Rilo Kiley Conert
Nobody wants to hear a concert recap about a band they don't know or don't like. (For those of you who both know and like Rilo Kiley: IT WAS AWESOME. I have a girl crush on Jenny Lewis).
When in line to get in, we played the game where you check out a crowd and have to guess the range, average, and mode age, and male to female ratio of fellow concert goers. We answered: 17-45 (later raised to 65 when a drunk man appeared to spill beer and hit on Stephanie and I. Nas-T), 27 (due to a spike of mid-high 30 year olds), 22, and 60:40.
We had been worried about what to wear to the concert since the last one we went to together (Dashboard Confessional) was quite the episode. We were just wearing regular clothes- probably 80% American Eagle- and EVERY other attendee was 14 years old with side bangs that cover one eye, polka dotted tank top, tight jeans, and converse allstars. We didn't fit in. But Rilo Kiley likers are more subdued- we fit in nicely this time.
The Venue was The Phoenix in Toronto. It's all like black and red decor and maybe slightly gothic, huge open area with a higher level that had seating. Black pillars, red walls. And three GIANT Jesus pictures. One was questionable- a blonde woman holding a baby wrapped in swaddleing blankets or whatever, in a potentially manger-esque headquarters. The other two were CLEARLY JESUS. One of him dead (or sleeping?) and one of him with a bright light behind his back with his arms stretched out. It was kind of weird, actually.
Anyway there were two opening acts. First listen to my friends' band, the Shady J's. (Myspace, Official site). Got a feel for their sound? A glance of their look? A casual extrapolation towards what their personalities might be like? Now check out Jonathan Rice (Myspace, Official). EERILY SIMILAR, NO? Then we got to sing along to (click view video) . So- I like him.
There was lots of great people watching including a bunch of greying, balding men. An awkward mom with her awkward daughters. An over zealous head banger. Our personal favourite was this one couple that we spent quite a while trying to extrapolate. The woman had definitely thought to herself "well, I guess I should wear my practical heels" and the man was trying to pull off the "Oh hey. yeah, just came from work. Check out my cazsh* wind breaker overtop my unbuttoned collar shirt. Oh hey." I wasn't convinced. We tried to imagine what would entice them to attend. She looked imaginably-cool enough to like them- was he awkwardly tagging along? Or had he heard from his step-nephew about this cool band, so he "Oh hey. Want to see this really cool band? I'm cool, which is why I know about them" to his girlfriend?
Other than drunk man, the worst person at the concert was Giant Girl. I kid you not she was at least 6 foot 8. 6'10" is believable. AND SHE WAS WEARING HEELS! Hey good on you for loving your height but seriously you are more than a foot taller than me. You already have the best view in the house. And where did she stand? DIRECTLY in front of Stephanie. Like as in, Steph's nose grazed her lower back. Giant Girl swiveled a couple of times to make sure she wasn't blocking anybody's view- I guess Stephanie was so small (and right behind her) that she didn't even register as a blip on the radar!
Anyway. If you don't know Rilo Kiley (she goes single as Jenny Lewis sometimes), you should watch these.
Silver Lining
Arms Outstretched (one of my faves)
Breakin' Up (I love her)
*Cazsh= the short form for casual. Can you spell it any better?
(I really need to work on titling my posts better.)
