Spoon at First Avenue
This week was finally my chance to see Spoon, after years of wanting to go, but just never being able to, I was given a ticket for my birthday by my friend Jamie. Wednesday night is not my favorite night to go out, but it’s better then going to an all ages show, and I’d go out every Wednesday if it meant seeing a band like Spoon.
I typically stand towards the back at shows these days, but we decided to make our way to the front. Shows are so much better up close, even if my ears don’t like it and you have to deal with more annoying people. For the most part the crowd was what I expected. There were more girls then I was expecting for a 21+ show, and pretty much everyone was in their 20’s. Guess all the older hipsters were at Wilco :)
The highlight of the show, which I didn’t even catch until I got home and started reading reviews, was that this was the setlist…
Utilitarian / Minor Tough / Fitted Shirt / Anything You Want / Small Stakes / The Way We Get By / Stay Don’t Go / Vittorio E / The Beast and Dragon Adored / The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine / My Mathematical Mind / I Summon You / I Turn My Camera On / Don’t Make Me A Target / The Ghost of You Lingers / You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb / The Underdog / Black Like Me
Encore: 19. Chips & Dip / 20. Me and the Bean / 20. Don’t You Evah / 21. Quincy Punk Episode
If that doesn’t stand out, I’ll tell you why it was so impressive. They played their set in chronological and track order, starting with “Utilitarian”, track 1 of A Series of Snakes. This song kinda caught me off guard. I consider myself to be a fairly big Spoon fan, but I wasn’t expecting them to play songs this old. But when “Fitted Shirt” started up, I think everyone was ready for a great show.
I think the idea of playing in this order was great as it really showed how their sound has changed over the years, and also because by the time they got to the new stuff, they were really into the show and playing their best. I really wish more bands would do it this way.
I really enjoyed the whole show, loved finally seeing them live, and hearing just how many great songs they have. Britt Daniel plays with a ton of emotion and really makes you feel the music. I know that’s the idea of being in a band, but some just do it better then others. The rest of the band was fairly quiet, giving all the attention to Britt.
The 5 song encore after a very short break was really nice, giving the fans a chance to hear more songs, and not just a canned 2-3 song epic ending.
I’ve heard this before, so I was kinda ready for it, but I wasn’t completely blown away by the show like I was at the Arcade Fire last week. Spoon is a great band and I would definitely pay to see them again, especially at First Ave, but I was reminded of just how amazing Arcade Fire is at this point. Seeing Spoon is like hanging out with your best friends, but seeing the Arcade Fire is like falling in love.
There were some outstanding pictures posted to Flickr after the show:
brodymccoy
waifstar
jcbehm
And a few reviews:
backstage reveillemag
Chris Riemenschneider
Music and Songs
mrblack302
Setlist Breakdown by Album:
*A Series of Sneaks
1. Utilitarian
2. Minor Tough
*Girls Can Tell
5. Fitted Shirt
6. Anything You Want
*Kill The Moonlight
1. Small Stakes
2. The Way We Get By
4. Stay Don’t Go
12. Vittorio E
*Gimme Fiction
1. The Beast and Dragon Adored
2. The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine
4. My Mathematical Mind
7. I Summon You
3. I Turn My Camera On (this was out of order)
*Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
1. Don’t Make Me A Target
2. The Ghost of You Lingers
3. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb
7. The Underdog
10. Black Like Me
That sounds like an amazing set list. I think they hit the best songs on those albums as well. Makes me wanna go back and listen to the older stuff.
Sounds like an awesome show, even if it didn’t have the romance of the Arcade Fire show. I scanned the setlist quickly and realized that it was chronological, but I’m a geek that way. I would have been a very happy man during the Girls Can Tell and Kill the Moonlight songs (great choices) — Hell, I would have been a very happy man for the whole show. Black Like Me would be a great pre-encore closer. Just add it to the “Chris is a pathetic loser and misses all the cool shows that Moen sees” concert series.
Can you say more about Britt’s stage presence? Is he a big guy? Does he talk much between songs?
I’m not sure if he was a big guy or not, but he definitely controlled the stage. Since all the lights were on him, he was the only focal point in the band. I don’t even remember seeing the drummer, and usually pay attention to the other members to see what they are doing.
He didn’t talk a whole lot, commented on how much he likes coming here, from playing at the Entry and the 400 Bar, and now in the mainroom. He also said it was a good looking crown, and that it must be the drinkers show. Here was his exact quote:
You can tell how comfortable he is performing live. Some guys talk to much, some too little, but that was never a concern.
while i didn’t attend Wed night’s show (i was one of the “older hipsters” at Wilco ;), Thursday night’s set was really great.
BUT, having seen Spoon like 6 or 7 times now, you’re right… they are a very VERY good live band, sometimes hit or miss (their last 400 Bar show was fantastic, but the one prior to that notsomuch), they are not an amazing live band that are on the level of a Wilco or Arcade Fire live. maybe it’s the simplicity of their songs that doesn’t lend to there being all that much additions that can be made live, or they’re just that, a very solid solid live act, no more, no less. i tend to lean towards the latter, but the former makes a bit of sense to me too.
i’ve never been let down by them live, but i have seen them do some so-so shows.
that said, they were without a doubt the best band i saw all weekend at the Monolith Festival at Red Rocks 3 weeks ago. Decemberists were painfully boring there unfortunately (also have been hit or miss for me), and the Flaming Lips were a bit too scattered.