Parlor Gamez
16Jul08
While sharing a long editorial lunch just yesterday, talk turned to the upcoming Pitchfork Festival, which both Yancey and Joe will be attending. Soon after we ran through the list of bands they were excited to see, though, things turned serious…
Namely, we started talking about the bands that we wanted to see participate in the “Don’t Look Back” portion of the festival. Sure, EVERYONE wants to see Jeff Mangum perform In the Aeroplane…, but what’s actually really possible? We came up with some fascinating answers, which I’m sure will pop up in the comments (Joe’s pick? PM Dawn), but we’re interested to hear your thoughts too. So: which classic album would you like to see performed in its entirety at Pitchfork 2009?
This may not be “what’s actually really possible,” but: The Queen is Dead, by The Smiths.
Plan B: Psychocandy, by The JAMC; Loveless, by My Bloody Valentine; Avalon, by Roxy Music; Laughing Stock, by Talk Talk; maybe 1984, by Van Halen. Lots of great dance and electronic and pop albums, too, but I’m not sure they would age as gracefully.
I had similar conversations last year around this time, in which Psychocandy got bandied about pretty frequently. Daniel’s idea of Laughing Stock would be awesome, except the venue just ain’t right (just as it was very much not right for Spiderland last year — that was much better at Park West in 2005).
It may not be “Classic” enough, but bringing Feist and Emily Haines, et al, on stage for a run-through of You Forgot it In People would be pretty tremendous.
And given their recent reunion success, I am actually a bit surprised The Feelies aren’t doing The Good Earth (my personal favorite), or Crazy Rhythms (everybody else’s favorite) at PFMF-DLB this year.
One thing I could live the rest of my life without seeing live: another hip-hop band performing a “classic” album (and in this year’s case, not even their MOST classic album). Hip hop shows always wind up looking like a D-II women’s basketball game — a whole bunch of people clustered together in one spot with their hands in the air, jumping up and down. With “classic” hip hop shows, the difference is those people are old, and don’t jump as high. If you find that entertaining, by all means enjoy yourself. Me, I am passing on Friday night altogether this year.
I have to partially agree with WJPurdy regarding the D-II women’s basketball game. The GZA (aka Genius) “performed” (in quotations because his posse did most of the performing) Liquid Swords last year, which still is one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all time, and I was completely disappointed. Too many people on stage, the GZA only reciting a third of his lines, people yelling incoherently into microphones…total failure in my opinion.
That said, De La Soul closed out PFork last year and killed it. Posdnuos, Dave, Maseo and, occasionally, Prince Paul by their lonesome, hyping the crowd, performing tracks in their entirety, and really enjoying themselves. One of the highlights of last year for me.
Moving on to the subject at hand, who would I like to see perform their classic, do you ask? The Cure – Disintegration
P.S. Last year, I probably would have said GZA – Liquid Swords..not anymore
I would be inclined to agree with Psychocandy, but after seeing this most recent reunion tour, I was super let down. Prolly didn’t help that I paid $60.
Probably file under “not possible” but I’d LOVE to see Neil Young do On the Beach. I will never tire of that record.
Yeah, my pick was not PM Dawn. It was Us3 doing Hand on the Torch. Get it right.
I have several picks I’d like to see:
Meat Loaf – Bat Out Of Hell (yes, I am serious)
Neil Young – any album would suffice but preferably Zuma
Pavement – again, any album besides the last one
Fugazi – 13 songs or In On The Killtaker, again, any album
Beastie Boys – Check Your Head / Paul’s Boutique
PJ Harvey – Rid Of Me
I saw Public Enemy play Takes A Nation play a few months ago at Brixton Academy and was pretty impressed. They certainly managed to jump around the stage longer than the similarly aged crowd did but they pulled it off pretty well. Personally I find hip hop gigs pretty hit and miss. Seen PE several times, both awesome and terrible with Flav miming and no keeping up – very embarrassing and poor – and I’ve seen De La Soul who actually put on a show but what pisses me is the fact that they (hip hop groups) always seem to do medleys. I like to hear the whole track.
Belle & Sebastian – Stars of Track and Field
PJ Harvey – Rid Of Me
Beastie Boys – Paul’s Boutique
The Cult – Love
The Flaming Lips – In a Priest Driven Ambulance or Soft Bulletin
Tom Waits – Swordfishtrombones
I think these would all be possible:
Brian Eno — Here Come the Warm Jets
Talking Heads — Fear of Music
Leonard Cohen — New Skin for the Old Ceremony
Wire — Pink Flag
Lou Reed — Transformer
The Birthday Party — Junkyard or Prayers on Fire
Modest Mouse — Lonesome Crowded West
And of course:
Metallica — Master of Puppets
On the metal front:
Slayer – Reign in Blood/South Of Heaven
Megadeth – Peace Sells
or Small Change
in the realm of the never happen but would be totally great: Captain Beefheart – Trout Mask Replica
Slayer Reign in Blood would be amazing.
yeah richard, The Cult, that would be excellent – Electric would be awesome.
Woke up with this one on my mind:
Chavez Ride the Fader.
Fishbone – Truth and Soul
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (w/ Blixa) do Henry’s Dream.
Similarly, Einstürzende Neubauten do Kollaps.
Boards of Canada do Music Has the Right to Children.
Ministry do The Mind is a Terrible Thing to Taste.
Interpol do Turn on the Bright Lights.
Galaxie 500 do This is Our Music.
I like the Pavement idea mentioned above, Slanted and Enchanted or Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain would be fun.
Pulp – “This is Hardcore”
and The Stooges “Fun House”…
Ride: Grasshopper EP
Spaceman 3: anything followed by Spirtualized: (Live live with London Philharmonic album)
The Cure: Boys Don’t Cry