Who: the Sheepdogs with Monster Truck and Young Rivals
When: December 11, 2011
Where: Lee's Palace/ Toronto, ON
With: Hillary
Of Note: "I just want to give up my life and go on tour!"
Okay. So. The Sheepdogs. I love the Sheepdogs so much that I can't even really talk about it. They appeared on an episode of Project Runway, where the designers had to design looks for the members of the band. Instead of the traditional fashion show, the band played a mini concert to showcase the outfits. While they were playing, I turned to Steph and said, "Man, they're really good. I would totally listen to that." I went on to read about them and the the Rolling Stone contest (which is an awesome story), and bought their 'Learn & Burn' album which has ended up as one of my top 5 most played albums of 2011.
(Side note: As a marketer, I really questioned their Project Runway appearance. As gritty, bearded, old school rockers, it seemed like Klum & co. were about as far from their brand message as you could possibly get. They also got put in some truly awful outfits. I also have to wonder if it gained them any fans [besides me, obviously and I think Stacey?]. I would think the Venn diagram showing "wannabe fashionistas who watch Runway" and "modern updates to Southern rock enthusiasts" would have a very small overlapping section. But, maybe I'm wrong? In hindsight, it seems like a really odd match.)
Okay, so, the moment I knew I was hooked. You know how there are just some lines of music that drill into your soul and take root there? It could be the melody, is sometimes the lyrics, could be attributed to the inflection, is maybe just related to the mood you're in when you first here it? The second track on the album, 'Please Don't Lead Me On', has a line that says, "And they were playing our favorite song/ 'Boogie on Reggae Woman'." That line slayed me, took up root in my consciousness and wouldn't let go. Something about the way it's delivered...I can't even describe it. The first time I heard that line, I knew I was done for. I scoured the internet for tour dates and was on my way.
(Another side note: I'm really old. I thought it was doors at 7. It was doors at 9. I didn't get home until after 4am. That is not as easy as it once was. Totally worth it but...who doesn't start a concert until 10? I can actually feel myself getting more crotchety. Also, thank you, kind Canadians for dispelling the myth that it's only Americans that are capable of being jackasses. I got sandwiched between the two most aggressive dancers in the place and behind a girl who was too drunk to stand so she thought she'd use me as a wall. It's a testament to how good the music was that I did not punch any of them; we all know how much I love to be touched, especially by strangers.)
The first opening band, Young Rivals, were good. They were a three piece band and had a Rockabilly-esque throwback sound. The singer had a very unique voice. I was impressed by how big their sound was, given that there were only three of them. Maybe it's because I recently saw 'Million Dollar Quartet', but they really reminded me of that era - even the shape of the lead's guitar was reminiscent of Carl Perkins & co. They played a fun set to get the night started and the band members were very gracious when I met them at the end of the night and asked them to sign my CD (What? I'm a dork. I've made peace with it.).
The second band, Monster Truck, was great. Their guitarist's stage energy was infectious and their lead singer had a voice that was out of this world amazing. I felt like I had been put in a time machine and taken back to the late 70s. I also just kept thinking that my brother would love them. It was just a great, great rock show. I picked up their disc as well and am excited to share it with my brother Jeff - they had such a cool throwback sound. (The guitarist was also super nice and signed my CD - just really, genuinely super nice.)
And then. The Sheepdogs. (Squeee!!!!) (I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of their fans probably don't squee.)
They started the show the same way they start the album, with 'The One You Belong To' into 'Please Don't Lead Me On'. Hearing the line "And they were playing..." live did not disappoint. It maybe felt even better live than it did the first time I heard it. I know I squee-ed. I think I even jumped a little.
What followed was one of those sets that makes me say, "Man, I wish I could just give up my life and go on tour." (This happens once a year or so, usually during my first amphitheater show of the summer. I always then remember that I like disposable income and showering and that it would probably be a waste of my Type A personality and MBA to sell bracelets out of the back of a van...but whenever I see a particularly amazing show, I always just want to give it all up and start road tripping.) They played all the highlights from the album and some things I didn't recognize (either older or newer, I'm assuming). 'Lear & Burn' and 'Southern Dreaming' were particularly delightful. There were some great guitar jams and I was terrified that both Ryan & Leot were going to plummet to broken ankles when they walked out on, essentially, shelves to put your empties on. They put on a hell of a show.
Ewan, the lead singer, said that he was glad to be in a room full of people that felt the way about rock & roll that he did - that it doesn't matter what else is going on because for the 4 minutes a really good song lasts, you get to forget about everything else. I get that. That's why I go see live music. Because, when you see something really awesome, it doesn't matter what else is going on. For those 3 hours, you're part of something and the rest of it doesn't matter or doesn't exist. They ended the set with 'I Don't Know', and the crowd lost it.
But, it was only going to get better. For the second song of the encore, the guys from Young Rivals and Monster Truck joined them for a ridiculous version of Neil Young's (another great Canadian band, apparently) 'Down By the River'. It was incredible. The whole stage was just packed with guitars and beards and jams and everyone in the whole place screaming, "I shot my baaaaaabyyyyyyyyyyy!" Two days later and I'm still shouting that in my head. Just. Wow.
I'm not feeling particularly holiday-y this year. I knew that this month was going to be tough. I needed a night like Saturday. And holy crap, wow. Can I please give up my life and go on tour?
When: December 11, 2011
Where: Lee's Palace/ Toronto, ON
With: Hillary
Of Note: "I just want to give up my life and go on tour!"
Okay. So. The Sheepdogs. I love the Sheepdogs so much that I can't even really talk about it. They appeared on an episode of Project Runway, where the designers had to design looks for the members of the band. Instead of the traditional fashion show, the band played a mini concert to showcase the outfits. While they were playing, I turned to Steph and said, "Man, they're really good. I would totally listen to that." I went on to read about them and the the Rolling Stone contest (which is an awesome story), and bought their 'Learn & Burn' album which has ended up as one of my top 5 most played albums of 2011.
(Side note: As a marketer, I really questioned their Project Runway appearance. As gritty, bearded, old school rockers, it seemed like Klum & co. were about as far from their brand message as you could possibly get. They also got put in some truly awful outfits. I also have to wonder if it gained them any fans [besides me, obviously and I think Stacey?]. I would think the Venn diagram showing "wannabe fashionistas who watch Runway" and "modern updates to Southern rock enthusiasts" would have a very small overlapping section. But, maybe I'm wrong? In hindsight, it seems like a really odd match.)
Okay, so, the moment I knew I was hooked. You know how there are just some lines of music that drill into your soul and take root there? It could be the melody, is sometimes the lyrics, could be attributed to the inflection, is maybe just related to the mood you're in when you first here it? The second track on the album, 'Please Don't Lead Me On', has a line that says, "And they were playing our favorite song/ 'Boogie on Reggae Woman'." That line slayed me, took up root in my consciousness and wouldn't let go. Something about the way it's delivered...I can't even describe it. The first time I heard that line, I knew I was done for. I scoured the internet for tour dates and was on my way.
(Another side note: I'm really old. I thought it was doors at 7. It was doors at 9. I didn't get home until after 4am. That is not as easy as it once was. Totally worth it but...who doesn't start a concert until 10? I can actually feel myself getting more crotchety. Also, thank you, kind Canadians for dispelling the myth that it's only Americans that are capable of being jackasses. I got sandwiched between the two most aggressive dancers in the place and behind a girl who was too drunk to stand so she thought she'd use me as a wall. It's a testament to how good the music was that I did not punch any of them; we all know how much I love to be touched, especially by strangers.)
The first opening band, Young Rivals, were good. They were a three piece band and had a Rockabilly-esque throwback sound. The singer had a very unique voice. I was impressed by how big their sound was, given that there were only three of them. Maybe it's because I recently saw 'Million Dollar Quartet', but they really reminded me of that era - even the shape of the lead's guitar was reminiscent of Carl Perkins & co. They played a fun set to get the night started and the band members were very gracious when I met them at the end of the night and asked them to sign my CD (What? I'm a dork. I've made peace with it.).
The second band, Monster Truck, was great. Their guitarist's stage energy was infectious and their lead singer had a voice that was out of this world amazing. I felt like I had been put in a time machine and taken back to the late 70s. I also just kept thinking that my brother would love them. It was just a great, great rock show. I picked up their disc as well and am excited to share it with my brother Jeff - they had such a cool throwback sound. (The guitarist was also super nice and signed my CD - just really, genuinely super nice.)
And then. The Sheepdogs. (Squeee!!!!) (I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most of their fans probably don't squee.)
They started the show the same way they start the album, with 'The One You Belong To' into 'Please Don't Lead Me On'. Hearing the line "And they were playing..." live did not disappoint. It maybe felt even better live than it did the first time I heard it. I know I squee-ed. I think I even jumped a little.
What followed was one of those sets that makes me say, "Man, I wish I could just give up my life and go on tour." (This happens once a year or so, usually during my first amphitheater show of the summer. I always then remember that I like disposable income and showering and that it would probably be a waste of my Type A personality and MBA to sell bracelets out of the back of a van...but whenever I see a particularly amazing show, I always just want to give it all up and start road tripping.) They played all the highlights from the album and some things I didn't recognize (either older or newer, I'm assuming). 'Lear & Burn' and 'Southern Dreaming' were particularly delightful. There were some great guitar jams and I was terrified that both Ryan & Leot were going to plummet to broken ankles when they walked out on, essentially, shelves to put your empties on. They put on a hell of a show.
Ewan, the lead singer, said that he was glad to be in a room full of people that felt the way about rock & roll that he did - that it doesn't matter what else is going on because for the 4 minutes a really good song lasts, you get to forget about everything else. I get that. That's why I go see live music. Because, when you see something really awesome, it doesn't matter what else is going on. For those 3 hours, you're part of something and the rest of it doesn't matter or doesn't exist. They ended the set with 'I Don't Know', and the crowd lost it.
But, it was only going to get better. For the second song of the encore, the guys from Young Rivals and Monster Truck joined them for a ridiculous version of Neil Young's (another great Canadian band, apparently) 'Down By the River'. It was incredible. The whole stage was just packed with guitars and beards and jams and everyone in the whole place screaming, "I shot my baaaaaabyyyyyyyyyyy!" Two days later and I'm still shouting that in my head. Just. Wow.
I'm not feeling particularly holiday-y this year. I knew that this month was going to be tough. I needed a night like Saturday. And holy crap, wow. Can I please give up my life and go on tour?
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