Concert Review: Deerhunter, Times New Viking @ the Bowery Ballroom
So, this passed Saturday I found myself on a train to the lower east side (I think) to see Deerhunter. Honestly, I'm not even the biggest Deerhunter fan in the world, but I like a bunch of their songs, and the tickets were $15 (not including Ticketmaster's pimp tax), so it wasn't that tough of a decision. Plus, the person I'd be going with was someone I don't get to see that much, so that was the point moreso than actually being in love with Deerhunter.
Long story short, I was pretty much wasted by 8 oclock. Knowing I wouldn't be able to afford le inebriacion at the Bowery's prices, I made a couple of Gatorade/vodka/empty-stomach conconctions that worked maybe a little too well, for by the time I was inside the Bowery's lounge, I was pretty much in no shape to call myself a gentleman, although I guess I sort of acted the part, unless I was alienating people without knowing it. A couple weeks prior, I had seen the Kills in Wiliamsburg, and I got so drunk there that I ended sining bad karaoke, sleeping at a stranger's apartment, and puking in a coffee shop DISCREETLY; I told myself that it would NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. The thing is, I don't drink as much as I did in college, so when I finally do imbibe on the sauce, I go full-drunkard. This happens rarely, but when it does, the next day is filled with anxiety and regret, which is an awful couplet--or maybe just an awful couple, whatever. The point is, Times New Viking are noticeably less dissonance-y live, which I guess I sort of saw coming. They were also charming and unpretentious and I dug that. I made devil-horns maybe?
By the time Deerhunter hit the stage, I was in another place entirely. Meaning, I was well on my way to not knowing what the eff was going on, but I remember they played Cryptograms, and it was awesome. Deerhunter is also a cool-looking band live, especially considering they don't really pose as much as some others (I know that, many times, posing is all a part of the act; I'm just saying). Long story short, I don't remember leaving the place, which is kind of not cool in my book, but it happened. I mean to ask my companion how I wrangled me out of there, got me into a subway car, and back to New Jersey with all of my teeth and limbs still where I left them. Hopefully the story isn't too damaging to my psyche, so that when I ask, I can actually handle the truth. Point being, I recommend the Bowery as a concert venue (I saw the YYYs there in 2004 and they owned) as the sound is kind of great and the people are nice.
AFTER-THOUGHTS:
1) I saw Bradford Cox outside before the show (first with some dude, then by himself) and he is less freakishly tall than I was expecting. Sadly, I geeked, saying to my friend "hey, that's the lead singer," which I added to my list of how I am lame.
2) The Bowery is surrounded by Chinese restaurants. If you're hungry, and want to grab a cheap snack before a show, I hope you like Chinese, because that's all you're going to get. Though, to be fair, there was this pastry shop that had a good coissant; it was my first coissant, ever, that wasn't housing a sausage egg and cheese between its layers.
3) If you want a kibob on the street, and reek of deperate hunger, be prepared to pay, like, $8 for it.
4) There was a second opening band, (the Vivian Girls maybe?) but I partied through them, as I am wont to do. Bless their hearts, though.
5) I have to work fifty hours this week. I will be investigating drugs that will make this simpler for me.
Okay, that's it!
