Basement Office

Two down, two to go

The concert gods have been extremely kind to me lately. After several lean months, the concert horn-of-plenty is overflowing.

On Saturday night, Grant Lee Phillips came to town and played to a standing-room only crowd of enthusiastic fans. Everyone was in a good mood, and there was a high level of rapport within the room. His singing was incredible and was made even more so when he was joined by John Doe for several duets.

Grant Lee Phillips is probably the singer I have waited the longest to see live. I got into him back in the mid 90’s when he was in Grant Lee Buffalo. I’ve always held his work in the highest regard; in my opinion, all of his albums are artistic masterpieces.

On Sunday night, Pittsburgh was treated to a free concert by Wilco as a part of the Three Rivers Arts Festival. As far as outdoor venues go, the Point State Park in downtown Pittsburgh is hard to beat. It was Wilco’s second year in a row at the festival and, judging by the comments made by Jeff Tweedy, it won’t be their last.

The band was simply amazing. I had my doubts after I saw them during their Yankee Hotel Foxtrot tour: they seemed uncomfortable with the music, unsure of each other, and reserved. Not any more. Chalk it up to the rehab or perhaps Jeff Tweedy’s new, stylish long hair – whatever the reason, they’re back. The new songs off of A Ghost is Born sound great live. The YHF songs have been tamed to fit into a live setting and as a result, they sound more fun than forced.

Tonight I’m going to see The Stratford 4 and on Wednesday, The Damnwells. Both are opening acts for other bands (Beulah and Julianna Hatfield, respectively – good times all around) and both are eagerly anticipated by me.