Note 2: I also realize that I put punctuation outside of my quotes. I mostly do it when I’m quoting song titles, since I think it’s lame to make it looks like the punctuation is part of the song title. I also make up words. Wanna fight about it?

On Tuesday, I made my first ever trip to the Roxy in Boston to see The New Pornographers live. TNP are one of my very favorite bands (#2 on my last.fm profile) and I’d never had the opportunity to see them play live. I wasn’t expecting to be completely amazed, because I know they often tour without Dan Bejar and Neko Case, who’ve got their own bands to tour with. But, lo! there they all were on stage in front of me. The band played a bunch of stuff off of Challengers, the latest album, which I’d previously been underwhelmed by. But seeing the songs live added some new element to them that I hadn’t noticed before. Going back and giving the album a more critical listen has definitely caused me to have a new appreciation for the album. It’s not Twin Cinema, but it’s really good — and some of the quieter songs (and the Dan Bejar led “Myriad Harbour”) are the best on the album and just required me to look past my hopes of a super indie pop album to just a great all around pop album.

The band mixed in songs from all 4 albums, and played every song I really wanted to hear. I was really, desperately hoping to hear “My Slow Descent Into Alcoholism” off of Mass Romantic and as we headed into what was surely the last song, I had come to the realization that I wouldn’t get it. And then they busted it out and the mostly knowledgeable crowd bounced a bit and enjoyed the pure pop goodness. Highlights were easily the always phenomenal “The Bleeding Heart Show”, the aforementioned “Alcoholism”, the crowd faves of “Sing Me Spanish Techno” and “The Laws Have Changed”, and then the most surprising of all “Adventures in Solitude” — a song that I didn’t love on the album but have gained a whole new appreciation for after hearing it live.

As usual, there was some less than goodness: the 6’4″ guy with the giant block head who pushed his way in front of us so that we could see stuff only over his shoulders; the sound mix was mediocre at best, approaching atrocious; the layout of the Roxy not being nearly as good as the Paradise or TTs for a show.

Normally, that’d be the highlight of the week. But then on Friday, I got to see my favorite band Dear Leader play (#1 on my last.fm profile) play at the Paradise. This came only mere hours after Dear Leader lead singer Aaron Perrino friended me on Facebook (thanks! you rock!). So I was pretty pumped. We got there in time to catch the end of Boone and the entire set by The Russians. The Russians were pretty great, with a pretty strong Beatles vibe. And not in an annoying pretentious way, but in a good way.

But, of course, it was all about Dear Leader. And they didn’t disappoint. Playing with probably the most energy I’ve seen them play with in a long time. They blew through just a great opening of “Nightmare Alleys” and “My Life as a Wrestler”, immediately getting the crowd into the show. Making it better, for the most part, this was a Dear Leader-knowledgeable crowd. So when the band busted out “Rivarly”, which I haven’t heard live in a very long time, the crowd new it was special and reacted accordingly. Everyone was into it straight on through to “Raging Red” (featuring a nice Hall & Oates interlude) and “Labor On” with the crowd on backing vocals. The band came out for a first encore, then a second, which was started off with an aborted, joking attempt at “Give a Little Bit” and the now customary rocking version of “Born to Run”.

Other than the group of underage hoochies (scientific term) who proceeded to grind on each other in front of us (and gave new meaning to the DL song “Everyone Looks Better in the Dark”), it was pretty much a flawless show.

Topping it all off, during the show, Aaron Perrino dropped the news that his original band, The Sheila Divine, is reuniting again on December 28th. And I’ve already bought myself some tickets.

So, it was pretty much a great week (aside from work, which was less great). Two great concerts, the Sox winning the first 3 games of the World Series (and currently leading Game 4 1-0).

However, you’ll hear some awesome music by:
Hallelujah the Hills

Taxpayer

and …

Dear Leader.

Mostly Dear Leader. Like a lot of Dear Leader.

I’ll put up a full track listing later.

In the meantime, I can tell you that I’m very deaf but very giddy after seeing Dear Leader, Taxpayer, and Hallelujah the Hills last night. All three bands were awesome, but Dear Leader stole the show by putting on what may have been their best live show ever … including a ridiculously good cover of “Born to Run”.

Phenom.

Kay Hanley at TT the Bear’s! (1/3)
Bleu at TT the Bear’s! (1/27)
Dear Leader and Taxpayer at the Paradise! (2/9)
Stellastarr* at the Middle East Downstairs! (2/16)

That’s four really good shows! I bet they all cost $10 or less! How can you go wrong?

You can keep track of cool shows by watching this Google Calendar link. It’s the “Shows I Want To Go To And You Would Be My Bestest Friend In The Whole World If You Took Me” link.

It all started off with a wonderful T ride from Davis, where I watched 6 Outbound trains go by, then an Inbound train zoom right by the platform, before finally, my chariot arrived. Oh, glorious T, it’s no wonder everyone hates you! Further complicated by a 20 minute wait on Park Street, waiting for the B line to arrive, I finally got to The Paradise at about 9:15.

I met up with a couple of my friends and we headed in, making a stop before it got crowded to pick up the new CD.

The first band was Mohair. It’s always a bit disorienting to walk into a venue and get slammed by huge waves of rock music coming from a guy dressed in a ruffled shirt and tight Freddy Mercury tights, and with the hair of the dude from The Darkness. But, damn, did they rock the 50 people who showed up early enough to see them. I highly advise checking out “Keep It Together” on their Myspace page.

The Plain Janes played second. I’d heard of them many times, but never actually heard them. The first half of their set was, sadly, a little boring. A little too mellow after Mohair had just napalmed the place with style and charm. They finished up strong enough, and given that they’re a local band that (like Dear Leader) features a member of the now defunct The Sheila Divine, they’ve got a loyal following who seemed entertained.

Finally, Dear Leader took the stage. They started out with a bunch of tracks off the new album, including the fantabulous “Nightmare Alleys” (which I featured on my last podcast). They mixed in some older songs, including “Ready the Brave”, which I hadn’t heard them play in a little while. The band was completely on, the crowd was completely into it, and it was probably one of the more fun shows I’ve been to in a while, with only one drunk person falling down near me. Sadly, however, as they finished the set, they had yet to play “Monuments and Shrines” which is a balls-out rocking song live (and on CD!). Given how much energy it takes to sing it, I figured it was going to be a no show.

Oh, but I was wrong. The band came out for an encore (naturally) and wrapped the show up with the kicking live version of “A Nation Once Again” and a really really good take on “Monuments and Shrines”.

I left with my ears ringing, my new CD, and a ride back to my car in Davis (since my friends are awesome).

“But, Ryan,” you might say, “was it a good show?”

Yes. Yes, it was.

After two listens, the new CD is also ridiculously awesotastic. So go to Newbury Comics and buy “The Alarmist” from Dear Leader. It makes a great stocking stuffer. I’ve also gotten a little motivation to hopefully throw together another podcast, probably focusing on the show (or maybe just a Dear Leader-centric one, to spread the love a little further). Hopefully that will be coming tomorrow.

I’d also love to add some pictures, except my camera takes awful pictures and no one has posted any pics on Flickr yet. But when someone does, I will find them. Oh yes, I will find them.

In the meantime, here’s a picture of Mohair from another show (thanks Flickr! and thanks nevbrown, who ever you might be):

Awesome.

It’s a CD release party for The Alarmist (which you can listen to here). I heartily recommend “Nightmare Alleys”, “Monuments and Shrines”, and “Bleed”, but the whole thing is really good. Really good.

Really.