cmj hangover post

cmj wasn't too crazy for me this year. i was still a little sick so i wanted to take it easy. plus i decided to quit smoking (and aside from two minor moments of weakness, i've been "clean" for 10 days). i'm one of those "i only smoke when i drink" people, but i also go out a lot. so...
anyway, i was having dinner with my friend ryan and he said he hadn't mentioned to me the quitting smoking side effects because he didn't want to discourage me. i googled these effects and found out why i hadn't had any motivation to go out all week.

Withdrawal symptoms can include any of the following:

• depression
• feelings of frustration and anger
• irritability
• trouble sleeping
• trouble concentrating
• restlessness
• headache
• tiredness
• increased appetite

when i did get myself out though i was happy about it. i saw the following bands (a short enough list to list)...

wednesday: the dandy warhols @ cbgb's
thursday: the arcade fire @ summerstage > army of me @ the delancey [tom vek @ scenic was impossible to get in to]
friday: king of france @ the fader house > the prayers and tears of arthur digby sellers @ pianos > two gallants @ bowery ballroom
saturday: tangiers > turing machine > the hold steady @ cbgb's

two gallants was definitely the best show i saw. i could watch them over and over and over and over again. i saw them in april and was pretty much transfixed despite the fact i didn't know any songs at the time. seriously, if i make a list of best shows of '05 - they might be #1. they're like neil young/kurt cobain/alt rock goodness.

i had the best seat, however, at the hold steady show. there was a ladder going up to a platform on the side of the stage, so youngna and i climbed it and sat there perched with our cameras for the entire show. it was awfully tricky to get down from though. i almost fell off. these girls saw my fumble and looked at me holding in their laughs, i explained that i wasn't drunk, just "terribly uncoordinated".

pictures from my week are here. all in all it's a pretty good cmj if the myspace bus doesn't kidnap you and leave you in the meatpacking district.

Comments

[Zach]

I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on King of France and The Prayers & Tears...
specifically if The King of France played "Just a Body" from the film The Baxter, and how it was live if he did.