Sound Team, M83, Mates of State, the Walkmen (09.22.05)

the Band: Sound Team, M83, Mates of State, the Walkmen
the Date: Thursday September 22, 2005
the Venue: Numbers Night Club (Houston, TX)

I was in Houston for work (again) and had picked up some tickets to what should have been an amazing show. Sound Team, M83, Mates of State, and the Walkmen were all supposed to play at a little club called Numbers. But, Hurricane Rita decided to scare the living bejeezuz out of everyone, making them run for the hills … er the highways at least. Word is that all the bands got stuck in traffic. Show was cancelled.

Damn you, Rita! Damn you!

Poster Children, Imperial Teen, the Breeders (08.12.02)

the Band: Poster Children, Imperial Teen, the Breeders
the Date: Mon August 12, 2002
the Venue: Numbers (Houston)

(Photo credit to me)

I had just seen the Breeders a few days ago in DC, but I decided that it was definitely worth seeing them again … now in Houston. Just as a quick refresher, the Breeders are Kim and Kelley Deal, Mando Lopez (bass), Richard Presley (guitar), and Jose Medeles (drums).

Before I get carried away, it’s worth noting that the opening acts, Poster Children and Imperial Teen, were okay … not really my thing. I was bummed because I had heard that my favorite local indie band, the Groceries, were going to open for the Breeders, but I guess that was just a rumor. I regrettably picked up a few Poster Children CDs and a DVD at the merch table … obviously, the result of the Jack Daniels and Diet Cokes. Oops!

The newly reunited Breeders started the show with Tipp City from the Amps days. Awesome! The band continued their set taking selections from Pod, Last Splash and Title TK. As in DC, the Buffy theme and Angry Inch from Hedwig and the Angry Inch were played.

My favorite part of the night was when the Breeders were playing and I quickly phoned my best friend, Joe, and held up my cell phone so that he could hear the show … this caught the attention of Kelley and she mouthed the following to me, “Who’s that?” and I quickly responded by mouthing the word, “Mom” … this made Kelley smile. That made my night!

Full setlist (not from this show, but from a show around this time … sorry, best I could do): Tipp City / Huffer / Saints / Little Fury / Flipside / Head to Toe / I Just Want to Get Along / Off You / Cannonball / Safari / Hellbound / No Aloha / Full On Idle / Son of Three / Pacer / Drivin’ on 9 / The She / Theme from Buffy the Vampire Slayer/ Fortunately Gone / Angry Inch // ENCORE // Divine Hammer / Iris / I Don’t Care About You

no bye, no aloha
gone with a rock promoter . . .

Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (04.30.02)

the Band: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
the Date: Tue April 30, 2002
the Venue: Numbers Night Club(Houston)

(Photo credit to someone on the internet)

Russell Simins on drums. Juda Baeur on guitar. Jon Spencer on vocals. This is Jon Spencer Blues Explosion (JSBX). Punk/Blues Rock at its finest. These boys utterly destroyed Numbers.

Awesome, awesome show. Many of the tunes revolved around their latest release Plastic Fang. JSBX still mixed it up with older tunes as well. My favorites were She Said, Wail, and Afro. Later in the show Jon indulged in some of his trademark theremin play. Wacky, but he spoke to my soul with that theremin.

Full setlist (not from this show, but from a show around this time … sorry, best I could do): Tore Up and Broke / Ghetto Mom / Afro / Point of View / High Gear / Wail / Money Rock ‘n Roll / Mother Nature / Hold On / She Said / Down in the Beast / Shakin’ Rock ‘n Roll Tonight / Attack / Blues X-Man / The Midnight Creep // ENCORE // Chowder / Sweet n Sour / Mean Heart / Like a Bat / Magical Colors / Killer Wolf

baby, have mercy

please don’t be unkind . . .