Adventures, Musings, Commentary, and Associated Fun

The Cat Empire

The short version of the story:

Went to see an amazing concert last night with a couple of friends.  The band, favorites of Melbourne, rocked the sold-out venue (~800 people) like few I've seen before, and further investigation revealed they will be playing in both Washington and NYC next week.  Please, please, please check them out - they deserve it and you'll love it.  I know it's a horrible cliche, but you won't be disappointed.  The band is The Cat Empire; here is the info about about the North American shows.  The DC show is actually at the State Theatre in Falls Church, VA.

The slightly longer version:

I got back from my extended weekend in Sydney on Tuesday.  A friend had talked me into buying tickets some time ago for a band I didn't know anything about called Cat Empire.  When we got close to showtime, I mentioned the show in passing and I received hushed cooing in response from my Melbournian friends when I told them I would be going to the show.  I knew they played a Latin-ska-reggae-rock infused beat, but other than that twisted earful I didn't know much.  Several people told me they put on a really good show.

Following fitness training for frisbee and a quick bite to eat, we made our way to the venue.  It seemed a fairly intimate place, and not long after we arrived a pretty cool "support act" (as they call opening bands over here) kept us interested and our ears happy.  As the room started to fill up towards the end of their set, though, you had the feeling that folks were very keyed up with what was about to follow.

They played for 2 hours, and I can say that it was one of the most enjoyable concerts that I've ever attended.  While seeing U2 a month after 9/11 and Bruce Springsteen 9 months later were  concerts that stuck with me for their emotional power, and enjoying Ben Harper play for 3 1/2 hours at the 9:30 Club in DC may have been more of a musical feast, I don't know that I have simply enjoyed a concert more than the one I saw last night.  The band was excited, and clearly enjoying themselves through the whole set; the crowd was rabid with anticipation even before they went on stage, and continued to go crazy with every song.  A couple of times I found myself - and others - laughing at my own goofy gri, such was the power of the band's extremely infectious enthusiasm.  At various times they were a heavy-on-guitar jam band, a scat-singing jazz sextet, a quiet duet with backup organ and guitar, an updated version of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones' ska, a full 10 piece ensemble featuring a sitar, a mixing table, an organ, a cowbell, and a 4 piece horn section...I could go on, but I think you get the idea.  It was a beautiful, energetic, amazingly FUN show.

So please go see them when they come to North America.  Tell them a new but devoted fan told you to come...

Big News!

A couple of big developments from Wednesday:

-I found out that I made the Firsts for Chilly, the ultimate team I've been playing with since I arrived.  It was really tight competition, and I'm incredibly stoked - great team, really cool guys, and all that - but at least as much because I worked really hard to make the cut, and that this means I'll be playing with the best team in Australia at the World Championships in Perth once November rolls around.  A great feeling.

-the presentation I gave at last week's Forum on Southeast Asia might be turned into a book chapter!  Al, forum coordinator extraordinaire, was contacted by a printing press on Wednesday about being editor for a book comprised of the presentations from last Friday.  If it comes to pass, it would be a big, big deal - regardless of circulation, the name of the game (as I'm finding) in graduate school is getting your name out there, preferably attached to pieces that you've written.  The book review I mentioned in my last posting, while not quite as big as a book chapter, should also help.

-listening to a lot of Josh Rouse at the moment, in particular Nashville and Subtitulo.  As one reviewer put it, he's one of "quiet is the new loud" artists - think Jack Johnson, Jose Gonzalez, etc.  The music is comfortably "chamber pop" (a bit too close to the old phrase for toilets for my liking), but in an ingratiating, endearing way.  Give it a listen. 

(You may notice that the album links take you to emusic.com - I think I've raved about this before, but it really is a wonderful site if you're a below-the-radar music junkie.  Let me know if you sign up, as I get free downloads for referalls, but regardless of that check it out: they've got a great range of quality music, even some big name stuff, and while it's not iTunes it more than makes up for it with site organization and well-written, personal reviews.  I'm a huge fan.)

What I'm Listening to...

Currently, Matt Pond PA - both "Green Fury" and "The Nature of Maps". I received a copy of Maps from a friend and have been really digging it. It's very indie; quality lyrics, moody, gloomy at times, but with some very catchy rhythms. Check it out if you get a chance.

On a related note, it's also about time to check out Emusic.com. The basic idea is that you pay $10 per month and receive 40 downloads (making each download $0.25, which in my book is better than $1); it's mostly composed of off-the-beaten track stuff from across the spectrum of genres. I have found some gems already, and I've been really impressed overall. If you want Top 40 stuff, go to iTunes. If you can't find what you're looking for there, take a browse around emusic; it's much more conducive to downloading full albums rather than singles.