OK, it's not that I like to start a concert review with an inside joke, but it seems appropriate. Ben Lee at the Fox tonight with two openers. There was a bit of confusion about this, as the Fox website advertised the show thusly: "Ben Lee & Rooney with John Ralston". Are there three bands? Is Rooney playing with Ben Lee? These are the questions that we didn't have answered before the show.
As it turned out, John Ralston played first, then Rooney, then Ben. I arrived shortly after the John Ralston set started. I admit, I didn't pay attention. I chatted with Leah and her friend whose name I think is Andy, but really I'm not that sure. I'll call him Andy and if that's not right, well, who will ever know? Yes we chatted through the first set, and discovered that none of us really were all that fond of Rooney. So when they took the stage we went out to the lobby and chatted some more. And had some drinks. It was great. We ventured back to the theatre with a couple Rooney songs left. We had some fun watching the Rooney fans. I still don't like Rooney all that much. Meh.
Then Ben Lee took the stage in a gold lamé suit. Really. Oh, wait... I mean a gold hemp lamé suit. Because he's in Boulder, you see. Now, firstly you must know that Ben Lee played Boulder on the very same night that Nickelodeon was in the midst of a 24-hour Spongebob Squarepants marathon. That's some severe competition. Secondly you must know that my entire knowledge of Ben Lee is this: he has a song on the Grey's Anatomy Soundtrack. Oh, and Leah told me that once he toured with Ben Folds and Ben Kweller. Awesome. Not that I have issues with going to shows where I'm not overly familiar with the artist... I do that all the time. It's just that Ben Lee was not really what I was expecting at all.
I had a good time, I did. But I can't help but feel that I would have had a better time if there had only been one opener and Ben had come on at 10:00 instead of after 11:00. We left before the encore. Yes, I'm old.
Anyway, I'm not familiar with Ben's music so I can't possibly come up with a setlist. Sometimes it's more fun to talk about fans. There was one guy who really seemed, at times, to think that he was at a hoedown. He was clapping his hands, stomping his foot, and really really into it. Then there was the group of women who we spotted partway through the set who were dressed in skin tight pants, boots, and bare midriffs a-plenty. I often wonder what people expect when they come to a show. Maybe that's how they dress in real life, what the fuck do I know?
So... I decided to forego the Spongebob marathon for the show. There are many times where I don't go to shows when I know that I should. This I do know about myself - very very rarely do I regret going to see an artist play live. And this night was no different. I really did have a good time, and I can always put my Spongebob DVDs on later... I can even say that I would see Ben Lee again. But not Rooney.
Wow. That was a clusterfuck of a review. At any rate, what I'm listening to right now:
If you don't already listen to The Hold Steady, you should. Trust me, they are fabulous.
"She said always remember never to trust me.
She said that the first night she met me.
She said there's gonna be a time when
I'm gonna have to go with whoever's gonna get me the highest.
She said I won't be much for conversation if we go and do the rest of this.
She said I've never been much for conservation.
I kinda dig these awkward silences.
She's got those bones brigade videos.
She knew them back and forth.
She's slept with so many skaters.
She had the place to herself.
She had a couple hundred bux.
And he had nothing but the number.
She said I like the guy who always answers the door.
He never asks you what you came to his house for.
She said I won't be much for all this humbert humbert stuff.
I've never done so much of this.
I have to try so hard not to fall in love.
I have to concentrate when we kiss.
She mouthed the words along to "running up that hill".
That song got scratched into her soul.
He's never heard the song before.
But still he gets the metaphor.
He knows some people that switched places before.
She said I really like the crowds at the really big shows.
People touching people that they don't even know, yo.
I guess the heavy stuff ain't quite at its heaviest
By the time it gets out to suburban minneapolis.
We were living up at nicollet and 66th.
With 3 skaters and some hoodrat chick.
Drove the wrong way down 169.
Almost died up by edina high."
Also, they're on Jimmy Kimmel Live tomorrow. Or tonight. November 10, whatever. Watch it, dammit.
Then I need to get some sleep. I do have to work tomorrow. But I'll probably watch a couple episodes of Spongebob first... :)
1 comment:
hahaha yes, my friend's name is Andy, you got it right.
What a weird show! I agree it would have been wayyyyy better if there had been one (or no!) openers. Ah well. I think ben lee's set could have been better too, but that was mainly cuz I was really, really tired.
hope the rest of your weekend was fun!
leah
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