Shows that Make Your Life: Gogol Bordello

Seriously, I could die happy right now. No cell phone photo can do justice to the aweseomeness that was Eugene Hutz (see Everything is Illuminated if you haven't) and Gogol Bordello tonight. I almost don't want to say more. The large banner behind the band read "Gogol Bordello, Gypsy Punk Revolution". This is a revolution I would like to be apart of.

Hutz opened with a rousing chorus of "There were never any good old days. They are today. They are tomorrow. That's a stupid thing we say, cursing tomorrow with sorrow." The band's frenetic energy transformed the Variety Playhouse into some sort of gypsy rave with almost two hours of music that was impossible not to dance along with. The encore was a show in itself, leaving the crowd happily exhausted by the time the band marched off the stage. I thought it wouldn't end, and I was happy for that thought.

Although this video still doesn't capture the experience of seeing these guys perform, it gives a little taste of the band's unique personality and sound:





If you EVER have a chance to see Gogol Bordello live, do it. You'll thank me, I promise.

Mr. W

Watch this.

Silver Jews: A kind of Q and A

This is a little late, but last Saturday's Silver Jews show at the Variety Playhouse well exceeded expectations. Of note would be the quasi Q and A between one Mr. Z of St. John's College and David Berman himself.

First off, for any Johnnies reading out there, David Berman, with glasses on, is a dead ringer for a young William T. Braithwaite. That said, there is much rumor confirmed by multiple unreliable sources that David Berman attended St. John's college for at least two years, was possibly disenabled and possible gave a graduation address. All of this is uncomfirmed by anyone sober or of upstanding repute (sorry, Josh).

The Q and A went as follows:

(quiet moment in show)
Mr. T: (yelling towards stage) Is it true that you went to St. John's College?
David Berman: (pauses, distractedly mumbles) There are a lot of those, aren't there?
Mr. T and e.a.: (yelling again) The one in Maryland!
David Berman: (into microphone) There's one of those in Annapolis, isn't there?
Mr. T. and e.a.: Yes! That one!
David Berman:...... leads into next song


So the Q and A was ultimately inconclusive, but incredibly satisfying to the inquirers nonetheless.

It should be said that the show was great and David Berman's wife is in possession of both a winning smile and a great voice.

Monotonix

Montotonix opened for Silver Jews at the Variety Playhouse last night, and while they didn't steal the show, they definitely gave it a "punch in the face" (the words of Ami Shalev, the lead singer).

The band set up their drum kit and instruments in the standing-room area of the Variety Playhouse, walked out, and motioned for the crowd, mostly seated, to walk down to where they are. They then proceeded to put on the most frenetic dance party I've seen a few years. Shalev did headstands in a garbage can, rode on the shoulders of crowd member and stole beers from bystanders to drink or give to his bandmates.

The show was stronger on the performance art end that it was musically, but it was a truly unique experience, and isn't that half the point of live music?

Elevator Conversations: Toast T-Shirt

I got on the elevator back to my office yesterday and found myself in the company of a man wearing a t-shirt that had a cartoon piece of toast on it. He was otherwise well-dressed and had selected one of the law-firm floors, so I assumed he was taking his firm's "casual friday" to heart.

I asked him, "Is that a piece of toast on your shirt?"

He laughed and said, "Yeah, I joined this club and they send me t-shirts sometimes and I like the way this one fits." And with that, he exited the elevator onto his floor.

I was left wondering, what kind of club sends you t-shirts with a piece of toast on it?

Elevator conversations are always just seconds too short.

Movies I Wish I Hadn't Seen: Transsiberian

This will be brief. Transsiberian is shot beautifully, acted well and still manages to be completely pointless. The violence and horrific torture that the audience is asked to sit through might have been worth it if the ending weren't so horribly trite and meaningless.

I can't say more without giving away the entire plot, though I'm almost tempted to do just that, since I really don't recommend that you see this movie yourself.