all photos: Jane Briggs
all words: Svetlana
Seeing Thao this past Friday (for the first time live, ever) was kind of like finally, FINALLY getting to go on a date with someone you've desperately had a crush on for forever. We first wrote about here back in 2007, interviewed her right before the very amazing "We Brave Bee Stings and All" came out and kept sending people to her live shows (I never went myself, maybe fearing that "Bag of Hammers" live could never live up to my expectations and that I would never recover) all the while no one seemed to be paying too much attention to it.
At least not en masse.
All that seemed to have changed with the release of the new "Know Better Learn Faster" album (which came out this a couple of weeks a go, also on Kill Rock Stars) since by the time we got to the Black cat on Friday (before any of the bands were even remotely taking the stage) the show was fully and completely sold out with people hustling up front for "any spares" and the upstairs being pretty full before the first note was even played. The time has finally come for the world to embrace playfully freaky girl folk-pop.
That first note came from David Schultz & The Skyline, who play earnest folk music and wear plaid shirts while looking really happy to be on stage, and there are beards and wool caps involved and who, sadly, I don't remember much else about.
By the time (after a seemingly long pause) The Portland Cello Project took the stage the bar was packed, and it was obvious that PCP would not be able to catch the attention of the 800 people busy getting drinks and catching up while impatiently waiting for Thao to take the stage. Which proved correct. Which is a shame if you've heard the stories I heard about their jubilant, victorious, hilarious 3 hour shows back in their native Portland where they write completely new arrangements for each set, involve the audience into activities such as air-cello contests etc...
None of which seemed to work for them on Friday, and even during their cover of Outkast's "Heya" cover, what should have proven to be the easiest clapping excercise in the world (I mean, haven't we all clapped along like crazy to that song in college? Don't lie.).
I felt bad for them, but, you know what they say: you never know which openers of today will be the headliners of tomorrow. Your time will come PCP.
Speaking of which, by the time the literal time for Thao came along it was close to midnight and we were r.e.a.d.y.
She came out, dress, cowbor boots and a guitar that seemed bigger than her included and it was a great set.
I always think of Thao's way of singing as being the most intimate way of speaking in tongues: almost using your mouth and teeth and tongue as an organic instrument of sorts to hit notes that almost seem impossible to achieve. To see it happen live (and please look at Jane's photos for examples) is beautiful and unsettling like watching a wild animal music show or something.
You can't explain it but you can't keep your eyes or ears away.
Of course, the songs are still as flawless pieces of pop music : filled with banjos and quippy lyrics ("we don't dive, we cannonball" is one of the best lines in a song last year) and choruses you will never forget ("bag of hammers" was the highlight I hoped for it to be and when she soars into that "The trick is....you do not get on that interstate bus" my heart always pumps a little extra hard and I wish I could write a song like that). Numbers from the new record were well received as well, with "When we swam" being as full of abandon as you'd ever hope it to be, and completely unselfconsciously self-conscious.
By the time it was all over, demons were purged, hugs were being given out like they were (just) handshakes and we were all emotionally drained but happy.
It was a good time.
Previously in Live DC:
- 5/24: LiveDC: The Adicts @ RNR Hotel
- 5/24: LiveDC: The Donkeys @ Black Cat
- 5/23: LiveDC: The Barr Brothers w/ Kishi Bashi @ The Hamilton
- 5/23: LiveDC: Damien Jurado @ Black Cat
- 5/23: Report: Soundbites 2012
- 5/22: LiveDC: Spirit Animal @ Red Palace
- 5/22: LiveDC: Astra Via @ Black Cat
- 5/22: LiveDC: Father John Misty @ Rock & Roll Hotel
- 5/22: LiveDC: Drive-By Truckers and Lucinda Williams @ Merriweather
- 5/22: Photos: Summer Camp takes the "Ladies of Town" Drag Show
God loves a cheerful giver.
yeah, i went mostly for to hear PCP - cellos!! - and it was a terrible shame that the crowd was more interested in comparing the wear marks on their thrift store curduroys and the pearl snaps on their plaid western shirts than hearing some real musicians!! then again, on the other hand the soundperson coulda turned the volume a little higher than 2.
I was seriously considering going to this show without a ticket on Friday, but was worried that a) it would sell out and b) Thao wouldn't go on until almost midnight. Great set or not, I'm not exactly sorry I skipped it . . .
Maybe it was due to how late she went on--or just the ticket sales being spread amongst the three acts, but Black Cat sure didn't have the feel of a sold out show by the time Thao &THGDSD went on. I've been there for plenty of "sold out" shows and it seemed like there were about 200 people missing...
Anyone know what song she played in between Easy and Cool Yourself? It's the only one I didn't recognize.