Cherry Ghost - The Afternoons @ spaceland 0 comments

Written By: Cherry Ghost

Afternoons w/ Parson Redheads
6.23.08 @ Spaceland

Buy On:


It’s true. Dancing makes everything better.

I parked a long way away this time around. But I didn’t mind. The summer air had finally cooled for the evening, and my walk to the club seemed like sweet relief from my humid oven in Hollywood. I enjoy evening walks and evening sounds and the urban evening animals I often see in Silverlake. The only thing I saw this time was a black cat. And he still had his tail. Lucky.

When I walked into Spaceland, I was surprised to see that Parson Redheads had already started their set. I am usually quite early to most things I attend. This is an annoying habit that I have spent the last few years trying to amend. I have tried several tactics, including forcing myself to not leave my house until I’m sure I’m going to be late – this never seems to work. Sigh. I always end up listening to some song on repeat in my car while waiting for my friends in the (free) prime parking spot I’ve acquired with all the extra time I had at disposal to drive around looking.

I have to admit, I was not thrilled with the first couple of songs. With the subpar (how did “subpar” end up being a bad thing in the English language? Isn’t it supposed to be a sports metaphor? And isn’t subpar a great thing? Anyone? Please tell me, it’s been bugging me for years.) sound in Spaceland, I thought I was in for a very mediocre hour of music.

Fortunately, two more members joined after the second song and everything started to look up. One of these members was in charge of dancing. This is what he did. Or what he does. This is the instrument he plays. And it made all the difference in the world. The missing energy was found!

I especially liked the last half of the last song. I have no idea what it was. But it was beautiful and I wanted more of that one!

I don’t have to tell you about Afternoons. You already heard ALL about it a couple weeks ago. And yes, they were still amazing. Only this time I left with a soar throat, as I now know the lyrics and was singing along whenever I could.

Yours truly,
Cherry Ghost

Ps. In retrospect, I should have asked those Parsons where they got all their fancy white clothes – I’m going to a “wear-all-white-clothes-surprise-party-thing” this weekend, and I just don’t have the wardrobe. I don’t have it, I must acquire it, and I really really want to look cool. Can I borrow those sunglasses and shorts?

Cherry Ghost - The Afternoons/War Paint 0 comments

Editor's Note: After a small hiatus, our star writer, Cherry Ghost returns.....yaay!
_______________________________________
The Afternoons @ Spaceland w/ War Paint
6/2/08 (June residency)

Written By: Cherry Ghost

War Paint.

I’m gonna make this quick as I want to get to the GOOD GREAT FANTASTIC MAGICAL part. I like your name. I especially like your name cause you’re all girls (Oops, sorry boy on the drums… I forgot about you for a second).

The main question I’m left with after your set is: What is with the weird adult onesie/diaper outfit? You’re way too sexy to be wearing that. Are you trying to set a trend or did you lose a bet?

All I know is that I will not be rushing out to buy one. I really liked the music although the vocals weren’t for me. I wasn’t into the echo-y vocal effect splashed across almost every song. It seemed like a gimmick. Sometimes the sound in Spaceland isn’t the best and I would like to give you the benefit of doubt, especially as your last song sounded pretty good. Bat For Lashes, you are not.

I enjoyed the show – but wouldn’t buy the album. Or an adult onesie.

The Afternoons!

Buy On:


Right from the start, an ambiance was set on stage – the low warm tone of the lights combined with the blinks and blips coming from machines that I’d never seen before gave Spaceland an inviting and cozy feeling. And with the start of a steady beat on the bass drum I could feel a smile that formed in my gut plaster itself on my lips.

It never left my face for the next hour (and more… I think I fell to sweet dreams with it still lingering on my lips and crinkling the corners of my eyes). I can’t explain where they transported me. There were moments that I felt like I was in a 1920’s revival tent. Or at a 1940’s fair.

And moments where my feet were firmly planted in the 21st century. Claire Mceown. Oh how her voice rang out. I’ve never heard a voice quite like hers. And it lured me in and held my attention so that I could barely breathe. I’ve never wished so hard: “Please Please Please may I be in your band? I’ll do anything. I learn the harmonica in a heart beat.”

I didn’t know any of the songs, yet I felt included in what seemed to be a joyous sing along.

“Joyous.”

This is a word I would use to describe the evening. They all sang with harmonies that made me squirm they were so spot on! Sam Johnson. He was all over the stage. First as the second drummer (yes, they had 2 drummers on 2 full kits) and then as trumpeter. Going from the most mournful notes until they shifted and lifted to become suddenly …again… joyous! Then to vocals, bass, guitar, and on and on.

I could hardly keep track of all the moves he was making. Brian and Steven (maybe more but I’m not sure) came out on the other side of Irving with a shot that has been echoing in my heart since the first note and probably won’t leave for a long, long time.

If you have it in you to make it out late on a Monday night, you should. It’s magic. I’m going to try to go at least one more time this month. It’s free (except for the $3 EP you’re bound to buy). And it’s incredible. And you shouldn’t miss it. To the moon!

Cherry Ghost.