Saw the Sea And Cake, last night at the Cat's Cradle. Meg Baird opened for them.
Meg Baird is a women who sings... traditional folk ballads. Just her and her acoustic, very Thistle and Shamrock at times. Thankfully, she's actually really good at it, too. But, wow, what a strange choice to open for a band like the Sea And Cake. The rest of the crowd weren't in the mood and rudely talked over most of her set.
She sat on her stool, motionless, and sang with her eyes closed, her entire set.
And then, somewhere around 10:45, the Sea And Cake started.
Sam Prekop, John McEntire, Archer Prewitt
I've seen them before (at the same place), but I was in the middle of the club then, so I heard the PA mix. Last night I was up front so I got to hear the sound from the stage, where the distinction between the two guitars was sharp. I've heard all their records a million times, but I've never really tried to distinguish Archer Prewitt's guitar parts from Sam Prekop's guitar parts: what are they each doing, how do they relate to the other, etc.. When they're right in front of you, though, it's obvious who's playing what; and it's obvious then just how different their two parts can be from each other - often discordant, off time from each other, etc. - and how amazing it is that they work together as well as they do.
Archer Prewitt, Eric Claridge
One other thing I noticed, after seeing them last night is just how good the bass player, Eric Claridge is. He kindof gets buried on the records, but many of his parts are as complex and interesting as the two guitars are. Something I've known for a long time is how good a drummer John McEntire is, but watching him is something else. His sound on studio records is very clean, very precise, crisp; I've always had this image of him sitting there very cool, calm and in-control. No, that's not him. Not at all. He's totally into it: head, neck and, face included. Looks like he's having a blast.
Sam Prekop - who looks a little like a younger Bill Maher
They played a few of my favorites (esp. "The Biz" and "Parasol"). They played a few off their new record, which didn't do much for me when I got it; but the songs sounded good live. Overall, they rock a bit more live, than they do on the records, where it all gets polished and smoothed. Live, it's all a bit more raw and in your face. Good show. Since I don't know anyone (except Joe, who introduced me to them) who even knows what the Sea And Cake sound like, let alone anyone who likes them, I wasn't sure what a Sea And Cake crowd would look like. Turns out, it looks exactly like the UNC student body; and I was a little surprised to see a group of college girls crowding the front of the stage, singing along with all the songs no less. That's a nice change from other shows I've been to lately (ex. Belew, Hitchcock), where the dominant demographic is aging hipsters with gray ponytails and Hawaiian shirts.
Speaking of aging... damn. I can't handle getting home at 12:45 and needing to get up for work at 6:45. Pinback's playing there next Wednesday, hope I can talk myself into it.
QOTSA are playing 15 miles away from where I live in Decemeber. Shall I? :)
hell yeah!
Aw nuts. Sold out. However, FoF knows the promoter who is holding 200 tix back until nearer the date, so fingers crossed…
BTW, I keep hearing good things about ‘Apples in Stereo’ – whaddya know Cleek?
they’re reeaaaaalllllyyyy sunny, kinda psychedelic, alt-pop. once upon a time i liked the record they put out back in ’93, “Fun Trick Noisemaker”. but i’m not crazy about anything after that.
Hey Cleek:
I hear ya on the weeknight shows. I just went to see Iron and Wine on a Monday (gasp) night and they didn’t end until after 12:30, putting me into my bed at 1:15-ish. That’s rough.
I haven’t seen Sea and Cake, but the Coctails were one of my all time favorite live bands. Do they compare? I do like the studio stuff, but don’t listen to them as much as the Coctails.
Oh yeah, they’re playing one of my favorite venues on Wednesday…but again with the weeknight shows.
Do they compare?
i never saw the Coctails live, so i can’t say how they compare. i get the feeling that the Coctails were probably pretty energetic… but i’ve always like S&C’s records better than the Coctails… so, well, i’m biased :)
i honestly don’t know if seeing the live is the best introduction – a lot of their sound is the production, especially the later records, IMO. but, i could be wrong.
go! :)
I’m considering it. I just found this, maybe you’ve seen it:
http://southernshelter.com/2007/09/out-of-towners-sea-and-cake-earl-92507.html
Is that your show? It’s also up on Dime in FLAC format, but I’m not sure if I’ll pull it.
Coctails were awesome. Watching them one night when a huge summer thunderstorm came ripping through the area and took the power out. They were all playing acoustic instruments (Bass, Vibraphones, Banjo and Drums) and they kept going without missing a beat. The packed (sweaty) crowd went silent and listened to them, and watched the incredible lightning storm outside. After a minute or so, the power came back on and all the amplification came back and blew us all away. As amazing a concert experience as I’ve ever had…
Ahh, youth.
ahh…. sounds awesome. :)
not the same show, but a pretty similar set list. i’ll grab a couple songs. see what it sounds like.
(wow. sounds great. right off the board?)