down in San Diego. Very happy, since that's the main act I wanted to see at Coachella, and got tickets for both of us for less than a 1 day pass to the sweaty, stinking pit of hippies. Also, get to see a full set, instead of a 45 minute truncated show. Got a hotel room about 4 blocks from the venue, at the W, a very, very nice place, gonna slam back some THCola's and wander over and watch Jay Spaceman do his thang.

The W is, indeed, very nice. And I'm jealous, though I'm seeing Simian Mobile Disco this weekend. >:)

Have fun Stash!!!!!

lucky... I miss the days of living in a town that didn't just have reggae concerts.

Ah, yes, Biff, I know your pain all too well. The best thing I could have done for myself when I lived in Santa Cruz was go to see The Crystal Method when they were touring for that terrible album, Tweekend.

yeah, too many bongos in Santa Cruz. And a lot of very "white people" music like reggae, del the funky homo, aesop (sp?) rock, and devil makes three. Why don't they want to go back to their anglo roots and appreciate some good ol fashion electronic music, and not Sound Tribe Sleepy Nine.

w0rd.

Going to see Simian Mobile Disco this weekend. I would say come along, but it's sold out.

Screw you hippy! Go see Ozomotli!!!! Or Jamiroqui!

Ah, Simian Mobile Disco, *that* was what you were trying to say on the phone.

There's almost no chance of it, but if Spiritualized plays 'Think I'm in Love' I'm gonna shoot a wad right across the venue into Jason Spacemans ear.

that be Angel Sigh for me.

Fuck! found out this band Caribou is playing in SF tonight. That's one of my favorites right now and of course today I look to see if they're touring the US and it's tonight !@#!!! So good... Meh well, maybe they'll play in England when we're there for the Chems show. Anyway you guys should check out their newest album, very good in a fruit bats sort of way, plus the last track Niobe sounds like a 60's psychedelic version of (the beginning of) Burst Generator.

I've heard of that band before, Caribou, somewhere... no idea where. Heard, as in actually heard someone talk about it.... fuck, who?

I dunno.

Actually, maybe Walkin With Jesus or Good Dope Good Fun, or Medication, or Take Your Time....

wait, I forget, Home of the Brave is actually my all time forever and ever favorite Spiritualized song, but they're really like the Chems for me, I have so many favorite fuckin' songs.

ooo, Good Dope Good Fun. I'd marry that song if it were a tangible object.

I originally heard about Caribou on Socialism's site and I might've mentioned them before. Just really good mix of 60's style vocals, synths, and amazing music production. An excellent summer and/or sunny day album, which works out well since I like Fruitbats on cloudy/rainy days and Caribou for the others.

Sway. It's all about Sway for me. I want to have that song's babies. But I am doubtful it will be played.

And Good Dope Good Fun. Stay With Me is really good. Angel Sigh. Run. Don't Just Do Something is lyrical genius, love the play on words. Electric Mainline is mmmmmmmmm.

Damn it there are so many Spiritualized tunes I love so much. And I'm soooooooooo looking forward to this Friday. Bet they play Hold On, stash. ;)

And there's the gorgeous I Think I'm In Love. Mixed by Chemicals is 7 kinds of heaven, but I'll take a straight up Spiritualized version any day. Damn - what I would do to hear the Chems and Spiritualized do that song live one day...

Caribou used to be known as Manitoba and released the acclaimed debut Up In Flames.

God I wish I were seeing Spiritualized. Or SMD. Or drinking THCola.

Friday night went swimmingly. stash's mom dropped him off at my work, we head out early and drove on down to San Diego, making good time.

We checked into the crisp, modern and ultra hip W hotel, then made our way up to check out the club where Spiritualized would be playing. Surprisingly for such a nice hotel, it was only a couple blocks down from the downtown Sheriff's intake station and bail bonds shops, so the jaunt to where we needed to be was one that inspired a rather quick pace.

The club where Spiritualized were playing was this place called 4th & B, an intimate, simple venue tucked around the corner and well hidden from the bustling tourist traps of the gaslamp quarter and downtown Horton Plaza. Hardly anyone was at the club, and it was still early so we head back to where the people were walking about in search of food. My meal was good, but as for atmosphere, we chose poorly. We couldn't wait to get our food on, pay the bill then head back to the club.

We arrive with plenty of time to spare, the opening act weren't going on for a while so we milled about, got some drinks, then sat and sort of reminisced about the last time we were at 4th & B... which was well over a decade ago.

The opening act came on and they were pretty good, the girl had a very nice voice and they sort of reminded me of the band The Sundays. We got some more drinks then went out to the front and had some smokes, then came back and listened to the opening band finish up.

We found ourselves at the very front, slightly off to our right hand side in front of where the spaceman himself would be sitting. stash and I sort of chitter chattered til the houselights dimmed and everyone came out and assumed their places on stage. There was the keyboardist, Jay, a string quartet and 3 lovely vocalists.

What we got was a raw, acoustic set which was so much different than when I saw them at Coachella all those years ago. Since there wasn't a backing band really, and there wasn't any percussion - all who were on the stage were reliant on the music's rhythm keeping proper time. I wasn't sure what to expect, I hadn't checked any setlists or to see if this particular show would be an electric mainline or acoustic set. Clad in sunglasses, pants, striped shirt and oddly paired silver shoes, Jay took his seat and quickly flipped to the first couple of pages of his Book Of Sins (his notebook filled with scribbled lyrics). His guitar didn't have a pick up, there was so sea of wah-wah and effect pedals - just a man, his notebook, a mic for the voice and a mic for the guitar.

I was actually quite pleased at the bareness and humble and heartfelt way in which the show was presented acoustically. And the string quartet and the back up vocalists with their gospel harmonizing helped make the show sound rounded and full. Some of the songs I didn't recognize right away became familiar once my ears quickly trained themselves to decipher acoustic variants of songs I was so used to listening to album versions of.

The crowd were cool, mellow and seemed friendly. It wasn't packed at all, and Spiritualized fans aren't rowdy pit swarmers. There was no clambering, no pushing, no shoving, no little me trying to hold my ground and fend off the masses who go to shows expecting a mosh pit. There was a girl to the right of me, taking pictures throughout the show and other times she had her head resting in her hand as her arm was propped up on the rail - listening intently with almost a daydreaming look on her face. Just enjoying the music. A guy to her left wearing a pure phase era t-shirt must have swayed and grinned the whole time, because whenever I looked over he was swaying with a grin on his face as if there was no other place he would rather be. There were a couple of shouted song requests, and someone did yell "SPACE MAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!" but as stash whispered in my ear "hey at least it wasn't me that yelled that!"

There were quite a few highlights for us, considering Spiritualized is one of stash's and my favorite bands of all time. I could rattle off names of songs, which ones stuck a chord with us most - but I digress as setlists and heavily detailed accounts of a Spiritualized gig are best left to a Spiritualized forum. I will say, though, Walking With Jesus, Ladies and Gentlemen We're Floating In Space (with a little nod to Fools Rush In, compliments of the ladies singing on stage), and Stop Your Crying were so special and moved me more than I can say. And there were times when I'd close my eyes and just let the music sink in and consume me. And it goes without saying that I Think I'm In Love was as gorgeous as I hoped it would be. And the gospel staple, a familiar favorite Oh Happy Day was a fine note to end a show on.

I'll let stash fill in the blanks if he feels inclined. heh.

Nice! I'm glad Friday was such a success!!

Your experience was the opposite of my Friday in terms of tone, though in terms of being moved, probably quite similar.

Glad you enjoyed the W, although I do agree that it was oddly situated next to a rather dodgy bit of San Diego.

::all smiles for the Whirlygirl::

Keeping the Spiritualized theme going - Jason's just done a 2 hrs "A to Z show" with Rob da Bank on Radio 1 in UK (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/robdabank/). Will be on listen again for another week. Some good stuff.