Caught Up on Some Concerts (Summer of Shows) Back to July

Silversun Pickups came to Portland to play the State Theatre, again, after a couple of years away. They were supporting their newest album "Better Nature." I also went to meet them at Bull Moose, an independent record store here in Portland before the show. They were super nice, signed autographs and chatted with people in line. This was the second time I'd seen them (missed them back in March because they were opening for Cage the Elephant and I'm not really into them, besides I had a feeling they'd be back. Silversun Pickups remind me of early-Siamese Dream Smashing Pumpkins era music and they definitely put on a great rock show.

A local Portland band called The Weakened Friends opened for them and were awesome as well. You should definitely check them out (I'll put a couple of videos up at the bottom here).

Silversun Pickups setlist:

  1. Cradle (Better Nature)
    Play Video
  2. Well Thought Out Twinkles
    Play Video
  3. The Royal We
    Play Video
  4. Nightlight
    Play Video
  5. Circadian Rhythm (Last Dance)
    Play Video
  6. The Pit
    Play Video
  7. Little Lover's So Polite
    Play Video
  8. Friendly Fires
    Play Video
  9. Latchkey Kids
    Play Video
  10. Panic Switch
    Play Video
  11. Ragamuffin
    Play Video
  12. Lazy Eye
    (Growing Old Is Getting Old Intro)
    Play Video
  13. Encore:
  14. Kissing Families
    (Booksmart Devil Outro)
    Play Video
  15. Dots and Dashes (Enough Already)
    Play Video
  16. The Wild Kind

 The Weakened Friends: 
............................................................................
Australian band called The Paper Kites, whom I hadn't heard too much about before this show. They sort of reminded me of a mellower version of Ra Ra Riot. Beautiful sound, especially live. 


The opening band I was much more familiar with- Larkin Poe- whom I'd seen open for Conor Oberst this past year in Boston. These two sisters put on an incredible show, just the two of them. One sister sings and plays guitar, her voice is amazing; the other sister plays a mean slide guitar. 

Grace Potter came to L.L. Bean in Freeport for a free concert, and still put on a two hour show that was absolutely incredible! I even got to meet her before the show, at her tour bus, thanks to a friend/colleague who texted me and asked if I wanted to meet her through the radio station helping sponsor the show. We got to chat, I told her it was my birthday the next day and asked if she'd play a song for me, "Stop the Bus." Halfway through the show, she played my request and mentioned me to the crowd. It was definitely one of my most awesome moments. 

..................................................................
On my birthday, July 31, I went to see Beirut who put on an incredible, hipster-tastic show. What an amazing way to spend my birthday.  

..............................................................................................
This past week, I went to see Best Coast who are an incredible band from the west coast that have a great sound reminiscent of indie rock mixed with some old 1960s California-surf sound. They had just begun their tour and were only a few dates into the tour. 

A band called the Stargazer Lilies opened for them. They had an interested sound that reminded me of My Bloody Valentine and Mazzy Star with a bit of Velvet Underground (if Nico was a constant member and lead singer). Lots of distorted guitars and droned sound.



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