums on the iPod, as well as some concerts on the horizon:

• The Dead Weather: Horehound. This is a band featuring Jack White (White Stripes, Raconteurs), Alison Mosshart (The Kills), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age), and Jack Lawrence (Raconteurs, The Greenhornes). They just released the album (July 2009). Some big names in rock. Still getting a feel for the album, but it seems good so far.
• The Dears: Missiles. It’s been out a little while (Oct 2008) but, like I said, it’s new to my iPod. I’ve really gotten into the Dears ever since we saw them live. What a great (Canadian) band. I need to listen to this one more to familiarize myself with it.
• The Cliks: Dirty King. Another Canadian band, parenthetically speaking of. They’re not widely known but they’re definitely worth checking out. Their new album came out about a month ago (June 2009).
• Wilco: Wilco (The Album). Another recent release (June 2009). I’m not much of a Wilco listener but their latest is on the iPod now so I’ll have to give it a few listens to see what I think. The Wilco Song is a catchy start to the album.

As for concerts, there are quite a few on the horizon!

• The Dead Weather is first on the list of shows, coming up at the end of this month. I’m looking forward to the show. It always helps me to get into new bands by seeing them live.
• They’re followed by the Warlocks in early August. We saw the Warlocks once before and that live performance hooked me on the band. They’re a slower, moodier kind of band but very good when you’re in the mood for that. I’m excited.
• Late August brings us Brendan Benson. I really know nothing about him, other than that he is in the Raconteurs, so that’ll be an introduction for me.
• At the start of September is the Dandy Warhols! Yay! I’ve seen them twice, and this time will make the third. It’ll be a road trip to a tiny club in Indianapolis to see them, but it’ll be worth it.
• And our current run of shows ends with Autolux. I am so excited to see Autolux. I completely overdosed on their first album when I first got it (it was the first album Candice recommended me to get, I think). Seriously. They’re in my top-ten listens of all time on last.fm, and 9-of-my-top-15 individual tracks are all Autolux. It’s going to be great to see them live for the first time. Hopefully their album, Transit Transit, comes out by then (but I’m not holding my breath).