ASOBI SEKSU acoustic!

Went to see Asobi Seksu play an acoustic show at the Loft.

Really good. And they sound really different acoustic. At times, if it weren't for the vocals, I wouldn't have been able to recognize the song. (Check out their first album: self-titled, and their sophomore album: Citrus [2006], as well as their newer stuff! asobi seksu on myspace)

The opening band was Lady Danville, 3 guys from Danville, Ca, UCLA grads. Checked out their myspace page before going to the show, read that two of them met at a vocal/choir audition, so was not surprised that they had good singing voices. But their songs were about relationships, "I want you back"— not my type of music. But they were pretty good nonetheless. Here are a couple pics of asobi seksu. (I was in the front row! Yay for small venues/"intimate" shows and nice guys who when turning around and seeing someone short offer to trade places!)

front woman yuki chikudate. she signed her name in japanese on my ticket! :)

setlist

WHY? @theLoft

unknown photographer & subject. reblogged onto blogger from tumblrs.

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Went to the WHY? show tonight (meaning Thursday) at the Loft on campus.

It was good, despite the absurd wait.

Originally the show was set to start at 10pm (late night show presented by Club Mercy), then I checked the Loft website to make sure, and it got set back to 10:30, doors at 10. I got there five past 10, doors didn't open until like 10:45. Got in sometime after 11. The Loft got licensed to sell alcohol now. WHY? finally got on stage at midnight. Tall people in front of me, but then I managed to squeeze through to about the 6th or 7th row. It was a good show, thought I wish it were longer/they had started earlier. Only about an hour's show. You'd think if there weren't any other bands playing, that the band would play a longer set. But oh wells. It was still fairly enjoyable, after the long wait. Fun, lots of people knew the lyrics and sang along. I'll upload pictures in a week, though with my point-and-shoot, my photos are again crappy. In a week because I have 3 midterms this coming week (MWF), along with a critical essay due on Tuesday. Took my German midterm today and got a B+. Somehow I overslept, but my friend called me after she finished the test and I got on campus when the class ended. Fortunately die Leherin war in ihrem Büro, office hours, and she let me take the midterm.

Strength, DEELAY CEELAY, and STARFUCKER @theLOFT

Went to my first show this quarter at the Loft. Great show.

Strength, from Portland, Oregon

They were good. I out-of-habitly felt a dislike toward them (opening bands), but then, yeah, they were pretty good. Fun. Prejudice gone.

Genre: nu-disco/indie-dance.

Next band: DEELAY CEELAY. also from Portland. myspace.

Excellent! ★★★★★

If you like: air (french duo), boards of canada, kyte, postal service, liquid drum'n'bass, trance, idm.

Two guys, both on the drums. The rest of the sounds they recorded beforehand, I believe. I was on the front right (yes good thing I brought my earplugs) next to this guy video-recording who happened to be one of the band members' brother. He told me "Deelay Ceelay" came from their names: Delanay, and Chris Lael. Sorry not so great pictures.

They had their own visuals playing, too. So win. One of the guys is a visual artist, the other a percussionist. Makes for a spell-binding show. They had strobe lights set-up under their drum sets, and then the psychedelic visuals. Watch video of a live show in Seattle.

Download their album (4 tracks) for free on their website or just click here.

Finally, Starfucker. Ok, looks like they're all from Portland.

Genre: indie-electro, synth-pop

I seriously didn't know that they were quite well-known (relatively/indie scene-wise). The Loft was pretty packed, definitely more than what I expected. I got their album "Jupiter" a few months ago, liked it, and so when I saw they were coming to the Loft, made a note on my calendar to go. Didn't look them up or anything. Well, they played a few songs that weren't on Jupiter and that a lot of kids knew, so I figured that wasn't their debut album. They played a good show. But it was a little annoying that they kept pausing to change monitor volumes, pick up a dropped drumstick, change mic volumes. Still alright. They ended with "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun".

Oh, and they're changing their name. You can e-mail them suggestions. There's a band from Belgium of the same name. Guy in crowd: "Planetfucker!" Maybe not..