How does one start a blog post? I never have any idea, although this seems to work. Anyway, Thursday night I had one of those weird concert experiences you’re always hoping for when you buy tickets indiscriminately. Slutever, The Pipettes, North Star Bar, $12.
Skipping past the charmingly terrifying trolley ride over to North Star, I first knew something was up when I snuck a peek at the will cal list and it was 7 people long. Made my way to the show room, which looked like an abandoned Red Lobster, the kind of place where Bruce Springsteen 45s played at 33 1/3 wouldn’t be out of place. The first opener went on, I remember them sounding like Heart, at this time it became readily apparent that the audience demographics could be broken down as follows (ordered by relative size):
1) opening band’s friends and family
2) members of the bands
3) people there for the headliner (I would say there were 6 to 8 of us)
The first band finished up, they were fine. 20 minute set change, which was one of the more interesting I’ve seen because part of the stage’s back wall is removable and opens to the street, and all the equipment moves through this porthole, presumably to waiting vans.
Next up Slutever, to them I say whatever. Get it? Get it! I’m kidding, pretty good stuff. Drum and guitar, sound-a-likes, Patti Smith, Be Your Own Pet.
Finally, after spending nearly 3 hours alternating between leaning against the back bar and wandering around, The Pipettes went on stage. Now there’s only one original Pipette left from the relative glory days, and they only played 4 songs the first album, but I kind of really loved the whole thing anyway. It was a noble exercise trying to resurrect 60s girl groups, with the matching outfits, the anonymous backing band, the harmonies and the synchronized hand, I would not mind at all if this what all music was like (okay, fine, I’d probably hate it after 4 months), but watching the spectacle of the thing in a dingy room at 11PM on Thursday with 10 other true believers was kind of amazing. Also, good on you friends and family of the opener for staying until the end, I’d have been out of there so fast, you’re heads would have spun.
Longest post ever?
