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Manchester Orchestra, Portland, ME - 8/3/11
Since moving back to Maine from Chicago, my concert-going has dropped significantly for two reasons: #1: I'm super broke all the friggin time. #2: I live in Maine. If I want to go see a concert, probably I have to drive to Boston to do it. (Which brings us right back to #1.) Maine is not-so-much a mandatory tour stop as Chicago is. But every once in a while, every so often we get a show that I get psyched about! (Generally averaging like 1 per year...) This year, that show was Manchester Orchestra at the State Theatre in Portland, ME! I am a big big fan of Manchester Orchestra and have seen them live many times over the year, but I was extra-psyched to share the show-experiance with Sound Faction (and IRL) BFF Shep! Here's how the show broke down:
The Static Jacks:
Having never heard of The Static Jacks (and having meant to have looked them up before the show but forgetting about it) I was excited to hear some new music, and see what it was all about! The several times that I've seen Manchester Orchestra play, they've shared a bill with some pretty random acts, so I had no idea what to expect from The Static Jacks!
The second they took the state and started playing, I realized that we were all in for a treat, and damn was I ever correct! The four-piece New Jersey rock band took the stage with authority and beat the hell out of it until much to my dissapointment their short set was over, and they left us all buzzing during stage-teardown/setup for the next fifteen minutes about how great they were!
They were incredibly energetic on stage and commanded our attention, got us psyched up and moving around, and absolutely killed every single song they did. My one complaint was that the mic was turned way too low during the first song, and I didn't hear a single word sung by vocalist Ian Devaney, but by the second song, all levels got worked out and we were on the path to rocking the hell out! I can't wait wait for their record "If You're Young" drops! In fact, if you're a fan of The Static Jacks, or just in the mood for some great music/swag, their album is available for pre-order right now in various merch bundles HERE! Check out more about The Static Jacks on their website: thestaticjacks.com
Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band:
I had not heard of Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band prior to the show. Well, let me take that back... I knew Kevin Devine as a part of the Manchester Orchestra/Kevin Devine supergroup Bad Books... I just didn't know that I knew him. Shep had heard of him before, enough to know what to expect-ish, and I trust her taste in music very much, so I was very excited to see what was in store for us!
Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band did not disappoint! I mean, holy hell! The entire set was so terrific that it flew by in the blink of an eye. I was instantly a fan, and even though there were a few technical glitches with Kevin's guitar, I was rivited the entire time!
It was an intoxicating mix of indie rock and blues, enthralling lyrics and intense emotions. The crowd was psyched for Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band, which added to the fantastic experience. I wish I could rave and use better, flowery words to describe to you just how amazing this set was, but to be perfectly honest, I can't come up with words good enough, it was that good! I got so lost in the band's set that it let me escape the crappy few months of stress I've been having; which for me is the mark of a truly great music-experience.
If you ever get a chance to see Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band live, make sure that you do it! It was a set like no other, and you have just got to experience it for yourself!
Manchester Orchestra:
Oh. My. God. I mean-- holy CRAP. This show marks the 5th time that I've seen Manchester Orchestra play, and every single time they just get better and better and better! The second that Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band got off the stage and teardown/setup started, my heart was pounding with anticipation!
Manchester Orchestra did not dissapoint (I don't really think they ever COULD, to be honest). This show was exactly what my soul needed: emotional, raw, loud, AMAZING. The band played lots of songs from their newest record "Simple Math" which were phenomenal! Now, I like the new record, don't get me wrong, but it's not my favorite of theirs. However, those songs done live were explosive and absolutely phenomenal! They mixed the set up with some older material as well that got the crowd flipping out and singing at the top of our lungs! Every single song they did was 100% top-notch!
Near the end of the set, the bad (sans vocalist/guitarist Andy Hull) left the stage, and Kevin Devine returned and the two musicians played two songs from their super-group band Bad Books to the upmost delight of the audience.
The set continued for a few more songs with the rest of the band re-joining the stage. Our minds nearly exploded when the stage was flooded with members of both Manchester Orchestra and the entirety of Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band for the second to last song.
When it was over and Shep and I walked outside, neither of us could possibly contain our huge grins. It had been a LONG time since I had enjoyed a show so thoroughly. It was a night I won't soon forget, filled with amazing friends, laughter and incredible music... and best of all? We didn't even have to drive to BOSTON to see it!!
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The Static Jacks:
Having never heard of The Static Jacks (and having meant to have looked them up before the show but forgetting about it) I was excited to hear some new music, and see what it was all about! The several times that I've seen Manchester Orchestra play, they've shared a bill with some pretty random acts, so I had no idea what to expect from The Static Jacks!
The second they took the state and started playing, I realized that we were all in for a treat, and damn was I ever correct! The four-piece New Jersey rock band took the stage with authority and beat the hell out of it until much to my dissapointment their short set was over, and they left us all buzzing during stage-teardown/setup for the next fifteen minutes about how great they were!
They were incredibly energetic on stage and commanded our attention, got us psyched up and moving around, and absolutely killed every single song they did. My one complaint was that the mic was turned way too low during the first song, and I didn't hear a single word sung by vocalist Ian Devaney, but by the second song, all levels got worked out and we were on the path to rocking the hell out! I can't wait wait for their record "If You're Young" drops! In fact, if you're a fan of The Static Jacks, or just in the mood for some great music/swag, their album is available for pre-order right now in various merch bundles HERE! Check out more about The Static Jacks on their website: thestaticjacks.com
Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band:
I had not heard of Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band prior to the show. Well, let me take that back... I knew Kevin Devine as a part of the Manchester Orchestra/Kevin Devine supergroup Bad Books... I just didn't know that I knew him. Shep had heard of him before, enough to know what to expect-ish, and I trust her taste in music very much, so I was very excited to see what was in store for us!
Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band did not disappoint! I mean, holy hell! The entire set was so terrific that it flew by in the blink of an eye. I was instantly a fan, and even though there were a few technical glitches with Kevin's guitar, I was rivited the entire time!
It was an intoxicating mix of indie rock and blues, enthralling lyrics and intense emotions. The crowd was psyched for Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band, which added to the fantastic experience. I wish I could rave and use better, flowery words to describe to you just how amazing this set was, but to be perfectly honest, I can't come up with words good enough, it was that good! I got so lost in the band's set that it let me escape the crappy few months of stress I've been having; which for me is the mark of a truly great music-experience.
If you ever get a chance to see Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band live, make sure that you do it! It was a set like no other, and you have just got to experience it for yourself!
Manchester Orchestra:
Oh. My. God. I mean-- holy CRAP. This show marks the 5th time that I've seen Manchester Orchestra play, and every single time they just get better and better and better! The second that Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band got off the stage and teardown/setup started, my heart was pounding with anticipation!
Manchester Orchestra did not dissapoint (I don't really think they ever COULD, to be honest). This show was exactly what my soul needed: emotional, raw, loud, AMAZING. The band played lots of songs from their newest record "Simple Math" which were phenomenal! Now, I like the new record, don't get me wrong, but it's not my favorite of theirs. However, those songs done live were explosive and absolutely phenomenal! They mixed the set up with some older material as well that got the crowd flipping out and singing at the top of our lungs! Every single song they did was 100% top-notch!
Near the end of the set, the bad (sans vocalist/guitarist Andy Hull) left the stage, and Kevin Devine returned and the two musicians played two songs from their super-group band Bad Books to the upmost delight of the audience.
The set continued for a few more songs with the rest of the band re-joining the stage. Our minds nearly exploded when the stage was flooded with members of both Manchester Orchestra and the entirety of Kevin Devine and the Goddamn Band for the second to last song.
When it was over and Shep and I walked outside, neither of us could possibly contain our huge grins. It had been a LONG time since I had enjoyed a show so thoroughly. It was a night I won't soon forget, filled with amazing friends, laughter and incredible music... and best of all? We didn't even have to drive to BOSTON to see it!!
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