Dandy Warhols- Granada Theater November 13,2010

I have been a fan of the Dandy Warhol's since my senior year of high school, when "Thirteen Tales from Urban Bohemia" came out. I still believe the three song opening sequence is musical perfection particularly on vinyl. There was an energy to the band and their music, that was infectious, you couldn't not like "Bohemian Like You". The follow up to Thirteen Tales, "Welcome to the Monkey House" honestly didn't do much for me. So I went backwards, and started with the "Black Album" that Capitol  Records rejected, and then to "Come Down" so when they came to town in 2007 I went and it was the best, the live show was incredible, the power of "Godless" live was unbelievable. So when they came back to town in 2008 and 2009 I took friends who loved the band but had never seen them live. Always afterwards, it was a wow, I didn't realize how good they actually were.


So going into last night I was super excited, I had never been let down by this band, and I was taking a friend who in the past had been unable to go. A night had been built around this, I should have known something was off, when I looked at the merch table and it had one shirt, and ten cds, each plugging and explaining the members of the band's solo projects. I brushed it off they were touring in support of their greatest hits record, and well everyone there in reality had all of the Dandy's discs so why not sell the others.


It was the typical Dallas crowd who can either the best crowd you ask for or the crowd you pray to get away from. The standing around looking at the movie screens of twitter, up coming concerts and shows that had nothing to do with anything that would sound like the Dandy's (don't get me wrong I love JTE and everything but not before a Dandy's show). The crowd was buzzing but when they opened with "Be In" the majority of the crowd stood looking away or talking, it happened in only 45 seconds to turn the crowd. I looked at my friend and realized that it was going to be a rough night, for the band, and on us. The thing about a packed Dandy's show is everyone one is either on the ride, or you are struggling to stay on, it's all energy.  This was a crowd that didn't know the hand claps in "We Used to Be Friends" so this was not only the television crowd, it was  a crowd that didn't know what the television songs even were. I have never and will never fault a band for licensing their music to tv, film, or advertising. This was the crowd that wouldn't get the irony of "Cool Scene", because they thought this was the"cool" place to be. Somewhere once Zia busted all of her dance moves out on "Horse Size Pills", to no avail the band  just went into this veteran professionalism mode and rattled off "Bohemian Like You" into "Godless" and so on. CTT tried to get the crowd to do the trumpet part on "Godless", and the Woohoo's on "Bohemian Like You" and the crowd fell flat, and those who did got glared at, it was a younger crowd who I guess thought the show was ironic.


The Dandy's have been doing this for 17 plus years, and I know that they have to resent some of these songs, but every time I have seen them try and give the best show possible. I for the first time walked out on the show, I wanted to keep the good memories as opposed to polluting it with what was left of the show. The next time I am heading to Austin to see the Dandy Warhol's , I think that Dallas maybe to "cool" to have a good time at a show anymore.

Favorite Records of 2010

This year, at least for me has been an oustanding year for music.Thanks to websites like Daytrotter, and the now defunct Lala.com, that allow you to explore national and regional music. The sessions that Daytrotter does,are incredible. What they draw out of an artist, and the creativity allowed create some truly amazing moments.  Also this year for openers, has been eye opening, I like the fact that it's going back to bands putting packages together as opposed to promoters. I think it makes for a better show, and gives the opprutunity for all to earn new fans.

My 2010 List (in no particular order)
Delta Spirit- History From Below
BRMC- Beat The Devil's Tattoo
Laura Marling- I Speak Because I Can
Dylan Leblanc- Pauper's Field
Jason Boesel- Hustler's Son
Justin Townes Earle- Harlem River Blues
Nathaniel Ratliff-  In Memory of Loss
Ray LaMontagne- God Willin and the Creek Don't Rise
The Romany Rye- Untitled