The Last Drop » concerts

Drop Kick: A Love Affair Continues

TopDrop — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 07:48:11 +0000

Robyn. Yeah. It’s getting out of control. But hey, she’s had a stellar year. And she puts on a show like no other.

Just saw these photos from her Radio City Music Hall performance via Brooklyn Vegan and had to pay it forward.

R$ – please come back to the bay soon! Oh, Diamond Rings, it would be cool to have you back too.

Say Hello to the Bad Guy

TopDrop — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:05:00 +0000

When once we thought there was hope (“Solid as Barack…”), there now is just despair. As a fan of live music, my heart just sank a little lower. A proposed merger of LiveNation and Ticketmaster is in the works. One company to rule venues, ticketing, promotional items, and even record contracts. So…there is officially no where to go that won’t charge me a few limbs to see a concert in a mid to large size venue. And there is no potential for competition to shake things up. As much as I hate our overemphasized legal process, I am absolutely hoping for an antitrust dispute case to rear it’s ugly and labor intensive head.

Did I mention the new name sucks. At least TRY to be creative.

This live nation is now my ticket master.

CMJaded

TopDrop — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 04:02:00 +0000

Is it just me, or are the big industry, buzz worthy bands just not as good as they used to be. As CMJ drew to a close a week ago, I was saddened by how unenthused and inspired I was by this year’s crop of sometimes but not so unfound up-and-coming stars. This year also seemed heavily burdened by “those who already have a lot of buzz about them” – Lykke Li, Janelle Monae, Jens Lekman, Deerhoof, etc. Now, I can’t pretend that all of these acts are well known to the masses. But I do like to pretend that New York is still a lot closer to the action of new music than I will ever be. Plus, I am not actually in the industry. I’m just an avid observer who will listen to anything. So I was surprised (in the negative way) to see so many names that I had already seen.

In all fairness, this may be a projected reaction from a recent concert. Two heavily buzzed bands from CMJ – the UK’s next Franz Ferdinand, Friendly Fires and Lykke Li – were featured and I couldn’t resist seeing if they were worth it. First, the Friendly Fires actually used their CMJ noteriaty to promote themselves during the show (read – some random girl and her friend with a book bag totally got in front of me while I was watching and forced a promo flyer in my hand with a button attached that stated the Friendly Fires did 4 shows at CMJ. Not a good way to sell yourself. Keep it all at the merch table please). While they did have the exuberance mentioned in all of the post-CMJ rehashes, it looked terribly forced. OK, I get it, when a white boy does pelvis thrusts and shakes his booty uncontrollably, it’s supposed to show that he is really excited and I should be too. But I wasn’t. And while the music was fun it wasn’t anything special. Lykke Li, however, did deliver the goods with an unforced mystical stage presence similar to Stevie Nicks, but, you know, for hipsters. And while her 12 song set was stellar, I still came away with a nagging feeling that these weren’t going to change the world. Or even make me interested enough to crave a second album. So, what gives? Is it me or has “underground” music lost a lot of it’s appeal? Am I finally getting too old – music nowadays just ain’t what it used to be? Let’s hope I am wrong.

You make the call – The NYT Review of CMJ

Miss Jones and Miss Lynn

TopDrop — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:42:00 +0000

I can’t believe she covered “Fist City”. My stately pick from Loretta Lynn for my best of 2006 and now Norah Jones done covered it! See, it is a great song. As well as many other alterna-country covers in her latest, much raved about performance. This is really an inside joke post, so for those on the outside, I apologize.

Long Live Loretta Lynn!

A Banner Year

TopDrop — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:22:00 +0000

It is a sign. The stars are aligning. This year will be…something special. Outside of the radical changes that I’ve already taken to start off 2008 (still living in London, that Trek to the Himalayas that I need your help with, finally learning Spanish/Italian, etc.), so shall my musical journey follow. I’ve mentioned to a few that there are two artists that I would do anything to see – absolute drop all commitments and pay whatever they ask – which has been a tall order to live up to. Especially when both artists were not touring actively in Europe. Well, the wait is over and I am lucky enough to see BOTH in 2008. Plus, I just saw The Cool Kids up close and personal. If you haven’t gotten onto their bandwagon, do so immediately. I can’t wait to see them blow up this year (courtesy of their friendship of a certain Mr. West in Chicago). And to reveal my hidden pleasures of musical supremacy:

Jamie Lidell@Koko, April 29th – Yeah, yeah, I’ve already seen him. On a birthday concert to boot. But he is still the only man I would marry. And Koko is a top notch venue. Plus he has a new album that is releasing the day before the show. He has been noted as “Britain’s version of Prince”. Don’t know if I agree (no signs of wearing any purple or Lake Minnetonka references), but he is one of the most creative soul singers I’ve ever witnessed.

Girl Talk@The Dome, March 3rd – I missed him the first time he came to London and was devastated. Literally. I couldn’t get any work done and was depressed for three days. Now that he is coming back, I am prepared. Tickets are bought. Dancing shoes will be in full use. Hot and sweaty pictures may even be must. This is one underground trendsetter that has my unabashed support.