Tag Archives: Speedy Ortiz

I snapped a couple shots from the show, but who are we kidding, Sid from Too Much Rock takes much better pics than I do. So, I’m hijacking them for my blog post here. Follow the link to his website for more shots from this show, as well as tons more pictures, videos, and the occasional review for lots of cool shows around the KC/Lawrence area. Also be sure to check out his podcast. I always find something there that sticks to my ribs.

The night started, promptly, with a blistering set by one of my favorite KC local bands: Lazy. Usually, a four piece, Sarica Douglas, evidently had a last minute call from her day job. So, tonight it was a “Lazy” power trio. Not such an easy thing for a duo like us to navigate but I was pretty impressed with how the fellas managed to over come this handicap by basically playing all of their songs about twice as fast as usual. Now to be fair, pretty much each of the four or five Lazy shows that I’ve seen have been unique in their own way. And I’m not gonna say that one has been better than the other. But I will say that this one would have certainly tickled my Lemmy (Motorhead) sideburns, if I actually had some.

Due to my guitar tuner crapping out during out line check our set got off to a bit of a rocky start. The fact that I woke up at 6am to be part of an all day paid mock trial survey didn’t help either. I was running on fumes and literally had to stick my head between Nan’s cymbals to revive myself at one point. Not the smartest thing I ever did but, for your delight, it was captured on film. (see below)
It was really great to see Speedy Ortiz in Kansas, City. Our first connection to Sadie was through the band Quilty who we played several shows with back in the day in Brooklyn & SW Connecticut. The last time we played New York, in March of this year, was with with Speedy Ortiz and it was one of the funnest NYC shows I can remember having in a long time. I’m super psyched to see the band get the credit its due. There was a decent crowd for KC for a Tuesday with Trail of Dead playing the Riot Room just down the street on the same night.

The kind of raw nerve and intense rock that generates from this band is especially refreshing when you come to meet them as people and realize that they are just sweet down to earth, kids. I’m a big sucker for that contrast in bands. We picked up a copy of their new record: Major Arcana and I’ve been listening to it now for the past two days. Like the short stories of Raymond Carver, upon each repeated listen something new pops out. It’s nice to hear a band that allows that to happen. There is a reserve behind the rock and dissonance that leaves space for reflection. The style fosters a real musical relationship vs. a wham bam one night rock n’ roll stand. This band is the real deal and I’m looking forward to watching them grow, like a tree vs. a bearded hipster’s penis!

————-
FIY: Click here to check out a review and pics on Too Much Rock of our show with Howard Iceberg and the Titanics last week at the Recordbar.