Elvis Costello Played United Palace Theater - Pictures, Review, Video, Setlist

On Saturday we stopped in at a packed United Palace Theater to catch a sold out show from Elvis Costello and the Imposters.  A continuation of the Revolver Tour (which we had seen at the same venue back in May April 2010), we had a pretty good idea of what to expect from the show.  Nonetheless, with a boatload of covers, a longer set, and a totally different setlist, there were still some surprises in store.

The evening's massive 30+ song setlist traversed Costello's career, but held a strong focus on his early and middle career, effectively something of a "classics" set.   However, those classics were not necessarily "hits" per se.  Many of the tracks delivered were non-singles, and the number of covers (7 at our count) further diversified the set.

In addition to an extremely solid night of music, the set was also characterized by Costello's decision to bring back the "Spinning Setlist".  Not only did this further increase the setlist diversity, but it also meant there were audience members on stage at (almost) all times.  This even included actress Mary Louise Parker, who spinned the wheel before "Monkey To Man", and then danced in the go-go booth for the remained of the song.

The highlight of the evening came when Costello invited the crowd to leave the venues seating chary behind and rush the stage.  Only at that point did it truly come together and feel like a rock show.  Surrounded by an adoring fanbase, the band delivered the last 30 minutes of the show in true style, with Costello prowling the perimeter of the stage, and delivering a "quiet" set with Steve Nieve before delving into the band's full encore, which seemed close to endless.  At the end of the night, we were damned tired, so it's hard to imagine how Costello was feeling.  Suffice it to say: the Imposters are on point to deliver a killer show, and they're doing it on a nightly basis.

Elvis Costello Setlist 10-1-2011
--
Alison -> Tracks Of My Tears
Lipstick Vogue
Watching The Detectives
The Judgement
Everyday I Write The Book
Cry Cry Cry (Johnny Cash Cover)
I Still Miss Someone (Willie Nelson Cover)
Stella Hurt
Monkey To Man
His Lady's Friend (Cover?, unknown)
Waiting For The End Of The World -> I Can Only Give You Everything
Little Fool
Town Cryer
New Lace Sleeves
Clowntime Is Over
Strict Time
Man Out Of Time
Out Of Time (Rolling Stones Cover)
I Don't Want To Go To Chelsea
Pump It Up
Heart Of The City (Nick Lowe Cover)
Radio, Radio
The Angels Want To Wear My Red Shoes
Purple Rain (Prince Cover)
Rain (Beatles Cover)
--
In The Mood Again
I Still Have That Other Girl
Suit Of Lights
Stations Of The Cross
--
Watch Your Step
Secondary Modern
National Ranson
What's So Funny (About Peace, Love, and Understanding)
Wheels (Gram Parsons Cover)

Wilco and Nick Lowe Played Central Park - Pictures, Review, Setlist

Last night we stopped in at Rumsey Playfield to catch the first of Wilco's two nights in New York.  The band is helping to close out the final days of the year at the Central Park venue, and despite predicted rain, the evening managed to go off without any serious interference from the weather.  Alongside the band was legendary musician and producer Nick Lowe.  The band recently covered Lowe's "I Love My Label" as a B-Side to "I Might", and apparently dug doing so enough that they decided to bring him along for their inaugural tour under dBpm Records.

Nick Lowe was touring without a band, and delivered a set in true singer-songwriter style with his voice and a lone acoustic guitar.  Much akin to his longtime friend and collaborator Elvis Costello, Lowe can still command a crowd even with such simple implements.  Lowe's voice is unquestionably in top form, and hearing him live was a real treat; Roy Orbison came to mind as we listened to the delivery.

If anything, the years have improved Lowe's voice, by giving it an even warmer, more even timbre - sweet without being saccharine.  His set started off with a fair dose of his newer material, which definitely held its own.  However, Lowe managed to truly win over the crowd when he delivered his own "Cruel To Be Kind" and "What's So Funny (About Peace, Love, and Understanding)?", as well as a cover of Elvis Costello's "Alison", at the end of the set.

Wilco took to the stage soon thereafter, and launched in to a 2+ hour set that covered the breadth of their entire catalog.  Before we go any further, we'll start by saying this:  Wilco is one of those bands who, no matter what, in any circumstance, always seem to win us over live.  Even if we're dragging a bit on the way to the show, the opposite is always true on the other side.  Inevitably, we spend the next few weeks revisiting their entire catalog and getting back into the band.

This is why it was such a surprise, that last night, this simply didn't happen.  Did the band put on a bad performance?  Not particularly, but it wasn't great either.  There was something in the band's approach and attitude that simply felt staid; like they were just going through the motions.  It didn't help things that the crowd was a bizarre mix of insanely devoted fans, and arbitrary New Yorkers who didn't even seem aware that they were at a concert.  There were no quiet moments, but there were no truly raucous moments either.  Everything chugged along a steady, neutral pace.

The new material from the band's latest, The Whole Love, was certainly tolerable, but it didn't have any real grip on the crowd.  Moreover, the arrangements of the band's old material were the same ones that we've been hearing for the past few years, with little deviation or inspiration.  The lone standout was a somewhat updated version of "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart", that added some fuzzy tones and textures, no doubt culled from the recent album sessions.

It's difficult to issue such a negative assessment of a Wilco show, because the fact remains that they are a fantastic band, and they do truly deliver, even when they're a little bit off.  Nonetheless, after watching their shows for the past ten years, we also feel pretty confident saying that they've reached something of a creative impasse, and perhaps need to find a way to get "unstuck".  It brings to mind the scene from the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart where Jeff Tweedy opts not to play it safe as the band constructs their live setlist.  Mr. Tweedy, it may be time to take some of your own advice.

Wilco Setlist 09-22-2011
Art Of Almost
I Might
Ashes Of American Flags
I Am Trying To Break Your Heart
One Wing
Bull Black Nova
At Least That's What You Said
One Sunday Morning
Shouldn't Be Ashamed
Born Alone
She's A Jar
Handshake Drugs
Standing O
Rising Red Lung
Impossible Germany
Dawned On Me
A Shot In The Arm
Hummingbird
--
Via Chicago
Whole Love
War On War
Jesus, Etc.
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Monday
Outtasite Out Of Mind


Wilco and Nick Lowe play Central Park again this evening.

The Walkmen Played Terminal 5 - Pictures, Review, Setlist

When The Walkmen have an on night they make magic, and last night at Terminal 5 was most certainly an on night. Maybe it was the fact that they were returning home after a month in Europe, maybe it was the strength of their new record Lisbon, or maybe it was the grandiose size of Terminal 5. Regardless, it was one of the best shows we've seen from The Walkmen, and if anything, we wish it could have been longer.

To start with, the band was in top form: Hamilton Leithauser's voice was amazing, and he killed every song that he sang on. The energy and performance were off the charts. Unquestionably, vocals are key to the band's character, and last night was one of the best performances we've ever heard from the band's frontman.

Still, with The Walkmen vocals are just one (albeit strong) part of the puzzle. The rest of the band was just as raring to go, and every tune was overflowing with exuberance and enthusiasm. The amazing thing about this band is that they manage to take that exuberance and wrap it up in a musical subtlety that allows each song to carefully define its character's charms. Without question, they are one of the most instrumentally dynamic units on the road today.

The performance was additionally supported by an incredibly solid light show, and a brass section that had been (apparently) absent while the band was in Europe. Combined with the band's simply classic suits, the result was a stage show that felt dropped in from another era, with the charm of a rat pack era showcase.

At the end of the day, The Walkmen's show last night left nothing to be desired: in top form, the 5-piece deliver one of the best live shows around. Hearing the songs from their latest record in a live environment was an unparalleled treat, cemented by the fact that the band was clearly thrilled to be returning to a hometown crowd. On top of that, they closed the show with two of their most classic "hits", "The Rat", and "We've Been Had". It was a great way to start the the December concert season, and if we could do it again tonight, we would.

Setlist

--

While I Shovel The Snow

In The New Year

Angela Surf City

Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone

Blue Is Your Blood

The Stranded

On The Water

Victory

Canadian Girl

All Hands And The Cook

Woe Is Me

Lisbon

Thinking Of A Dream I Had

Juveniles

--

The Rat

We've Been Had

More pictures at the HAD Archive

EELS Played Terminal 5 - Pictures, Video, Review, Setlist

EELS always deliver a solid show, but what's in store can unquestionably vary. From a curmudgeon-y E (cane included) touring with a string section, to an all out rock band, the EELS almost defy definition in a live setting. On Saturday night at Terminal 5, we stopped in to check up on E, and unquestionably got a dose of the latter.

E arrived on stage subtly enough, delivering a number of tunes solo, and then with "The Chet" backing him up on pedal steel. Dressed in a white jump suit, a bandana, and a serious beard (think Souljacker-era), and armed with his Danelectro guitar, the first three songs (including "Daisies Of The Galaxy") were quiet, sweet, and understated.

From their, all bets were off, as a full band joined E and The Chet on stage, and they busted into a lengthy and rocking set. They were definitely tightly rehearsed, possibly even to the point of making their onstage antics seem a bit contrived or stilted. Nonetheless, any over-preparation couldn't really stifle the awesomeness of a huge setlist that included killer covers of "Summer In The City", "Summertime", and "Twist And Shout" (which, oddly, had "Mr. E's Beautiful Blues" sung on top of it).

The set had moments where it would calm down a bit (a quick stopover for "In My Dreams" and "The Look You Give That Guy"), but for the most part, E was dead set on airing out his rock songs, and we loved him for it. It's been a long time since we've heard the likes of "Souljacker Pt. 1" and "Jungle Telegraph", and they were nicely accented by the band's newer rockers like "Fresh Blood", "Tremendous Dynamite", and "My Baby Loves Me".

At the end of the day, it comes down to the simple fact that we love E, but that doesn't change the fact that one of the things we love about him is his dynamism. It's been way, way, too long since we've seen him put on a rock show this stupendous, and let us tell you: it was well worth the wait.

More pictures in the HAD Archive

Spoon Played Music Hall Of Williamsburg: Pictures, Review, Setlist

Sure, we know what you're thinking. We here at HAD are a bunch of crazies that just can't get enough of Spoon. Well, you're half right: we can't get enough of Spoon, but we're sure as hell not crazy, and last night proved it. After catching Spoon in New Jersey on Sunday, and at Cake Shop yesterday afternoon, we made our way to the Music Hall Of Williamsburg and saw the best show we've seen from the band in a very long time.

Opener Sean Bones delivered a solid set of reggae-tinged rock that did a great job at warming up the crowd. Bones' music manages to ape reggae without becoming cheesy or derivative, and the result is something that could easily garner comparison to certain late-era Clash tunes. A lot of this could be attributed to Bones' crunchy, solid guitar playing that is largely the backbone of his sound. We dig, you hear?

Spoon took to the stage soon thereafter, and immediately delved into a killer version of "Car Radio". We're guessing this choice may have taken inspiration from the Cake Shop request earlier in the day, and we loved every second of it. On top of that, it was just the ticket to get the crowd stoked and on board for a night of awesome rock and roll.

From there, the band dove into a set that leaned heavily on their three most recent records, Transference, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, and Gimme Fiction. There were only a handful of exceptions, including "Someone Something", "Everything Hits At Once", and "Stay Don't Go". Still, we're definitely not complaining: the band has become so tight over the last year, that their delivery of the new material puts it in a different category from the recorded versions. Almost all of the songs have a new edge that makes them a joy to see live.

The set also contained two notable covers: Wolf Parade's "The Modern World", and Jay Reatard's "No Time". As usual, Spoon did a bang-up job in the covers department, and brought a lot of new life to these songs. "The Modern World" was slightly more rocked out than the original, and had a darker chunkier feel. "No Time" benefitted considerably from Daniel's vocals, and the performance really emphasized just what a killer chord/melody genius Jay Reatard was.

It's hard to convey, but the electricity in the room was incredible. The crowd was joyous and excited, the band was on point and having a great time, and the set (including two encores) was about as good as they come. In short, it was a fantastic evening of rock and roll from a band that is truly schooled in delivering some of the best guitar goodness on stage today.

We had heard rumors (we didn't attend) that the band's shows at Madison Square Garden were a little drier than some would have liked, and we were wondering if maybe the guys were a little tired from the road. If last night is any indication, those rumors were started by some cracked out fool. Rest assured: Spoon is kicking ass, taking names, and loving it all at the same time.

Setlist

Car Radio
Nobody Gets Me But You
The Mystery Zone
You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
Trouble Comes Running
The Ghost of You Lingers
Written In Reverse
Someone Something
Modern World (Wolf Parade cover)
The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine
Don't You Evah
Finer Feelings
Everything Hits at Once
Don't Make Me A Target
I Summon You
No Time (Jay Reatard cover)
Got Nuffin
Black Like Me
--
Who Makes Your Money
Stay Don't Go
My Mathematical Mind
--
I Turn My Camera On
The Underdog

Many more photos in the HAD Archive

Spoon Played Cakeshop - Review, Setlist

While we weren't able to grab more than a few cellphone snaps (it was a video shoot - no pro shots allowed), we were lucky enough to catch up with Spoon at Cake Shop yesterday afternoon. We had to wait for quite a while, but our perseverance paid off when we found ourselves in the front row of a killer nine song set.

Getting together the motivation to deliver killer rock and roll at one in the afternoon has to be a bit of a challenge, but the band were clearly up to it. By the second song, they had the whole room on their side, and despite some (minor) technical hiccups, the vibe was good.

The set was a mix of new and old material, and it all blended well. We got to hear our some of our faves from Transference as well as a blazing version of "Don't Make Me A Target", and an old school shout out to the awesomeness of "Car Radio", at fan request. All in all, our only complaint is that we could have done with about an hour more of music. Luckily, we were patient enough for the evening show, which was right around the corner.

Spoon Setlist - Cake Shop 09/13/2010
Nobody Gets Me But You
The Two Sides Of Monsieur Valentin
Someone Something
Who Makes Your Money
Don't You Evah
Mystery Zone
Don't Make Me A Target
Nobody Gets Me But You (Second Take)
Car Radio

Wild Beasts Played The Highline Ballroom - Pictures, Review, Video, Setlist

On Wednesday night we stopped in to the Highline Ballroom to catch up with Wild Beasts as they visited New York yet again on the strength of their killer record Two Dancers. The band were joined by fellow Europeans Lone Wolf and The Kissaway Trail, and the night was full of intricate, moody music that was heavily suited to the painfully over-emo crowd.

Lone Wolf frontman Paul Marshall started out the night performing solo (apparently he has a five piece band when in Europe), and delivered a set of highly literal pieces of songwriting, backed by primarily delicate folk guitar.

Marshall was visibly nervous and excited about the set, and unabashedly waxed philosophical on his love of New York. The crowd loved him back, and gave him more than a little bit of positive feedback on both his voice and performance.

Lone Wolf was followed by Danish favorites The Kissaway Trail. The band, who apparently have been oft compared to Arcade Fire, demonstrated with their set that the comparison is more than a little apt. The band's set was littered with nods of the hat to the Canadian rock band, from the persistent rhythmic drumming to the angst ridden vocals.

Despite a set that felt notably derivative to our ears, the band had more than a few fans in the audience. The room was packed, and there seemed to be solid acknowledgement of the set's material. Still, between the incredibly low volume on the vocals and the seemingly aped songwriting, it didn't do a lot to win us over.

Wild Beasts took to the stage shortly thereafter, and bathed largely in darkness, they delivered an incredibly solid representation of their quirkily unique sound. Between shared vocal duties, rotating instrumental responsibilities, and a modest 4-piece setup, the band managed to effortlessly pull off some of the most intricate arrangements from Two Dancers.

Sadly, the band's onstage vibe was slightly marred for us by a fanbase that seems to consist almost entirely of 20-something women who sing along for the entirety of the show. Yes, ladies, we get your enthusiasm. But next time, here's a tip: if you're not on the stage, you're definitely not in the band.

However, fans aside, Wild Beasts managed to deliver a show that was an expert execution of their unique and peculiar sound. If you love Two Dancers as much as we do, taking in this band in their current state is certainly worth your while.

Videos:

Wild Beasts Setlist

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

The Return Of The Strokes As Venison

Okay, we'll admit, this is basically a complete repost from our Strokes-obsessed pal over at Music Induced Euphoria. That being said, we think it more than deserves it: The Strokes are in the UK for a number of planned festival-comeback appearances, but the comeback has now officially arrived.

In a 500 person room, The Strokes (under the name Venison) delivered a set that spans the entire length of their career, and gave little doubt that they are, most certainly, back. What can we say? Our fanboy hearts are aflutter. Yay.

Lots more vids on youtube, and the setlist here.

Plants and Animals Played Union Hall: Pictures, Review, Setlist

Last night at Union Hall, we were lucky enough to drop in on a last minute, super intimate show from Plants and Animals. Seeing the trio in such a small room was really a blast, and their energy (and noise) seriously threatened to overflow the small underground room. As the band hammered through a one hour set, they not only got us even more excited for their new record, but also demonstrated why we continue to keep talking them up as one of the most dynamic live bands today.

The set was a quick one, and consisted almost entirely (save for "Faerie Dance") of tracks from the band's second full length La La Land, which drops next Tuesday. Hearing the songs live definitely served to enhance their dynamics considerably, and really drew attention to how solid the songwriting is on the tracks. Moreover, hearing some of the live arrangements (particularly the transition from "Swinging Bells" to "American Idol") served to give the songs context outside of the scope of the record.

More importantly, the set thoroughly illustrated that the band has been anything but lax since the release of Parc Avenue. They have managed to craft a set of songs that have their own identity, and a life that goes beyond the (admittedly awesome) sounds of their first records. Specifically, the band have further embraced their rock influences, and crafted songs that are more straight-ahead in their tone and demeanor, yet still contain the eclecticisms that made the first record so fantastic.

All the songs in the world won't do anything without live chops, however, and Plants and Animals are unquestionably a live act to the core. Put simply, they deliver so much energy and enthusiasm in the live environment that it's almost impossible not to be completely engaged with the music making that takes place on stage. The trio has continued to become more and more musically connected, and at this point they interact less like individuals, and more like a single musical organism.

As the band wrapped up "Faerie Dance", there was clear audience demand for another tune, but the venue (sadly) turned up the house music and left everyone in attendance slightly confused. Luckily for us, this show was just the tip of the iceberg, and the band will be playing another show at the Bowery Ballroom on June 9th. We would be remiss if we did not tell you, dear reader, that you really, really, should be in attendance.

Setlist

--

Tom Cruz

Undone Melody

Swinging Bells->

American Idol

Fake It

Celebration

Game Shows

Jeans Jeans Jeans

Faerie Dance

Many more pictures at the HAD Archive

Wilco Played Lupo's In Providence - Pictures, Review, And Setlist

Last night at Lupo's in Providence, Wilco took to the stage as part of their current small theater tour, and delivered an epic 35 song set that not only traversed the band's career, but also offered up one of the best sets we've ever had the pleasure of seeing the band play. They have collectively gotten such a handle of their back catalog that they can delve into any point in the 15 year history, and expertly bring any song forward. Combine that with a 3+ hour electric/acoustic/electric set configuration, and you have the ingredients for a near-perfect Wilco show.

The first set could best be characterized as the more experimental and electronic set of the show, and it was loaded to the top with raucous noise and sonics. Drawing upon much of their catalog, it really emphasized the band's forays into noise cacophony and multi-guitar interplay. The chaos was somewhat balanced, however, by some more straight-ahead moments, including "Wilco (The Song)", "One Wing", "Sonny Feeling", and "California Stars". As the tail end of "Poor Places" exploded across the crowd, the band moved about to allow for the arrival of a new stage setup and instrumentation.

These items were setup for the middle set, which was ostensibly acoustic. It found Nels Cline and Jeff Tweedy both on acoustic guitars, Glenn Kotche on a reduced drum kit, and John Stirratt playing (for part of the set) an acoustic bass. In the middle set were perhaps the biggest setlist surprises for us, specifically a stripped down version (closer to its original live incarnation) of "Spiders (Kidsmoke)", and the return of "Not For The Season", a staple back on the band's tour for Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The set closed with a killer version of "Airline To Heaven" that built and built as the stage returned to its original setup for the third set.

The third set was perhaps the most straight ahead of the three, and featured the band playing a rock-centric set that would have been just as comfortable in their late 90's tour configuration as it does now. It reached into the band's back catalog for gems such as "I Got You" and "Too Far Apart", but also put some of their more recent material in context with the older stuff. "Theologians" and "Walken" both felt right at home amongst their older brethren. The set closed with a cover of Big Star's "Thank You Friends".

When the band returned to an unrelenting crowd for the encore, the show was well into its second hour. Apparently of limitless energy, the band summarily delivered the 1-2-3 punch of "Dreamer In My Dreams", "Casino Queen", and "Outtsite (Outtamind)". It was a killer way to end the evening, and when it did all wrap up, even after 3+ hours of music, the crowd was still cheering for more.

In hind sight, the show was so many things at once that it was difficult to absorb them all at the time. There was the light hearted awesomeness of both the crowd and the band. There was the incredible technical skill and tightness that seems to get better every time we see Wilco. There was the unbelievable setlist of more than three hours, with hardly any breaks. More than anything, there was just the fact that Wilco, no matter what, every time we see them, reminds exactly why it is that we're so in love with live rock and roll.

If you haven't gotten the gist by now, we'll spell it out for you: now is the time to see Wilco. It doesn't matter if you've seen them before, or if one particular album is your favorite, or if you're just too tired or broke. Just do it. Get out there, go to one of these small theater shows, and be prepared to have your mind blown. And, if you really, really, can't make it, then you're still in luck: the band is webcasting Tuesday and Wednesday nights' shows. Yum.

Many more photos in the HAD Archive

Setlist

--

Wilco (The Song)

Bull Black Nova

You Are My Face

I Am Trying To Break Your Heart

One Wing

Sonny Feeling

Summer Teeth

Misunderstood

She's A Jar

Handshake Drugs

Impossible Germany

California Stars

Poor Places ->

--

(Acoustic Set)

Spiders (Kidsmoke)

What's The World Got In Store

Forget The Flowers

Heavy Metal Drummer

Not For The Season

Passenger Side

Airline To Heaven->

(End Acoustic Set)

--

Shot In The Arm

Jesus, etc.

You Never Know

I'm Always In Love

Hate It Here

Easter Party (joke song for Easter)

Theologians

Too Far Apart

Walken

I'm The Man Who Loves You

Red Eyed And Blue->

I Got You

Thank You Friends (Big Star Cover)

--

Dreamer In My Dreams

Casino Queen

Outtasite (Outtamind)

Spoon And Deerhunter Played The House Of Blues In Boston - Pictures, Review, Setlist

On Saturday night we trundled our way up to Boston to catch the Spoon and Deerhunter bill at The House Of Blues. Granted, the pair had played Radio City the night before, but if we can snag ourselves some GA action on an open floor, it's always preferred. What's more, we were curious to see what Boston's House Of Blues looked like since it was created from the ashes of a combined Axis and Avalon. We were glad we did: we managed to catch two of our favorite bands deliver an epic pair of sets that left us more than satisfied.

Seeing Deerhunter in an opening slot was a bit of a conundrum. The band are so fantastic, that seeing them relegated to a shorter set and a crowd that was partially uninformed to their music was a bit of a bummer. That being said, the response was unquestionably enthusiastic, and the band was more than happy to recruit some new members to their ever-expanding fan base.

The band's set was quick (45 minutes) and jumped around between Cryptograms and Microcastle. Of note was a particularly drawn out and fantastic version of "Nothing Ever Happens", and a mid-tempo version of "Microcastle" that never really kicked into it's rock section, but instead held back with a painfully large amount of restraint.

The acoustics for the band's set were fantastic, and all members seemed to be in relatively good spirits. In particular, Josh Fauver's bass parts took a comfortably prominent place, delivering melody as the two guitars battled it out for cacophony control. Perhaps our only regret was not getting to see a full set from the band: they're so enjoyable that it was one of those rare occasions when we were torn between wanting the opener to stick around, and wanting the headliner to arrive.

When the headliner did arrive, however, we certainly weren't disappointed. Seeing Spoon on this stage, we weren't quite sure what to expect: it's unquestionably the biggest room we've seen them play. What's more, after last year's Crystal Ballroom show, and this year's set at Mercury Lounge, we were far more used to seeing them in small clubs. But the fact of the matter is that the band had a handle on the big room, and managed to bring the energy needed to keep the sold out crowd engaged.

Over the course of a massive 21-song set, the band delivered tunes sourced primarily from their last three records, taking a handful of tangents into their back catalog. As such, the set offered up a solid emphasis of the strength of the band's recent material, and the fact that their now-massive fanbase has a far larger level of familiarity with post-2004 Spoon.

While that's certainly not a bad thing, we have to admit that we're champing at the bit for the band to reach a point where they want to cull a bit more of their set from their brilliant early records, most notably A Series Of Sneaks and Girls Can Tell. That being said, they did offer up some nods of appreciation to earlier material. Three tracks from Kill The Moonlight made their way into the set, including a killer version of "Something To Look Forward To", and a tripped out arrangement of "Vittorio E". The band also rolled out Sneaks' "Metal School", with its straight ahead garage rock attack.

The set definitely tipped it's hat to the band's most recent record, Transference. The record's minimalist opener, "Before Destruction", started the show, and gave way to a far more fleshed out version of the record's closer, "Nobody Gets Me But You". Five more tracks from the record made appearances, and all held up well for a willing and ready audience. In particular, we have to say that "Is Love Forever?" really delivers live, and we wouldn't mind one bit if the dubbed-out vocal at the close stuck around for some sort of extended breakdown of the song.

The rest of the setlist was fleshed out by a solid selection of tracks from the band's recent material, with some nods ("The Underdog", "I Turn My Camera On") to the hits, and some fan favorites ("I Summon You", "Don't Make Me A Target") that have become live staples for their energy and delivery. More than anything, the set was artfully constructed so that all of the audience, ranging from new fans to old ones, was kept on board throughout.

It was an education in just how Spoon has managed to become beloved as both an album artist and as a live act, and why their upward trajectory consistently continues, when for their peers it begins to lag. Put simply, they are a band built upon the fundamentals of rock and roll: composition, delivery, performance, and enthusiasm. Put on stage, even one this large, there are no antics, just four guys playing rock and roll. Luckily, that's exactly what the audience is there to see.

Many more photos at the HAD Archive

Spoon Setlist, House Of Blues 03-27-2010

--

Before Destruction

Nobody Gets Me But You

Rhythm And Soul

You Got Yr Cherry Bomb

Vittorio E

Don't Make Me A Target

Got Nuffin

Stay Don't Go

Who Makes Your Money

Written In Reverse

Metal School

The Beast And Dragon, Adored

Don't You Evah

They Never Got You

I Summon You

I Turn My Camera On

Trouble Comes Running

The Underdog

--

Something To Look Forward To

Is Love Forever?

Finer Feelings