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The KLF - The White Room - Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012
The Orb Saved My Life - Monday, Sept. 10, 2012
Fire On Babylon - Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012
N.W.A. - Straight Outta Compton - Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012
the flaming lips and heady fwends or, the freaks are slowly taking over - Thursday, Jul. 19, 2012

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Friday, Jun. 20, 2003 | 08:36

stop what you're doin' 'cause i'm about to ruin

last night i went to a show at the metro. my pal sean went with me, but was feeling sick and had to go when lake trout came on. lake trout kicked ass, but i'll get back to that. sean and i had chicken basque at nikki's (i'm cat-sitting for her this week) then walked up to the metro for the show. we got there about nine.

just as we arrived, the night started with a group calling itself paris texas. now with a name like that i'd expect these long, slow, sparse dirges, akin to ry cooder's soundtrack to the wim wenders film paris, texas. instead they played rock 'n' roll. i suppose today you'd call it neo-garage, but sean compared it to the beginnings of california metal in the early 80's (like guns 'n roses, bulletboys, etc.). they rocked, and i can see a future for them. a little more blues to the sound and they'd be the rebirth of the rolling stones.

following paris texas was lake trout. lake trout would not be far out of place on the chemikal underground label, except they're not scottish. the drummer was positioned closer to the front to make room for a keyboardist/flautist who also occasionally howled into his own mic. they opened with chiming guitars and a five minute instrumental which built, rocked, and came back down. all the bands this night had two guitars, and they made good use of the interplay between them. lake trout didn't play many songs, but each one was long and ornate. one sounded like a radiohead (circa ok computer) mood piece, while another was definitely mogwai. they really blew me away with their dynamics. also, the live, distorted flute was a nice touch. additionally, their drummer played loud and fast and liked hitting his splash whenever he could. it really was an experience.

then, after hip hop and dance hits of the past decade (pump up the jam !?), the dismemberment plan. i've never seen anything like it. not even close. you've got four guys this time, with the guitarists and bassist taking turns on analog synth duties (or maybe it was a mellotron), and the singer trading between guitar and some cheap-looking casio sampler. they rocked the house down. with tempos that kept changing in songs and lyrics that were simultaneously hilarious and heartfelt, yet a little twisted. after storming through two songs, the singer announced they were taking requests the rest of the night. then they made us raise our hands and be quiet, though of course not many people wanted to be quiet. the guy behind me shouted himself hoarse for time bomb, but more on that later.

it really was crazy. the dismemberment plan is this post-punk indie rock group from washington, dc who've been around a while. i forget the title, but someone requested a tune and the singer said that was the first song they played in chicago, at the empty bottle "back in 1845". he also told a story about that show and all nine people in the audience. he said four of them were shouting mad during their show, like they were going to start fighting, and then they heckled the next act the rest of the night. that next act was a local group the alkaline trio.

at one point the band brought out a woman dressed in a hersey chocolate bar costume and she tap danced to "her favorite song to tap dance to". at other points members of the crowd got on stage and danced with the band (sometimes without the band members realizing it). about a quarter after twelve they announced their last song--not a request--and drove the crowd wild (the guy behind me still shouting "please play time bomb!"). they even interpolated the humpty dance.

after a brief stay off stage, the came back and played three more songs. during the second one about thirty people got up on stage and danced with them, forcing the bassist over to the side, next to his monitors. it was crazy. when that song ended they made everyone leave the stage, and people kept talking to the band, shaking hands, giving hugs. some girl had a conversation with the singer before a guy grabbed his head and kissed him full on the lips. the night was about to descend into bizarreness when the stage cleared and they played the first notes of time bomb. craziness erupted and everyone sang along (most were already singing along, but for time bomb i was about the only person who didn't know all the words). it was truly crazy. it was also enough that when the band left the audience seemed satisfied and left, rather than trying to call a second encore. of course, it was one in the morning so most of us wanted to go to bed.

on my way home (i walked all the way to nikki's), i got two compliments on my "i hate your band" t-shirt. i also overheard some conversation this girl was having with this guy about being good in bed, but being uncomfortable before, during, and after sex. they turned away as she claimed she had perverse tastes. i wanted to join in, but that would have been really weird. all in all, it was a good night.

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