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April 18, 2001
Low/Danielson Famile
Last night, I went to see the first of two Low shows this week. I really like Low, and love when they come to the City. The first few times I saw them here in San Francisco the club was over run with folks who didn't come to see Low and had come to see an opening band. Low is awfully quiet, and even one person who chooses to talk through the set can be a major distraction. You can often hear the din of the cash register ringing up a beer over the bands soft sound. This show was different. The crowd was large, but attentive.
They usually play quietly, and last night was no exception. They did play quietly, but MUCH louder, if that makes sense. The guitar and bass rumbled on several songs. They played a great set pulled largely from "Things We Lost in the Fire," pulling out only one older song -- "Over the Ocean."
They had special guests, including Mark de Gli Antoni (Soul Coughing keyboard player), and special walk on by Mark Kozelek (of Red House Painters). The last song with Kozelek was a Neil Young cover, kind of noodly and not very inspired, but the effect was great with the three singers on stage and rumbling guitars. Not a particulariy Low moment, but fun.
They also played a "Last Night I Dreamt that Somebody Loved Me" by the Smiths mostly with Alan Sparhawk playing solo. It was a great version and, again, very un-Low like.
The songs they played:
John Prine
Dinosaur Act
Laser Beam
Two-Step
Over the ocean
Sunflowers
I Remember
July
Starfire
Embrace
Soon
Closer
Encore:
Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me
In metal
Down by the river (w/ Mark Kozelek)
The opening band, The Danielson Famile, were also really fun. I saw them once a few years back at Coney Island High in New York City, and last nights set was EXACTLY the same.
The band is a christian rock group (I'm definitely not of their target market) who is made up (mostly) of brothers and sisters. They wear medical uniforms with hearts on their sleeves (literally) and have synchronized dance moves. Daniel, the lead guy, sings in a scrunched-up Frank Black voice, with large woody overtones of Perry Farrell. They made the largely indie rock audience pay attention, laugh, and have a good time.
We started out the night hanging with Teri and her friend Susan. Teri's always fun to hang out ith, her dry wit is similar to mine, must be the water in Minnesota. We talked about all sorts of fun stuff - art, culture and otherwise.
I'm going to see the same bands tonight, and looking greatly forward to it.
Posted by tdotjay at April 18, 2001 10:47 AM
