Spoon and The Shins at Merriweather Post Pavillion (10/22)

It was an afternoon, then a night, then a sleep, then a sore, but goddamn if last night’s show at Merriweather Post Pavillion wasn’t amazing. (click the link! There’s lots of details and some pictures!)

The way it happened was this: The Shins were scheduled to play a show at Merriweather Post Pavillion on October 22. Spoon were scheduled to play two shows at the 9:30 Club in DC on October 22 and October 23. According to Pitchfork, when Spoon found out the Shins were playing the same night as them, they decided they wanted to be there. So they canceled their 9:30 gigs (more on that later) and asked The Shins if they could open for them:

The Shins aren’t made of squishy yellow foam like Spoon’s other new friend, but the two bands have enough mutual affection to account for their appearance on the same October 22 bill at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. (Vetiver opens the show.)

Now, I had been contemplating buying a ticket to the Shins (and didn’t even realize that Spoon was scheduled to play downtown) when I read this, and my reaction was instantaneous: buy, buy, buy. I first heard Spoon in 2002, right after they released Kill the Moonlight, and “instantly hooked” is a bit of an understatement. I truly believe that Spoon is one of the best bands working today, and may end up with a legacy of being one of the best bands to come out of this era of music. Their ear, their creativity, is all spot-on. Their continuing stylistic evolution is as mind-boggling as it is inevitable, and, frankly, Kill the Moonlight is a piece of pop innovation worthy of a hundred best album lists. Spoon and I played tag for a while, starting with a show in Rhode Island (I went to college in Boston) that I missed by a matter of hours, and continuing across oceans and continents until I finally, FINALLY, caught up with them in Boston two years ago. Last night was my third show, and if I get into the show tonight (more of that later), it’ll be three Spoon shows in five months. That’s the way I like it.

I thought there would be a massive rush for tickets last night, but apparently I was wrong — I scored GA seats pretty quick, and with nothing better to do in the afternoon, I rolled a joint for the road and set off for Columbia at 5:30. I was there by 6, in the doors by 6:30 and parked happily by the barricade for half an hour before the opening opening band came on. They were called Vetiver, and the lead singer was from Columbia, MD (word). I’d say their sound was somewhere between alt-country and alt-folk, with a nice dose of indie rock mixed in; nothing too exciting, but certainly listenable and not an altogether unpleasant opener. However, I remember little to nothing about their set other than said lead singer saying he saw his first show at Merriweather Post — Kool and the Gang. Awesome.

Spoon came on second, at 8 p.m., and here is what I have to say: Fuck you, Shins fans. Fuck you, you fucking clueless 16 year olds with no respect for the truly awesome band on stage. I’d say that almost everyone around me had no idea who was playing (and yet, would they let me a little closer to see the band I came for, even though I said I’d give them their spot back? No.), and those who actually gave Spoon a chance seemed confused and lost at the end. I wanted to punch everyone I was with, but seeing as how I would have been kicked out I settled for some serious dancing.

They opened with “Mathematical Mind” off Gimme Fiction, which sounded great despite the fact that Brit Daniel’s mic wasn’t turned on until the second line (boo, but recoverable). I honestly don’t remember the order of their setlist and I was too taken with the performance to write anything down (I also didn’t bring in any writing implements), but I’ll tell you what I rememer. “You Got Yr Cherry Bomb” (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga) was awesome and energetic; “Don’t You Evah” (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga) was just coooooool. “The Ghost Of You Linger” (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga), which I often skip entirely when listening to the album, was much better live. “Stay Don’t Go” (Kill The Moonlight) rocked it as usual, as did “The Beat and Dragon Adored” (Gimme Fiction) which, honestly, is about as great of a live rock song as you can get (especially when the crowd is into it — several hundred pumping fists and people shouting “When you believe they call it rock and roll” is damn near transcendent…. though sadly, totally absent last night). “Don’t Make Me A Target” (Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga) was stellar, and probably the best song they can pull out in concert. Everything about it — from the intensely cool and almost sinister opening, to the massive instrumental orgams in the middle, to the satisfied sigh of the end — is just made for live performance. It was intoxicating.

The standards were there: “I Turn My Camera On” actually got the largely apathetic crowd moving a bit, and I heard some girls exclaiming that they knew the song but didn’t realize it was this band. They closed with “The Underdog,” which is a great song and really excellent live. They had a horn section, which was used on some other songs (guys, I was literally so busy dancing and having a great time that I can’t remember what they played with) as well. Fucking fantastic. AND, they announced that with last night’s ticket I can show up today at the 9:30 club before 6 p.m. to wait in line and get a chance to see Spoon for free. How many different ways do you know to say “I’m there”???

Now, while Spoon might have put me over the edge for this show — and I certainly wanted to see them more — I am a Shins fan myself and I was quite happy to get to see the two bands together. Full disclosure: Wincing the Night Away is not my favorite, but it didn’t much matter as the band played a great variation of well-loved older songs.

Note: The reason the picture above was chosen (it is not from last night’s show, it was gotten on the interwebs) for this blog is because it prominently features Mr. Marty on keyboards. Marty is my favorite Shin for many reasons, not the least being that his longtime girlfriend is Elyse Sewell, 3rd runner up in America’s Next Top Model Season 1, successful model, and awesome photographer/blogger. Marty was on ANTM season 1 when he came to New York to visit Elyse as a prize, and he is both adorable and awesome. He is also the most animated Shin, and was the funniest when I saw them last year at Lollapalooza. Long Story Short: I Heart Marty.

Notable songs from the Shins set: “Kissing the Lipless” (Chutes Too Narrow) was the opener, and a great way to start the show. Then there were a couple songs from Wincing and I drank my beer. Then came… something. Shit. Something from Chutes Too Narrow that was enough to get me out of the seat I had taken refuge in (Beer + Spoon + Dancing = Restroom Break Between Bands) and back down into the pit and wiggling my way up front (but not before getting my ticket stub from the ticket people and convincing them not to take off my awesome yellow wristband). Anyway, by the time that song was done I was back in my old spot, surrounded by some pretty cool cats this time. “Saint Simon” was up next, and awesome as usual — that might be my favorite Shins song and I was pleased as ever to hear it — followed by “Gone For Good,” played faster than normal, also excellent. A couple more from Wincing, and then “New Slang” which is always a crowd pleaser and always awesome. The Shins were in top form last night — they sounded great and I had a wonderful time jumping and dancing. They closed their set with the big single from Wincing and everyone cheered for an encore…

…And an encore we got. This might be the coolest part of the show — The Shins came back on and after a moment of fiddling, it became clear they were about to launch into “Breathe”… as in “Breathe” by Pink Floyd. What came next was outstanding. The harmonies, the ringing guitars, the weird percussion… it was all there, it was all perfect, and James Mercer’s voice is particularly well-suited to Pink Floyd. It was just a rockin’ cover. Totally unexpected, and I think it confused some of the youngun’s there, but that’s their loss. I was blown away. The encore finished with “Caring Is Creepy” and some more bows — an excellent job by all.

Now I am sore and tired and I have a headache and I have to leave straight from work to get to the 9:30 club with any hope of seeing Spoon tonight. If I do, you’ll be sure there’ll be a review tomorrow. Hot damn, that was a great show.

–Sara Tenenbaum