scene but not herd

Everyone has their own tastes, but I still can't understand why the Go-Betweens don't have a bigger following. How many bands are still putting out quality work 25 years after they first started? Granted, their music isn't going to change THE world, but it certainly could change YOUR world. There is such a lack of beauty in the world and their songs have an overabundance of it. They are true storytellers whose lyrics can break your heart at one point or make you laugh at another from the dry wit. Only two of the original members remain, but they always were the core of the band. This was my first time seeing them and I enjoyed myself very much. They played a lot of new songs interspersed with some of their classics. Guitars spanning the gap from angular and sparse electric to lush acoustic. They could go from punky in one minute to baroque the next minute. I think the crowd would have watched them play all night. In fact someone yelled out to play until dawn. They didn't quite reach that point, but they did end up coming out for four or five encores. The last song was one of their finest and truly one of the best songs ever written in general. "Cattle and Cane" has lyrics which evoke a nostalgic melancholy to me. The music is simple, but it goes with the lyrics very well. It is just basic guitar, bass, and drums moving steadily along which makes me picture wind blowing through vegetation. The version last night was just incredible. They deserve much more fanfare, but I'll cherish the fact that I am able to see and hear them.

More possible fun to be had in the future:

Arthurfest is September 4th and 5th at Barnsdall Art Park. The bands playing so far:

SONIC YOUTH
SLEATER-KINNEY
THE BLACK KEYS
CAT POWER
OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL
T-MODEL FORD
MERZBOW
THE JUAN MACLEAN
DEAD MEADOW
COMETS ON FIRE
SUNN O)))
SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE
VETIVER
JOSEPHINE FOSTER
SUNBURNED HAND OF THE MAN
WOLFMOTHER
GROWING
CIRCLE
RADAR BROS.
EARTH
MARISSA NADLER
JACK ROSE
MAGIK MARKERS
FUTURE PIGEON
BECKY STARK & THE LAVENDER DIAMOND
WINTER FLOWERS
just added: HENRY JACOBS

There are a few people I would like to see so I'm going to try and make it. Hopefully all the groups I want to see play on one day so I can buy a single ticket and save a little money.

September 29th the New Pornographers are playing the Henry Fonda Theater. I've skipped the two other times they came through town so I'm definitely going to make this one.