Categories
Recommended

Three Shows To Catch

“Dude, why didn’t you fucking tell me about that show?! I would’ve bought tickets!”

I may not go to many shows – compared to [some of my friends](http://upcoming.yahoo.com/user/155/), anyway – but I still hear this a lot. The ones I do go to end up inevitably being the ones other people care about – such as the Daft Punk show this past Thursday.

In the grand list of concerts I have been to, the Daft Punk show easily ranks into the top 3, if not right at the top. Ninety minutes of robot music and robot light-show lead to the biggest positive vibe a group of people filling a minor league baseball stadium could have.

So to make it up for those people who missed the Daft Punk show, here are the three major shows I’m hitting over the next two months. If these appeal to you, I recommend you get your tickets **now**.

## Underworld

Long before Daft Punk build their pyramid, Underworld was conquering the world with epic sets and elaborate VJ work. Sure, Darren Emerson has long since left – but if the Sunshine soundtrack is anything to go on, their upcoming *Oblivion with Bells* is sure to please. You know you need to hear Born Slippy.NUXX live – *especially* in Central Park.

Friday, September 14th – 4:30 PM at Central Park [Upcoming] [Tickets @ Ticketweb] [wikipedia/Underworld (Band)]

## The Chemical Brothers

While The Chems have been overly consistent with their albums – they are known for putting on one hell of a party. Even with the lackluster *We Are The Night*, they have enough big beat in their arsenal to shake the floor all night long. Insert obligatory *Block Rockin’ Beats* reference here. If you’re not big on Hammerstein, they’re playing McCarren Pool the next day.

Friday, September 21 – 8PM @ Hammerstein Ballroom [Upcoming] [Tickets @ Ticketmaster] [wikipedia/The Chemical Brothers]

## Arcade Fire + LCD Soundsystem @ Randall’s Island

I am not going to even pretend to be the world’s biggest Arcade Fire fan – but thousands of bloggers and indie rockers most likely can’t be wrong. David Byrne and David Bowie certainly can’t be wrong. If you’re looking for an elaborate show with lots of lush instrumentation and heady lyrics, this is the show to hit.

It is hard to describe how much I love LCD Soundsystem. At the risk of sounding like a complete wanker, I can only offer the following: *Sound Of Silver* is one of only two albums I have purchased on a physical CD this year. And out of those two albums, it’s the only one I loved. LCD’s live show is not to be missed.

Saturday, October 6th – 3:30PM @ Randall’s Island [Upcoming.org] [Tickets @ Ticketmaster] [wikipedia/Arcade Fire]

(Picture credits, in order: Janelle Gunther, mactiste iPons, confusedvision, mediaeater, DFA Records. All photos licensed under Creative Commons.)

Categories
Created Enjoyed

A Weekend Of Ted And TAR

Saturday night was [Ted Leo & The Pharmacists at Webster Hall](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/sets/72157600181559095/).

It's Alright

Ted Leo & The Pharmacists

Ted's Feet

Sunday night was [TARCon XI](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/sets/72157600185713797/).

Beauty Queens

Roping In Deana & Ray

John Vito & Drew
I am exhausted.

Categories
Created Enjoyed

Peeping Tom + Gnarls Barkley @ Central Park Summerstage

Mike Skinner & The Band

I Know That Assholes Grow On Trees

St. Elsewhere

Gnarls Barkley Logo

This was the second of six concerts and shows scheduled loosely over the next month. Next up: [Revenge Of The Bookeaters](http://bookeaters.org/).

Both bands impressed me live. Peeping Tom – Mike Patton’s [six year project](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peeping_Tom_%28album%29) – managed to keep the same level of energy shown on the album in a live show. Mike did seem a little exasperated that he couldn’t get the crowd into a complete frenzy, but this may not have been a total shock given the headlining act. Gnarls Barkley, it seems to go without saying, put on an enchanting show, mixing covers (they opened with Another Brick in the Wall) with their album material. I don’t think anyone left disappointed. I have some video recorded of them closing with *Crazy*, but it will have to wait until tomorrow until I can pull it off my unauthorized recording device.

A word about the pictures: Summerstage is not a large venue, but I was probably about as far from the stage as you could be. On the upside, this provided me with the height to get good shots of the stage. On the downside, between having to shoot almost entirely at 300mm and the rapidly decreasing daylight, I only managed to convert just over 10% of my shots into upload-worthy material.

The remainder of the pictures are available as part of my Flickr set, [Peeping Tom + Gnarls Barkley](http://www.flickr.com/photos/remydwd/sets/72157594241479738/)