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Just a small post following up on a guy I met last year during Western Canadian Music Week.
I met Matt Epp during one of Barb's busy days. She wanted to talk with him, but couldn't find the time, so we basically adopted him for the day. Fast forward a year, and Matt has a new album, Love In Such Strong Words, out now.
He's promoting it with a cross country tour and stopped by Vancouver for a gig at Rime.
I couldn't have been more excited to hear about this double bill in Seattle. I saw DiG! for the first time because of the Dandy Warhols but the movie is really about Brian Jonestown Massacre and Anton Newcombe. If you've seen it, then you know what a disfunctional human being Anton is, and although the movie ends with all sorts of bad feelings, they have apparently been worked out over the years.We arrived early, and heard from some very friendly locals that the Dandy's and BJM all jammed during the encore the night before in Portland, so we were extra expectant.I saw Brian Jonestown Massacre at SXSW this year, and he looked pretty good. This time he was almost unrecognizable. It's weird that some can deteriorate so badly in six months. It turned out we'd been standing almost right beside him before the show by the sound board, but I swear we didn't recognize him. Even after he got onto the stage, Glen and I looked at each in confusion. 
The performance itself was amazing. It was almost a completely new band from Austin with some new cute young guys which only made Anton look worse by comparison. I loved DiG! and all the BJM songs in small doses, but albums worth leave me cold so I wouldn't consider myself to be a fan. This show was like a best of show, with all the songs I love and no long extended jams.
Anton was very talkative, and chatty with the crowd. He never lost his temper, and even when having a girl removed from the front of the stage for bad behaviour, he made it clear to security, to not throw her out.Funniest moment? Well, to me, that was when he offered a drink from a cup to the guitarist, who wouldn't take a drink until Anton took a drink first. Anton followed this with the classic, "I Chinese, I play joke, I make pee pee in your Coke".Ironic moment? When Anton earnestly thanked all the black people in the crowd for keeping it real. Um, that would be the two security guards??The Dandy Warhols took the stage and the house was completely packed. So many people, I'm sure it was oversold.
They opened with one of my favourite songs, Godless. They had no trumpet player, which the song really missed, but it was a great crowd pleaser. Zia looked amazingly hot with some sexy new hair and a glamourous new look.
Peter, looked sullen as usual, and sorry, not photos because I was on the other side of the stage. Fathead played his drums in the middle front of the stage. That's twice now this year I've seen that set up, so I guess it's a trend.
My problem with the last couple times I've seen the Dandy's is that don't seem to be having much fun when they play anymore. The first time I saw them five years ago, it was like being at a party but now a smile rarely passes across Courtney's face. Only Zia really ever seems to be having any fun.
This show was better with momentum of having the BJM open, Courtney went on and on towards the end about what an amazing genius Anton was, and how lucky we were to have seen such an amazing show. HOWEVER, the awaited special guest appearance didn't occur this night.
Now it says on the set list that they closed with Country Leaver from 13 Tales From Urban Bohemia, but I swear it was a song I'd never heard before. I'll have to look into that later but for now I'll just say the last song was a crazy barn burner that shook the house down.
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