Eclectic
tastes, your concert awaits
By Wes
Graham
Magis staff writer
Surely everyone knows Dave Matthews' Band came to town a
couple of weeks ago, but not as many people are aware that
Phantom Planet played at the Engine Room on August 28th. So
to avoid the downfall of Jesuit students to the corporate
media monopoly, here is a list of upcoming shows for the fall
semester that listeners with a more eclectic taste can enjoy.
September will be a great month for concerts, starting out
with Guster on Friday, September 10th at the Meridian. Guster
is a lesser-known band with bouncy songs that can, at times,
be kind of easy listening. Their shows are generally fun and
upbeat. Franz Ferdinand is playing Wednesday, September 15th
at Verizon Wireless Theatre. Franz Ferdinand has been accused
of being a Modest Mouse rip off, yet most of their music that
isn't as over played is quite unique. Incubus is playing with
The Walkmen at Reliant Stadium on Friday the 17th. Incubus
is decent, but because they are a large band their tickets
will be overpriced, and since the venue is so huge the sound
quality and atmosphere of the concert will be sub-par.
If you have trusting parents, the Austin City Limits Music
Festival starts on the 17th as well. The Austin City Limits
Music Festival is a huge, three day festival in Austin It
wile be one of the greatest music festivals around because
some of the bands that never tour in the South will make appearances.
Some of the bands featured this year include Modest Mouse,
Broken Social Scene, Franz Ferdinand, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Dashboard
Confessionals, Josh Rouse, Trey Anastasio, The Pixies, Ben
Harper, Ben Kweller, Elvis Costello, and Spoon. What makes
the festival so great is the wide diversity of the musicians
involved--and the lack of rap. Wilco and Ryan Adams are both
great bands that don't tour very often. Cordt Akers, a Jesuit
senior, said, “There is no one else like Ryan Adams
around today. It's all about how loud you can turn your amps
and how fast you can play your guitar. Ryan Adams, on the
other hand, just plain writes good songs.”
To sum up September, the BB King Blues Fest will be at H-Town's
Arena Theatre on the 24th, and many of the featured musicians
are veterans of the music scene and are the very best in their
genre.
October looks to be just as exciting. On October 9th, Bright
Eyes, an amazing band, will be performing in Austin at the
Paramount Theatre. Conor Oberst, who Rolling Stone Magazine
often calls “the child genius” or “boy wonder,”
is now in his early twenties. He started his music career
at the age of 13 and started Bright Eyes at 15, yet he seems
to have an uncanny understanding of the world around him,
good or bad, and is one the best musicians of this generation.
Unfortunately, this concert is the same night as homecoming.
On Sunday the 17th the Pixies will be here, back from a long
retirement. Some would say that the Pixies were perhaps the
greatest band of the late 80's. In an interview, David Bowie
once said, “Outside of Sonic Youth, the Pixies were
the most influential band of the 80's.” They are back
now and Kim Deal, the bands powerful bass player, has decided
to return to the band, a decade after her feud with Black
Francis broke up the band. This is a can't miss concert for
any fan of underground music because it may be the last chance
to see them live. With their often graphic subject matter
and purely volatile sound, Dave Matthews' fans will likely
be offended.
However, once again, if you have very trusting parents, the
Pixies are also playing at the Voodoo Music Experience on
the 16th. This festival takes place in New Orleans and features
another group of great bands, including Green Day, Black Rebel
Motorcycle Club, Phantom Planet, and, most importantly, Sonic
Youth. Remember what David Bowie said? Well, this is the band
that topped the Pixies, and they are beyond explanation.
On the 21st, back in Houston, Rilo Kiley is playing at Fat
Cat's. Rilo Kiley is an astounding band, led by the heartwarming
vocals and lead guitar of the incredibly talented Jenny Lewis.
They can move a whole audience to sing along and not feel
out of place doing it. Coming from the Saddle Creek Records
brain trust, their music has a uniquely out of place sound
that, for whatever reason, unites the crowd. Then, on Friday,
the 22nd and Saturday the 23rd, Taking Back Sunday will be
playing at Numbers. They are a noteworthy emo band with a
sound somewhat resembling that of Saves the Day. Badly Drawn
Boy plays the next Tuesday, the 26th, at the Meridian. To
end the month, Morrissey will be performing at the Verizon
Wireless Theatre. Morrissey, with his suave vocals and moody
songs, is one of the greatest living musicians. Formerly of
the Smiths, Morrissey is a mature musician with alot on his
mind.
Unfortunately, that is all for now because concerts are not
announced any further in advance than this, but this list
ought to keep even the most devoted of underground music snobs
busy for a couple of months.
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