Fences are really worth seeing if you are into slightly, SLIGHTLY morose, indie rock n roll. Initially I thought to myself, “They  remind me of the better parts of latter day Bright Eyes.”  But as the set went on I started thinking about Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon or even Mark Eitzel. Certainly they are not as morose as the first few on that list hence the emphasis on the word “slightly.” Their show at Beat Kitchen was an extended "opening band" set.

They are certainly a band to watch and if they were to get some exposure, let’s say at a big festival in a large city like Chicago, they could be a band you will hear a lot about in a few months.

Remaining tour dates-
2/18 Hoboken @ Maxwell's
2/19 NYC @ Mercury Lounge
2/20 Washington, DC @ Red Palace
2/21 Philadelphia @ KungFu Necktie
2/23 Boston, Ma @ Middle East Upstairs
3/16, Mission, TX @ Las Palmas Race Park
3/17-3-19 SXSW 

Black and white worked better in the light conditions, although maybe not all that well. The last three color photos are pics I thought were interesting accidents.  I have a large number of variants on these pics, most of these were chosen in the usual Zen way.

Why is it that people, especially during artists who are not playing speed metal, feel the need to talk incessantly? I saw several people, small groups, two together--TALKING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS. And, since I could hear the conversations as I circled around I could also tell that they were TALKING ABOUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. If you want to talk, go out to the bar. Otherwise, shut the fuck up, you self-absorbed idiots. Under different circumstances I might feel pity that you have such a hole in your soul that you cannot, under any circumstances, shut UP. That you have to gibber constantly about nothing to remind people you are there.  

But when other people are trying to listen to musicians? I withhold my pity. I am sure these same people, some of whom didn’t pay any attention whatever to the band, will tell people they saw a “great” show.

The Church's latest tour consists of the band playing three albums in their entirety.  First they play their latest record, Untitled #23, and follow it, in succession, with Priest=Aura and Starfish. The latter two are arguably the bands two classic recordings (although Remote Luxury or Gold Afternoon Fix might be in the mis for this too). This does them a bit of a disservice as The Church have produced thoughtful and engaging music all through their career.

This is part of a trend, a lot of artists are playing complete albums, from Lucinda Williams to Cheap Trick. It isn't a bad idea but there is something to seeing a show where you don't know what record the next song is from. It also excludes a lot of great material from a band as prolific and as long standing as The Church.

On a non-musical note, the folks at Park West in Chicago, the staff, are the most pleasant at any venue in the city. Sure, most of the venues have professional staff (and some, who shall remain unnamed, have staff that act is if patrons are a terrible inconvenience) but it is noticeably a step above even the good ones at Park West.

Above I include pictures of drummer, Tim Powles, because everyone always ignores the drummer. Which is totally unfair and even though I have been known to tell the odd drummer joke (What do you call someone who likes to hang out with musicians? A drummer!) I have great respect for our stick wielding brethren.

As a note on the photography, there was no flash used on any of these, just a monopod, varied shutter speeds and ISO. Why is this? I would like to say it is totally an aesthetic thing. BUT there is one, purely inartistic, reason--It is obnoxious to blast someone in the face with a flash at close quarters while they are working.  And while I may be obnoxious, I am not that obnoxious.

One of the records, often overlooked, by The Church, that will stand as a classic, as some years pass, is After Everything, Now This. To hear songs live you will have to wait until another tour.

REMAINING DATES
Feb 15 - Philadelphia, PA. - The Trocadero
Feb 16 - New York, NY. - Highline Ballroom
Feb 17 - New York, NY. - B.B. King's
Feb 18 - Foxboro, MA. - Showcase Live
Feb 21 - Greenville, SC - Handlebar (acoustic)
Feb 22 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse

"There's nothing to SEE here, you can dance if you want too..." said David J. And, although the crowd at the Bottom Lounge was not massive (two days after 2 feet of snow this is not surprising) they eventually complied.

Was the set a DJ set in the respect that everyone is accustomed to these days? Probably not. It was more like, as J said, you sitting around in his living room while he played some music for you--kind of a nice evening for any Bauhaus or Love & Rockets Fans.

I wish he had been at tad more egotistical and played some of his own tunes but complaining about someone not being egotistical is pretty silly. He also appeared the next night to spin a song or two and do a meet and greet at Late Bar in Chicago. I didn't go so now pictures.