Massive Attack w/TV on the Radio
I saw Massive Attack last night at the Hollywood Bowl. It was pretty fucking amazing. The bowl is a seated outdoor venue, kind of like the clamshell at Lake Eola, except about the size of the TD Waterhouse Centre. I had a seat in the lower part of the nosebleeds, on the benches. It was all good because you could still see everything and they had 3 huge video screens, kind of like they had on the main stage at Coachella a couple of years ago.
Now, I didn't know what to expect. I'd never been to a 'seated' concert before. The concept, honestly, doesn't make much sense to me. How do you dance? Well, I invented a little something I like to call "bench rockin". This is when you drink a lot of beer and sit in your seat and just close your eyes and groove to the music. You tune out any annoying people that may be around you talking about inane bullshit and focus on the beat and the lights that you can still see even though you've got your eyes closed. It's kinda Stevie Wonder-esque, but it works.
For the most part, they played Mezzanine. They played a couple of tracks from 100th Window and Protection, and not much from anything else. TV on the Radio was pretty good, but they didn't play Mr. Grieves, which was the only song I really cared about hearing from them. The LA Weekly said that the majority of the people that would attend would go to see TV on the Radio, and I think they were right to a certain degree. Certainly, they're currently making waves, where as Massive is more of an old school establishment. I can appreciate the talent and sound of TVOTR, but I don't see how they're getting any kind of mass appeal for a sound that seems so eclectic. I'd seen them once before when they opened for The Faint back in Orlando, and they just seem like a good jam band. I don't know what my point here is. Maybe it's that I find it hard to believe that some people might hold a band like TVOTR in higher regard than Massive Attack. It just seems unethical.
But whatever. The show was fucking amazing and the bowl is an
incredible venue. The fucking Beatles played there, for Christ's
sake. And did I mention it was free? Yeah, the company paid for my
ticket. Nice benefit, eh?
Comments
Of everything you've listed, I only really dig on Wolfmother. They're pretty awesome and have a very classic rock sound. They remind me of a combination of Black Sabbath and Led Zepplin. As far as new shit goes, I'd suggest the new Mars Volta. It rules.. and if you're not familiar with them, check out their first album Deloused in the Comatorium, because it rocks the most. Gnarls Barkley is awesome, but I'm sure you've heard that. Check the new Beck.. and The Raconteurs. Yeah Yeah Yeahs & Basement Jaxx both have fairly new albums that are pretty good. Something you might dig... Me First & The Gimmie Gimmies have a new album next week where all they cover are country songs.
There are 2 singles that they play on the radio over here that have me sold. Nightmare of You with "My Name is Trouble" (also on my MySpace homepage) and The Teddybears with "Punkrocker" (with Iggy Pop).
That's about all's I gots right now. It's still pretty hard to find good new music out there, but it's a hell of a lot easier than it was about 3 or 4 years ago. Good shit is starting to come around again.