1st: The US OPEN. My mom finally sent me some pics. Below, Federer with his gf Mirka getting ready to practice on Saturday morning. I used the super zoom on this one.
Next, a picture of my sweetie and me watching Ferrar. (Nice scruff, Scott.)
Speaking of the convention, I've been missing it in live time due to DR DOG and THE VIRGINS. On Tuesday night we headed over to Music Hall of Williamsburg with Andrew for the rescheduled show. They moved the date because Toby was sick and couldn't sing. The show proved to be well worth the wait, and I'm really happy for Dr. Dog because I've been a huge fan since I saw them open for the Raconteurs in AC in '06. That night I bought the EP Takers and Leavers primarily because of the song "Die Die Die," which is in my top 10 (maybe even 5) of all time, and it's always a pleasure to see performed.
Anyway, that first night, Frank (guitarist) manned the merch table, and he was super polite and nice, which is prob why his nickname in the band is "Thanks." The point is, they used to sell their own stuff after the shows, and now they have someone to do that for them, but they still take their shows seriously and execute everything with a professional level that I like to think can only come from a band from the City of Brotherly Love. They are hardworking musicians with a quality sound and I respect what they do to the utmost level. There's nothing I like more than a rock star who does his job!!!
Setlist-wise, they played pretty much the same stuff they did at the Merc Lounge in May. I can probably type out all the songs they played but not in order. So if you care: DIE DIE DIE (near the end, and I didn't think it would happen, THANKS TOBY), Worst Trip, The Way the Lazy Do, Oh No, The Girl (part of the Encore, which I couldn't stay for since they played till 1 AM and Scott had to open the next day), Ain't It Strange (opener), The Beach (another Toby gem), The Breeze (Andrew's fave), The Ark, From, The Rabbit, the Bat, and the Reindeer, 100 Years, Army of Ancients, and I lied because I can't remember what else. They did a long set. It rocked the house down. Especially Scott, with his high kicks and low crouches. I love Dr. Dog now and forever!!
Now for the news of the week: The Virgins show at Santos. My camera's broken so I have no proof of the awesomeness that began with my outfit (Rebecca looked pretty sweet too... Scott was dressed as Donald Cumming's twin, but more on that later.) I wore my new FCUK shorts and at the suggestion of my 2 cronies, no leggings. Hot mess, hot sex.
Pineapple, cranberry, vodka, oh my! And we were off, taking the 6 train by storm. That shit wasn't running normally, so we got off at Bleecker and walked about 78 blocks to Santos to wait in the sold-out show line. Walked inside and the place was packed wall to wall. Somehow we got near the front for Young Lords. Okay, can I just say that I am in love with them. They look like a set of Quints (remember those things?) but they're real live boys with the same shag haircuts. They all look like a cross between Schuele and/or Jesse Camp, my favorite reality star of all time. I dug their sound, and apparently they have a CD coming out soon, so you should all buy it. Support your starving artists, and damn, are these boys SKINNY.
The Virgins. They have a new guy playing with them (who debuted on Conan on Wednesday.) His name is Paul, but I like to call him "Flannel." Wade's hair looked great. Erik's whole buttoned-up-to-the-top thing kinda confuses me, but whatever, he's good at his job. Nick is also. And what to say about Donald except that I love him and have since the beginning even though I didn't want to. He doesn't play on stage anymore (Flannel take care of that now) except for Fernando Pando, but that's probably better for everyone. You know how I feel about 5-pieces with lead singers who just sing! And killer teeth!
They played every song on the album and Fast Times, which is my very favorite for its modern rock take on Herrick's "To the virgins, to make much of time." (See they're more clever than they'll have you believe, what with the frequency of the word "fun" as an answer in their interviews.) They opened with Murder. Hey Hey Girl was awesome, so was She's Expensive. It all was great, and couldn't have been better unless they played "WORK IT OUT." (and the old versions of Radio Christiane and One Week of Danger. I miss "I'm a ghost/in the sheets.") Donald and Scott were both wearing black tees and jeans. Scott succeeded in making some girls believe that they were cousins due to their similar appearance (and identical outfits, because relatives wear matching duds all the time, obvs.)
I had so much fun, just like I expected, I woke up wishing I could still be standing in the venue with my ears ringing. What could be better than the CD of the summer played live for you by your 4th favorite lead singer alive? (Because, you know, Kurt would probably top that list.)
