Annuals @ Casbah, 2.18.09

My camera is busted and my photobucket account was maxed out, so I've been a little lame when it comes to posting pictures, especially when even for me it's more exciting to read to tour diaries that were posted last week from Writer, Transfer, and The Killers, but I came across these photos from last month that I never posted so I thought I should get on it.

These are from Annuals who played at the Casbah. I was a little bummed out on the show because I got there late and missed most of What Laura Says (Thinks and Feels) and I seriously love that band despite my typical aversion to bands in the "jam" category. Jessica Lea Mayfield was second on stage and she has a beautiful voice but the crowd chatter was a bit overpowering so I hung on the patio talking to Jay, the tour manager, who was kind enough to share the band's abundance of drink tickets as he joked with me about what assholes bloggers can be. I can say Annuals is lucky to have him because not all tour managers are the most congenial people on the planet. Also, fans of Annuals should definitely check out the bands other project Sunfold which is essentially all the same members but a bit more folky and the softer side of the band.

I've seen Annuals a bunch and they never disappoint and they had a great crowd, especially for a mid-week show, and it was nice to see San Diego giving them their due.

Friday Recap, Pt 1: Manchester Orchestra @ Epicentre

I hadn't been to the Epicentre in quite sometime. People complain about it all the time, but I don't really get why. If I was 16 and wanted to go to a show, I'd probably be at the Epicentre every weekend, no matter who was playing. And, when I was that age, if my ears weren't ringing for the next two days after a show, well, it must not have been that good. At 31 and with the help of my little $10 earlove earplugs, I was just fine with the show. I didn't quite take into consideration that the show would start quite so early, however, so when I got there a little after 9, I only caught one song by The Annuals. I got the setlist, but Lyn posted it, so go check it out there, along with her photos.

I was lucky that Manchester Orchestra and The Annuals are coheadlining, because they alternate who closes the show, and since I was there to see Manchester Orchestra, I was lucky they were last. While there weren't a ton of people at the show, the young crowd was concentrated up front, so I didn't take any photos of the show. However, I noticed a girl taking pics and video, so after the show I introduced myself and asked if she'd be willing to share her pics. She kindly agreed.

Here are some of Jessica's photos. You can see more in the photo album section of her MySpace page.












The band sounded great live. We were in the back and Pyles compared the singer to Jim James, for me there was a little Chris Corraba and they kinda reminded me of this SD band called Waiting for Autumn that I saw once a few years back. The music was quiet and haunting and then would build to these all out screamers with the whole band banging and clanging their instruments. The band played for over an hour, playing most of the tracks from their album I'm like a Virgin Losing a Child. Or maybe every single one? I'm not really sure.

What was funny though was what happened to me the next day. I was driving and going through my iPod and settled on Neutral Milk Hotel. I have never listened to the band but have them on my iPod. Yeah, figure that one out on your own. Anyway, a song comes on, and it occurs to me that this song was the song The Manchester Orchestra opened their show with..."Oh Comely". There were several times in the night when every instrument was silent, save for Andy's voice, and at times he even pulled away from the mic and just sang. He closed the show with a song incorporating "turn out the lights, the party's over" that sounded really cool.

The show was over by 10:30 so I headed off to destination two for the night.

Tonight! The Annuals, Manchester Orchestra @ Epicentre

I'm listening to Manchester Orchestra now (had to break from Ryan Adams for a bit), and if the band is half as good live as their album, it's gonna be a good night. I know people complain about Epicentre, but seeing Starsailor and Stereophonics there within the span of a couple weeks was amazing, in spite of the all ages/rec center vibe.

I know there's a lot of awesome stuff- Nick's birthday/Republic of Letters @ Beauty Bar, The Predicates CD Release at Scolari's, Transfer at the Ken Club and on and on, but if anyone would like to be my plus one tonight, please let me know ASAP. Looks like the bands have some great promotions teams behind them so most of my fellow bloggers will be there. Chickrawker and It's Too Sunny also posted some songs and stuff, but I just can't find the time. Click on their sites to the right...

And what visit to Mira Mesa would be complete without a stop for some pansit and lumpia? They don't call it Manila Mesa for nothin! (lovingly, of course)