Modern Minstrels

Let's Tune Out By Turning On The Radio

Just got back from seeing The Format with Anathallo, Street To Nowhere, and Rainer Maria at Slim's. What a fantastic show!

Calista met me at Apple around 5 and we stopped by the always tasty Tacos Jalapa before heading up to the city. Traffic was really light the whole way, so we were there in plenty of time. It was just after 6 when we walked by Slim's and a line had already started to form (doors didn't open until 7). We didn't really feel like standing in line for a while so we walked around the area a bit and Calista found some interesting things to photograph.

We got back to Slim's around 6:45 or got our tickets from the will call window. The line for the door was a bit longer then when we were by earlier, but still wasn't too bad. We ended up waiting right next to The Format's bus, and after a while, Nate came out, much to the delight of this about 12 year old boy who had been waiting by the bus to get an autograph.

Once inside, I picked up one of The Format t-shirts (it's gray with the outline of a dog on it saying "Arf") and then we each got a pear cider (thanks to Corey for turning me onto that particular beverage a few weeks ago) from the bar.

Anathallo opened up the show, and were just as good as I had heard (including blowing up balloons during one song and releasing them into the crowd). They only played 5 or 6 songs, but said they'll be back in October or November at Bottom of the Hill. You'll definitely find me at that show.

Local band Street To Nowhere played next. I enjoyed their music, but what made really made their set enjoyable was how happy and excited they were just to be on stage playing. Also it seems a few of the band member's parents were in the crowd just in front of us and video taping it. Kinda cool.

The last opener was Rainer Maria. They were ok, but I really didn't get into them. I did comment to Calista that the bass player looked at bit like Charlie from Lost, to which she responded "oh, you're so hooked...and I take full credit".

Finally, The Format took the stage and opened up with Dog Problems (one of my favorite songs on their album of the same name). Their set is definitely in my top 5 all time. They were that good. Just full of energy and everyone was singing along with every song. They played every song that I really wanted to hear, including The First Single, On Your Porch, Tune Out, Janet, Snails, Inches and Falling, If Work Permits, and the aforementioned Dog Problems. My favorite song of the night was definitely On Your Porch (it's quite possibly my favorite song of theirs). A very, very close second was If Work Permits, which they ended the show with (transitioning directly from Inches and Falling just like on the album). Calista and I were both saying before the show that we really hoped they'd play that song, so that was the perfect end to an amazing set.

The Format's Setlist (approximate song order)

• Dog Problems
• Tie The Rope
• Wait, Wait, Wait
• Janet
• Give It Up
• Sore Thumb
• She Doesn't Get It
• Snails
• On Your Porch
• The First Single
• I'm Ready, I Am
• The Compromise

-----Encore--------

• Time Bomb
• Tune Out
• Inches and Falling
• If Work Permits

Death Cab at The Greek

Nick and I went to the Death Cab for Cutie show in Berkeley and it was a fantastic show as expected. Unfortunately, we got there a little late and missed Mates of State. By the time we got into venue, Spoon had just started playing. I enjoyed their set, especially given the fact that I wasn't all that familiar with their stuff (which is something I definitely need to remedy).

Death Cab put on a great set, which favored songs from Transatlanticism and Plans as well some of their standard older "hits" (We Laugh Indoors, Photobooth, Movie Script Ending). Making the night even more special was the fact that it was Ben Gibbard's 30th birthday. Towards the later half of the set, Chris Walla told the crowd that 9 years ago today, they had taken a road trip to San Francisco for Ben's 21st birthday and they had just recorded You Can Play These Songs With Chords. And that they never thought they'd still be doing this 9 years late.

Highlights of the set for me included Title and Registration, What Sarah Said (even though the crowd cheering after Ben sang the line "Love is watching someone die" was lame), the long instrumental breakdown in the middle of We Looked Like Giants, featuring Ben on his own drum set, and closing with Transatlanticism. This was my third time seeing Death Cab, and they have never disappointed. They're definitely a band I want to catch every time they're in the area.

Set List

• Passenger Seat
• Different Names For The Same Thing
• The New Year
• We Laugh Indoors
• Title and Registration
• Crooked Teeth
• Company Calls
• Company Calls Epilogue
• Soul Meets Body
• What Sarah Said
• Your Heart Is An Empty Room
• A Movie Script Ending
• The Sound Of Settling
• Photobooth
• Expo '86
• We Looked Like Giants
• Transatlanticism

Encore

• I Will Follow You Into The Dark (solo acoustic by Ben)
• I'm Coming Home (Sonics cover)
• Marching Bands of Manhattan