Friday, September 30, 2011

Magic

Went to see Gillian Welch and David Rawlings last night and it was amazing. Goosebumps amazing. This was the second time we've been lucky enough to see them live and they blow every other live show out of the water. I don't even mind it when they do encores*.

And apparently I'm getting too old for mid week concerts, because I am exhausted today.




* I know that you're supposed to love encores, but they drive me nuts. I've been to a couple concerts where the encores were actually spontaneous, just because the energy was so right, and they were amazing. But I hate that the encore has become an accepted final act of every single show. It isn't exciting if you know you're going to get one just for showing up. No fun. Yes, I'm a total spoilsport. Sorry.
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25 comments:

  1. UnknownSeptember 30, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    I am totally with you on that! It's not special unless it's spontaneous.

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  2. Emily TSeptember 30, 2011 at 11:45 AM

    I appreciate when others have heard of and love Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings. They are such a hidden gem with remarkable talent. Their shows have set a higher standard for every concert I will see in the future.

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  3. brianneSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:07 PM

    SO glad to hear that someone has become as jaded with encores as I have. The artists don't even seem to get excited about it most of the time, although I agree when things are rockin' it can be great.

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  4. MarySeptember 30, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    Oh so jealous! I adore them - the latest CD is one of my favorites this year, and I agree - they're awesome live. I also agree with you on encores. Often they can feel so contrived, but when they're great, they are great.

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  5. SARAHSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    Jealous. Ditto on encores: sometimes an ending just needs to be an ending.

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  6. megsnashvilleSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:45 PM

    I feel the same way about encores! Just can't get into them anymore. And Gillian Welch and Dave are amazing.

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  7. Ashley GSeptember 30, 2011 at 12:57 PM

    I am so jealous I missed Gillian and David. I'm always the last person to know when someone's performing in LA.

    Ditton on the encore. Just stay there and play the dang songs already.

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  8. nicoleSeptember 30, 2011 at 1:14 PM

    I'm one of those crazed fans screaming, ONE. MORE. SONG., ONE. MORE. SONG. I love a good encore! Sounds like a great night of music. Jealous! xo.

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  9. Whitney LaneSeptember 30, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    I tooootally agree with you about the encore thing. I always think, "Can they just let the artist be done? They just did a whole show!" I'm glad I'm not the only one. :)

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  10. BrigittaSeptember 30, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    It would be a dream to see those two live just once! And Im with you on encores! Very unnecessary.

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  11. bigBANG studioSeptember 30, 2011 at 3:38 PM

    NO. WAY. AT PAPPY'S?! I DIE.

    However, if I can't see Our Lady Gilly play live I'm so glad you, my dear, could. Happy awesome (if exhausting) mid-week concert, my beloved.

    xoxoxo

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  12. MaiaSeptember 30, 2011 at 4:44 PM

    I agree with you about Encores. When I play in the orchestra for pop/rock concerts, it's become tradition now to save the most famous, best loved song for the "encore." That just takes all the fun out of the concept of "the encore!" It should be, as you say, a spontaneous gift to the audience that arises from the energy the performer feels coming back to them. If it's anything else, it's just contrived.

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  13. KateSeptember 30, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    I was there too! How awesome was the "This Land is Your Land" medley? Amazing. I am so with you on encores, but that second one was totally earned.

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  14. RachelSeptember 30, 2011 at 4:59 PM

    @ Ashley G - Do you listen to KCRW at all? That's mostly where I (actually, it's usually D who pays attention) hear about concerts. Such a good source.

    @ Lily - Not at the Pappy's show, sadly. Because I'm pretty sure that would have been over the top insanely perfect. We saw them at the Music Box, in LA, and it was great except for all the jostling and the fact that we aren't super tall so have to find strategic locations in non-seated concert arrangements. We saw them at the Largo in LA a couple years back and that was heavenly. Such a good venue.


    @ Kate - Crazy!!! It was a big crowd, right? And their encores did feel more genuine than most, so I was happy with it last night.

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  15. i'm leslieSeptember 30, 2011 at 5:49 PM

    Jealous! We've seen them a couple of times, but it was a while back. Aren't they great live? Their voices sound like they were made to be together.

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  16. Ashley GSeptember 30, 2011 at 8:17 PM

    @Rachel- I do listen to KCRW when I'm driving, but I must not pay attention enough :)

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  17. Jane FlanaganOctober 1, 2011 at 1:28 PM

    Love them - so glad you got to go - worth the exhaustion!

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  18. RachelOctober 2, 2011 at 7:39 AM

    I totally agree about the encore thing! I'm a music person too (it's what I study and what I love)...but after a certain point, I've had too much! Good to know their is someone out there that feels the same!

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  19. a gracious plentyOctober 2, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    i had never really been bothered by encores. but i went to see nanci griffith a few years back, and she didn't do an encore. i thought it was so refreshing and true.
    love gillian and her new album.
    glad you had fun.
    katie

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  20. laurenOctober 3, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    it is extremely difficult to get joe to commit to general-admission concerts; the man wants to sit down, and on most occasions i agree with him (these old bones!). that said, rocktober is upon us, and we have the psychedelic furs tonight and portishead on wednesday. ROCKTOBER! it is the most wonderful time of the year.

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  21. CaitlinOctober 3, 2011 at 9:08 AM

    I count their show last year in NYC as one of my top three favorite musical experiences. Ever. So glad you got to see them, though I am with you on the weeknight concerts. It takes me days to recover. Old.

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  22. Amanda MaeOctober 3, 2011 at 11:56 AM

    I saw them at Pappy's the night before. They were AMAZING. Blow my mind every time. I have a new crush on Dave Rawlings...

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  23. AmyOctober 3, 2011 at 9:40 PM

    I love Gillian too! Words of an old roommate: "I love Lucinda Williams, but I WORSHIP Gillian Welch." The only other performers that I think reach their level of awesome/intimate/is-she-singing-directly-into-my-soul are Josh Ritter and Jonathan Richman which is kindof funny. And yeah, encores are over-rated. I'm premature old and always am tired of standing, I wish there was only an encore song when everyone was so crazy into it that they HAD to sing another song. It's like a standing ovation after every classical performance. Keep it special.

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  24. TamaraOctober 4, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    i too went to see dave & gillian -- indeed amazing, and i completely agree on the encores. theirs was particularly out of hand. they came out for three more and it would have been a perfect show in my mind had they stopped after the second one. leave 'em asking for more, right?

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  25. AnonymousOctober 5, 2011 at 7:28 AM

    i do not know how i missed this. but i saw gill and dave 3x in august and i do not regret it one bit. they are MASTERS.

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