Andrew Bird @ Sixth & I Historic Synagogue, Washington DC, 12-8-2010

Gezelligheid~ is a Dutch abstract noun which, depending on context, can be translated as convivial, cosy, fun, quaint, or nice atmosphere, but can also connote belonging, time spent with loved ones, the fact of seeing a friend after a long absence, or general togetherness.

Mr. Bird titled these intimate shows as a "gezelligheid" and on this frigid, windy, December evening an intimate evening of creativity and mind expansion was needed...the only thing missing was a crackling fire.

This is my my first Bird show and my first attendance at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue.
Both entities win!

Bird, he wanted to play, he is on the top of his craft, he is creating, living, expressing and as he experiments with what he knows best (and music is what he knows) the outcome is like perfected construction, the layers intoxicating and at times overwhelming within their own creativity, but the overwhelming complexity is truly a creative positive exercise for one's mind.

Andrew Bird is an artist and watching him perform is artistry for one's ears and the sounds are not of the normal construction one hears.

There was an addition of Plasticity and the completion of other songs that may not have been in complete form before, but this music is fluid in nature and the production is not of a repetitious nature, but like wind blowing things here and there, but yet with power.

Sixth and I Historic Synagogue is worth a visit in of itself and I could not believe the intimacy of this venue truly an intriguing experience.

The fun of watching/listening/rubbing shoulders with Mr. Bird is an experience not only worth retelling, but also revisiting should the opportunities arise.

The Frames @ the TLA, Philadelphia, PA 11-19-2010

It was like Christmas morn', the waxing moon brought about an early gift in the form of The Frames opening tour night.

Every song, every moment, was a glorious adventure of living a musical fantasy with Glen and the band as they laughed and smiled with each other throughout the set, but most noticeably at the close of each song.

Glen remarked how terrified they were about performing songs they had not performed in a long time. He also mentioned how they had performed the longest sound check they could ever remember and then took a nap!

They played a few more then the set-list indicates. Colm mentioned they had planned on 90 minutes (1st show) and ended up doing 2+ hours. It was apparent that Glen wanted to go longer and was just enjoying himself like a child unwrapping Christmas presents in the form of songs.

For those attending the shows-- be ready to have a special evening of classic Frames. As the tour warms up and the band loosens up, the shows are going to get tighter and tighter, not that this show was not tight, it was.

Highlights for me- Star Star, Disappointed and all of the band's foray into brief glimpses of Neil Young, Pure Imagination, Redemption Song and so on.

I am glad they are a down to earth group of musicians that make you feel as if you are part of the band and act as if you know them all.

The band's fun-loving attitude is infectious. I am just trying to figure out how get to their next show.

Roger Waters @ the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA 11-8-2010

In 1980 I purchased the double album, The Wall, upon it's release and with a group of friends was able to get tickets for the NY show. Those friends did not come through with the tickets and now 30 years later a desire to see some, any, semblance of Pink Floyd in my lifetime has been achieved.

Roger Waters performing The Wall in it's entirety. Sure we are missing key people and David Gilmour's guitar work although duplicated spot on, was missed by this long-time fan.

I had obstructive view seats, but was excited to see the show.

During the intermission Roger had pictures of people who were victims of political and war events. I think most fans, did not feel the impact that these visuals brought about, but for me they were beyond emotional as I read name after name and viewed picture after picture of loved ones who's lives were gone due to anger and hate. The images of these individuals drove home not just the pain of war, but primarily of love, love from the ones who had lost friends, fathers, brothers and husbands.

Visually the show was amazing, from the wall being built, to the films cast upon the wall and the various enlarged props during the show.

I felt an emotional pulls throughout the show, but none came as strong as towards the end of the show as I wanted to shout out and did....TEAR DOWN THE WALL, TEAR DOWN THE WALL, TEAR DOWN THE WALL!!

This was not a concert of typical fare. People loved the rock anthems of "Run Like Hell" and "Comfortably Numb" and their production was over the top as the rock anthems they are, but the truth of the show was, for me, caught in the lyrics of ALL the songs and ALL the parts duplicated as I so joyfully recalled as I learned the lyrics when listening to the album.

Many people have been quoted as to shedding a tear at the end of the show, I for one did not, maybe it was the obstructed view, but I think it was more of my desire to TEAR DOWN THE WALL then desiring The Wall to be torn down.

One EskimO @ The World Cafe Live, Philadelphia, PA 4-5-2010

What a band, and what an "Amazing" disc. Live they come off a little more studioesque then I would like and I would prefer a rougher true to form cut without the computer generated sound mixes.
That aside, they truly are enjoying their craft and performing it.

The World Cafe is a great venue and catching these guys there on a Monday night was a hoot.

Very little interaction with the audience, more of a performance show and not because of the video shown during the set. It's just the way they roll....they play.

Great kudos for instrumentation and wherewithal to get their intricate sound out.

This is a band you will hear from if you don't know them yet.

David Bazan @ the First Unitarian Church Philadelphia, PA 3-22-10

David and crew came out about 9:50 PM and played till just after 11. I was once again stretching my music knowledge by attending an artist's show of which I know only his latest release; Curse Your Branches" which is an amazingly lyrical disc.

Most of the songs performed were done to appease the vocal masses for the die-hard PTL (Pedro the Lion) fans and here, he did not disappoint.

I'm still trying to figure out his mass appeal. Did the people here really get the lyrics, I mean they must have to attended. The crowd was mostly younger 25 somethings or others and in my opinion we were all commiserating on this cold/wet/spring evening on life and it's twists and turns.

It was a good show with the song selection building a crescendo through-out the evening. Highlights were the pop infused Please Baby Please, Bad Diary Days, Penetration and closing the show with an orchestral moving version of In Stitches.

I came in a fan of Curse Your Branches and left a fan of PTL and his catalog.