Monday, October 06, 2008
I saw Robert Pollard a few nights ago
Or more like a week ago. Almost a week ago. He was with his new band, Boston Spaceships, supporting an album, Brown Submarine, that's pretty good and probably the best thing Pollard's done in a couple of years now. Other dudes in the Spaceships include final GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko on guitar, power-pop cult hero Tommy Keene on guitar, Jason Narducy on bass, and Decemberists / Malkmus & the Jicks drummer John Moen. So, y'know, solid musicians all around, and as accomplished a group of dudes as even the best GBV line-up. Musically they were great. Unfortunately the songs they played and the guy who sang 'em weren't quite up to that level.
They only played songs off of more recent releases, especially Robert Pollard Is Off To Business and Brown Submarine. Few of the songs were outright bad, but none of them could touch the gems Pollard consistently tossed off back in his heyday. And I hate to say it, but Bob's prancing, kicking, saluting, and drinking has finally approached the level of embarrassment. He was, more than ever, a parody of himself, and I couldn't stand it for long. I only stuck around for an hour, so maybe it got better. I hear they played some GBV hits in the encore, and not obscure Suitcase songs but classics like "A Salty Salute" and "Tractor Rape Chain". It would've been nice to hear those, but I've seen 'em both 12 or 15 times, and I doubt they'd be as awesome without friends, booze, and youth on my side.
Maybe it would've been better if I was drinking. The whole night felt weird, like everybody was just going through the motions. I'd definitely go see them in Atlanta, as long as DJ and Crox and whoever else were going, but would not recommend it to anybody without a support group of fellow drunks.
Big Dipper opened, and I'm pissed I missed most of their set. I only saw the last song, which was apparently a part of their encore (?!). Dipper were never as good as Bill Goffrier's earlier band, the Embarrassment, but their old Homestead Records are still a lot of fun. Hopefully they'll play another reunion show in town soon.
Or more like a week ago. Almost a week ago. He was with his new band, Boston Spaceships, supporting an album, Brown Submarine, that's pretty good and probably the best thing Pollard's done in a couple of years now. Other dudes in the Spaceships include final GBV bassist Chris Slusarenko on guitar, power-pop cult hero Tommy Keene on guitar, Jason Narducy on bass, and Decemberists / Malkmus & the Jicks drummer John Moen. So, y'know, solid musicians all around, and as accomplished a group of dudes as even the best GBV line-up. Musically they were great. Unfortunately the songs they played and the guy who sang 'em weren't quite up to that level.
They only played songs off of more recent releases, especially Robert Pollard Is Off To Business and Brown Submarine. Few of the songs were outright bad, but none of them could touch the gems Pollard consistently tossed off back in his heyday. And I hate to say it, but Bob's prancing, kicking, saluting, and drinking has finally approached the level of embarrassment. He was, more than ever, a parody of himself, and I couldn't stand it for long. I only stuck around for an hour, so maybe it got better. I hear they played some GBV hits in the encore, and not obscure Suitcase songs but classics like "A Salty Salute" and "Tractor Rape Chain". It would've been nice to hear those, but I've seen 'em both 12 or 15 times, and I doubt they'd be as awesome without friends, booze, and youth on my side.
Maybe it would've been better if I was drinking. The whole night felt weird, like everybody was just going through the motions. I'd definitely go see them in Atlanta, as long as DJ and Crox and whoever else were going, but would not recommend it to anybody without a support group of fellow drunks.
Big Dipper opened, and I'm pissed I missed most of their set. I only saw the last song, which was apparently a part of their encore (?!). Dipper were never as good as Bill Goffrier's earlier band, the Embarrassment, but their old Homestead Records are still a lot of fun. Hopefully they'll play another reunion show in town soon.
