Pearl Jam Goes On
You've gotta hand it to the Pearl Jam fans. They are REAL, and likely one of the most hardcore and dedicated fan bases in America. To many, Pearl Jam is merely the "other" Grunge band, but they're one of the most successful and influential bands of the last two decades. And despite their mopey reputation, Vedder and crew really seem quite content these days. They were really into it on stage at MSG earlier this week, feeding off the mutual satisfaction and intensity of the crowd. They're older, and they've traded in their flannel for more conservative dress, but the songs have held up remarkably well. They keep up with an energy that most bands at this stage in their career have lost, and put on (aside from maybe Bruce Springsteen) the best no-frills arena rock show in the business. They may not have released a classic record in nearly a decade, but they're still at it on the road, playing varied sets from their deep back catalogue, and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Liz Phair Gets Back
Hard to believe that it's been 15 years since Liz Phair was this relevant. The storied classic, Exile in Guyville hit the milestone this week, and Phair honored it by performing the album acoustic, in its entirety, to a packed Hiro Ballroom for two nights. The nostalgia-soaked sets were epic throwbacks for those in attendance who held that album to such a high standard. Unlike Pearl Jam, her reputation took a major hit over the years with an ill-advised image makeover in an attempt at mainstream success. While nobody is particularly proud of those years, the time apart from her roots clearly made her appreciate the real reason why people cared so passionately about her in the first place. While the cynic might say that these shows were only to promote the re-release of her classic album, there is some hope, deep down, that it may simultaneously signal a return to form.
Ulrich Schnauss Looks Forward
Back to the current for a moment, the World Financial Center branch of the River to River series kicked off this week with a performance by acclaimed electo-shoegaze artist Ulrich Schnauss. The Winter Garden space downtown is the perfect theater, providing the proper acoustics and ambiance for this sort of sound. The mall is a natural theater, with chairs set up in front of the stage, but the giant marble staircase and surrounding balconies creating excellent sight lines for all. There are a lot of great electronic artists playing here all summer, including Kieran Hebden and Fennesz, and it's definitely worth swinging by for one of these lazy summer Tuesday nights.
Also in the past week:
New Venue Alert!
Old Venue, New Name!
Battle of the Philharmonics
An Interview with Brianna from The Real World
Photo via hightea's flickr.
