This coming May...

...is nearly falling off the calendar, its so laden with gig dates. The amount of choice on offer is disorientating in its sheer abundance and quality. Its scary. Because of increasing college research commitments, I'll likely be low on money and busy at work. So I can only realistically go to a small few. How will I choose? Deerhunter or Animal Collective? Jens Lekman or Sunset Rubdown? Gui Boratto or the Hold Steady? And thats not to mention other bands I'm not as obsessed with but would likely check out if it were any other month. That's Battles, Yeasayer, Liars, Man Man, the National etc... There are some tough gig choices ahead. Can we not just lump them all into Trabolgan for an Irish style ATP with go karts, waterslides and wooly alterno-music? That would be a savage solution to the predicament.


MP3: Built to Spill-Distopian Dream Girl

Thinking of gigs. I know I've blogged about this before but fuck it here I go again. Its 'cos of a recurring dream I've had a few times. Last Summer I saw Built to Spill play at Primavera on the main stage late one night with a sparkling full moon reflected on the sea behind them. Doug Marsh's inimitably epic guitar squiggles swelled magnificently to fill that landscape. The entire night felt thick with music, these pealing, meandering riffs and melodies that kept heaping up on each other, breaking apart, crashing and spilling all over the place, meshing with their stunning surroundings and casting an indescribable spell in the balmy air. I was there with my girlfriend and good mates. They all shared the same shit-eating grin with me whenever I caught their eye. Moments like that only happen a few times in your life. Anyway, I mention this because the gig had such an effect on me I've dreamt about three times since that Built to Spill played Dublin. Mad lucid dreams they were too. Dreams so realistic I could nearly see the nits hopping about in Doug's beard. And I never dream about gigs. Are they premonitions? Will the 'Spill's seeming never-ending tour of the States ever hit our shores? Now that Guided by Voices are permanently split, I can safely say that this would be top of my wish list of fantasy gigs. Hold on a sec, the clouds in my crystal ball are clearing, I can see it now. Its Whelans, its sometime in September, is that...I can't be sure...yay it sure is! Built to Spill with a special guest appearance by Calvin Johnson for a quick spin through Virginia Reel around the Fountain. I swear, I'm gonna wish this shit into existence!