I saw Deathcab for Cutie and Jenny Lewis (with the Watson Twins) at the Joint last week. Jenny Lewis never fails to utterly overwhelm and suprise me. I have loved her with Rilo Kiley, and now I am thouroughly addicted to her solo stuff. The Watson Twins back her up wonderfully and their ability to match her gut wrenching vocals with their soft and sweet harmonies is amazing. For a rather small woman, Jenny Lewis packs a lot of punch into her white girl soul and belts out songs that are a throw back to old gospel hymns.

I shelled out the $30 for tickets specifically to see Deathcab, although I will say that Jenny Lewis stole the show. I love Deathcab, and have been a solid fan for several years, but I was pretty underwhelmed by their performance. Not because they did a bad job, but just because I was still reeling from Jenny Lewis. Deathcab is a different kind of band anyways, and I should have known it would be a relatively uneventful show. It was basically 200 people standing around quietly singing along to their favorite Deathcab standbys. It was like listening to their CD’s on really big speakers, with alot of other people. Also, I had about eight jackasses spill beer on me throughout the night, which did sort of put a damper on how well I was enjoying the show. Also, I wasn’t drinking at this concert because I was sick as well. Oh, and the asshole in front of me was 8 feet tall and blocking my view.

If you’re interested in either of these bands I suggest the following songs for download: Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins: Rise Up with Fists, Jack Killed Mom and It Wasn’t Me. Deathcab for Cutie:  Photobooth, Company Calls and for something recent try Crooked Teeth, though I’m sure you’ve already heard it.

I have also decided that unless I’m standing by the bar, enjoying a cocktail I do not like the Joint as a venue. I’ve been to three shows there, (two of them were in the last week.) and the only one I really enjoyed was Alkaline Trio a few months ago and mostly because I started drinking before I even got there and would have enjoyed myself if I was listening to Matt Skiba sing out of the back of my Subaru on the side of a gravel road. I can enjoy Alkaline Trio anywhere. (especially when intoxicated.) I saw All American Rejects earlier in the week at the Joint, and while they did put on a pretty decent show it was distracting to try to find a good vantage point. I could have lived without the four opening bands that prempted All American Rejects taking the stage, but that’s mostly because they a) all sounded the same anyways, b) did not put on a very lively stage show. The Rejects however, did put on a good live show, complete with video clips on the stage behind them and a song where the lead singer and the overly gelled guitartist ran up to the balcony to perform by themselves. (The rest of the band backed them up from the stage.)

A note to the members of All American Rejects however: I regret to inform you, you are no longer the rock stars you were (briefly) in 2002. I did listen to your self titled CD repeatedly for a few weeks in ‘O2, but have since moved on. Oh, and I liked you better with a drum machine. I dig the tinny sound of prerecorded beats. Please be advised that your lead singer needs a burger and your guitarist needs to wash his greasy head. Please. Thank you.

Signed (with love…)

Danido