no one is lost

venue: the fillmore
band: stars with leisure cruise
when: 5 march 2015 (thursday)
doors open at 7p

my 12th stars show (one where they opened for broken social scene) and the 3rd show with joe. corrie and arlo met us there. it was their first stars show. and i'm told, stars is arlo's new fav band! yay! i do love to spread the love of stars. they are so good and versatile that it is so easy to love them.

this new album is much different from the last two but i enjoy it very much. there's a song i absolutely love on this album. it's called look away and it reminds me very much of the beautiful south especially with both amy and torquil singing as they do on many of their songs. arlo mentioned that it reminded him of the housemartins who basically became the beautiful south. afterwards, joe and i hit tommy's joynt for our usual after concert snack. they don't do the combo pastrami and corned beef anymore. :(

i didn't know that the show was sold out but turns out, there was a fillmore poster for the show and i'm told they only make posters for sold out shows. this made my collection complete. yay!

the setlist:
1. from the night
2. ageless beauty
3. we don’t want your body
4. backlines
5. you keep coming up
6. a song is a weapon
7. this is the last time
8. hold on when you get love and let go when you give it
9. look away
10. dead hearts
11. trap door
12. one more night (your ex-lover remains dead)
13. elevator love letter
14. take me to the riot
15. your ex-lover is dead
16. no one is lost
encore: are you ok? & nothing i can do

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ turn it up!

swedish pop: jens lekman & taken by trees

venue: the fillmore
band: jens lekman with taken by trees
who: ashley
when: 5 november 2012 (monday)
doors open at 7p

i was supposed to see taken by trees at noise pop back in 2008. but the band got their equipment stolen and cancelled all the shows including the one i had tickets for. it was a bummer. so i was thrilled to see that she was opening for jens. for those who have not heard of taken by trees, it is the solo project of victoria bergsman, former lead singer for the concretes. her voice was quite sweet and lovely, much like her.

we arrived early so we could get prime seating in the balcony. we had a nice view into the stage from the left. jens was touring his latest album i know what love isn't. after making music about being in love and breaking hearts, this was heartbreak. his heartbreak. despite that, he can still put on a show.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

the north with stars

venue: the fillmore (sold out!)
band: stars, diamond rings & california wives
who: joe
when: 20 october 2012 (saturday)
doors open at 7p

joe came up again to visit and see stars with me at the fillmore. lisa & i took the day off on friday so we could go to napa with joe. we started with the house for lunch in the city and then picked up some egg tarts at golden gate bakery. we began our wine tour with castello di amorosa in calistoga for some wine tasting, then dean & deluca for raclette cheese ending with v. sattui for more wine tasting and a picnic of cheese, paté, salami and bread. incidentally, both castello di amorosa and v. sattui are owned by the same company.

joe and i had peruvian food for dinner. a few blocks from the fillmore, we made it there in less than 10 minutes. the first band, california wives from chicago were surprisingly good. joe and i listened to both opening bands before the show and they sounded much better live. the second opening, diamond rings was even more surprising. the lead singer is like a gay vanilla ice. he was a total diva. very entertaining. the songs were pretty good too. joe liked them so much, he got their tank top and was quite excited about it too. hah.

this album really speaks to me. though i think i say that about most of their music, i'm so in love with "the theory of relativity." i love this verse, i think it's so catchy and fun to sing:

back in the lame grade ten i was a total devastator, baby
down in the schoolyard they all fell to their knees
but it can't be '93 sadly 'cause i wish it could forever
you call it luck; i call it tragedy

and in the song, "the north," the chorus describes my sleep patterns exactly:

good luck, bad luck, survival
sleep is my friend and my rival
good luck, bad luck, survival

i struggle with getting to sleep every night, however, i love to nap and sleep in when i get the chance to. and i suffer during the work week because i am a night owl by nature but my work life forces me to be an early bird.

there is one more song that i have to mention. "lights changing color" takes me back to my most favorite and possibly, the best date ever. specifically these lines bring back the memories:

it was empty 'till you came up through the honey
nothing ever goes as planned
when you're walking and the lights are changing color
remember how you held my hand

this is actually my 10th stars show. i counted. i miscounted before because i think that i counted the memphis show as a stars show. maybe i should say that i've seen torquil campbell play ten times. in any case, this is the most i've seen a band and i can't help it, i don't want to stop. it's as if i am addicted to them. well, i suppose i am. as i am in still in love with this new album, the north. plus, the poster that the fillmore produced is obviously designed by someone who knows their music because this was the perfect poster (by brad kayal) for them.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ the heart suspends then bends it into three or five.

i heart stars

venue: the fillmore
artist: stars & geographer
who: romi & joey
when: 10 november 2010 (wednesday)
show starts at 8:00p

my friend joe came up from la to visit and to see stars with me and ro. it was his first time so he was quite excited. it was my 10th time and i too was quite excited. this band gets better and better. they are one of the most amazing bands out there.

the opening band, the geographers were pleasantly surprising. especially, when they played a new order cover, age of consent that didn't suck. it reminded me of how much i love that song. nothing beats bernard sumner. their other songs weren't bad either.

when you see stars, you definitely get your money's worth. they have so many great songs to go through. they play encores like it's a second set. and in between songs, as with their previous shows, they thank the crowd profusely for being able to do what they love. entertain us with their beautiful music. they also throw white roses at the crowd. this is fairly new that started within the last 5 (or so) stars shows i've gone to. and to top it off, amy millan is 5 months preggers! what a trooper, to go on tour and rock out like it was business as usual. congrats to amy millan!!

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ stars, you are awesomeness.

rose, i'm feeling older

venue: the fillmore
artist: camera obscura & agent ribbons
who: ro
when: 8 june 2009 (monday)
doors open at 8p

this is the 3rd time i've seen camera obscura, and all three with ro in some shape, form or another. we missed the opening band as we were upstairs watching the bohemian band with the cellist/vocalist and violinist. there was a drummer too but there's always a drummer. the cellist/vocalist had her hair in dreadlocks which always seems really dirty to me. don't you have to stop washing your hair for months in order for it to form proper dreads? i can barely go without washing my hair once a day, which is supposed to be bad for your hair but my hair gets so... uh, too much information so i'm going to stop there. anyway, i really enjoyed her voice and cello playing. it was very folky and ethereal. pretty, unlike her hair. ha. ok, no more.

the first time i saw camera obscura, i was really impressed. and i loved that cd (let's get out of this country) so much that i didn't mind tracyanne's pitch being slightly off. as happy as i was to hear them live, i still noticed it. this time tho, i felt like a proud parent. her pitch was right on. still lovely and angelic. their songs take me to a different place and time. it makes me want to get out of this country, really.

i keep referencing the last album because i liked it so much. i'm still listening to my maudlin career.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ i was lucky, like a 4-leaf clover...

until we bleed

venue: the fillmore (sold out!)
artist: lykke li & wildbird & peacedrums
who: ro
when: 15 february 2009 (sunday)
doors open at 7p

last sunday, ro & i faced the raging california storm up to the city for lykke li's show at the fillmore. we had the much needed rain all weekend. and more. on sunday, it was non-stop. and didn't let up until we were on our way home.

we left early to head up so we could take time to get there (it took an hour and a half), get parking (at the kabuki theatre), and have dinner (korean bbq, mmm). with all of this, we still arrived at the fillmore before 8p. we coat checked our stuff, looked at the merch and went upstairs to find seats. i'd been going to the fillmore since 1994 (the they might be giants & frente! show), i don't think i'd ever once gone upstairs. for some reason, i kept thinking it was off limits to the general public, just for vips.

there is a whole other venue upstairs. that's where the food is! there was a little stage and an act performing (this woman with a guitar singing concrete blonde's joey, man i loved that song way back when). this room was filled with fillmore posters. it was pretty amazing. we sat and listened for a bit. then headed downstairs. it was just in time for the opening band, the wildbird & peacedrums. it was a two-person band. one vocalist and one drummer. that was it, really. no guitars, no keyboards. and surprise, i knew one of the songs. random.

this was a sold out show. the second sold out show i've been to at the fillmore recently. last year's death cab for cutie show was completely sold out. ro & i found ourselves a decent spot. i could actually still see despite these two giants standing right by us. oddly enough, the two were a couple. i think the woman was the tallest woman at the show. very random.

after we saw lykke back in november, ro mentioned how great it would be if lykke li performed until we bleed. the song is actually by kleerup, featuring lykke li. it is a fantastic song. this song makes me break it down in my apartment and rock out in my car. at the show, she asked if she could sing it. since kleerup wasn't there, she sang a different softer version of the song. she also sang one or two new songs. i noticed that not only are her back up singers men but, her entire band is male. they were all kinda hot too. sort of like how jens lekman has an all female band. i suppose the all male band is more common, just not the hot part. if this is how the swedes roll, i like it.

i ♥ lykke li. but clearly and previously noted here, many many others ♥ her. which means, we may not be able to see her again. she is getting too mainstream. she'll soon play at larger venues such as the greek in berkeley, then the shoreline in mountain view. while i enjoy the greek theatre, i detest the shoreline. the only band i'll see there now is new order. i keep side-tracking. back to the show... it was awesome. half of the crowd was rocking out. and the cherry on top, despite selling her own poster at the merch table, the fillmore dispensed free posters. this is why you pay the extra fees to go to the fillmore... for the posters.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ dance, dance, dance

your ex-lover is dead

venue: the fillmore
artist: stars
who: ro & betty
when: 6 october 2008 (monday)
doors open at 7p

i know i just saw them two days ago but they are fantastic. and if they played again tonight, i would be going. even though they recite the same thank you speech at every show, i love them for it. they are consistent and appreciative. it would not be a stars show if torq didn't say all that.

despite the same horrible bloc party copy cat opening band, it was still a great show. while the stars set was mostly the same as the one in santa cruz, they did end it with heart which was different from saturday. the sound at the fillmore is much better than the rio theatre. we also commandeered this location that was not only next to the bar but also came with a nice view of the stage and seating!
the thing with stars is that it puts me in such a happy mood, i couldn't be mad or angry at anything. basically, they give me this great high and that's why i would see them again and again. i've also decided that one of my favorite songs by stars (other than the very thing) is your ex-lover is dead. it's such a beautiful song. the music, the words and the feel of the song is just really lovely. the song is about these two people who have a past together but are re-introduced to one another much later. nothing specific is rehashed but the love they shared was something deep and a little painful. i love this verse right at the end:

there's one thing i want to say, so i'll be brave
you were what i wanted, i gave what i gave
i'm not sorry i met you, i'm not sorry it's over
i'm not sorry there's nothing to say

if you want to see the video on youtube, click here.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

death cab birthday

venue: the fillmore
(sold out)
artist: dcfc
who: betty
when: 23 april 2008 (wednesday)
doors open at 7p

since this show was scheduled the day after betty's birthday, it was the perfect birthday gift. so, i woke my ass up on a sunday at 10a (usually i sleep in on sundays) to buy us tix. i was only limited to two otherwise, i would have purchased more. and apparently, the show was sold out by 11a.

whenever we go to shows, even sold out shows, there are always scalpers offering tickets. last night, there were scalpers asking for tickets. it was kinda strange and exciting that we had tix to this sought out show despite them playing another show at the greek in june.

one of the best things about going to the fillmore for a show are the free posters they give out afterwards. they are limited and is an awesome souvenir to take home. i was quite excited about them as we were denied the posters at the beautiful south show back in 2006. wow, that was the last time i was there. towards the end, we waited by the exit to get first dibs on the posters. the staff said they wouldn't give them out until the band stepped off the stage.

death cab always puts on a great show. they sound pretty awesome live. then, there's ben gibbard's trademark sway-with-his-guitar-and-singing which may have been the cause to his slimmer, more toned frame. honestly, this loses some of his charm. the whole nerdy, black frame glasses and chunky demeanor was adorable. but he's lost the weight, the glasses and is sporting longish greasy hair. blegh. clearly, i am not a fan of his new look. despite the disappointment, it doesn't take away from the quality of the show since i could barely see the stage anyway. one more thing about the swaying and i might have mentioned this in previous reviews of death cab shows, it's kinda distracting. and constant! he does it through fast songs, slow songs and almost non-stop for the hour (or so)-long set. i don't think i've ever seen anything like that before.

last but least, i must comment about the crowd. not only we were like the only asians there (that i could see in the dark anyway) but we were easily the most attractive people there. it was really odd. all of sudden, i became aware that i was surrounded by nerds and unattractive people (even in the dark). there were quite a few fatties there. not just slightly overweight but morbidly obese fatties. when cheering for an encore, the ground shook like a 4.0 scale earthquake. i had to move away from under the chandeliers. there were a couple of really old people there too. old like 60 y/o old. there was this kid who brought his dad or granddad. and the white haired man was totally rocking out. it was kinda cute. anyway, i don't remember this at the last two death cab shows... totally bizarro.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ remains constant just like ben gibbard's swaying

superb

venue: the fillmore
band: the beautiful south
who: betty
when: 11 november 2006 (friday)
doors open at 9p

once again, i missed the first part of the beautiful south show. this time, it wasn't a delayed flight. more like, a delayed friend. that's right, it was betty. assuming that there was an opening band, we arrived sometime past 10p. at least this time, it was only an hour later. i'm told we missed 20-30 minutes which isn't so bad except that the tickets cost $40 and there was no opening band and they only played for about an hour or so more.

otherwise, the show was awesome. paul heaton is brilliant. and so cute doing his little dances on stage. and utterly flawless in his singing. without any obvious effort as well. wish he would do some housemartin songs...

the new female vocalist sounded just like the one prior. they are both folky-sounding which give the beautiful south a more folky sound, unfortunately, that is. but i know i can't really blame the ladies for that. betty and i missed song for whoever which they played early on. bummer, that's one of my favorites by them. ugh, not sure what else we missed.

also, they did two encores! they left the stage and came back twice!! who cares about their fans that much? i've never seen that happen.

betty, if you are reading this, you know i love you... but you've really got to start doing something about this tardiness, i'm not sure how much more i can handle it.

rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (despite missing the first half hour)