Cherry Ghost - You’ve Got The Only Key To My Heart…

4/1/08 The Black Keys w/ Jay Reatard @ The Wiltern

Buy The Black KeysOn:


Let me start by saying, I’m learning more and more that it really pays off to get to a show on the early side. I used to roll in just in time to hear the opening notes of the headliner and to hell with anyone before them.

Now I realize that there are gems to be found. And WAY better spots to stand for enhanced viewing pleasure (I totally stole that line from a KY commercial – only they didn’t say “viewing”).

Another thing that pays off: Having friends. And friends that like good music. And friends that win free tickets. And friends that give you one of those free tickets. And friends that drive you there. (Hey, I am TOTALLY the one that spotted our awesome parking spot… so I saved us at LEAST $10 in parking.)

Who is Jay Reatard? Well, I don’t know. But Wikipedia seems to. And they say he is originally Jay Lindsay. And he’s been around. And recorded a lot of stuff. In a lot of other bands. But you can look that up later on your own, for now let’s focus on his current project.

If I were to be Jay for one show (which would be awesome in so many ways) I would probably pass out from exhaustion after the first 15 minutes. I mean these guys didn’t stop! I don’t know if there was ever a moment while they were on stage that there was a lull in the music. There was no audience acknowledgement until the “Good Night” – Just a scream out of a song title before thrashing into it. And use thrashing, in this circumstance, as a compliment.

Each member of this three-piece group all had fantastically big hair. Jay’s was SO fantastic that when the first song started I couldn’t figure out who was singing because it (his hair) was covering his face AND the microphone. There was actually a moment when I thought to myself: Are they playing music with a vocal track? That’s new. And kind of awesome. But then I saw the mic stand. Buried in a head of hair. And all was good with the world.

Intermission: Our (Sunshine, An Angel and good ol’ me) spot was so perfect that we didn’t want to move an inch in fear of having it snatched away and, for the first time ever, I noticed that The Wiltern has cocktail waitresses. Thanks for saving the day cocktail waitresses!

As the fans started poured in, the observation was made that there were a lot of “Dudes” at this show. I don’t know if you know what I mean by “Dudes” and if you don’t, you might be one and I won’t bother explaining it in fear of offending you (But go ahead and ask your friends… try the word “Bro” as the meanings are very similar).

I think we expected a dirtier sort of crowd (and not a group of 20-somethings wearing corresponding red outfits, completely waisted, purposefully running into us because they thought it was cute and somehow seductive, yelling “fuck the Red Socks” – yeah, old news buddy – except for me, I don’t really follow baseball).

Oh The Keys! The sweet sweet Black Keys! Hi you… two. Yeah, you heard me. Two. Only two people in the band. With a sound that could blow a band of ten right off the stage. As much as it pains my inner music pride to say this: I did not know much about The Black Keys until the day of the show.

I listened to the album the night before and the day of the show and, although I found it extremely good (especially track 3), I have to say that it didn’t completely capture my interest. But the show, oh the excellent live show, now that got me. Me and the rest of the massive massive super fan of an audience. During the break before the encore one die-hard was actually slapping his shoes together hoping that this act would get them back on the stage – which means he was standing barefoot. In The Wiltern. Yuck. Now that’s commitment.

Thank you’s: Thank you slutty security guy, for letting all the drunk hot girls who whispered in your ear down onto the floor. I enjoyed watching you shoo away all the late-comers (that weren’t hot girls) who tried to squeeze into the front with a sweep of your flashlight (yes Sunshine, When did the flashlight become an effective broom? And where do you think he keeps his blow-job booth?). Thank you big blow up (not to be confused with “blow-job” as they are completely unrelated) tire and thank you excellent lighting designer.

Thank you awesome drum kit and thank you rad guitars (especially the “Flying V”). Thank you for being even better than your album – that is rare and precious. Thank you plaid-shirt-wearing guy for not keeping a beat but loving every second.

And, I can’t end this without saying, thank you, tight-black-shirt-shaved-head guy for giving your neck the proper rock-out it deserved.

“There is some serious neck pumping happening here.” - Quote of the evening, brought to you by Sunshine.

Until next week, Cherry Ghost.